A psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner, abbreviated PMHNP, is an advanced practice registered nurse who has completed graduate training focused on psychiatry. The path begins with a nursing degree and licensure as an RN, usually followed by clinical experience, then a master's or doctoral program in psychiatric-mental health nursing with supervised clinical hours. Graduates pass a national board examination administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, which grants the credential PMHNP-BC. The BC stands for board certified.
PMHNPs evaluate and diagnose mental health conditions, prescribe and manage medication, order and interpret lab work, and provide supportive therapy. In Florida, nurse practitioners practice under a collaborative agreement with a physician or, after meeting experience requirements, with autonomous practice authority for primary care; psychiatric prescribing of controlled substances follows state rules. In South Carolina, nurse practitioners work under a practice agreement with a supervising physician. In either state, a PMHNP can be your primary psychiatric provider for ongoing care, including treatment of depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder and insomnia. Many patients find PMHNP appointments easier to schedule and appreciate the nursing background's emphasis on the whole person. At Stedfast Psychiatry, PMHNPs see patients in person and by telehealth, work alongside our psychiatrists, and consult with them on complex cases or when an interventional treatment such as TMS or Spravato is being considered.