How to Become a Mental Health Nurse

Becoming a mental health nurse--or, as health care authorities call them, psychiatric-mental health nurses--is a challenging process that requires time, energy and dedication. There are two types of PMHNs--basic and advanced --and taking the steps to becoming a mental health nurse requires deciding which type you want to be. Basic nurses are registered nurses who are graduates of a two-, three- or four-year nursing program who have passed the registered nurse examination. They work with patients and family members, as well as members of a community, to evaluate mental health needs, enact a nursing plan to meet those needs, and measure the results of the plan. Advanced practice nurses are registered nurses with additional training, including master's or doctoral degrees, who diagnose and treat patients with mental health disorders.

Things You'll Need

• Application to an accredited nursing program
• Tuition and fees for the accredited nursing program

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Instructions

• 1

  Apply to an accredited nursing program. A list of available programs and schools is available at the AACN link in References. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing provides a robust list of nursing programs, career options and tools to help potential students make decisions about career choices.

• 2

  Take courses in anatomy, biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, communications and psychology, among other classes over the course of two, three or four years. Take clinical skills courses, and participate in clinical rotations on hospital inpatient wards.

• 3

  Graduate from your nursing program after the completion of your training. Take and pass the registered nurse examination.

• 4

  Apply to graduate programs in mental health nursing if you wish to become an advanced practice nurse. A list of these programs is available at the American Psychiatric Nurses Association sites listed in the References section. Take specialized coursework that focuses on diagnosing and treating patients with mental illnesses. Graduate with a master's or doctoral degree in mental health nursing.