Description
The psychiatric nursing field at VA encompasses registered nurses (RNs) and Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs), which includes nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists. As a national leader in trauma treatment, VA gives Psychiatric Nurses the opportunity to work in specialized practice settings, including serious mental illness, PTSD, and traumatic brain injuries. Our Psychiatric Nurses are key members of the interdisciplinary care team, working to ensure patients are receiving the best care possible. They also have the opportunity to participate in national policy and decision making, research and education.
Additionally, many APNs serve as primary care providers with the principal responsibility of ensuring that patients receive the appropriate mental health screenings and that proper follow-up occurs. Our APNs may also provide critical psychiatric treatments, including medication and other services.
RN Requirements
RNs must hold an associate, bachelor's, or master's degree from a school of professional nursing approved by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or the Commission on Collegiate Nurse Education (CCNE).
APN Requirements
- Nurse practitioners must be recognized by their state of licensure as both an RN and an ARNP
- Nurse practitioners must be certified as an APRN by the American Nurses Association or another national certifying organization as a condition of employment and function in the role
- Individuals appointed or moved to VHA nurse practitioner nurse positions must possess a master's degree from a program accredited by the NLNAC or the CCNE
- Clinical nurse specialists must possess a master's degree from an academic program accredited by the NLNAC or CCNE, with a major in the clinical nursing specialty to which the nurse is to be assigned
- At a minimum, clinical nurse specialists must possess an RN licensure
