How is a PMHNP different from a Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist?
A. Depending on the practice site, the psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner and the psychiatric-mental health clinical nurse specialist who has obtained prescriptive privileges may practice in similar, even identical roles. However, prescriptive authority and the educational preparation required for expertise in prescribing are built into PMHNP programs. Unlike clinical nurse specialist programs, ANCC reviews nurse practitioner programs for core content in (1) advanced health assessment, (2) pharmacology, (3) pathophysiology, (4) health promotion and disease prevention, and (5) differential diagnosis and disease management. Until recently, many clinical specialist programs did not require core content in advanced health assessment, pathophysiology (including neurophysiology), and advanced pharmacology. Unlike some psychiatric clinical nurse specialists, the PMHNP is educationally prepared to conduct complete physical examinations of patients with psychiatric disorders, order an
