Psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners are committed to the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of psychiatric disorders in individuals and groups through psychotherapy and medication. Since the role of the PMHNP carries such responsibility, it is no surprise that there is a rigorous path to obtain and maintain your PMHNP certification and licensure.
PMHNPs currently have only one choice for certification, which is through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). The ANCC offers the “psychiatric/mental-health nurse practitioner (across the lifespan)” board certification (PMHNP-BC). In many states, board certification is a necessary prerequisite to receiving an NP license. Even if board certification is not a requirement for state licensure, it may be a requirement to receive privileges in various hospitals and other health care facilities. Malpractice insurance providers may also require board certification prior to issuing coverage to NPs.
Review the state of Maryland specific PMHNP certification and licensure requirements and scope of practice, as well as prescriptive authority issues.
• Summarize nurse practitioner certification and licensure processes
• Explain state-specific scope of practice for psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners
• Explain state-specific restrictions or limitations for practice
• Explain nurse practitioner prescriptive authority and DEA registration processes
• Explain the types of regulations that exist and the barriers that may impact nurse practitioner independent practice in Maryland. Be specific. Also, describe what surprised you from your research.