Psychiatrists and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners (PNPs) have some significant differences in terms of their philosophy of mental health care, assignments, and education.
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor, either with an MD or a DO degree. This training equips them with a profound understanding of the human body, pharmacology, and the biological aspects of mental health disorders. They have medical licenses to administer medications and conduct all necessary testing, and can provide a range of treatment options. Psychiatrist are very good diagnosing complex psychiatric conditions, from more prevalent disorders such as anxiety and depression, as well as difficult disorders as schizophrenia and bipolar, and treatment planning (pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy).
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners, however, are specialized in mental health and are advanced nurses. Typically, they have a masters degree or PhD in nursing and pursue additional education focused on psychiatric care. Their nursing experience helps them to deal with mental health concerns through evaluation, identity and therapy. Besides simply writing prescriptions, they usually sit down with people and work out a customized plan that fits each person’s daily life. This holistic approach not only fosters a supportive environment but also empowers patients to take an active role in their own health journey.
Though their academic backgrounds differ, psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners both seek to provide excellent mental health care. Medical wisdom holds that psychiatrists control mental health issues; PNPs approach treatment with empathy and completeness using nursing and psychiatric theories. Together, these specialists guide group therapy sessions to help people with mental health issues overcome their experiences.
Sources:
https://nursejournal.org/careers/psychiatric-nurse/psychiatric-np-vs-psychiatrist/
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22702-psychiatrist
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmacotherapy
https://www.franklin.edu/career-guide/nurse-practitioners/what-do-psychiatric-mental-health-nurse-practitioners-do
https://www.aanp.org/news-feed/are-you-considering-a-career-as-psychiatric-mental-health-nurse-practitioner
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/psychiatric-nurse-practitioner-pmhnp
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychiatric-mental_health_nurse_practitioner
https://work.chron.com/skills-pertinent-psychiatric-nursing-7980.html
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/psychiatric-nurse
