With Nurses Week officially underway, we thought it was important to highlight some of the most popular or most unique nursing specialties available. While we know that all types of nurses deserve to be honored, we’re here to provide some information and highlight some great nursing specialties. This tribute to psych nurses will provide a general overview of the specialty, as well as why becoming a psych nurse is so rewarding. So what is a psych nurse? Let’s take a deep dive into what you can expect as a psych nurse and why it’s such a great specialty. What is a Psych Nurse? According to the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, psychiatric nurses are experts in crisis intervention, mental health, medications, and therapies to assist patients in mastering mental illnesses. They work closely with them so that they can live as productive and fulfilling lives as possible. Psych nurses will typically work in mental health facilities or hospitals. Psychiatric-mental health nurses are licensed nurses with a psychiatric specialty and like most nurses, they do not prescribe medication. (There is one exception. An advanced practice registered nurse can in some states prescribe medication and provide more advanced treatment to patients, including psychotherapy. An advanced practice registered nurse holds a master’s degree.) PMHNs examine, assess, educate, and support patients, but do not counsel them. They are not psychiatrists or psychologists, but they’re often taught similar counseling tactics to help treat patients to the best of his or her ability. So, what is a psych nurse? Well, they’re someone who has the patience and determination to help others battle with mental health issues. What Does a Psych Nurse Do? What is a psych nurse? Well, we’ve answered that as best we can. Next, let’s take a look at some of the duties that a psych nurse can expect. Psych nurses will work with individuals, families, or other groups to assess their mental health needs. They can help to develop a plan of care to ensure that patients are getting the proper treatment and given the proper resources they need to manage his or her mental issue. If a nurse decides to become licensed in psychiatry nursing, they can also diagnose patients as well as write prescriptions. A psych nurse can usually be found in a hospital or some type of mental health facility. They’re usually...