The Evolution of the Role of the Psychiatric Mental Health Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in the United States

摘要

I recently met with an undergraduate nursing student who was interested in psychiatric mental health (PMH) nursing. She specifically wanted to know about the role of the PMH advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). That conversation took considerably more time than it might have taken in 1987 when Dr. McBride and her colleagues evaluated the effect of a PMH clinical nurse specialist (CNS) on nursing communication and work environment in a state psychiatric hospital (McBride et al., 1987). A great deal has changed since that time with regard to advanced psychiatric nursing practice and the mental health care environment. PMH advanced practice registered nursing (APRN), has evolved to fill a variety of niches as mental health care delivery has been transitioning away from traditional hospital-based care. The purpose of this paper, then, is to explore the changes in the role of the PMH APRN in the U.S. that have occurred since the first issue of Archives of Psychiatric Nursing was published in 1987.