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Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner vs. Psychiatrist: What's the Difference?
Both evaluate and diagnose mental health conditions, prescribe and manage psychiatric medications. Here's how their training differs, and what it means for your care. Still Waters Psychiatry is a group of board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioners.
MD or DO
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who completed a psychiatry residency.
PMHNP-BC
Psychiatric nurse practitioners are board-certified advanced practice nurses.
Both prescribe
Both evaluate, diagnose, and prescribe and manage psychiatric medication.
The short answer
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (MD or DO) who completed a psychiatry residency. A psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) is an advanced practice registered nurse with graduate training in mental health and national board certification. Both evaluate and diagnose mental health conditions and prescribe and manage psychiatric medication. Still Waters Psychiatry is a group of psychiatric nurse practitioners.
How the training differs
Psychiatrist: medical school, then a four-year psychiatry residency.
PMHNP: registered nurse, then a master's or doctoral degree in psychiatric-mental health nursing, national board certification (PMHNP-BC) and an advanced practice license in Florida (APRN).
What a psychiatric nurse practitioner can do
Full psychiatric evaluations, diagnosis, prescribing and managing medication, follow-up visits, and coordinating care with therapists and primary care. That includes care for anxiety, depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, OCD, PTSD, insomnia and more.
How to choose
For most people the deciding factors are practical: availability, insurance, telehealth, language, and feeling heard. In Florida, psychiatric nurse practitioners have a collaborating physician available if collaboration on a case is needed.
Frequently asked questions
Is a PMHNP a doctor? No. Some PMHNPs hold a doctoral degree (DNP), but they are not medical doctors.
Does insurance cover visits with a PMHNP? Yes, including Medicare. We accept Aetna, Florida Blue/BCBS, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare/Optum/UBH, Oscar, AvMed, Oxford, UMR and Medicare. We don't currently accept Medicaid plans.
Can a PMHNP prescribe ADHD medication? Yes. ADHD care, including medication, is currently available by telehealth and in office.
Not an emergency service. In a crisis, call or text 988, or call 911.