A psychiatric (mental health) nurse practitioner (PMHNP) is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who has completed additional education and training to specialize in mental health disorders diagnosis and treatment and, thus, can prescribe medication to patients in all 50 states.  Psychiatric nurse practitioners work autonomously and have similar day-to-day…

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Psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners are mental health providers that evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients with mental and behavioral disorders. In many ways, their roles in patient care overlap. So, what’s the difference between the two?  Their Educational Background and Training  A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (MD) who completed…

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Therapist, psychologist, and psychiatrist are three terms that are often easily confused. While these mental health providers all work closely with their patients to improve mental health, they each have different educational backgrounds and may play different roles in treatment.  Below, we take a look at each profession to help…

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