A psychiatric nurse practitioner is a registered nurse who has completed additional continuing education and training in psychiatric (mental health) nursing. Psychiatric NPs have a graduate-level (a master’s degree) or doctorate-level degree.  Psychiatric nurse practitioners work autonomously and can do the same things as psychiatrists, including prescribing medication. Nurse practitioners…

Read More


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…

Read More


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…

Read More