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Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses
29-1141.02·Healthcare Practitioners and Technical·Job Zone 5
Assess, diagnose, and treat individuals and families with mental health or substance use disorders or the potential for such disorders. Apply therapeutic activities, including the prescription of medication, per state regulations, and the administration of psychotherapy.
24Tasks
29Tech Skills
6Technical Tools
Technology Skills
29 technologies · 6 technical tools
Technology Skills
Technical Tools
Microsoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft WordSAS
Other Technologies
AUDIT-CBeck Anxiety InventoryBeck Depression InventoryBrief Psychiatric Rating Scale BPRS Nursing ModificationCalifornia Verbal Learning TestCategory Fluency TestChildren's Depression InventoryControlled Oral Word Association TaskElectroconvulsive therapy equipmentEpic HERGeriatric Depression ScaleHendrich Falls Risk ModelInvivo Data EPX ePRO Management SystemMedical condition coding softwareMillon Behavioral Medicine DiagnosticMinnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 MMPI-2Myers Briggs Type IndicatorNEO PI-RPatient Health QuestionairePatient management softwareWeb browser softwareYoung Mania Rating ScaleZung Depression Rating Scale
Task Statements
20 core · 4 supplemental
Task Statements
Core Tasks
- Assess patients' mental and physical status, based on the presenting symptoms and complaints.
- Diagnose psychiatric disorders and mental health conditions.
- Document patients' medical and psychological histories, physical assessment results, diagnoses, treatment plans, prescriptions, or outcomes.
- Educate patients and family members about mental health and medical conditions, preventive health measures, medications, or treatment plans.
- Write prescriptions for psychotropic medications as allowed by state regulations and collaborative practice agreements.
- Monitor patients' medication usage and results.
- Evaluate patients' behavior to formulate diagnoses or assess treatments.
- Distinguish between physiologically- and psychologically-based disorders, and diagnose appropriately.
- Develop and implement treatment plans.
- Conduct individual, group, or family psychotherapy for those with chronic or acute mental disorders.
- Participate in activities aimed at professional growth and development, including conferences or continuing education activities.
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members, including psychiatrists, psychologists, or nursing staff, to develop, implement, or evaluate treatment plans.
- Consult with psychiatrists or other professionals when unusual or complex cases are encountered.
- Refer patients requiring more specialized or complex treatment to psychiatrists, primary care physicians, or other medical specialists.
- Participate in treatment team conferences regarding diagnosis or treatment of difficult cases.
- Interpret diagnostic or laboratory tests, such as electrocardiograms (EKGs) and renal functioning tests.
- Develop practice protocols for mental health problems, based on review and evaluation of published research.
- Provide routine physical health screenings to detect or monitor problems such as heart disease and diabetes.
- Administer medications, including those administered by injection.
- Develop, implement, or evaluate programs such as outreach activities, community mental health programs, and crisis situation response activities.
Supplemental Tasks
- Monitor the use and status of medical and pharmaceutical supplies.
- Treat patients for routine physical health problems.
- Direct or provide home health services.
- Teach classes in mental health topics, such as stress reduction.
Top Skills
Ranked by importance score
Top Skills
Psychology5.0
Therapy and Counseling4.7
English Language4.6
Medicine and Dentistry4.5
Active Listening4.4
Biology4.3
Social Perceptiveness4.3
Speaking4.1
Sociology and Anthropology4.1
Critical Thinking4.0
Time Management4.0
Writing4.0
Monitoring4.0
Judgment and Decision Making4.0
Reading Comprehension4.0
Education and Training3.9
Complex Problem Solving3.9
Active Learning3.9
Customer and Personal Service3.8
Instructing3.8
Top Abilities
Ranked by importance score
Top Abilities
Problem Sensitivity4.6
Oral Comprehension4.3
Oral Expression4.3
Written Comprehension4.1
Deductive Reasoning4.1
Speech Clarity4.0
Inductive Reasoning4.0
Speech Recognition4.0
Written Expression4.0
Information Ordering3.9
Near Vision3.8
Category Flexibility3.5
Originality3.4
Fluency of Ideas3.4
Selective Attention3.4
Flexibility of Closure3.1
Speed of Closure2.9
Perceptual Speed2.9
Memorization2.8
Number Facility2.8
Work Activities
Ranked by importance score
Work Activities
Assisting and Caring for Others5.0
Documenting/Recording Information4.8
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge4.7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships4.7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.7
Getting Information4.6
Processing Information4.6
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work4.3
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others4.3
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards4.3
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others4.3
Analyzing Data or Information4.2
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates4.2
Working with Computers4.1
Providing Consultation and Advice to Others4.0
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events4.0
Communicating with People Outside the Organization4.0
Thinking Creatively4.0
Training and Teaching Others3.8
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings3.8
Education, Training & Experience
Percentage of respondents reporting each level
Education, Training & Experience
Required Level of Education
Master's Degree87%
First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.4%
Doctoral Degree9%
Related Work Experience
None18%
Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year9%
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years41%
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years23%
Over 6 years, up to and including 8 years9%
On-Site or In-Plant Training
None5%
Up to and including 1 month38%
Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months24%
Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months14%
Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year14%
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years5%
On-the-Job Training
None or short demonstration5%
Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month14%
Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months27%
Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months14%
Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year32%
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years9%