Psychiatric nurse practitioners are advanced practice nurses with experience and training allowing them to make clinical diagnoses, interpret lab results and findings, prescribe medication, and provide psychotherapy across the lifespan. As well, as perform many other psychiatric services. Psychiatric services refer to their expertise in medication management and evaluation services. Mariya and Tessa are also certified psychopharmacologists meaning they have additional education on psychopharmacology and neurology.
Often NPs hear, “But you have less schooling than DRs”. This could not be further from the truth. NP schooling is just broken up differently and requires many years of practice as a nurse delivering medical care prior to being accepted to an NP program. Also, a nurse practitioner's focus is different from a psychiatrist's and involves looking at the whole person and not just one part. These are the main differences between doctors and NPs.