Lin Thoennes, ARNP

What is a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner ?

A psychiatric advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) in Washington State is a registered nurse specializing in psychiatry and mental health, who seeks additional education specified by the American Nurses' Credentialing Center (ANCC) and passes the ANCC certification examination. Successful completion of this exam allows an individual to be registered in the Sate of Washington as an ARNP after being approved by the Washington Nursing Quality Assurance Commission. To maintain licensure and certification, ARNP's must accrue and report continuing education in their specialty.

Roles of the ARNP include: assessment, diagnosis, treatment, medication management, psychotherapy, counseling advocacy, education, case management, consultation and program planning.