Practice and Niches of Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) in Psychiatric and Mental Health Care

The current expansion in role responsibilities of advanced practice nurses (APNs) stems from the current change in public health needs. Advanced nursing education enables APNs to respond promptly to current health needs while expanding the scope of nursing practice. As a result, APNs have obtained recognition and acceptance from the public. The “clinical nurse specialist” in psychiatric care was a pioneering example of APNs in the United States. These specialists not only led the vigorous development of contemporary psychiatric nursing but also advanced the nursing profession as a whole. This article aims to elucidate the role practice of and future opportunities for advanced psychiatric mental health nurses. Using examples of “applying evidence-based care to solve complex practice issues”, this article demonstrates the role functions of advanced psychiatric mental health nursing and outlines potential niche opportunities for this field.