Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist (BC PMH-CNS)
Advanced Practice Psychiatric NursesDescription
Assess, diagnose, and treat individuals and families with mental health or substance use disorders and those at risk. As a board-certified psychiatric mental health clinical nurse specialist, deliver advanced psychotherapy, clinical consultation, staff education, and evidence-based program leadership; prescribe and manage psychotropic medications per state authority.
- • Perform comprehensive psychiatric and physical assessments across the lifespan.
- • Diagnose psychiatric and co-occurring mental health conditions.
- • Develop, implement, and revise evidence-based treatment plans.
- • Provide individual, group, and family psychotherapy.
- • Prescribe and manage psychotropic medications per state scope and collaborative agreements.
- • Monitor medication effectiveness, side effects, and adherence; adjust therapy as indicated.
- • Order and interpret diagnostic and laboratory tests, such as EKGs and renal panels.
- • Distinguish psychological from medical etiologies and initiate appropriate care or referrals.
- • Educate patients and families on conditions, self-management, crisis planning, and medications.
- • Lead or participate in interdisciplinary case conferences for complex cases.
- • Consult to nurses, physicians, and teams on complex psychiatric presentations and care plans.
- • Develop, implement, and evaluate clinical protocols and policies based on current research.
- • Design, implement, and evaluate programs, including outreach, population health, and crisis response.
- • Lead quality improvement and measurement-based care initiatives to improve outcomes.
- • Mentor, precept, and educate nursing staff and learners on mental health topics.
- • Provide staff training in de-escalation, suicide risk assessment, and trauma-informed care.
- • Coordinate transitions of care; consult with community, primary care, and home health providers.
- • Conduct routine health screenings and manage common medical issues related to psychiatric care; coordinate with primary care.
- • Administer medications, including long-acting injectable antipsychotics.
- • Document assessments, diagnoses, treatments, prescriptions, and outcomes in the health record.
- • Ensure safe medication practices in collaboration with pharmacy, including monitoring for controlled substance compliance.
- • Participate in professional development, certification maintenance, and continuing education.
- • Refer patients to psychiatrists, primary care, or specialty services when higher-level care is indicated.
- • Monitor service utilization and resource needs; advocate for systems and policy improvements.
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Last reviewed: Jan 2026
