First-ever study details psychiatric-mental health nursing workforce

The psychiatric-mental health nursing workforce in the United States is a unique and important one, and the demographics of this group have not been fully studied. Until now. The data gathered through the first study specifically targeting this group has been released by the American Psychiatric Nurses Association in a new report.

The APNA 2022 Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Workforce Report is the first in a series of publications on the workforce, summarizing data collected through the APNA Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Workforce Survey – which was tailored and developed by PMH nurse workforce experts for PMH-RNs and PMH-APRNs.

The report reveals important details about the PMH workforce – including education and employment characteristics – but also helps inform stakeholders of the demographics and impact of PMH nurses working in the United States. The primary data source for the report is PMH nurses themselves, through a voluntary survey offered in 2020 and 2021 to contacts in APNA’s database, registered nurses, and advanced practice nurses with current certification by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

Report Highlights – PMH-RN workforce:

• The average age of a PMH-RN respondent is 51 years old.
  

  Just 4 percent of PMH-RN respondents are ages 20-29.

• 13% identified as Black or African-American.
• Males make up 12% of the PMH-RN respondents.
• Certification rates vary by race and age, and the largest proportion of certified nurses are older and White.
• A hospital is the primary employment setting for nearly 9 in 10 PMH-RN respondents.
• About half reported the highest degree achieved is Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

Report Highlights – The PMH-APRN workforce:

• More than half of PMH-APRN respondents range in age from 50 to 70.
• More than a quarter of PMH-APRN respondents plan to retire in the next 6 years.
  

  Nearly three-quarters of respondents practice in outpatient settings, including mental health clinics and federally qualified health centers.

• 10% of the PMH-APRN respondents are male.
• Approximately 40% completed Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT) training and, of these, nearly three-quarters later applied for a Drug Overview Demographics Education and Certification.
• A majority cited a Master of Science (MSN) as the highest degree achieved.

What’s ahead for the survey? A discussion paper in the Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association on the implications of survey results will be released, as well as a document to inform the public and stakeholders.

The American Psychiatric Nurses Association Board of Directors would like to thank the APNA Workforce Task Force for developing the APNA Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Workforce Survey, analyzing data, and preparing the report, as well as the PMH-RNs and PMH-APRNs who participated in the surveys.

>>> Delve deeper into the APNA 2022 Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Workforce Report, including demographics and earnings data.  

About APNA: The American Psychiatric Nurses Association is a national professional membership organization committed to the practice of psychiatric-mental health nursing and wellness promotion, prevention of mental health problems, and the care and treatment of persons with psychiatric disorders. APNA’s membership is inclusive of all psychiatric-mental health registered nurses including associate degree, baccalaureate, advanced practice (comprised of clinical nurse specialists and psychiatric nurse practitioners), and nurse scientists and academicians (PhD). APNA serves as a resource for psychiatric-mental health nurses to engage in networking, education, and the dissemination of evidence. The American Psychiatric Nurses Association is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.