Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Workforce

The psychiatric‑mental health nursing workforce comprises registered and advanced practice nurses (PMHNP & PMHCNS) specializing in mental health. APNA’s national survey (2020–2021) provides the most comprehensive profile to date to guide planning and policy.

Why the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Workforce Matters

Untreated mental health challenges have set the nation on a precarious trajectory – linked to social risks, including homelessness, low/poor education, and increased rates of substance use. The need to expand the workforce of qualified mental health professionals has never been greater. Psychiatric-mental health nurses are crucial players in the psychiatric-mental health workforce; expanding their numbers and roles will expand patient access to quality mental health care.

APNA’s 2022 Psychiatric‑Mental Health Nursing Workforce Report (PDF) distills national survey findings on PMH‑RNs and PMH‑APRNs, while the companion stakeholder report—Psychiatric‑Mental Health Nurses Are Key to Addressing the Nation’s Mental Health Crisis (PDF) translates results into clear actions for policymakers, educators, and health systems. For quick snapshots to share, see the PMH‑RN one‑pager (PDF) and PMH‑APRN one‑pager (PDF).

APNA Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Workforce Initiative

With historically little data available on the characteristics of the PMH nursing workforce, in 2018 the APNA Board of Directors created and charged the APNA Workforce Task Force with developing a comprehensive PMH Nursing workforce survey and analyzing its results. APNA disseminated the survey, developed systematically by the task force,  (ANCC) throughout 2020 and 2021. With a 12.1% response rate, the data informs understanding of the demographics, education, employment characteristics, and earnings of PMH nurses in the U.S. The next survey is planned for 2026.

Survey at a Glance

• Survey window: October 2020-February 2021
• Who was surveyed: PMHRNs and PMH-APRNs (PMHNP & PMHCNS) in the APNA database and/or certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center
• Responses: 4,088 PMH‑RN and 5,158 PMH‑APRN surveys; combined response rate ≈12.1%.
• PMH‑RNs: Hospitals are the primary setting for a majority (about 62%). Typical pre‑tax income range: $50k–$99k for ~65%.
• PMH‑APRNs: Average age ~54; ~27% plan to retire within six years. About 70% practice in outpatient settings. Typical pre‑tax income range: $100k–$150k for ~47%.

The below publications, based on data from this survey, are available to be used and cited by anyone with an interest in the psychiatric-mental health workforce.

Suggested Citations:
American Psychiatric Nurses Association (2022). APNA 2022 psychiatric-mental health nursing workforce report. Retrieved from https://www.apna.org/workforce
American Psychiatric Nurses Association (2022). Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses Are Key to Addressing the Nation’s Mental Health Crisis. Retrieved from https://www.apna.org/workforce
Gerolamo AM, Delaney KR, Phoenix B, Black P, Rushton A, Stallings J. Psychiatric Nursing Workforce Survey: Results and Implications. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. 2022;0(0). doi:10.1177/10783903221146190