ABSTRACT
Advanced psychiatric mental health nursing (APMHN) emerged as a graduate-level nursing specialization in the late 1950s, after the passage of the National Mental Health Act of 1946 and the creation of the National Institute of Mental Health in 1949, which has led to many advancements in mental health evaluation and treatment. While initially APMHNs were trained to practice autonomously, the degree has also evolved to prepare them to assess mental health problems, diagnose psychiatric disorders, and provide treatment independently. With the advancement of psychopharmacology, the role of the APMHN has further evolved to encompass the expanding biopsychosocial perspective, and the competencies required to practice have kept congruent with the emerging science. Consequently, many psychiatric mental health graduate nursing programs have modified their curricula to include greater emphasis on comprehensive mental and physical health problems, and on the professional competencies necessary for prescriptive authority. The chapter also presents an overview on the key concepts discussed in this book.
