Psychiatric Nurses and the Practice of Psychotherapy: Current Status and Future Possibilities

Up to now not many patients have interacted with trained psychiatric nurses, since their numbers have been small. It is only a recent development that nurses are continuing their education to the Master’s and Ph.D. levels. Suggestions for courses are made. Because of the growing convergence of the biological and behavioral sciences, nurses will be in a strong position to provide effective patient management. Their traditional involvement in the community, the work place, the schools, as well as the fact that they are in close contact with medical and surgical patients in particular stressful situations, may enable them not only to treat but even mitigate emergent psychopathology. Nurses would be uniquely placed to interact with other members of the mental health professions and to supplement their work.