Psychiatric-
Mental Health
Nursing
2ND EDITION
, ANA Standards of Psychiatric–Mental Health Nursing Practice
The Standards of Practice Standards of Practice for
for Psychiatric–Mental
Health Nursing describe a
Psychiatric–Mental Health Nursing
competent level of nursing Standard 1. Assessment
care as demonstrated by the The PMH registered nurse collects and synthesizes comprehensive health data
critical thinking model known that are pertinent to the healthcare consumer’s health and/or situation.
as the nursing process.
The nursing process Standard 2. Diagnosis
includes the components The PMH registered nurse analyzes the assessment data to determine diagnoses,
of assessment, diagnosis, problems, and areas of focus for care and treatment, including level of risk.
outcomes identification, Standard 3. Outcomes Identification
planning, implementation, The PMH registered nurse identifies expected outcomes and the healthcare consumer’s
and evaluation. Accordingly, goals for a plan individualized to the healthcare consumer or to the situation.
the nursing process
encompasses significant Standard 4. Planning
actions taken by psychiatric– The PMH registered nurse develops a plan that prescribes strategies and
mental health (PMH) alternatives to assist the healthcare consumer in attainment of expected outcomes.
registered nurses and forms Standard 5. Implementation
the foundation of the nurse’s The PMH registered nurse implements the specified plan.
decision-making. Standard 5A. Coordination of Care
The PMH registered nurse coordinates care delivery.
Standard 5B. Health Teaching and Health Promotion
The PMH registered nurse employs strategies to promote health and a safe
environment.
Standard 5C. Consultation
The PMH advanced practice registered nurse provides consultation to influence
the identified plan, enhance the abilities of other clinicians to provide services
for healthcare consumers, and effect change.
Standard 5D. Prescriptive Authority and Treatment
The PMH advanced practice registered nurse uses prescriptive authority,
procedures, referrals, treatments, and therapies in accordance with state and
federal laws and regulations.
Standard 5E. Pharmacological, Biological, and Integrative Therapies
The PMH advanced practice registered nurse incorporates knowledge of
http://www.apna.org/ pharmacological, biological, and complementary interventions with applied clinical
skills to restore the healthcare consumer’s health and prevent further disability.
Standard 5F. Milieu Therapy
The PMH advanced practice registered nurse provides, structures, and
maintains a safe, therapeutic, recovery-oriented environment in collaboration
with healthcare consumers, families, and other healthcare clinicians.
Standard 5G. Therapeutic Relationship and Counseling
The PMH registered nurse uses the therapeutic relationship and counseling
interventions to assist healthcare consumers in their individual recovery
journeys by improving and regaining their previous coping abilities, fostering
mental health, and preventing mental disorder and disability.
Standard 5H. Psychotherapy
The PMH advanced practice registered nurse conducts individual, couples,
http://www.ispn-psych.org/ group, and family psychotherapy using evidence-based psychotherapeutic
frameworks and the nurse–client therapeutic relationship.
Standard 6. Evaluation
The PMH registered nurse evaluates progress toward attainment of expected
outcomes.
SOURCE: American Nurses Association, American Psychiatric Nurses Association & Interna-
http://www.Nursingworld.org tional Society of Psychiatric–Mental Health Nurses (2013). Psychiatric–Mental Health Nursing:
Scope and Standards of Practice, 2nd Edition. Silver Spring, MD: Nursesbooks.org.
© 2014 ANA, APNA, and ISPN
,Psychiatric-
Mental Health
Nursing
2nd Edition
American Nurses Association
Silver Spring, Maryland
2014
, American Nurses Association
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 400
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3492
1-800-274-4ANA
http://www.Nursingworld.org
Published by Nursesbooks.org
The Publishing Program of ANA
http://www.Nursesbooks.org/
The American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA), the International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses
(ISPN), and the American Nurses Association (ANA) are national professional associations. This joint publication,
Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, 2nd Edition, reflects the thinking of the prac-
tice specialty of psychiatric-mental health nursing on various issues and should be reviewed in conjunction with
state board of nursing policies and practices. State law, rules, and regulations govern the practice of nursing, while
Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, 2nd Edition guides psychiatric-mental health
nurses in the application of their professional skills and responsibilities.
The American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) is your resource for psychiatric-mental health nursing. A
professional organization with more than 9,000 members, we are committed to the practice of psychiatric mental
health (PMH) nursing, health and wellness promotion through identification of mental health issues, prevention of
mental health problems and the care and treatment of persons with psychiatric disorders. To facilitate professional
advancement, APNA provides quality psychiatric-mental health nursing continuing education; a wealth of resources
for established, emerging, and prospective PMH nurses; and a community of dynamic collaboration. APNA champions
psychiatric-mental health nursing and advocates for mental health care through the development of positions on key
issues, the widespread dissemination of current knowledge and developments in PMH nursing, and collaboration
with consumer groups, to promote evidence-based advances in recovery-focused assessment, diagnosis, treatment,
and evaluation of persons with mental illness and substance use disorders. For more information: www.apna.org.
The International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses exists to unite and strengthen the presence and the
voice of specialty psychiatric-mental health nursing while influencing healthcare policy to promote equitable, evi-
dence-based and effective treatment and care for individuals, families, and communities. http://www.ispn-psych.org
The American Nurses Association is the only full-service professional organization representing the interests of
the nation’s 3.1 million registered nurses through its constituent/state nurses associations and its organizational
affiliates. The ANA advances the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the
rights of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Congress
and regulatory agencies on healthcare issues affecting nurses and the public.
Copyright © 2014 American Nurses Association, American Psychiatric Nurses Association and International Society
of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses. All rights reserved. Reproduction or transmission in any form is not permitted
without written permission of the American Nurses Association (ANA). This publication may not be translated without
written permission of ANA. For inquiries or to report unauthorized use, email
ISBN-13: 978-1-55810-556-0 SAN: 851-3481 06/2014
First printing: June 2014
Mental Health
Nursing
2ND EDITION
, ANA Standards of Psychiatric–Mental Health Nursing Practice
The Standards of Practice Standards of Practice for
for Psychiatric–Mental
Health Nursing describe a
Psychiatric–Mental Health Nursing
competent level of nursing Standard 1. Assessment
care as demonstrated by the The PMH registered nurse collects and synthesizes comprehensive health data
critical thinking model known that are pertinent to the healthcare consumer’s health and/or situation.
as the nursing process.
The nursing process Standard 2. Diagnosis
includes the components The PMH registered nurse analyzes the assessment data to determine diagnoses,
of assessment, diagnosis, problems, and areas of focus for care and treatment, including level of risk.
outcomes identification, Standard 3. Outcomes Identification
planning, implementation, The PMH registered nurse identifies expected outcomes and the healthcare consumer’s
and evaluation. Accordingly, goals for a plan individualized to the healthcare consumer or to the situation.
the nursing process
encompasses significant Standard 4. Planning
actions taken by psychiatric– The PMH registered nurse develops a plan that prescribes strategies and
mental health (PMH) alternatives to assist the healthcare consumer in attainment of expected outcomes.
registered nurses and forms Standard 5. Implementation
the foundation of the nurse’s The PMH registered nurse implements the specified plan.
decision-making. Standard 5A. Coordination of Care
The PMH registered nurse coordinates care delivery.
Standard 5B. Health Teaching and Health Promotion
The PMH registered nurse employs strategies to promote health and a safe
environment.
Standard 5C. Consultation
The PMH advanced practice registered nurse provides consultation to influence
the identified plan, enhance the abilities of other clinicians to provide services
for healthcare consumers, and effect change.
Standard 5D. Prescriptive Authority and Treatment
The PMH advanced practice registered nurse uses prescriptive authority,
procedures, referrals, treatments, and therapies in accordance with state and
federal laws and regulations.
Standard 5E. Pharmacological, Biological, and Integrative Therapies
The PMH advanced practice registered nurse incorporates knowledge of
http://www.apna.org/ pharmacological, biological, and complementary interventions with applied clinical
skills to restore the healthcare consumer’s health and prevent further disability.
Standard 5F. Milieu Therapy
The PMH advanced practice registered nurse provides, structures, and
maintains a safe, therapeutic, recovery-oriented environment in collaboration
with healthcare consumers, families, and other healthcare clinicians.
Standard 5G. Therapeutic Relationship and Counseling
The PMH registered nurse uses the therapeutic relationship and counseling
interventions to assist healthcare consumers in their individual recovery
journeys by improving and regaining their previous coping abilities, fostering
mental health, and preventing mental disorder and disability.
Standard 5H. Psychotherapy
The PMH advanced practice registered nurse conducts individual, couples,
http://www.ispn-psych.org/ group, and family psychotherapy using evidence-based psychotherapeutic
frameworks and the nurse–client therapeutic relationship.
Standard 6. Evaluation
The PMH registered nurse evaluates progress toward attainment of expected
outcomes.
SOURCE: American Nurses Association, American Psychiatric Nurses Association & Interna-
http://www.Nursingworld.org tional Society of Psychiatric–Mental Health Nurses (2013). Psychiatric–Mental Health Nursing:
Scope and Standards of Practice, 2nd Edition. Silver Spring, MD: Nursesbooks.org.
© 2014 ANA, APNA, and ISPN
,Psychiatric-
Mental Health
Nursing
2nd Edition
American Nurses Association
Silver Spring, Maryland
2014
, American Nurses Association
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 400
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3492
1-800-274-4ANA
http://www.Nursingworld.org
Published by Nursesbooks.org
The Publishing Program of ANA
http://www.Nursesbooks.org/
The American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA), the International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses
(ISPN), and the American Nurses Association (ANA) are national professional associations. This joint publication,
Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, 2nd Edition, reflects the thinking of the prac-
tice specialty of psychiatric-mental health nursing on various issues and should be reviewed in conjunction with
state board of nursing policies and practices. State law, rules, and regulations govern the practice of nursing, while
Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, 2nd Edition guides psychiatric-mental health
nurses in the application of their professional skills and responsibilities.
The American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) is your resource for psychiatric-mental health nursing. A
professional organization with more than 9,000 members, we are committed to the practice of psychiatric mental
health (PMH) nursing, health and wellness promotion through identification of mental health issues, prevention of
mental health problems and the care and treatment of persons with psychiatric disorders. To facilitate professional
advancement, APNA provides quality psychiatric-mental health nursing continuing education; a wealth of resources
for established, emerging, and prospective PMH nurses; and a community of dynamic collaboration. APNA champions
psychiatric-mental health nursing and advocates for mental health care through the development of positions on key
issues, the widespread dissemination of current knowledge and developments in PMH nursing, and collaboration
with consumer groups, to promote evidence-based advances in recovery-focused assessment, diagnosis, treatment,
and evaluation of persons with mental illness and substance use disorders. For more information: www.apna.org.
The International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses exists to unite and strengthen the presence and the
voice of specialty psychiatric-mental health nursing while influencing healthcare policy to promote equitable, evi-
dence-based and effective treatment and care for individuals, families, and communities. http://www.ispn-psych.org
The American Nurses Association is the only full-service professional organization representing the interests of
the nation’s 3.1 million registered nurses through its constituent/state nurses associations and its organizational
affiliates. The ANA advances the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the
rights of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Congress
and regulatory agencies on healthcare issues affecting nurses and the public.
Copyright © 2014 American Nurses Association, American Psychiatric Nurses Association and International Society
of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses. All rights reserved. Reproduction or transmission in any form is not permitted
without written permission of the American Nurses Association (ANA). This publication may not be translated without
written permission of ANA. For inquiries or to report unauthorized use, email
ISBN-13: 978-1-55810-556-0 SAN: 851-3481 06/2014
First printing: June 2014
