,
, The Standards of Standards of Practice
Practice for Psychiatric- Standard 1. Assessment
Mental Health Nursing The psychiatric-mental health registered nurse collects and synthesizes
comprehensive health data that are pertinent to the patient’s/client’s
describe a competent health and/or situation.
level of nursing practice Standard 2. Diagnosis
demonstrated by the The psychiatric-mental health registered nurse analyzes the assessment
data to determine diagnoses, problems, and areas of focus for care and
critical thinking model treatment, including level of risk.
known as the nursing Standard 3. Outcomes Identification effectively in all areas o
process. The nursing The psychiatric-mental health registered nurse identifies expected
outcomes based on the patient’s/client’s goals and their individual
process encompasses circumstances.
significant actions Standard 4. Planning
completed by registered The psychiatric-mental health registered nurse develops a patient/client-
centered plan that prescribes strategies and alternatives to attain expected
nurses and forms the outcomes.
foundation of the nurses’ Standard 5. Implementation
decision-making. The psychiatric-mental health registered nurse implements the patient/
client-centered plan. knowledge and compe
Standard 5A. Coordination of Care
The psychiatric-mental health registered nurse coordinates care delivery.
Standard 5B. Health Teaching and Health Promotion evidence and research
The psychiatric-mental health registered nurse employs strategies to promote health and a safe environment.
Standard 5C. Consultation
The psychiatric-mental health advanced practice registered nurse provides consultation to maximize outcomes enhances the quality an
from the identified plan, collaborate with other clinicians to provide services for patients/clients, and contribute
to system change.
Standard 5D. Pharmacological/Biological Therapies and Prescriptive Authority
The psychiatric-mental health registered nurse incorporates knowledge of pharmacological and biological
interventions with applied clinical skills to restore the patient’s/client’s health and prevent further disability.
The psychiatric-mental health advanced practice registered nurse uses prescriptive authority, procedures,
referrals, treatments, and therapies in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations. based nursing services
Standard 5E. Complementary/Integrative Therapies
The psychiatric-mental health registered nurse incorporates knowledge of complementary/integrative
interventions (e.g., meditation, yoga, acupuncture, Reiki, Healing Touch, nutrition, physical exercises, dietary
supplements, aromatherapy, herbology, art, and music) with applied clinical skills to restore the patient’s/client’s
health and prevent further disability.
Standard 5F. Milieu Therapy
The psychiatric-mental health registered nurse (including the graduate-level prepared PMH-RN and PMH-
APRN) provides a safe, therapeutic, recovery-oriented environment in collaboration with patients/clients,
families, and other clinicians/ancillary staff/care partners.
Standard 5G. Therapeutic Relationship
The psychiatric-mental health registered nurse (including the graduate-level prepared PMH-RN and PMH-
APRN) uses the therapeutic relationship as the basis for interactions and the provision of care.
Standard 5H. Counseling and Psychotherapy
The psychiatric-mental health registered nurse uses counseling interventions to assist patients/clients in their
individual recovery journeys.
The psychiatric-mental health advanced practice registered nurse conducts individual, couples, group,
and family psychotherapy, using evidence-based psychotherapeutic frameworks within the nurse–client
therapeutic relationship.
Standard 6. Evaluation
The psychiatric-mental health registered nurse evaluates progress toward attainment of expected outcomes.
Source: American Nurses Association, American Psychiatric Nurses Association, & International Society of
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses. (2022). Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice
(3rd Ed.). Silver Spring, MD. ANA (pgs. 59–92).
, Psychiatric-
Mental Health
Nursing Scope and Standards
of Practice
3rd Edition
, The Standards of Standards of Practice
Practice for Psychiatric- Standard 1. Assessment
Mental Health Nursing The psychiatric-mental health registered nurse collects and synthesizes
comprehensive health data that are pertinent to the patient’s/client’s
describe a competent health and/or situation.
level of nursing practice Standard 2. Diagnosis
demonstrated by the The psychiatric-mental health registered nurse analyzes the assessment
data to determine diagnoses, problems, and areas of focus for care and
critical thinking model treatment, including level of risk.
known as the nursing Standard 3. Outcomes Identification effectively in all areas o
process. The nursing The psychiatric-mental health registered nurse identifies expected
outcomes based on the patient’s/client’s goals and their individual
process encompasses circumstances.
significant actions Standard 4. Planning
completed by registered The psychiatric-mental health registered nurse develops a patient/client-
centered plan that prescribes strategies and alternatives to attain expected
nurses and forms the outcomes.
foundation of the nurses’ Standard 5. Implementation
decision-making. The psychiatric-mental health registered nurse implements the patient/
client-centered plan. knowledge and compe
Standard 5A. Coordination of Care
The psychiatric-mental health registered nurse coordinates care delivery.
Standard 5B. Health Teaching and Health Promotion evidence and research
The psychiatric-mental health registered nurse employs strategies to promote health and a safe environment.
Standard 5C. Consultation
The psychiatric-mental health advanced practice registered nurse provides consultation to maximize outcomes enhances the quality an
from the identified plan, collaborate with other clinicians to provide services for patients/clients, and contribute
to system change.
Standard 5D. Pharmacological/Biological Therapies and Prescriptive Authority
The psychiatric-mental health registered nurse incorporates knowledge of pharmacological and biological
interventions with applied clinical skills to restore the patient’s/client’s health and prevent further disability.
The psychiatric-mental health advanced practice registered nurse uses prescriptive authority, procedures,
referrals, treatments, and therapies in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations. based nursing services
Standard 5E. Complementary/Integrative Therapies
The psychiatric-mental health registered nurse incorporates knowledge of complementary/integrative
interventions (e.g., meditation, yoga, acupuncture, Reiki, Healing Touch, nutrition, physical exercises, dietary
supplements, aromatherapy, herbology, art, and music) with applied clinical skills to restore the patient’s/client’s
health and prevent further disability.
Standard 5F. Milieu Therapy
The psychiatric-mental health registered nurse (including the graduate-level prepared PMH-RN and PMH-
APRN) provides a safe, therapeutic, recovery-oriented environment in collaboration with patients/clients,
families, and other clinicians/ancillary staff/care partners.
Standard 5G. Therapeutic Relationship
The psychiatric-mental health registered nurse (including the graduate-level prepared PMH-RN and PMH-
APRN) uses the therapeutic relationship as the basis for interactions and the provision of care.
Standard 5H. Counseling and Psychotherapy
The psychiatric-mental health registered nurse uses counseling interventions to assist patients/clients in their
individual recovery journeys.
The psychiatric-mental health advanced practice registered nurse conducts individual, couples, group,
and family psychotherapy, using evidence-based psychotherapeutic frameworks within the nurse–client
therapeutic relationship.
Standard 6. Evaluation
The psychiatric-mental health registered nurse evaluates progress toward attainment of expected outcomes.
Source: American Nurses Association, American Psychiatric Nurses Association, & International Society of
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses. (2022). Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice
(3rd Ed.). Silver Spring, MD. ANA (pgs. 59–92).
, Psychiatric-
Mental Health
Nursing Scope and Standards
of Practice
3rd Edition
