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Filling Critical
Shortages in
Mental Health Care
LSU School of Nursing Introduces Psychiatric Mental Health DNP Program
The shortage of mental health professionals is a huge issue throughout the nation. Far too many children who need assessments go undiagnosed, and the demand for substance abuse and mental health treatment for adults is great as well. In many places, those who need care can o en wait months for mental health services.
Public A airs Research Council of Louisiana identified a major deficit in mental and behavioral health services. LSU Health New Orleans School of Nursing made sure to address this pressing need by adding a Psychiatric- Mental Health Nurse Practitioner concentration to the BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice program in an e ort to provide vital services that many communities are currently without.
A Top-Tier Program in a Unique Health Setting
The DNP program, which was recently approved by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing, is shaping up to be one of the best in the region, o ering a range of clinical experiences across the lifespan. From pediatric primary care and school-based clinics to long-term
care facilities for the elderly, nurses
in the program will put in more than 900 hours in a psychiatric clinical setting – nearly double the national standard of 500 hours. In the classroom setting, coursework that includes neuroanatomy, neurophysiology
and neuropharmacology creates the theoretical foundation for these nurses to excel in their practice.
The inaugural class for the Psychiatric Mental Health DNP program includes six students, with another 10 students expected to join next year.
Nurses Who Are Motivated to Make a Di erence
“Half the students who are seeking enrollment in the program are already certified Family Nurse Practitioners,” says Leanne Fowler, DNP, AG/ACNP-BC, CCRN, CNE, Director of Nurse Practitioner Programs. “And every one of them has told me how important it is that we’re o ering this program.” According to Fowler, many nurses report having few local providers to whom they can refer patients who need mental health services, or wait times to see specialists that are far too long. This has led some
nurses to take it upon themselves to get the degree they need to provide these services to their communities.
“The rise in substance abuse, the increased recognition of ADHD and autism spectrum disorders, and a large baby boomer population increasingly in need of mental health services are all creating a greater need for qualified mental health practitioners,” says
Dr. Fowler. “And since a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner can provide comparable care to a psychiatrist, this new program is critical to addressing the immediate need for more psychiatric mental health professionals.”
2 LSU NURSING | WINTER 2018