Therapists In PMHNP Education: Bridging the Gap

As a seasoned Nurse Practitioner (NP), I understand the vital role collaboration plays in mental healthcare. Therapist involvement in the education of Psych Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) students is a prime example of such collaboration.

Many PMHNP programs require students to complete therapy rotations in addition to rotations that focus more on medication management. These programs actively seek “therapy preceptors.” These are licensed, masters-prepared, or higher therapists who act as preceptors—essentially, short-term mentors—for their students. Just as you, the therapist, once relied on a supervisor clinician, these students require guidance into the world of psychotherapy in their program.

Here's why partnering with a PMHNP student as a therapist is a mutually beneficial experience:

• Collaboration with Future Providers: Therapists gain valuable experience working alongside a future PMHNP colleague. This fosters a deeper understanding of each other's roles, leading to smoother inter-professional collaboration down the line.
• Building Your Team: Many practices actively seek qualified PMHNPs. Precepting a student allows you to assess their skills and work ethic firsthand, potentially laying the groundwork for a future hire within your practice.
• Investing in the Future: We have a responsibility to educate the next generation of mental health providers. By offering your expertise, you're directly contributing to a future workforce equipped to deliver exceptional patient care.
• Address Workforce Shortages: In many regions, there is a shortage of psychiatric providers, including PMHNPs. By precepting students, therapists contribute to addressing this workforce gap and expanding access to mental health services in underserved communities.
• Mutual Learning: Don't underestimate the potential for reciprocal learning. While PMHNPs are not learning to become therapists, many PMHNP students are already established Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs) returning for their PMHNP certification. Their existing clinical knowledge can offer valuable insights and perspectives. Even if they are new to the field, PMHNP students are often exposed to the latest research and treatment approaches in their programs. By precepting a student, therapists may gain insights into these advancements and medical management.
• Expand Your Network: Precepting students can lead to valuable connections with PMHNP programs and faculty. This can be beneficial for future referrals or collaborations. Precepting may even lead to a position as adjunct or regular faculty.
• Make a Difference in Education: Sharing your expertise with a student can be a personally rewarding experience. You'll be directly impacting the quality of future PMHNP care.
• Advocate for Therapy's Role: By precepting students, therapists have the opportunity to highlight the importance of therapy within the mental health treatment plan. This can help ensure that PMHNPs graduate with a strong appreciation for the value of psychotherapy.
• Remuneration for Precepting: Preceptors may be able to receive a stipend or honorarium for precepting. Some schools offer an honorarium for precepting a PMHNP student. While not a real “wage,” the honorarium is a token of thanks for helping shape these future clinicians. (PreceptorLink® can also offer an honorarium.)
• Personal Fulfillment and Mentorship: Precepting PMHNP students can be a rewarding experience on a personal level. Mentoring students provides therapists with the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the next generation of mental health professionals, fostering a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction.
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Focus on Partnership, Not Therapy Training:

It's crucial to remember that PMHNP students are not observing therapy sessions to learn how to become therapists themselves. Their focus is on understanding the therapist's role in the patient's overall care plan. This may involve observing in-person or virtual sessions, learning how therapists develop rapport, conduct assessments, and collaborate with PMHNPs on treatment approaches.
By partnering with a PMHNP student, you're not only contributing to their education but also fostering a collaborative healthcare environment that ultimately benefits the patients you both serve. Consider becoming a psych NP preceptor or a nurse practitioner student preceptor today.


About the Author: Lynn McComas, DNP, ANP-C, is an experienced nurse practitioner and an expert on the topic of precepting. Determined to make a difference in “the Preceptor Problem,” Lynn went on to obtain her Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) at the esteemed Duke University, where she focused on solutions to this problem. She is the owner and founder of PreceptorLink®. The company’s goal is to simplify and streamline the process of preceptor matching while maintaining quality and professionalism throughout. www.PreceptorLink.com