Binghamton University's Psychiatric/Mental Health NP Program Aims to Increase Providers

Strategic Insights -

The mental health crisis is a pressing issue that can be described by stark numbers: about one in five adults in the U.S. experiences mental illness, with 21 million people having a major depressive episode in 2020 and 40 million struggling with anxiety each year. In New York, many counties lack sufficient mental health professionals, with 60% of mental health practitioners unable to take on new patients. Binghamton University's Decker School of Nursing is working to train the next generation of nurses to fill these gaps through its highly regarded psychiatric/mental health NP program.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Decker School of Nursing's psychiatric/mental health NP program has a 90% pass rate on board certification tests and is highly regarded for its comprehensiveness.
  • The program offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) level education, aligning with national nursing organizations' recommendations, and opens the job market for students with higher qualifications.
  • The program attracts diverse students, including those who have been working professionals, and offers flexible scheduling with lab/simulation experiences and 1,000 clinical hours.
  • Interdisciplinary methods, field-based skills, and scholarly writing are emphasized in the program, with a focus on clinical experiences across the life span and maintaining high skill sets in subjects such as advanced physiology and pharmacology.
  • Graduates can pursue various types of work, including caring for those in rural populations, and the program strives to provide students with diverse inpatient and outpatient clinical settings.
  • Despite the challenges of a growing demand for healthcare services and a shortage of 80,000 nurses, the Decker School of Nursing works diligently to keep students happy locally and develop the curriculum for the future.

Statistics:

  • 21 million people had a major depressive episode in 2020 (National Institute of Mental Health).
  • 40 million people struggle with anxiety each year (National Institute of Mental Health).
  • 60% of mental health practitioners cannot take on new patients (Binghamton University).
  • 50% of adults cannot receive any mental health treatment (Binghamton University).
  • 80,000 nurses are expected to be in shortage this year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
  • 6% growth is expected in the nursing workforce over the next decade (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Sources:

  • Susan Glodstein, coordinator of the Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (FPMHNP) program at Decker School of Nursing.
  • Mi Jin Doe '09, MS '13, PhD '20, FPMHNP and clinical associate professor at Decker.
  • Jean Van Kingsley, MS '97, FPMHNP for Otsego County, N.Y., and employee of the Greater Binghamton Health Center in the Office of Mental Health.
  • National Institute of Mental Health.
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
  • Binghamton University's Decker School of Nursing.