Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Programs in Idaho - ID

The Idaho Board of Nursing (IBN) mentions that in order to obtain licensure as an advanced practice professional nurse (APPN), you must fulfill the following requirements:

1. Currently licensed as a professional nurse in Idaho or one of the Nursing License Compact (NLC) states
2. Graduation from an APPN education program within the specialty population that has been approved by IBN
3. Current initial certification or recertification, or passing a qualifying examination from a national group recognized by IBN
4. Sufficient mental and physical health so as not to impair the practice of nursing

Nurse practitioners (NPs) are the most popular category among APPNs in Idaho. According to a publication released by IBN, out of 971 total APPNs in the state at the end of 2009, 554 were licensed as NPs. Psychiatric nurse practitioners are NPs specialized in assessment, diagnosis as well as treatment of a variety of psychiatric and mental health conditions and disorders.

For current RNs, obtaining an advanced practice nursing education degree is usually the first step towards becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner in Idaho. Approved programs are available in traditional on-campus as well as on-line formats. Professional nurses, including some of those working in renowned hospitals such as Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, and St. Luke's Boise Medical Center are taking this step toward this esteemed field.