Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses

Bright outlookJob zone 5: extensive preparationO*NET 29-1141.02

Pay and outlook shown for

median pay per year, San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX

$66k10th$94kMedian$123k90th

New workers start near $66,430; experienced workers reach $122,990. About 23,660 people do this job in San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX.

Job outlook

Alamo region (San Antonio and 12 surrounding counties), Texas Workforce Commission projection 2024 to 2034; U.S. figures from the BLS.

Employment change: +16.3%; Alamo region, 24,492 to 28,477 jobs · U.S. +5%
Openings a year: 1,712; in the Alamo region, from growth and people leaving · U.S. 189,100
Employed in 2024: 24,492; in the Alamo region · U.S. 3,391,000

Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree

Alamo Colleges programs that lead here

9 programs, with the college that teaches each.

Apply to Alamo Colleges

Skills this career uses

The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.

Active Listening4.1
Social Perceptiveness4.9
Speaking4.0
Reading Comprehension4.3
Writing4.0
Critical Thinking4.0
Monitoring4.0
Judgment and Decision Making4.0

What the work is

Assess, diagnose, and treat individuals and families with mental health or substance use disorders or the potential for such disorders. Apply therapeutic activities, including the prescription of medication, per state regulations, and the administration of psychotherapy.

Participate in activities aimed at professional growth and development, including conferences or continuing education activities.
Develop practice protocols for mental health problems, based on review and evaluation of published research.
Develop, implement, or evaluate programs such as outreach activities, community mental health programs, and crisis situation response activities.
Write prescriptions for psychotropic medications as allowed by state regulations and collaborative practice agreements.
Refer patients requiring more specialized or complex treatment to psychiatrists, primary care physicians, or other medical specialists.
Provide routine physical health screenings to detect or monitor problems such as heart disease and diabetes.

Education people in this job have

Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.

Master's degree87%
Doctoral or professional13%

Job zone 5, extensive preparation: A graduate or professional degree, usually after a bachelor's.

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