Air Force AFSC · Medical
46PX Mental Health Nurse
Overview
A Mental Health Nurse helps diagnose mental health concerns affecting Airmen and provides safe, effective treatment alongside the mental health care team. The nurse also helps foster positive environments that support the continued health of Airmen around the world.
Core Skills
- clinical assessment and diagnosis
- behavioral health treatment planning
- crisis intervention and de-escalation
- case management and care coordination
- patient interviewing and documentation
- interdisciplinary team collaboration
- confidentiality and HIPAA compliance
- suicide risk assessment and safety planning
- stress management and resilience training
- brief counseling and psychoeducation
Civilian Software & Tools
- Microsoft Teams
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
- SAS
- Google Meet
Civilian Career Paths
- Nursing
- Behavioral Health
- Public Health
Training & Development
Getting Started
- Registered Nurse (RN) State Licensure
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
Career Growth
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Certification (PMH-BC)
- Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)
- Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC)
What the Work Involves
- Assess patients' mental and physical status, based on the presenting symptoms and complaints.
- Educate patients and family members about mental health and medical conditions, preventive health measures, medications, or treatment plans.
- Document patients' medical and psychological histories, physical assessment results, diagnoses, treatment plans, prescriptions, or outcomes.
- Diagnose psychiatric disorders and mental health conditions.
- Write prescriptions for psychotropic medications as allowed by state regulations and collaborative practice agreements.
Related Occupations
- Nurse Practitioners
- Psychiatrists
- Psychiatric Technicians
Typical preparation for these civilian roles: graduate-level education or extensive experience.
Equivalent Roles in Other Branches
Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.
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