Navy
MEDICAL
Subspecialty
Officer Subspecialty
1930
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing
An officer subspecialty earned alongside a primary designator, marking advanced education or experience in this field.
Description
Psychiatric and mental health nursing provides care for people with mental illness, substance use disorders, and behavioral crises. The specialty uses assessment, therapeutic communication, medication management, safety planning, and crisis intervention.
Core Skills
- mental health assessment
- suicide risk assessment
- therapeutic communication
- psychiatric medication management
- crisis deescalation
- behavioral health documentation
- substance use screening
- treatment plan coordination
- trauma informed care
Common Certifications
- Registered Nurse (RN) License
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Certification (PMH-BC)
- Certified Addictions Registered Nurse (CARN)
- Certified in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing (PMHN)
- Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider
- Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Provider
- Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP)
Civilian Career Paths
- NURSING
- BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
- EMERGENCY MEDICINE
Training & Development
Getting Started
- Registered Nurse (RN) License
- Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Certification (PMH-BC)
- Mental Health First Aid Certification
Career Growth
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Certification (PMH-BC)
- Certified Addictions Registered Nurse (CARN)
- Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP)
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certification (PMHNP-BC)
Equivalent Roles in Other Branches
Data sourced from official Navy publications and public military occupational references. Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.