Greater than half of Californians dwelling with psychological sickness don’t obtain the psychiatric care they want. The COVID-19 pandemic solely exacerbated the disaster. With an anticipated 41% fewer psychiatrists than wanted in California over the subsequent decade, the urgency to deal with the problem is even higher.
To reply the decision, 4 College of California Faculties of Nursing launched a multicampus, hybrid program to arrange nurse practitioners throughout California as psychiatric psychological well being specialists. The UC Psychiatric Psychological Well being Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Certificates Program unites UCSF, UCLA, the UC Irvine Sue & Invoice Gross College of Nursing and the Betty Irene Moore College of Nursing at UC Davis. Collectively, they’re growing a workforce of various licensed behavioral well being professionals.
The one-year program, which welcomed its first-class in 2021, grew out of a program developed by UCSF. At launch, UCSF was the one accredited PMHNP program within the UC system, so it initially led curriculum design and administrative oversight. Now, they cross the baton to educators on the Betty Irene Moore College of Nursing, who take over to handle this system’s fourth class of scholars and past.
“Nurses are main progressive adjustments to remodel well being for Californians. I’m pleased with the PMHNP program our college developed and have administered,” mentioned Catherine Gilliss, dean of the UCSF College of Nursing. “I’m assured that our Betty Irene Moore College of Nursing companions will proceed this dedication to psychological well being professionals who’re able to deal with California’s complicated well being challenges.”
Gilliss, together with the deans on the different accomplice faculties, agreed that persevering with to share a multicampus program that serves your complete state is important to growing entry to psychological well being companies. The day-to-day operations for the present class of 2023 PMHNP college students and the accomplice preceptors throughout the state doesn’t change. Starting in 2024, UC Davis will function the house establishment for this system.
“This partnership throughout our sister UC Faculties of Nursing serves as a testomony to the facility of collaboration and the way, collectively, we will develop the influence now we have for these in determined want of psychological well being companies,” defined Stephen Cavanagh, dean of the UC Davis nursing college. “PMNPSs carry a singular skillset and perspective to the psychological well being workforce. Our staff is keen to establish methods we will develop the curriculum, educating, placement alternatives and advertising and marketing outreach to maneuver us to the subsequent degree.”
To this point, 80 new PMHNPs have graduated from this system. They, together with future lessons, are anticipated to function many as 378,000 sufferers over the subsequent 5 years. The multicampus certificates program is a begin. Psychological well being advocates additionally advocate growing the variety of behavioral well being paraprofessionals in California. Paraprofessional roles that don’t require a bachelor’s diploma or licensure embody peer suppliers, neighborhood psychological well being staff, and social and human companies assistants.
“13 million Californians dwell in communities that the federal authorities has designated as Psychological Well being Skilled Scarcity Areas. An attribute of our program is that we practice nurse practitioners of their native areas. That approach they will work with their communities throughout this system and, hopefully, keep there to serve the populations after commencement,” mentioned Lisa Badovinac, the assistant dean for schooling at UC Davis.
The PMHNP certificates program is geared towards superior observe registered nurses and combines on-line schooling with three in-person classes in Sacramento and regional scientific coaching throughout California. Starting with the cohort enrolling in June 2024, college students will apply by the Betty Irene Moore College of Nursing pending all UC and California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN). Purposes for June 2024 entry are anticipated to open in late 2023 as soon as accredited.
