title: Expanding the Role of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners in a State Psychiatric System: The New Hampshire Experience.
abstract: Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) are assuming increasing clinical responsibilities in the treatment of individuals with mental illness as the shortage of psychiatrists and their maldistribution continues to persist in the United States. States vary widely in their statutes and administrative rules delineating PMHNP's scope of practice. This column describes the legislative process of incremental changes in New Hampshire statute and rules changes over the past 15 years that have significantly expanded PMHNP's ability to treat individuals with mental illnesses in the state mental health system. PMHNPs have worked closely with physician leaders and policy makers to allow this to occur.
authors.affiliation: Dr. de Nesnera and Ms. Allen are with New Hampshire Hospital, Concord (e-mail: adenesnera@dhhs.state.nh.us ). Dr. de Nesnera is also with the Department of Psychiatry, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire. Fred C. Osher, M.D., and Marvin S. Swartz, M.D., are editors of this column.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Nesnera
authors.affiliation: Dr. de Nesnera and Ms. Allen are with New Hampshire Hospital, Concord (e-mail: adenesnera@dhhs.state.nh.us ). Dr. de Nesnera is also with the Department of Psychiatry, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire. Fred C. Osher, M.D., and Marvin S. Swartz, M.D., are editors of this column.
authors.forename: Diane E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Allen
mesh_terms: D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000451:nursing*; D008605:Mental Health Services; D009513:New Hampshire; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D024802:Nurse's Role; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing; D000078329:Workforce