A Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) is an advanced practice registered nurse with specialized training in mental health assessment, diagnosis, and treatment — including prescribing medication. Like a psychiatrist, I can evaluate, diagnose, and prescribe. The main difference is that I come from a nursing background, which shapes how I practice: I take a whole-person, relationship-centered approach rather than a purely biomedical one. Many clients find that PMHNPs spend more time getting to know them and are highly accessible.