Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska

- Programs and Training Overview
- - Lifelong Learning Fund
    BHECN's Lifelong Learning fund supports educational and career engagement opportunities to help grow our state's behavioral health workforce.
  - Graduate Trainee Support Program
    The Graduate Trainee Support Program financially bolsters master's-level students during select advanced practicum or internship experiences.
  - Mentoring Program
    BHECN's mentorship program provides guidance and support to undergraduate and graduate-level students seeking licensed behavioral health careers in Nebraska.
  - BHECN Scholars
    The BHECN Scholars program supports undergraduate seniors who plan to pursue master’s degrees in Nebraska-based behavioral health programs.
- - Project PEACE
    Project PEACE is a series of web-based modules designed to equip primary care providers with skills and knowledge to address behavioral health concerns.
  - Telehealth Training
    Following the COVID-19 pandemic, day-to-day use of telehealth allows people to connect safely and effectively to mental health services no matter where they are located.
- Partnerships Overview
- Nebraska Behavioral Health Education Partnership (NEBHEP)
  BHECN partners with the 20 academic institutions to track the number of graduate-level behavioral health education students graduating and staying in Nebraska.
- Nebraska Behavioral Health Training Partnership
  BHECN establishes partnerships to create and disseminate educational materials for the development of the behavioral health workforce.
- Behavioral Health Workforce Center Alliance
  The Behavioral Health Workforce Center Alliance (BHWCA) is a network of behavioral health workforce development centers from across the United States.
- Advisory Groups
  BHECN’s advisory groups provide input that shapes our work and help us keep up with the latest challenges and issues facing Nebraska’s behavioral health workforce.
- B-Con
  Learn more about BHECN’s Annual Conference!
- Research, Data & Policy Overview
- Nebraska Behavioral Health Workforce Dashboard
  The dashboard helps policy makers, employers, and behavioral health care stakeholders understand the state of the behavioral health workforce.
- Workforce Report and Data Snapshots
  Read our latest report about the Nebraska behavioral health workforce and access data snapshots that explore the workforce in greater detail.
- Legislative Reports
  BHECN's biennial legislative reports examine the characteristics of actively practicing behavioral health providers in Nebraska.
- ARPA
  Access information related BHECN’s allocation of $25.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars to Nebraska behavioral health providers.
- BHECN's Published Research
  See a listing of BHECN's published research.
- BHECN Sites Overview
- BHECN Panhandle
  Our BHECN Panhandle site supports our mission of recruitment and retention of behavioral health professionals in Western Nebraska.
- BHECN Central
  BHECN Central is a remote site for training and workforce development at the University of Nebraska Kearney that serves the central part of the state.
- BHECN Northeast
  BHECN Northeast is a remote site based at Wayne State College that facilitates training and workforce development in Northeast Nebraska.
- BHECN East
  BHECN East is located at the UNO Grace Abbott School of Social Work and focuses primarily on the behavioral health workforce needs of the Omaha area.
- BHECN Southwest
  BHECN Southwest is a remote site based in North Platte that facilitates training and workforce development in Southwest Nebraska.
- BHECN Southeast
  BHECN Southeast is headquartered at Region 5 Systems and focuses on meeting the behavioral health workforce needs of Southeast Nebraska.
The Nebraska Model

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

An icon image of a psychiatric nurse practitioner Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses (APRN-NP) who can diagnose and treat mental illnesses and promote the mental health of individuals and families.

Psychiatric nurse practitioners offer psychiatric/mental health assessments, order laboratory tests, conduct psychotherapy, and manage medications.

They specialize in treating those who have more serious mental health problems than those managed by a local primary care physician.

There are also opportunities for nurses (RNs, LPNs) and nursing assistants (CNAs, psychiatric technicians) to work in inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings.

Education Requirements

Typically Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degrees. Expect six to nine years of coursework post-high school.

Work Environment

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners (APRN-NP) work in the offices of physicians or other health practitioners, private practice, hospitals, outpatient clinics, community agencies, colleges and universities.

Projected Growth & Salary Range

Projected Growth: 31 percent (much higher than average).

Salary Range: $110,060 - $199,630

Specializations, Programs & Required License/Certificate

Specializations:

Child & adolescent mental health nursing
Gerontological-psychiatric nursing
Substance use disorders

Programs:

University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) | MSN, DNP | 402.559.4000 | unmc.edu
Creighton University | MSN, DNP | Omaha | 402.280.2700 | creighton.edu
Clarkson College | Omaha | 800.647.5500 | clarksoncollege.edu

Required License/Certificate:

Nurse Practitioner License

Leigh Cook, APRN, NP

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner with Leigh Cook, APRN, NP

Hear from Leigh Cook, APRN, NP, as she discusses her role as a psychiatric nurse practitioner, providing advanced mental health care through assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, and medication management.

Explore More Behavioral Health Careers →