{"id":48957,"date":"2010-03-19T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2010-03-19T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2010\/03\/19\/unmc-program-to-increase-numbers-of-psychiatric-nurse-practitioners-in-nebraska\/"},"modified":"2022-08-28T19:21:35","modified_gmt":"2022-08-29T00:21:35","slug":"unmc-program-to-increase-numbers-of-psychiatric-nurse-practitioners-in-nebraska","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2010\/03\/19\/unmc-program-to-increase-numbers-of-psychiatric-nurse-practitioners-in-nebraska\/","title":{"rendered":"UNMC program to increase numbers of psychiatric nurse practitioners in Nebraska"},"content":{"rendered":"

Like most rural areas, the Nebraska panhandle is no exception when it comes to needing more behavioral health professionals. Currently there are two psychiatrists and two psychiatric nurse practitioners serving the area. Nancy Meier is hoping to change that. <\/font><\/p>\n

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There are only 148 psychiatrists and 46 psychiatric nurse practitioners in Nebraska. Out of that, 70 percent of those practitioners are located in Omaha or Lincoln, leaving 89 counties underserved.<\/font><\/p>\n

Meier, an instructor in the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing West Nebraska Division in Scottsbluff, is pursuing her certification in adult mental health, through the Primary Integrated Psychiatric Nursing (<\/span>PIPN) program.<\/font><\/p>\n

The PIPN project is a three-year training grant awarded to the College of Nursing in 2009 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the purpose of educating psychiatric nurse practitioners who are available to diagnose and treat those with mental illnesses in the state of Nebraska.<\/font><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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“My goal is to be able to provide a holistic approach to care of the adult and older adult, from a social, psychiatric and medical perspective,” Meier said. “As a <\/font>gerontological<\/span> nurse practitioner, I will be able to combine my geriatric focus with mental health care to provide comprehensive care of the adult, family and geriatric clients.”<\/font><\/p>\n

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The $1.18 million grant is expected to increase the number of psychiatric nurse practitioners in the state by 43. It <\/span>creates access to two programs through enhanced distance education technology. The technology will enable students to complete course and clinical requirements through Internet-based learning and videoconferencing systems. <\/span><\/span><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

The programs are:<\/span><\/span><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n