Advanced practice psychiatric-mental health nursing in a community-based nurse-managed primary care program

In the evolving health care environment, advanced practice opportunities for psychiatric-mental health nurses may lie in managed care models of community oriented primary health care. As providers, care managers, health promoters and educators, and client advocates with family systems expertise, psychiatric-mental health advanced practice specialists are a necessary component of all primary health care. This article describes the development of a community-based primary care practice that integrates physical and mental health care on the same site.