The requirements to work as a psychiatric/mental health nurse include being a Registered Nurse with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree, as well as having two full years of experience working as an RN. They must also possess two thousand hours minimum of clinical practice in a mental health setting within three years of hire, and are required to obtain thirty hours of continuing education credits annually while working as a psychiatric/mental health nurse. The psychiatric nurse will provide medical services to a wide range of patients who suffer from mental health conditions, which can include depression, PTSD, eating disorders, or drug addiction. This specialty can be unpredictable and this is why continuing education is mandated for any nurse choosing to work in psychiatry.