I don’t know about you, but one of my least favorite parts of being a psych NP has always been charting. 😩 Seriously—the bane of my existence.
I’ve had a lot of practice charting across various settings I’ve worked in (community mental health, outpatient, tribal clinic, SUD, private practice, telehealth), and getting good at documenting clearly and efficiently has been such an essential skill.
I’ve been able to feel more like this when I chart:
Ok, not exactly like this but close enough.
So today, I’m sharing my top charting tips for psych NPs that have helped me streamline the process without sacrificing clarity or quality.
Why Efficient Charting Matters
Charting is more than a task—it’s legal protection, clinical communication, and a reflection of your care. But it shouldn’t consume your whole day. That’s why learning to chart clearly and efficiently is one of the best skills you can develop as a PMHNP.
My Favorite Charting Tips for Psych NPs
Here are a few methods that have saved my sanity (and many lunch breaks):
✅ Chart Prep Before the Day Starts – Arrive 30 minutes early to work to review labs and previous notes so you can anticipate challenges and avoid delays.
✅ Use HPI One-Liners – Start with a structure like:
“This is a ___ yo fe/male with hx of ______, PMH of ______, ________ (other relevant details such as number of past psychiatric hospitalizations and suicide attempts) who presents for ________ (med management f/u or initial psychiatric evaluation).”
✅ Shorthand Risk Assessment Template – For example:
“Patient is at ______ (low/moderate/high) acute risk for self-harm/suicide as evidenced by _______. Risk is mitigated by _______. Patient is ________ (appropriate/inappropriate etc) for current level of care.”
✅ Take 3–4 Minute Charting Breaks – Instead of batch charting, take short pauses between patients to stay on top of notes and avoid a backlog of notes to complete.
These small changes have made a big impact on my practice—especially when I was working in high-volume community mental health settings.
One More Tool: The Psychiatric Templates Bundle
At some point, other psych NPs started asking about my note structure. So I bundled everything up into the Psychiatric Templates Bundle.
What’s included:
- 📝 Clinical Pearls of Psychiatric Treatment
- 📝 Initial Psychiatric Evaluation Templates (for both adults and kids/teens)
- 📝 Follow-Up Note Template
- 📝 Example Psychiatric Evaluation Note
- 📝 Example Follow-Up Note
- 📝 Editable Google Doc Template
It’s perfect for new psych NPs or seasoned providers looking to save time while documenting thoroughly.
Whether you’re drowning in paperwork or just looking to refine your workflow, these charting tips for psych NPs can help you document smarter—not harder.
Related Reads
- How Berries AI Can Revolutionize Charting for Psych NPs
- Psychiatric Charting Templates That Save Time
