Gerald "Jay" Baltz, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner who is being investigated by the California Board of Nursing for an inappropriate sexual relationship with a patient who later took her own life, received his training at an online program that required a minimum of 500 clinical hours of experience for graduation.  Baltz continues to provide psychiatry care to patients in California and Washington state, and since receiving a doctorate degree in nursing, he now advertises as "Doctor" Jay Baltz, DNP. 

We are joined by psychiatrist Dr. Natasha Cervantes to discuss the differences in training between psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners, and why the difference in care can be a matter of life or death.

If you are someone you know is having thoughts of self-harm, help is available. Contact your physician immediately, or call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline for help at 800-273-8255.

Learn more about this issue - get the book Patients at Risk, available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. https://www.amazon.com/Patients-Risk-Practitioner-Physician-Healthcare/dp/1627343164/

PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org