Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Certificate

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Certificate of Graduate Study (post-master's certificate) is restricted to students who hold a master’s degree in nursing. The program of study is designed to augment the student’s prior graduate study through advanced practice preparation to provide holistic, mental health care integrating neuroscientific principles of behavior, experience and psychopharmacology with psychotherapy, consultation and trauma-related care across the lifespan. The PMHNP will be prepared to practice in diverse settings including nurse-managed clinics, inpatient psychiatric facilities, home health, private psychiatric practices, addiction centers, general ambulatory clinics and schools.

This curriculum prepares nurses to sit for national certification as Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Demonstrate proficiency in psychopharmacology.
  2. Conduct and demonstrate competency in a psychiatric evaluation.

Admissions

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Certificate program offers two entry points for students:

  1. M.S.N. certified and practicing as an APRN (please note after admission a GAP analysis will be done to determine specific plan of study based on the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties LACE components).
  2. M.S.N. not certified as Advanced Practice Nurses

Degree Requirements (18-32 Hours) 

Requirements for earning the Certificate include:

  1. Completion of an approved program of study;
  2. A GPA of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) on all courses attempted for graduate credit and all courses numbered 700 and above;
  3. A GPA of a 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) on all courses on the approved program of study
  4. Minimum 18 Hours for students already certified for advanced practice nursing who need to obtain additional certification.

Advanced Practice Core Requirements (12 hours)

Course Title Credits
NURS 702Pharmacologic Mgmt in Pediatric, Adult, & Gerontological Patients Across Hlthcare Delivery Continuum 33
NURS 704Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning 2,33
NURS 707Advanced Pathophysiology for Nurses 33
NURS 718Diagnostic Interpretation and Therapeutic Modalities 33
Total Credit Hours12

Required Concentration Courses Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (18-20 credits)

Course Title Credits
NURS 761Neuroscientific Basis for Pharmacological & Nonpharmacological Treatments for Psychiatric Conditions4
NURS 763Advanced Psychiatric Nurse Practicum I: Management of Psychiatric/Mental Health Conditions 16
NURS 764Advanced Psychiatric Nurse Practicum II: Management of Complex Psychiatric/Mental Health Conditions 16
NURS 768Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner: Legal, Ethical, and Role Transition2
NURS 768AAdvanced Psychiatric Nurse Practicum III: Role Development 32
1

Indicates courses with practicum hours

2

Indicates on campus immersion course

3

Students pursuing the Certificate of Graduate Study in Advanced Practice Nursing who are certified, practicing and meet the LACE components as Advanced Practice Nurses may not be required to take one or all of these courses. Determination will be made after admission via GAP Analysis.