Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, D.N.P.
The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) is a practice degree designed to prepare nurses as clinical practitioners/scholars to assume advanced practice clinical roles. The curricular plan is designed for the student who has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.). The degree prepares graduates to provide holistic, mental health care integrating neuroscientific principles of behavior, experience and psychopharmacology with psychotherapy, consultation and trauma-related care across the lifespan as well as population based and application science to improve patient outcomes. 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 the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner national certification.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate proficiency in psychopharmacology.
- Conduct and demonstrate competency in a psychiatric evaluation.
- Translate evidence to address population health problems.
- Integrate databases and information literacy in designing interventions for advanced practice.
- Execute evidence-based interventions to improve health care outcomes.
Entry
The PMHNP, DNP program offers one entry point for students:
B.S.N. entry - a student must hold a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree from a program that is nationally accredited.
Requirements for Earning the D.N.P. Degree include:
- Doctoral residency of at least 18 graduate credit hours for three consecutive major semesters. Enrollment in a summer term is not required to maintain continuity, but credits earned during summer terms (including May session) will count toward the 18 hours required for Residency. The residency requirement may be met only after admission to the D.N.P. program;
- Completion of an approved program of study;
- Comprehensive assessment through defense of project proposal;
- Completion of a research utilization / evidence-based practice project and oral defense.
Course Requirements (74 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 702 | Pharmacologic Mgmt in Pediatric, Adult, & Gerontological Patients Across Hlthcare Delivery Continuum | 3 |
| NURS 704 | Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning 1 | 3 |
| NURS 707 | Advanced Pathophysiology for Nurses | 3 |
| NURS 717 | Application of Basic Statistics for Nursing Practice & Service Management | 3 |
| NURS 718 | Diagnostic Interpretation and Therapeutic Modalities | 3 |
| NURS 720 | Clinical Application of Population Analysis | 3 |
| NURS 737 | Foundations for DNP Development | 3 |
| NURS 761 | Neuroscientific Basis for Pharmacological & Nonpharmacological Treatments for Psychiatric Conditions | 4 |
| NURS 763 | Advanced Psychiatric Nurse Practicum I: Management of Psychiatric/Mental Health Conditions 2 | 6 |
| NURS 764 | Advanced Psychiatric Nurse Practicum II: Management of Complex Psychiatric/Mental Health Conditions 2 | 6 |
| NURS 768 | Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner: Legal, Ethical, and Role Transition | 2 |
| NURS 768A | Advanced Psychiatric Nurse Practicum III: Role Development 2 | 2 |
| NURS 779 | Health Policy 2 | 3 |
| NURS 780 | Organizational Theories and Systems in Healthcare | 3 |
| NURS 781 | Applied Technology in Health Care | 3 |
| NURS 783 | Clinical Project Immersion & Proposal Development 2 | 3 |
| NURS 790 | Research Methods for Nursing | 3 |
| NURS 805 | Advanced Nursing Leadership | 3 |
| NURS 808 | Advanced Nursing in Population Health | 3 |
| NURS 817 | Application of Statistics for Evidence Based Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NURS 819 | Evidence and Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NURS 897 | DNP Project Preparation and Residency 2 | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours | 74 | |
- 1
Indicates on campus immersion course.
- 2
Indicates practicum course.