The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program is designed to prepare 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. 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. Apply theoretical knowledge to the practice of advanced nursing roles.
2. Utilize evidence to address population health problems.
3. Demonstrate proficiency in psychopharmacology.
4. Conduct and demonstrate competency in a psychiatric evaluation.

Entry

The PMHNP, MSN 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 M.S.N. Degree Include the Following

1. completion of an approved program of study;
2. completion of an applied research course, NURS 791 (3), or a thesis, NURS 799 (6);
3. a GPA of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) on all courses attempted for graduate credit and all courses numbered 700 and above;
4. a GPA of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) an all courses on the approved program of study;
5. and passing a comprehensive assessment during the last semester of the program. 

Course Requirements (48-51 Hours)

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
NURS 700	Theoretical and Conceptual Foundation for Nursing	3
NURS 720	Clinical Application of Population Analysis	3
NURS 717	Application of Basic Statistics for Nursing Practice & Service Management	3
NURS 790	Research Methods for Nursing	3
NURS 791	Seminar in Clinical Nursing Research	3-6
or NURS 799	Thesis Preparation
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 718	Diagnostic Interpretation and Therapeutic Modalities	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	3
Total Credit Hours		48-51

¹

Indicates on campus immersion course.

²

Indicates practicum course.