Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, M.S.N.

The psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) program focuses on children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly who are at risk for developing and/or are experiencing acute or complex mental health problems, behavior disorders or psychiatric diagnoses. The PMHNP curriculum focuses on facilitating the transitions of individuals, families, communities and populations’ health and well- being across the lifespan and the utilization of evidence-based, culturally sensitive, recovery-oriented holistic care.

Graduates of the PMHNP program will be prepared to apply a holistic nursing process and medical/medication management to promote optimal mental health while engaging in active, ongoing collaboration with individuals, their families, significant others, and the interprofessional team. Graduates are eligible for national certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center

Curriculum

MSN Core Curriculum (21 Semester Hours for NP)

NURS 500 - Health Care Ethcs-Nurse Leadrs
NURS 501 - Theoretical Bases for Nurs Pra
NURS 502 - Nursing Research
NURS 505 - Health Care Informatics
NURS 532 - Leadership and Management for NPs
NURS 690 - Healthcare Policy-Nurse Leader
NURS 864 - Epidemiologic Methods
NURS 797 - Scholarly Project

Nurse Practitioner Core (9 semester hrs.)- pre-requisites

PMHNP Core (19 semester hours)

Nurs 780 PMHNP Core 1 (3)
Nurs 782 Role Development & Ethical Issues for the PMHNP (2)
Nurs 783 PMHNP Clinical Practicum 1 (1)*
Nurs 784 PMHNP Core 2 (3)
Nurs 785 PMHNP Clinical Practicum 2 (1)*
Nurs 786 PAdv. Psychopharmacology and Neurobiology Across the Lifespan (2)
Nurs 788 PMHNP Core 3 (3)
Nurs 790 Current Issues and Trends in PMH (1)
Nurs 793 PMHNP Clinical Practicum 3 (1)*
Nurs 795 PMHNP Clinical Practicum 4 (1)*
Nurs 791 PMHNP Clinical Practicum 5 (1)*

* Practicum courses: 1cr = 120 contact hours/semester (8 contact hr/cr./week)

Note:

Total Practicum hours of 600 contact hours are required for certification.

Dual Credit for DNP Core Courses

Any student enrolled in an MSN program has the option to complete any of the following core courses in the DNP Program in lieu of the MSN curricular core courses. The DNP level courses will satisfy the MSN degree requirements and also provide completion of up to 10 of the credit hours required of the DNP.

These courses are:

NURS 906 Informatics for Adv. Nursing Practice in Complex Health Systems in lieu of NURS 505 Health Care Informatics
NURS 908 Health Care Policy in lieu of NURS 690 Health Care Policy for Nursing Leaders
NURS 903 Nursing Leadership in Complex Population-Based Healthcare Systems in lieu of NURS 754 Nursing Leadership and Management

M.S.N. in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Year One

Fall Semester

NURS 680 Advanced Pathophysiology for RNs (3)
NURS 501 Theoretical Bases for Nursing Practice (3)
NURS 505 Health Care Informatics (3)

Spring Semester

NURS 756 Advanced Health Assessment for RNs (3)
NURS 500 Health Care Ethics for Nursing Leaders (3)
NURS 502 Nursing Research (3)

Summer Semester

NURS 658 Advanced Clinical Pharmacology (3)
NURS 690 Health Care Policy for Nursing Leaders (2)
NURS 864 Epidemiologic Methods in Health Care (3)

Year Two

Fall Semester

NURS 780 PMHNP Core 1 (3)
NURS 783 PMHNP Clinical Practicum 1 (1)*
NURS 786 Advanced Psychopharmacology and Neurobiology Across the Lifespan (2)

Spring Semester

NURS 784 PMHNP Core 2 (3)
NURS 785 PMHNP Clinical Practicum 2 (1)*
NURS 793 PMHNP Clinical Practicum 3 (1)*
NURS 782 Role Development & Ethical Issues for the PMHNP (2)

Summer Semester

NURS 788 PMHNP Core 3 (3)
NURS 795 PMHNP Clinical Practicum 4 (1)*
NURS 791 PMHNP Clinical Practicum 5 (1)*
NURS 790 Current Issues and Trends in PMH (1)

Year Three

Fall Semester

NURS 532 Leadership and Management for NPs (2)
NURS 797 Scholarly Project (2)(done in final semester of program)

Total

Credit Hrs. 49
- Total Practicum Hours = 600 contact hr. (required for certification)

Notes:

Practicum 2-5 can be taken either separately or combined as above. Practicums must be taken with or after the Core class they are listed with e.g. Practicum 2 and 3 must be taken either with or after taking PMHNP Core 2. The purpose to give students flexibility with the pace of the program. Practicum conversion is 1 cr. = 8 contact hours x 15 weeks = 120 contact hours per semester.