Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Specialization

This program will begin in fall 2025.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program with a PMHNP specialization is a 67-credit program designed for graduates of baccalaureate nursing programs. Graduates will be eligible to take the American Nurses Credentialing Center Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification examination, a necessary licensure requirement to practice as a PMHNP in nearly all states.

Graduates will be eligible to take the American Academy Nurse Practitioner exam for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Completing the program and passing the certification examination will make graduates eligible for certification as a PMHNP in Pennsylvania through the Pennsylvania Board of Nursing.

The DNP program with a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) specialization prepares registered nurses to diagnose, treat, and manage acute and chronic psychiatric conditions across the lifespan. The core of the PMHNP specialization is the development of advanced competencies to support the therapeutic relationship between the client and the nurse. The program focuses on advanced competencies including excellent communication skills, in-depth knowledge of therapeutic interventions, medication management, clinical decision-making, and diagnostic reasoning.

The graduate is prepared as an advanced clinical expert in psychiatric mental health nursing and will have enhanced organizational and leadership competencies in healthcare delivery, expertise in the application of evidence-based practice, and the ability to lead interprofessional teams to improve patient and healthcare outcomes at the individual and population level.

Scheduling

The DNP program with the PMHNP specialization is offered as a full-time program of study that can be completed in 33 months. The program is delivered over six regular academic semesters, a first-year intersession, and summer sessions after the first and second years. The program will be offered in an online format with didactic courses offered with both synchronous and asynchronous learning, two clinical intensives on-campus, and practicum courses offered in-person with students providing direct care under a preceptor’s supervision.

Curriculum

Term	Course	Credits
First Year
Fall	NURS 593 - Research Methodology and Application	3
	NURS 510 - Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology	3
	NURS 530 - Advanced Clinical Assessment	2
	NURS 530L - Advanced Clinical Assessment Lab	1
Intersession	NURS 513 - Clinical Neuroscience	3
Spring	NURS 520 - Advanced Pharmacology	3
	NURS 516 - Psychiatric Theories	3
	NURS 527 - Psychotherapeutics	3
	NURS 528 - PMHNP Practicum I	2
Summer	NURS 525 - Psychopharmacology	3
	NURS 750 - Promoting Health in Vulnerable Populations	3
Second Year
Fall	NURS 710 - Information Systems and Health Care Technology	3
	NURS 537 - Psychotherapeutics II	3
	NURS 538 - PMHNP Practicum II	2
	NURS 700 - Epidemiology and Biostatistics	3
Spring	NURS 547 - Psychotherapeutics III	3
	NURS 548 - PMHNP Practicum III	2
	NURS 730 - Translating Evidence into Practice	3
Summer	NURS 740 - Health Care Management for Advanced Practice Nurses	3
	NURS 781 - PMHNP Scholarly Project I	3
Third Year
Fall	NURS 760 - Advanced Health Care Policy	3
	NURS 791 - PMHNP Scholarly Project II	3
Spring	NURS 770 - Professional Leadership and Organizational Change	3
	NURS 792 - PMHNP Role Immersion	3
	NURS 793 - Role Immersion Practicum	1
Total Program Credits 67 credits