Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Post-Master’s Certificate
The MSN and post-master’s certificate program with a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner specialization (PMHNP) prepare registered nurses to diagnose, treat, and manage acute and chronic psychiatric and mental health illnesses across the lifespan. The core of the psychiatric nurse practitioner specialization is to support the therapeutic relationship between the client and the nurse. The program will focus on excellent communication skills, in-depth knowledge of therapeutic interventions, medication management, clinical decision-making, and diagnostic reasoning.
The PMHNP specialization is offered as a 42-credit master’s degree for baccalaureate-prepared nurses, and as a 33 credit post-master’s certificate for nurses already holding a master’s degree in nursing. Transcripts of students with an entry-level master’s in nursing degree will be evaluated individually for transfer credit.
Graduates will be eligible to take the American Nurses Credentialing Center national certification examination for the PMHNP and 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.
Curriculum and Format
The MSN and post-master’s certificate program with a PMHNP specialization will be delivered in an online format with didactic courses offered with both synchronous and asynchronous learning, two clinical intensives on-campus and traditional face-to-face precepted practicum courses taking place in clinical settings. Students will be admitted to the MSN and post-master’s certificate program with PMHNP specialization annually in the fall semester.
Each student is required to complete clinical practicum courses. These courses (NURS 528 - PMHNP Practicum I, NURS 538 - PMHNP Practicum II, and NURS 548 - PMHNP Practicum III) are taken over three semesters. The faculty will assign the student to practitioner(s) who will serve as preceptor(s) for the clinical practicum in the graduate nursing program with a PMHNP specialization. The preceptor must be a PMHNP, or psychiatrist. Each credit of clinical practicum equals 125 hours per semester so that the total clinical practicum time is 750 hours for the PMHNP specialization. The third practicum course includes an intensive campus-based evaluation of psychiatric mental health nursing competencies at the beginning of the term.
Any student who fails to receive a final course grade of “B” or higher in NURS 530 and the PMHNP specialty courses (NURS 516, NURS 525, NURS 527, NURS 537, and NURS 547) cannot progress in the program. The student may make application to the Department of Nursing to repeat the course when it is next offered. The student shall also be required to repeat the co-requisite clinical course, regardless of the clinical grade. Any student who fails to obtain a final course grade of “B” or higher on the second attempt will be dismissed from the program. A student may repeat only one specialty course. Any student who receives an Unsatisfactory in a clinical practicum course will be dismissed from the program.
Scheduling
The MSN graduate nursing program with the PMHNP specialization can be completed in 21 months of full-time study. Courses are offered online except for two 12-hour clinical intensives (in NURS 530L - Advanced Clinical Assessment Lab and NURS 548 - PMHNP Practicum III) that take place on-campus, and clinical practicums at appropriate clinical sites. Didactic courses include synchronous and asynchronous components, with the synchronous components generally being scheduled one day per week. The practicum courses generally include two days of clinical work each week. It also includes a weekly small group seminar to discuss pertinent clinical processes and role development. Part-time study is also available.
Required Software
The students in the graduate nursing program with a PMHNP specialization are required to purchase nurse practitioner student tracking software to document their clinical experiences.
Curriculum
Total Program Credits: 42 credits
Curriculum
Total Program Credits: 33 credits
| Semester |
Course |
Credits |
| First Year |
|
|
| Fall |
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 |
| |
|
|
| Second Year |
|
|
| Fall |
NURS 537 - Psychotherapeutics II |
3 |
| |
NURS 538 - PMHNP Practicum II |
2 |
| |
|
|
| Spring |
NURS 547 - Psychotherapeutics III |
3 |
| |
NURS 548 - PMHNP Practicum III |
2 |
| |
|
|
| Total Credits 33 credits |
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