Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner is a track within the Nursing, M.S. degree.
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Track (PMHNP)
The Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Track (PMHNP) is a 50-credit program developed to provide advanced practice education in nursing with a specialty focus on the delivery of psychiatric mental health care to all populations within the lifespan continuum. In this track, students will be introduced to leadership, theory, current nursing concepts, and professional practices. Core areas of study will include pathophysiology, pharmacology, physical assessment, neuropsychopharmacology, assessment and diagnosis of mental health disorders, and the policy and politics of healthcare. The track includes three distinct clinical courses focused on psychiatric mental health care of patients across the lifespan; children, adults and the complex adult. The program is offered in an online format in order to accommodate the schedules of nurses in the workforce. Participants will acquire 600 precepted, clinical hours. Additional clinical experiences will include two immersion weekends on-campus to facilitate the students’ ability to enjoy hands-on learning, simulation and validation of advanced practice nursing skills. The credits earned in this track may transfer into a doctoral plan of study, should the graduate seek to pursue doctoral education.
