The Master of Science in Nursing Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) track prepares advanced practice nurses to deliver psychiatric-mental health care to individuals across the lifespan. Nurse practitioners with this specialty have the knowledge and clinical skills necessary for health promotion, disease prevention, and management of psychiatric, mental health, and behavioral disorders of individuals and families.
Full-time and part-time options are available.
Full-Time Curriculum Plan
Semester 1 – Fall
- NUR 602: Advanced Health Assessment, 3 hours (Core)
- NUR 603: Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology, 3 hours (Core)
- NUR 607: Advanced Pharmacology, 3 hours (Core)
- NUR 649: Role and Scope of the APRN, 1 hour (Core)
- NUR 680: Management of Psych-Mental Health I, 4 hours (PMHNP)
Total semester credit hours: 14
Semester 2 – Spring
- NUR 617: Evidence-based Practice and Research for Advanced Nursing Practice, 3 hours (Core)
- NUR 639: Population Health & Policy for the APRN, 2 hours (Core)
- NUR 681: Management of Psych-Mental Health II, 2 hours (PMHNP)
- NUR 683: Psych-Mental Health Practicum I, 4 hours/240 clinical hours (PMHNP)
- NUR 687: Psychopharmacology, 3 hours (PMHNP)
Total semester credit hours: 14
Semester 3 – Summer
- NUR 635: Healthcare Information, Quality, and Safety, 2 hours (Core)
- NUR 675: Statistics for the Behavioral and Clinical Sciences, 3 hours (Core)
- NUR 679: Common Medical Conditions for the PMHNP, 1 hour (PMHNP)
- NUR 682: Management of Psych-Mental Health III, 3 hours (PMHNP)
- NUR 684: Psych-Mental Health Practicum II, 4 hours/240 clinical hours (PMHNP)
Total semester credit hours: 13
Semester 4 – Fall
- NUR 628: Synthesis of Advanced Nursing Practice, 1 hour (Core)
- NUR 650: Interprofessional Leadership & Practice Excellence for the APRN, 2 hours (Core)
- NUR 685: Psych-Mental Health Practicum III, 5 hours/300 clinical hours (PMHNP)
Total semester credit hours: 8
Total course hours: 49
Total clinical practice hours: 780
This program of study includes a minimum of 780 clinical practice hours; for practicum courses, the ratio of credit hours to clinical practice is 1:4. A student completing this track will be prepared to meet requirements to take the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner certification examination offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board.
Part-Time Curriculum Plan
Year 1
Semester 1 – Fall
- NUR 602: Advanced Health Assessment, 3 hours (Core)
- NUR 603: Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology, 3 hours (Core)
Total semester credit hours: 6
Semester 2 – Spring
- NUR 617: Evidence-based Practice and Research for Advanced Nursing Practice, 3 hours (Core)
- NUR 639: Population Health & Policy for the APRN, 2 hours (Core)
Total semester credit hours: 5
Semester 3 – Summer
- NUR 635: Healthcare Information, Quality, and Safety, 2 hours (Core)
- NUR 675: Statistics for the Behavioral and Clinical Sciences, 3 hours (Core)
Total semester credit hours: 5
Year 2
Semester 4 – Fall
- NUR 607: Advanced Pharmacology, 3 hours (Core)
- NUR 649: Role and Scope of the APRN, 1 hour (Core)
- NUR 680: Management of Psych-Mental Health I, 4 hours (PMHNP)
Total semester credit hours: 8
Semester 5 – Spring
- NUR 681: Management of Psych-Mental Health II, 2 hours (PMHNP)
- NUR 683: Psych-Mental Health Practicum I, 4 hours/240 clinical hours (PMHNP)
- NUR 687: Psychopharmacology, 3 hours (PMHNP
Total semester credit hours: 9
Semester 6 – Summer
- NUR 679: Common Medical Conditions for the PMHNP, 1 hour (PMHNP)
- NUR 682: Management of Psych-Mental Health III, 3 hours (PMHNP)
- NUR 684: Psych-Mental Health Practicum II, 4 hours/240 clinical hours (PMHNP
Total semester credit hours: 8
Year 3
Semester 7 – Fall
- NUR 628: Synthesis of Advanced Nursing Practice, 1 hour (Core)
- NUR 650: Interprofessional Leadership & Practice Excellence for the APRN, 2 hours (Core)
- NUR 685: Psych-Mental Health Practicum III, 5 hours/300 clinical hours (PMHNP)
Total semester credit hours: 8
Total course hours: 49
Total clinical practice hours: 780
This program of study includes a minimum of 780 clinical practice hours; for practicum courses, the ratio of credit hours to clinical practice is 1:4. A student completing this track will be prepared to meet requirements to take the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification examination offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board.