Program Requirements

Learning Outcomes

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.

Graduates of the MSN program will be able to:

  • Use best evidence to make patient-centered care decisions
  • Employ information technology to improve population health
  • Apply reflective practice to grow professionally
  • Promote quality and safety within a health system

Program Course Requirements

Full-Time Curriculum Plan

Semester One – Fall

  • NUR 602 Advanced Health Assessment, 3 hours
  • NUR 603 Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology, 3 hours
  • NUR 607 Advanced Pharmacology, 3 hours
  • NUR 649 Role and Scope of the APRN, 1 hour
  • NUR 680 Management of Psych-Mental Health I, 4 hours

Total semester credit hours: 14

Semester Two – Spring

  • NUR 617 Evidence-based Practice and Research for Advanced Nursing Practice, 3 hours
  • NUR 639 Population Health & Policy for the APRN, 2 hours
  • NUR 681 Management of Psych-Mental Health II, 2 hours
  • NUR 683 Psych-Mental Health Practicum I, 4 hours/240 clinical hours
  • NUR 687 Psychopharmacology, 3 hours

Total semester credit hours: 14

Semester Three – Summer

  • NUR 635 Healthcare Information, Quality, and Safety, 2 hours
  • NUR 675 Statistics for the Behavioral and Clinical Sciences, 3 hours
  • NUR 679 Common Medical Conditions for the PMHNP, 1 hour
  • NUR 682 Management of Psych-Mental Health III, 3 hours
  • NUR 684 Psych-Mental Health Practicum II, 4 hours/240 clinical hours

Total semester credit hours: 13

Semester Four – Fall

  • NUR 628 Synthesis of Advanced Nursing Practice, 1 hour
  • NUR 650 Interprofessional Leadership & Practice Excellence for the APRN, 2 hours
  • NUR 685 Psych-Mental Health Practicum III, 5 hours/300 clinical hours

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 take the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification examination offered by both the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB).

Part-Time Curriculum Plan

Year One

Semester One – Fall

  • NUR 602 Advanced Health Assessment, 3 hours
  • NUR 603 Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology, 3 hours
  • NUR 649 Role and Scope of the APRN, 1 hour

Total semester credit hours: 7

Semester Two – Spring

  • NUR 617 Evidence-based Practice and Research for Advanced Nursing Practice, 3 hours
  • NUR 639 Population Health & Policy for the APRN, 2 hours

Total semester credit hours: 5

Semester Three – Summer

  • NUR 635 Healthcare Information, Quality, and Safety, 2 hours
  • NUR 675 Statistics for the Behavioral and Clinical Sciences, 3 hours

Total semester credit hours: 5

Year Two

Semester Four – Fall

  • NUR 607 Advanced Pharmacology, 3 hours
  • NUR 680 Management of Psych-Mental Health I, 4 hours

Total semester credit hours: 7

Semester Five – Spring

  • NUR 681 Management of Psych-Mental Health II, 2 hours
  • NUR 683 Psych-Mental Health Practicum I, 4 hours/240 clinical hours
  • NUR 687 Psychopharmacology, 3 hours

Total semester credit hours: 9

Semester Six – Summer

  • NUR 679 Common Medical Conditions for the PMHNP, 1 hour
  • NUR 682 Management of Psych-Mental Health III, 3 hours
  • NUR 684 Psych-Mental Health Practicum II, 4 hours/240 clinical hours

Total semester credit hours: 8

Year Three

Semester Seven – Fall

  • NUR 628 Synthesis of Advanced Nursing Practice, 1 hour
  • NUR 650 Interprofessional Leadership & Practice Excellence for the APRN, 2 hours
  • NUR 685 Psych-Mental Health Practicum III, 5 hours/300 clinical hours

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 take the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification examination offered by both the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB).

Learn more about our PMHNP track

Ready to take the next step?

Apply to Mercer’s MSN program today, or contact the Office of Admissions at 678.547.6700 or nursingadmissions@mercer.edu for more information.