Master of Science in Nursing: Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Track

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program prepares advanced practice psychiatric nurses to provide care in a wide variety of settings: hospitals, outpatient clinics, private practices, intensive outpatient settings, substance use, and extended care facilities. Students learn to care for individuals suffering from a variety of mental health problems and psychiatric disorders. Patients range in age from children throughout the lifespan and are from diverse ethnic and socio-economic groups. Students learn to assess, diagnose, treat, and evaluate outcomes. Holistic trauma-informed care, integrated care, telehealth care, and psychotherapy are important components of the curriculum. We place students in clinical practice sites that span the state with seasoned PMHNPs. The MSN Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner track requires 59 credits of coursework, including 12 credits (600 hours) of practicum experience. 

Graduate Core Courses
NURS 6521Healthcare Leadership Roles for Systems Improvement3
NURS 7601Epidemiology and Biostatistics3
NURS 7605Advanced Health Policy3
NURS 7608Research Methods for Evidence-Based Practice3
NURS 7614Information Technology for Healthcare Improvement3
Practice Core Courses
NURS 7604Advanced Health Assessment4
NURS 7640Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology4
NURS 7641Advanced Pharmacology3
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Courses
NURS 7650Psychopathology3
NURS 7651Mental Health Nursing of Children and Adolescents2
NURS 7652Mental Health Nursing of Individuals Across the Lifespan3
NURS 7659Foundational Clinical Skills for Advanced Psychiatric Nursing Practice3
NURS 7661Mental Health Nursing of Groups and Families Across the Lifespan2
NURS 7663Primary Mental Health Nursing of At-Risk Populations Across the Lifespan2
NURS 7667Psychopharmacology3
NURS 7954Practicum I: PMHNP4
NURS 7955Practicum II: PMHNP5
NURS 7956Practicum III: PMHNP6
Total Credits59
Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
NURS 6521 Healthcare Leadership Roles for Systems Improvement 3
NURS 7640 Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology 4
 Credits7
Spring
NURS 7604 Advanced Health Assessment 4
NURS 7641 Advanced Pharmacology 3
 Credits7
Summer
NURS 7608 Research Methods for Evidence-Based Practice 3
NURS 7614 Information Technology for Healthcare Improvement 3
 Credits6
Second Year
Fall
NURS 7601 Epidemiology and Biostatistics 3
NURS 7650 Psychopathology 3
NURS 7651 Mental Health Nursing of Children and Adolescents 2
 Credits8
Spring
NURS 7605 Advanced Health Policy 3
NURS 7652 Mental Health Nursing of Individuals Across the Lifespan 3
NURS 7659 Foundational Clinical Skills for Advanced Psychiatric Nursing Practice 3
 Credits9
Summer
NURS 7667 Psychopharmacology 3
NURS 7954 Practicum I: PMHNP 4
 Credits7
Third Year
Fall
NURS 7661 Mental Health Nursing of Groups and Families Across the Lifespan 2
NURS 7955 Practicum II: PMHNP 5
 Credits7
Spring
NURS 7663 Primary Mental Health Nursing of At-Risk Populations Across the Lifespan 2
NURS 7956 Practicum III: PMHNP 6
 Credits8
 Total Credits59