The M.S. in Nursing specialty in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing prepares students for advanced practice in mental health promotion and treating biopsychosocial responses to mental health problems and psychiatric disorders for individuals, groups and populations in inpatient, primary care and community settings. There are three components to the curriculum: core courses required of all students in the Master of Science curriculum in Nursing, courses required of all students in the PMHNP specialty, and PMHNP clinical practicum courses. Students are also required to participate in a mediation experience.
Students prepared in the PMHNP specialty are prepared to assess, diagnose and treat biopsychosocial responses to mental health problems and psychiatric disorders in children, adolescents and adults across the lifespan. Students prepared in the PMHNP specialty are eligible for American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) certification as an Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
Core courses
- Nursing 7403: Innovation Leadership in Advanced Nursing Practice (3)
- Nursing 7483: Quality Improvement and Informatics (3)
- Nursing 7491: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention across the Life Span (3)
- Nursing 7500: Health Policy and Advocacy (2)
- Nursing 7780: Evidence Based Nursing Scholarship (3)
Other required courses
- Nursing 7340: Neuroscience Principles and Concepts Relevant to Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing (3)
- Nursing 7341: Advanced Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing: Therapies Across the Lifespan (4)
- Nursing 7350: Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan (3)
- Nursing 7410: Advanced Health Assessment (3)
- Nursing 7450: Pathophysiology of Altered Health States (5)
- Nursing 7470: Advanced Pharmacology in Nursing (4)
Clinical coursework
- Nursing 7331: Assessment and Management of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Issues (3)*
- Nursing 7348.01: Advanced Practice Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Clinical Practicum I (4 credit hours; 1 credits didactic, 3 credits clinical which equals 112.5** precepted clinical hours)
- Nursing 7348.02: Advanced Practice Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Clinical Practicum II (11 credit hours; 4 credits didactic, 7 credits clinical which equals 262.5** precepted clinical hours)
- Nursing 7348.03: Advanced Practice Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Clinical Practicum II (9 credit hours; 3 credits didactic, 6 credits clinical which equals 225** precepted clinical hours)
* Only Traditional MS students will take this course, and they will be enrolled by the Graduate Program Manager. Graduate Entry do not take the course as the content is included in their prelicensure curriculum.
** These are the minimum hours required
Self-audit checklist
Use the hyperlinked list to ensure you have taken all of the courses required for your specialty. Your advisor will conduct a final review when you apply to graduate. Students must have completed these courses or have a Nursing Graduate Studies Committee-approved Course Waiver petition on file.
Psychiatric Mental Health NP Self Audit Checklist
Standard curriculum plan