Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Today’s health care environment features a strong focus on mental illness, substance abuse and mental health among vulnerable populations. Earning your MSN in Psychiatric-Mental Health will allow you to work with populations of all ages and backgrounds and assess their mental health, diagnose conditions and provide primary care services.
In this online program you will develop the skills necessary to assess, diagnose and provide treatment options to patients with mental disorders. Additionally, advanced practice psychiatric-mental health NPs are able to collaborate with other health care professionals to influence health care reform and quality care improvements for patients.
Program Information
The Master Science in Nursing, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner is a three-year online program that prepares you to assess, diagnose and provide treatment options for patients with mental health disorders.
Program Type
Major
Degree
Master's
School
Duration
3 years
Required Credit Hours
44
Modality
Online
Admissions
Admissions Requirements
Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners are required to meet several requirements to gain licensure. These requirements include becoming a registered nurse (RN), passing the NCLEX-RN, and earning an MSN or higher degree. The final step is passing the ANCC Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Across the Lifespan) board certification examination (PMHNP-BC™). Online PMHNP programs, such as the one offered by Duquesne University, are designed to prepare students to pass this exam.
To qualify for our online MSN program, you must:
- Hold a BSN from an accredited college or university with a 3.0 GPA or higher
- Hold a current, unencumbered RN license
- Have at least one year of full-time work experience as an RN prior to registration in the clinical or specialty courses
- Have completed an undergraduate-level statistics course with a “C” or higher
The faculty admissions committee may look more closely at nursing and science grades when making admissions decisions.
Admissions Process
- Resume or curriculum vitae
- Professional goal statement
- Official transcript(s)
- Two electronically submitted references (one academic and one professional in a supervisory
role)
- The supervisor reference letters must come from a direct supervisor who is responsible for your performance evaluation
- If you have been out of school more than five years, please speak with your Enrollment Advisor for advice
- An interview may be required
Transfer Credit Policy for MSN Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Students
- A maximum of 9 graduate credits, completed within the past 5 years from a previously earned graduate degree, may be transferred.
- A grade of “B” or higher is required.
- The Advanced Standing Request form must be submitted during the admissions process for transfer credits to be considered.
Curriculum
The psychiatric nurse practitioner curriculum was designed for students who are already working as registered nurses and have an interest in helping patient populations in both a physical and mental health capacity. You will participate in coursework that will educate you on the proper ways to assess, diagnose and manage patients of all ages with mental health conditions and psychiatric disorders.
There is a substance abuse component to this program in which graduates may fully participate in caring for those with substance abuse problems. In conjunction with our Master of Science in Forensic Nursing program, this innovative and cutting-edge curriculum will offer you a unique perspective on mental health and forensic nursing that other MSN programs do not offer.
- GPNG 547 Historical and Contemporary Frameworks for Advanced Practice Nursing (3 credits)
- GPNG 534 Advanced Pharmacology Applications (3 credits)
- GPNG 533 Advanced Pathophysiology Applications (3 credits)
- GPNG 548 Evidence Based Practice and Policy for Advanced Nursing (3 credits)
- GPNG 535* Advanced Physical Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning Applications (75 total
clinical hours include 50 hours precepted and 25 campus residency hours) (3 credits)
- GPNG 549 Nursing and Health Care Ethics in Practice and Policy (3 credits)
- GNMH 542 Neuroscience and Psychopharmacology for Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners
(3 credits)
- GNMH 543 Psychiatric-Mental Health Theoretical Concepts (3 credits)
- GNMH 544** Psychiatric-Mental Health I (50 clinical hours; 25 residency hours) (3 credits)
- Note: Students enrolled in GNMH 544 must also complete the three day on-campus requirement.
- Note: Students enrolled in GNMH 544 must also complete the three day on-campus requirement.
- GPNG 550 Clinical Prevention and Population Health Promotion for Advanced Nursing
Practice (3 credits)
- GNMH 545** Psychiatric Mental Health II (225 clinical hours) (5 credits)
- GNMH 546** Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical III (225 clinical hours) (5 credits)
- GNMH 547** Psychiatric Mental Health IV (225 clinical hours) (4 credits)
- GPNG 546 Transitioning to Role of Advanced Practice Nursing (3 credits)
* Students enrolled in GPNG 535 are required to come to campus for three days. In addition to the campus residency visit, precepted clinical hours are also required for GPNG 535.
**Courses are considered clinical courses. Students must refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for all clinical policies and procedures specific to their program.
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Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate an understanding of the discipline of nursing’s distinct perspective and where shared perspectives exist use an intradisciplinary approach applying clinical judgment founded on a broad knowledge base from theory, research, arts, humanities and other sciences.
- Distinguish and promote person-centered care that is holistic, compassionate, evidenced-based, and developmentally sound for individuals, families, communities, and populations in their cultural context for optimal healthcare outcomes.
- Develop implementation and dissemination strategies to address the social determinates of health including population health, health equity, and health policy through collaboration with community stakeholders.
- Identify, differentiate, and analyze evidence-based practice to improve health outcomes while embracing ethical concepts as a life-long learner.
- Transform health care delivery through the development and implementation of quality improvement initiatives to mitigate risk and promote safety of the patient and health professionals.
- Participate in the development of critical elements used in interprofessional, team based healthcare to address needs of a population with the purpose of increasing positive patient outcomes.
- Organize and execute safe, quality, and equitable care to diverse populations while maintaining cost-effective, just, and responsible stewardship of multiple system resources.
- Embrace various technologies and informatics in safe care and communication to patients, interprofessional team members, and other stakeholders to deliver safe care to diverse populations.
- Demonstrate a professional approach in nursing through personal accountability to the individual, society, and the profession incorporating relevant laws, policies, and regulation while recognizing diversity, equity, and inclusion as core to one’s professional nursing identity.
- Participate in leadership development activities that foster professional growth and encourage lifelong learning that demonstrate selfcare and reflection by maintaining health and wellness.
Accreditation
The Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner MSN program at Duquesne University School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
