Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
College
- Center City Campus
- College of Nursing
Degree Earned
- Doctorate
Program Length
4-6 Years
Program Type
- Online
Leadership
Positions:
- Professor, Psychiatric Mental Health
- Nurse Practitioner Program Director
Contact Number(s):
Program Overview
For students who have completed their BSN, we offer a track that leads to a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). Training focuses on integrated health care settings and lifespan approach with an in-depth focus on assessment diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions and physical comorbidities. The PMHNP program can be completed in a minimum of four years (full-time) up to a maximum of six years (part-time).
Graduates of the Psychiatric - Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program meet the academic eligibility requirements to take the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certification Examination offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Candidates who meet all eligibility requirements established by the ANCC and successfully pass the ANCC examination are awarded the credential: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse – Board Certified (PMHNP-BC™).
Program Highlights
- Training in Substance use disorders
- Clinical Opportunities across the lifespan and across multiple settings
- Focus on practice in the integrated health care setting
Students Admitted Summer 2025 & Later
| Graduate Core Curriculum | Credits |
| NU 717 Health and Social Policy | 3 |
| NU 603 Research for Advanced Practice Nursing I | 3 |
| NU 605 Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse | 3 |
| NU 696 Leadership and Critical Decision Making | 3 |
| NU 704 Philosophy, Foundations, and Methods for Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| NU 713 Digital Transformation in Healthcare: Trends and Opportunities | 3 |
| Total Graduate Core Curriculum Credits | 18 |
| Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Core Curriculum | |
| NU 560 Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics | 3 |
| NU 570 Pathophysiology of Human Disease/Pathologic Aspect of Disease | 3 |
| NU 673 Comprehensive Assessment for Clinical Decision-Making | 3 |
| Total Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Core Curriculum Credits | 9 |
| Specialty Curriculum | |
| NU 613 Diagnostic Reasoning and Clinical Decision-Making for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner I | 6 |
| NU 614 Diagnostic Reasoning and Clinical Decision-Making for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner II | 6 |
| NU 615 Diagnostic Reasoning and Clinical Decision-Making for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner III | 6 |
| Total Specialty Curriculum Credits | 18 |
| Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Core Curriculum | |
| NU 702 Practice Inquiry: Designs, Methods and Analyses | 3 |
| NU 714 Healthcare Systems Safety, Quality and Improvement Science | 3 |
| NU 715 Leading Strategic Change in an Era of Healthcare Transformation | 3 |
| NU 716 Perspectives in Community Engagement and Population Health | 3 |
| NU 718 Introduction to DNP Studies | 1 |
| Doctoral Elective | 3 |
| Total Doctor of Nursing Practice Credits | 16 |
| Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Practicum Sequence | |
| NU 719 DNP Scholarly Project | 4 |
| NU 720 DNP Scholarly Project | 3 |
| Total Doctor of Nursing Practice Practicum Credits | 7 |
| Total Program Credits | 68 |
| *Students from accelerated baccalaureate programs will have their academic transcripts evaluated upon matriculation by the Chair of Graduate Programs for potential transfer credit. | |
Students Admitted Prior to Summer 2025
| Graduate Core Curriculum | Credits |
| NU 602 Health Policy, Legal and Ethical Dimensions of Practice | 3 |
| NU 603 Research for Advanced Practice Nursing I | 3 |
| NU 704 Philosophy, Foundations, and Methods for Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| NU 605 Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse | 3 |
| NU 696 Leadership and Critical Decision Making | 3 |
| NU 705 Advanced Topics in Health Informatics | 3 |
| Total Graduate Core Curriculum Credits | 18 |
| Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Core Curriculum | |
| NU 560 Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics | 3 |
| NU 570 Pathophysiology of Human Disease/Pathologic Aspect of Disease | 3 |
| NU 673 Comprehensive Assessment for Clinical Decision-Making | 3 |
| Total Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Core Curriculum Credits | 9 |
| Specialty Curriculum | |
| NU 613 Diagnostic Reasoning and Clinical Decision-Making for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner I | 3 |
| NU 614 Diagnostic Reasoning and Clinical Decision-Making for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner II | 3 |
| NU 615 Diagnostic Reasoning and Clinical Decision-Making for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner III | 3 |
| Total Specialty Curriculum Credits | 9 |
| Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Core Curriculum | |
| NU 701 Scientific Underpinnings for Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NU 702 Practice Inquiry: Designs, Methods and Analyses | 3 |
| NU 703 Theoretical Foundations for Organizational Change in Healthcare Systems | 3 |
| NU 706 Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety | 3 |
| NU 707 Leadership and Inter-Professional Collaboration | 3 |
| NU 708 Clinical Prevention and Population Health for Improving the Nation’s Health | 3 |
| NU 709 Current Issues in Health and Social Policy: Planning, Participating and Policy Making | 3 |
| Total Doctor of Nursing Practice Credits | 21 |
| Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Practicum Sequence | |
| NU 710 Practicum I | 3 |
| NU 711 Practicum II | 3 |
| NU 712 Practicum III | 3 |
| Total Doctor of Nursing Practice Practicum Credits | 9 |
| Total Program Credits | 66 |
| *Students from accelerated baccalaureate programs will have their academic transcripts evaluated upon matriculation by the Chair of Graduate Programs for potential transfer credit. | |