Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) graduate certificate prepares certified nurse practitioners who have graduated from a nationally accredited institution with a clinical MSN or DNP in another specialty to critically evaluate and apply scientific evidence to clinical practice to provide high-quality psychiatric care to individuals and families across the lifespan at risk for developing or having a diagnosis of psychiatric disorders to improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities.
PMHNP specialty courses focus on psychiatric assessment, triage and crisis intervention; biopsychological models of mental health and illness; theory and practice with individual interest (e.g., addictions, eating and sleep disorders, gender issues, HIV/AIDS, major psychiatric illnesses, violence) and with clinical populations of interest. Graduates are eligible to sit for the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Please note:
- Students are admitted to this program every fall semester.
- The certificate must be earned within three years.
- No transfer credit will be accepted for a graduate certificate.
- A minimum honor point average of 3.0 must be achieved.
- All coursework must be completed in accordance with the academic procedures of the college and the WSU Graduate School governing graduate scholarship and degrees.
Certificate requirements: 29 credits*
| Course | Title | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Clinical Courses: 5 Credits | |||
| NUR 7615 | Psychopathology and Therapeutic Frameworks Across the Lifespan for PMHNP | 2 | Fall |
| NUR 7625 | Psychopharmacology | 2 | Winter |
| NUR 7650 | Advanced Psychiatric Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning | 1 | Spring/Summer |
| Clinical Course Sequence: 24 Credits, 675 Clinical Hours | |||
| *NUR 7460 | Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Didactic: Advanced Practice Nursing with Individuals and Communities | 3 | |
| NUR 7465 | Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Clinical: Advanced Practice Nursing with Individuals and Communities | 5 | |
| NUR 7470 | Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Didactic: Advanced Practice Nursing with Groups | 3 | |
| NUR 7475 | Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Clinical: Advanced Practice Nursing with Groups | 5 | |
| NUR 7480 | Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Didactic: Advanced Practice Nursing with Families | 3 | |
| NUR 7485 | Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Clinical: Advanced Practice Nursing with Families | 5 | |
*The equivalent of one full time year of RN experience in a psychiatric mental health setting is required prior to the start of the clinical course sequence.
Based on gap analysis, the following graduate-level cognate courses may be required:
- NUR 7444 Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology across the Lifespan (or equivalent)
- NUR 7555 Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Health Professions (or equivalent)
- NUR 7030 Advanced Nursing Assessment (or equivalent)
- NUR 6510 Health Economics, Policy and Professional Issues for APNs
Terminal objectives/learning outcomes
Upon completion of the program, students can expect to achieve the following outcomes:
- Assess, diagnose, and manage care for psychiatric care of individuals and families across the lifespan at risk for developing or having a diagnosis of psychiatric disorders or mental health problems, including the prescription and management of psychopharmacologic agents.
- Interact with a variety of clients across the lifespan to provide relationship-based, continuous services for optimal mental health, including prevention and treatment of psychiatric disorders and health maintenance.
- Collaborate with interprofessional colleagues to provide optimal clinical outcomes for clients across the lifespan with mental health problems and psychiatric disorders.
- Synthesize and translate evidence-based practices from nursing and other disciplines to manage complex psychiatric and mental health conditions.
- Analyze social problems, health care policies and practices which affect the delivery of psychiatric mental health care.
- Develop in the role as advocate regarding policy issues at the local, state, and national levels to reduce health disparities and improve clinical outcomes for populations with psychiatric disorders.
Graduate Specialty Coordinator
Umeika Stephens, DNP, PMHNP-BC, FNP-BC
244 Cohn
313-577-4099
ak4579@wayne.edu