Masters to DNP/PMHNP Certification
Post-Master’s/ Post-Doctoral PMHNP Certification/ Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – Completion Program
For nurse practitioners interested in obtaining a second certification as a PMHNP and a doctoral degree, the Post-Master’s/ Post-Doctoral PMHNP Certification/DNP Completion program provides this option. The doctoral courses are delivered in a fully online format. The courses in the PMHNP certification are delivered 1 day per week throughout the semester via video teleconferencing. This program emphasizes skills in differential diagnosis and management, including both pharmacology and psychotherapy, in addition to emphasizing working in interdisciplinary teams and implementing evidence-based practice findings into delivery of care.
Educational Objectives
The Post-Master’s/Post-Doctoral PMHNP Certification/DNP Completion Program is designed to prepare certified registered PMHNPs who:
- Utilize expert communication and leadership skills with interdisciplinary teams to ensure quality of care of patients experiencing mental illness;
- Employ clinical reasoning at the highest level of nursing practice to aid in the differential diagnosis of both medical and psychiatric disorders across the lifespan, in collaboration with other health care professionals;
- Utilize pharmacologic, non-pharmacologic and complementary interventions using an evidence-based practice approach in the provision of treatment to individuals across the life span experiencing acute and chronic psychiatric disorders;
- Engage proactively in the development and implementation of health policy in relation to mental health;
- Demonstrate knowledge of standards and principles for selecting and evaluating information systems and patient care technology;
- Function as team leaders to facilitate collaborative, interprofessional teamwork to ensure safe, patient-centered care;
- Use evidence-based practice health promotion findings, related to clinical prevention and population health, to improve the health status of the U.S. population; and
- Demonstrate culturally competent care in the provision of treatment to individuals experiencing acute and chronic psychiatric disorders across the life span.
Admission Criteria
To be considered for admission to the Post-Master’s/Post-Doctoral PMHNP Certification/DNP Completion Program, applicants must have:
- A master of science degree in nursing from an accredited college or university
- Unencumbered NP/APRN license
- A minimum graduate QPA of 3.25 or acceptable GRE scores
- Current RN licensure
- At least one year of work experience as an RN
- Current CV or resume
- Essay on goals and expectations for education and career
- A faculty interview
- 2 professional letters of recommendations
Masters to DNP/PMHNP Certification with Summer Start
Course | Credits | Hours | |
---|---|---|---|
Year 1 – Summer Semester | |||
Principles of Biological Psychiatry | NURS 9010 | 2 | |
Health Assessment of Children & Adolescents* | NURS 9120 | 2 | |
Health Assessment of Children & Adolescents Practicum* | NURS 9125 | 1 | 56 |
Year 1 – Fall Semester | |||
Psychopharmacology | NURS 9110 | 3 | |
Psychiatric Diagnosis | NURS 9210 | 3 | |
Psychiatric Diagnosis Across the Lifespan Practicum for the APRN | NURS 9230 | 2 | 112 |
Year 1 – Spring Semester | |||
Management of Psychiatric Disorders Across the Lifespan I | NURS 9310 | 3 | |
Management of Psychiatric Disorders Across the Lifespan I Practicum for the APRN | NURS 9340 | 2 | 112 |
Clinical Teams & Teamwork II | HSIC 8120 | 2 | |
Principles of Epidemiology | NURS 8030 | 2 | |
Year 2 – Summer Semester | |||
Psychotherapeutic Interventions with Individuals | NURS 9330 | 2 | |
Psychotherapeutic Interventions with Individuals Practicum | NURS 9335 | 2 | 112 |
Health Care Economics | HSIC 8030 | 2 | |
Year 2 – Fall Semester | |||
Management of Psychiatric Disorders Across the Lifespan II | NURS 9320 | 3 | |
Management of Psychiatric Disorders Across the Lifespan II Practicum for the APRN | NURS 9350 | 2 | 112 |
Research & Theory | NURS 8020 | 3 | |
Applied Statistics for EBP | NURS 8050 | 3 | |
Year 2 – Spring Semester | |||
Psychotherapeutic Interventions with Families | NURS 9510 | 2 | |
Psychotherapeutic Interventions with Families Practicum | NURS 9515 | 2 | 112 |
Integrating Research & Practice | NURS 8150 | 3 | |
Year 3 – Summer Semester | |||
EBP for Advanced Nursing Roles | NURS 8140 | 3 | |
Year 3 – Fall Semester | |||
Health Policy | HSIC 8020 | 2 | |
EBP & Information Systems | NURS 9130 | 3 | |
Year 3 – Spring Semester | |||
Practice Management Issues/Role Integration | NURS 9610 | 3 | |
Applying Evidence Based Practice in Health Care | NURS 9620 | 5 | |
TOTAL | 59/62* | 560/616* |
* FNPs will not take Health Assessment of Children and Adolescents