Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Advanced Certificate Curriculum

This 19 credit Advanced Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program with 750 clinical hours over 4 semesters, provides the theoretical and practical foundations for Nurse Practitioners to expand their scope of practice and to become leaders in their roles as Advanced Practice Nurses. Graduates of the program will be prepared to become Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNP) with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide comprehensive psychiatric-mental care to children, adolescents, adults, and older adults. Graduates will deliver excellent quality care across the age continuum among various groups of patient populations. The focus of this program is to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care and offers both didactic and clinical experiences that prepare Nurse Practitioners to care holistically for diverse individuals and populations in the context of families, and communities. It builds upon foundational courses completed in the student’s prior Master’s (MSN) program.

Required Courses: 19 Credits

Courses

NU 700 Advanced Psychopharmacology for the PMNHP

This Advanced Psychopharmacology for PMHNP course focuses on developing an understanding of the safe and effective use of psychotropic medications in populations across the lifespan. The curriculum is supported from knowledge previously acquired from pharmacology and pathophysiology. This course examines the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of psychotropic medications. Emphasis is placed on the development of client-centered prescription decisions dependent on safety, likelihood of adherence and outcomes. The course is designed with an evidence-based practice framework. The course will introduce concepts of choosing pharmacological interventions using best practice models including considerations of patient preference, diagnosis, demographics, patient profile, and safety analysis. Advanced practice role development is integrated throughout the course. This course supports the knowledge base for PMHNP students in achieving adult nurse practitioner competencies.
 
3 Credits
Prerequisites: NU 680
Corequisites: NU 701

NU 701 Theoretical Foundations of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

In this Theoretical Foundations of the Psych Mental Health Advanced Practice Nursing course, students collaborate with faculty and colleagues to explore theoretical concepts critical to the advanced practice of psychiatric nursing. This course will discover a wide range of theories from nursing and related sciences to support and inform advanced practice nursing. Emphasis will be placed on evaluating and critiquing a variety of theories from psychiatric nursing, as well as the natural, social, organizational and biological sciences. Human responses will be studied using psychodynamic, behavioral, cognitive, humanistic, and additional paradigms. Critical analysis of historic psychiatric thought will be investigated in the context of current research findings and sociocultural trends. Concepts that provide a basis for caring and humanistic approaches to mental health and mental illness will be explored. Specific emphasis will be placed on direct application of psychiatric theories in advanced practice nursing. This course supports the knowledge base for Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health NP students in achieving adult nurse practitioner competencies. 
 
4 Credits
150 Clinical Hours: 75 hours in pediatrics, 75 hours in gerontology
Prerequisites: NU 680
Corequisites: NU 700

NU 702 Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner I

In this Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) course students will have the opportunity to collaborate with faculty to plan psychiatric-mental health care for adults and older adults. This course introduces students to the comprehensive assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and management of acute and chronic mental and behavioral health needs of individuals in various clinical settings. Students will integrate advanced mental health pathophysiology, psychosocial and therapeutic techniques, as well as evidence-based research and current clinical practice guidelines to formulate and apply appropriate treatment strategies. Promotion of wellness, health maintenance, and disease prevention will also be emphasized. Interprofessional collaboration with other health care providers, and legal, ethical, and cultural considerations will be explored.
 
3 Credits
Prerequisites: NU 700, NU 701
Corequisites: NU 703

NU 702 Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Clinical

In this Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) clinical course students will have the opportunity to collaborate with faculty and preceptor to plan psychiatric-mental health care for adults and older adults. This course introduces students to the comprehensive assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and management of acute and chronic mental and behavioral health needs of individuals in various clinical settings. Students will integrate advanced mental health pathophysiology, psychosocial and therapeutic techniques, as well as evidence-based research and current clinical practice guidelines to formulate and apply appropriate treatment strategies. Promotion of wellness, health maintenance, and disease prevention will also be emphasized. Interprofessional collaboration with other health care providers, and legal, ethical, and cultural considerations will be explored.
 
1 Credit
200 Clinical Hours
Corequisites: NU 702, NU 660

NU 704 Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner II

In this Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) course students will have the opportunity to collaborate with faculty for continuation in psychiatric-mental health care for adult, older adult, specialty populations and therapeutic implications. This course introduces students to the complex mental health issues; setting & population-based care; consultation & other disciplines; and transition to practice. Students will integrate advanced mental health pathophysiology, psychosocial and therapeutic techniques, as well as evidence-based research and current clinical practice guidelines to formulate and apply appropriate treatment strategies. Promotion of wellness, health maintenance, and disease prevention will also be emphasized. Interprofessional collaboration with other health care providers, and legal, ethical, and cultural considerations will be explored.
 
3 Credits
Prerequisites: NU 702, NU 703
Corequisites: NU 705, NU 706

NU 705 Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Clinical II

In this Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) clinical course, students will have the opportunity to collaborate with faculty and preceptor for continuation in psychiatric-mental health care for adult, older adult, specialty populations and therapeutic implications. This course introduces students to the complex mental health issues; setting & population-based care; consultation & other disciplines; and transition to practice. Students will integrate advanced mental health pathophysiology, psychosocial and therapeutic techniques, as well as evidence-based research and current clinical practice guidelines to formulate and apply appropriate treatment strategies. Promotion of wellness, health maintenance, and disease prevention will also be emphasized. Interprofessional collaboration with other health care providers, and legal, ethical, and cultural considerations will be explored. Interprofessional collaboration with other health care providers, and legal, ethical, and cultural considerations will be explored.
 
1 Credit
200 Clinical Hours
Corequisites: NU 704, NU 706

NU 707 Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner III

In this Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner III course, this course focuses on managing clients experiencing acute or chronic mental and behavioral health problems in the pediatric and geriatric patient populations. Management of individuals with chemical dependency needs will be incorporated. Students will build upon prior courses and critically analyze patient care needs as a primary psychiatric care provider. Various psychotherapeutic modalities will be explored including; group therapy, family therapy, psychotherapeutic education, consultation/ liaison and community interventions. This course supports the knowledge base for PMHNP students in achieving adult Nurse Practitioner competencies.
 
3 Credits
Prerequisites: NU 704, NU 705, NU 706
Corequisites: NU 708, NU 709 On campus

NU 708 Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Clinical III

In this Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner III (PMHNP) clinical course, students will have the opportunity to collaborate with faculty and preceptor for continuation in psychiatric-mental health care and managing clients experiencing acute or chronic mental and behavioral health problems in the pediatric and geriatric patient populations. Management of individuals with chemical dependency needs will be incorporated. Students will build upon prior courses and critically analyze patient care needs as a primary psychiatric care provider. Various psychotherapeutic modalities will be explored including; group therapy, family therapy, psychotherapeutic education, consultation/ liaison and community interventions. Promotion of wellness, health maintenance, and disease prevention will also be emphasized. Interprofessional collaboration with other health care providers, and legal, ethical, and cultural considerations will be explored. Interprofessional collaboration with other health care providers, and legal, ethical, and cultural considerations will be explored.
 
1 Credit
200 Clinical Hours
Corequisites: NU 707, NU 709