Program Overview

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Bachelor's to DNP Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

The Bachelor's to DNP Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program is designed to prepare graduates to effectively care for patients with complex psychiatric and physical health needs. The program covers both outpatient and inpatient care, children through elderly individuals, and mild depression and anxiety to significantly disabling conditions, including substance abuse, bipolar disorders, and schizophrenia.

Program Description

Graduates of the program will be prepared to provide high-quality mental health care to all populations and conditions in a variety of rural and urban settings. The program coursework is delivered online and includes field-based practicum.

Program Information

Required Coursework

The program requires the following coursework:

• Year One Coursework
  • Fall: NURS 615 Foundations of Advanced Nursing (3 credits)
  • Fall: HSC 631 Biostatistics I (3 credits)
  • Fall: NURS 772 Healthcare Technology and Informatics (3 credits)
  • Spring: NURS 760 Advanced Concepts in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (3 credits)
  • Spring: NURS 670 Health Policy, Legislation, Economics and Ethics (3 credits)
  • Spring: NURS 783 Healthcare System Management and Evaluation (3 credits)
  • Summer: NURS 860 Health Operations and Financial Management in Nurse Leaders (3 credits)
  • Summer: NURS 750 Transformational Leadership in Nursing (3 credits)
  • Summer: NURS 789 DNP Capstone I (1 credit)
• Year Two Coursework
  • Fall: NURS 623 Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan Advanced Practice (4 credits)
  • Fall: NURS 850 Philosophical and Theoretical Foundations for Evidence-Based Care (3 credits)
  • Fall: NURS 889 DNP Capstone II (1 credit)
  • Spring: NURS 855 Transitional Research in Healthcare (3 credits)
  • Spring: NURS 631/Lab Advanced Assessment Across the Lifespan (3+1 credits)
  • Spring: NURS 880 DNP Project (1 credit)
  • Summer: NURS 835 Ethical Issues Influencing Practice and Research (2 credits)
  • Summer: PHA 645 Pharmacotherapeutics Across the Lifespan-Advanced Practice (4 credits)
  • Summer: NURS 880 DNP Project (1 credit)
• Year Three Coursework
  • Fall: NURS 733 Psychopathological Disorders Across the Lifespan (2 credits)
  • Fall: NURS 735 Advanced Psychiatric Assessment and Differential Diagnosis Across the Lifespan (2 credits)
  • Fall: NURS 880 Project (1 credit)
  • Spring: NURS 732 Psychopharmacology and Neurobiology Across the Lifespan (2 credits)
  • Spring: NURS 734/Lab Theories and Interventions for Individuals and Groups* (2+1 credits)
  • Spring: NURS 849/Lab PMHNP Integration Synthesis* (1+1 credits)
  • Summer: NURS 749 PMHNP Integration Synthesis (Practicum)** (5 credits)
  • Summer: NURS 880 Project (1 credit)
• Year Four Coursework
  • Fall: NURS 736 Psychiatric Mental Health Advanced Practice Across the Lifespan I** (5 credits)
  • Fall: NURS 880 Project (1 credit)
  • Spring: NURS 737 Psychiatric Mental Health Advanced Practice Across the Lifespan II** (5 credits)

Certification Options

After completing the program of study, graduates are eligible to complete certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Tuition and Fees

The estimated cost per credit is as follows:

• South Dakota Resident: $640
• Non-South Dakota Resident: $962
• Child of Alumni: $640
• South Dakota Advantage: $640 (offered to qualified students from Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Colorado, Montana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Wyoming who have received a degree/credential from a South Dakota Board or Regents institution)

Financial Aid

The university is committed to helping students find resources to pay for college. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships is available to assist students. There are also scholarship and loan repayment opportunities available.

Student Learning Outcomes

At the completion of the program, graduates will demonstrate the following student learning outcomes:

• Integrate theoretical and scientific underpinnings of nursing and other disciplines to address emerging healthcare and practice issues.
• Engage in health policy at all levels to influence healthcare delivery concerns.
• Demonstrate leadership at the organizational and/or systems level to address health outcomes of individuals and populations.
• Utilize advanced nursing knowledge and information systems/technology related to clinical prevention and health promotion.
• Collaborate with the interprofessional team in the translation, implementation, analysis, and dissemination of evidence-based practice.
• Employ evidence-based practice and advanced clinical judgment to comprehensively assess, design, and deliver mental health care for individuals across the lifespan.

Admission Criteria

Admission to the program requires:

• Current licensure as a registered nurse in the United States or its territories.
• 1,500 hours of documented nursing practice experience prior to the first clinical course.
• Completed and verified application to the graduate nursing program.
• Online written and verbal assessment completed through Kira Talent.
• Completed compliance requirements, including clear background check, clear FBI rolled fingerprint, clear drug screen, Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers, and professional liability insurance.

Application Process

Each applicant is required to complete two applications: the Graduate School application and the NursingCAS application. Following review of the applications, eligible applicants will be invited to participate in an online interview and online written assessment.

Requirements After Admission

Applicants who are offered admission to the program will be required to complete the graduate nursing compliance requirements, submit a nonrefundable deposit, and purchase a laptop computer that meets the computer requirements.

Compliance Requirements

All students are required to submit SDSU College of Nursing compliance documents, including:

• Certificate of health
• Multiwaiver release form
• Room scan consent form
• Participation and self-transportation agreement
• Tuberculin (TB) testing
• Hepatitis B
• MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella)
• Varicella (chickenpox)
• Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis)
• Influenza
• COVID-19 (optional)