Program Overview

Overview of University Programs

The university offers a variety of online programs, including:

• Business Administration (MBA)
• Criminal Justice (M.S.)
• eLearning Design and Development Certificate
• Health Services Administration (MHSA)
• Instructional Design and Development (M.S.)
• Nursing (MSN)
• Nursing (MSN) – Education Track
• Nursing (MSN) – Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Track
• Nursing (MSN) – Forensics Track
• Nursing/Criminal Justice Dual Degree (MSN/M.S.)
• Nursing (MSN) – Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Track
• Post Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice in Population Health Leadership (DNP)
• Special Education (M.Ed. & M.S)
• Organizational Leadership (B.A.)
• Sport Administration (M.S.)
• Global TESOL (M.A.)
• Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MEd in TESOL)

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Track

Program Description

The MSN PMHNP program prepares students to work as psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners in a variety of inpatient and ambulatory settings, including clinics, hospitals, and treatment centers. The program focuses on facilitating the lifetime care of individuals, families, communities, and populations' health and the utilization of evidence-based, culturally-sensitive, and recovery-oriented holistic care.

Program Objectives

1. Prepares students to assess and treat the mental health needs of patients who are at risk of or currently coping with mental health conditions like addiction, anxiety, and depression.
2. Prepares students to work as psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, substance abuse treatment centers, and social services settings.
3. Provides culturally-competent, population-based preventive, management, and holistic care information for the treatment of complex mental health problems, behavior disorders, or psychiatric diagnoses.
4. Graduates are eligible for national certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Curriculum

The MSN-PMHPN program includes 49 credits, comprising:

• 19 credits of core MSN education
• 19 credits of PMHNP didactic and practicum courses
• A 2-credit scholarly project

Online MSN Core Courses (17 credits)

• NURS 500: Health Care Ethics for Nursing Leaders (3 credits)
• NURS 501: Theoretical Bases for Nursing Practice (3 credits)
• NURS 502: Nursing Research (3 credits)
• NURS 505: Health Care Informatics (3 credits)
• NURS 690: Health Care Policy for Nursing Leaders (2 credits)
• NURS 864: Epidemiologic Methods in Health Care (3 credits)

PMHNP Track Courses (30 credits)

• Nurse Practitioner Core (9 credits)
  • NURS 658: Advanced Pharmacology Across the Lifespan (3 credits)
  • NURS 680: Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan (3 credits)
  • NURS 756: Advanced Physical Health Assessment Across the Lifespan (3 credits)
• PMHNP Core (21 credits)
  • NURS 532: Leadership and Management for NPs (2 credits)
  • NURS 780: PMHNP Core 1 (3 credits)
  • NURS 783: PMHNP Clinical Practicum 1 (1 credit)
  • NURS 786: Advanced Psychopharmacology and Neurobiology Across the Lifespan (2 credits)
  • NURS 784: PMHNP Core 2 (3 credits)
  • NURS 785: PMHNP Clinical Practicum 2 (1 credit)
  • NURS 793: PMHNP Clinical Practicum 3 (1 credit)
  • NURS 782: Role Development & Ethical Issues for the PMHNP (2 credits)
  • NURS 788: PMHNP Core 3 (3 credits)
  • NURS 795: PMHNP Clinical Practicum 4 (1 credit)
  • NURS 791: PMHNP Clinical Practicum 5 (1 credit)
  • NURS 790: Current Issues and Trends in PMH (1 credit)
• Synthesis (2 credits)
  • NURS 797: Scholarly Project (2 credits)

Certificate

A Post Master's Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate is also available for experienced registered nurses with an MSN from a regionally-accredited college or university.

Admission

• Application deadline: August 1
• Start date: Fall semester
• Requirements:
  • Be a registered nurse with an unencumbered United States RN license
  • Hold a MSN and be a graduate of an accredited college or university's nursing program
  • An undergraduate statistics course with a grade of C or better is required for admission
  • Free online application
  • Official transcript
  • Resume and personal essay
  • Three professional references
  • Personal interview (may be required for the MSN-FNP program)

Tuition

• $722 per credit hour
• $35,378 total estimated tuition

Faculty

The online programs feature the same world-class faculty as the traditional programs, including:

• Cathy Messinger, DNP, MSN, RN, Track Coordinator, Nurse Practitioner Programs

State Authorization

Xavier University is authorized to offer this fully online degree program in all states.