Program Overview

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Graduate Certificate

Overview

This certificate prepares students for the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) role through formal study in the theory and practice of advanced practice psychiatric nursing in a variety of practice settings within the healthcare delivery system. Graduates will be eligible for prescriptive authority and will have the potential to perform a variety of mental health services including medication management and psychotherapy. Course and practice content focus on the assessment and management of serious mental illness.

Certification and Role

Graduates of this post-master's certificate are eligible to sit for the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner national certification examination given by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Admissions

Applicants must hold a master's degree in nursing. Applicants must meet the admission standards and application requirements specified in the Graduate Admissions section of the catalog and apply using the Application for Graduate Admission. Acceptance to the nursing program is contingent upon admission to the university. The application process is competitive.

Applicants who are Certified Nurse Practitioners

Applicants may be required to complete the below courses in addition to the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Graduate Certificate required courses in the following situations:

• If they received a grade lower than a "B" in any of the courses (or equivalent) listed below;
• If the program determines that the completed courses do not align with the offerings in the School of Nursing at Mason, based on a review of course objectives and course descriptions.
• NURS 714: Health Assessment in Clinical Practice (2 credits)
• NURS 724: Health Assessment Practicum (1 credit)
• NURS 761: Pharmacotherapeutics (3 credits)
• NURS 769: Physiology and Pathophysiology in Advanced Practice (3 credits)
• Total Credits: 9

Applicants who are not Certified Nurse Practitioners

Applicants who are not certified as a nurse practitioner will be required to complete the below course before starting the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Graduate Certificate program.

• NURS 714: Health Assessment in Clinical Practice (2 credits)
• NURS 724: Health Assessment Practicum (1 credit)
• NURS 761: Pharmacotherapeutics (3 credits)
• NURS 769: Physiology and Pathophysiology in Advanced Practice (3 credits)
• Total Credits: 9

Policies

For policies governing all graduate certificates, see AP.6.8 Requirements for Graduate Certificates.

Certificate Requirements

Total credits: 23

This certificate may be pursued on a full-or part-time basis.

Candidates must complete 23 graduate credits with a minimum GPA of 3.00 in course work and no more than 3 credits with a grade of C to earn the certificate.

Required Courses

• NURS 632: Pathogenesis of Mental Disorders (3 credits)
• NURS 633: Individual Psychotherapy (3 credits)
• NURS 634: Group, Family and Couple Psychotherapy (1 credit)
• NURS 743: Clinical Psychopharmacology (3 credits)
• NURS 782: Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Practicum I (4 credits)
• NURS 783: Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Seminar I (2 credits)
• NURS 784: Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Practicum II (5 credits)
• NURS 785: Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Seminar II (2 credits)
• Total Credits: 23