Program Overview

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Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practitioner: Nursing Practice, D.N.P.

College of Nursing

Prepare to provide holistic mental health care integrating neuroscientific principles with psychotherapy, consultation and trauma-related care across the patient lifespan.

The D.N.P. program at USC was one of the first four of its kind in the country, and our online graduate nursing programs continue to be nationally rated. As a D.N.P. student, you'll be able to collaborate with dynamic faculty mentors on evidence-based projects, develop your own grants and participate in a health policy internship.

Program Highlights

• Nationally Ranked

Study in a program that holds the top ranking for its online graduate programs according to U.S. News & World Report (2023).

• Support and Assistance

Get help developing as a scientist and scholar, and access specialized expertise to ensure your success.

• Enhance Expertise

Build skills assessing research and evaluating outcomes with the goal of improving patient care.

What You’ll Study

Learn to identify clinical problems in complex health settings and work with interprofessional teams to address them. Execute evidence-based interventions to improve health care outcomes for people and populations. The curriculum prepares nurses to sit for the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner national certification exam.

Building Skills

Gain the professional and personal intelligence it takes to have a successful career.

• Multicultural Awareness

Understanding cultural variation and adapting behaviors and communication styles accordingly

• Interpersonal Skills

Communicating and interacting effectively in a variety of social and professional situations

• Research

Gathering and analyzing information to increase knowledge or solve problems

• Therapeutic Intervention

Using proven strategies to help individuals or groups achieve positive outcomes

• Communication

Exchanging information and ideas through speaking, writing or other means of expression

• Empathy

Understanding and sharing the feelings of others, and demonstrating compassion and support

Using your degree

Make your college experience the foundation for a successful future.

• Potential Careers
  • Advanced Practice Nurse
  • Instructor
• Workplace Settings
  • Health Care
  • Education
  • Mental Health Care

Related Degrees

• Doctorate
  • Physical Therapy, D.P.T.
  • Health Services Policy and Management, Ph.D.
  • Psychology, Ph.D.
  • Social Work, Ph.D.
  • Counselor Education, Ph.D.
  • Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Ph.D.
  • Environmental Health Sciences, Ph.D.
  • Family Nursing Practitioner: Nursing Practice, D.N.P.
  • Medicine, M.D.