Program Overview

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Advanced Graduate Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner for the FNP

About

This three-semester, 21-credit post-master's advanced graduate certificate program prepares family nurse practitioners to expand their practice specialty to include management of patients with acute and chronic psychiatric conditions. Building upon the existing skill set of the primary care psychotherapeutic management skills. Successful completion of the program meets the national certification board eligibility requirements.

The online Advanced Graduate Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner for the FNP program uses a variety of teaching strategies designed to actively engage students. Mandatory orientation sessions are held before the beginning of each spring semester to enhance the connections among students and with the nursing faculty. This certificate has mandatory on-campus sessions throughout the program. Program start is contingent upon class size.

APRN Student Clinical Placement Information

UNLV School of Nursing guarantees clinical placements in Nevada in the greater Las Vegas Metro area to students who hold a valid Nevada RN license. Out-of-state students located in Alaska, Montana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, or Utah must hold a valid RN license in the state and jurisdiction in which they intend to complete their program. Students are encouraged to partner with the School of Nursing in identifying potential preceptors and clinical practice experiences in their local community in one of those states. The UNLV School of Nursing must review and approve all out-of-state and out of the Las Vegas metro area preceptors and clinical sites. UNLV ensures adequate physical resources and clinical sites are available in Nevada to achieve the program's mission, goals, and expected outcomes for all admitted students. UNLV strives to approve student-recommended out-of-state/out of the Las Vegas Metro area quality clinical practice experiences and preceptors; however, UNLV offers no guarantees for out-of-state/out of the Las Vegas metro area clinical placements and preceptors and/or assistance in finding out-of-state/out of the Las Vegas metro area placement sites and preceptors. If an out-of-state/out of the Las Vegas metro area student is unable to secure a UNLV-approved preceptor and/or site in his/her home community (Alaska, Montana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, or Utah), the student is expected to acquire a Nevada RN license, relocate to the greater Las Vegas metro area, and the UNLV School of Nursing will assign him/her a preceptor and clinical site in the Las Vegas area (up to 75-miles from UNLV within NV state lines).

Accreditation

For information regarding accreditation at UNLV, please head over to Academic Program Accreditations.

Learning Outcomes

• Competently assess, diagnose, prescribe, evaluate, and create a holistic plan of mental health treatment.
• Articulate the professional role, which includes the ethical code of conduct and scope of advanced practice of the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.
• Develop and monitor comprehensive, holistic plans of care that address the health promotion and disease prevention needs of diverse psychiatric mental health client populations.
• Assess and monitor teaching/learning needs in a diverse psychiatric mental health client population.
• Practice ethically in the conduct of research, management, and clinical professional practice.

Requirements

Plan Description

Individuals who already have a master's degree in nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner and meet the admissions qualifications will be allowed to take courses towards the Post-Master's Advanced Graduate Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner for the FNP upon admissions into the program. A certificate will be awarded documenting completion of the coursework and transcripts will reflect courses taken.

Plan Admission Requirements

• Application Deadlines: Applications available on the UNLV Graduate College website.
• All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements.

Graduate College Admission Requirements

• Completed application in the Application Portal and non-refundable application fee.
• Bachelor's Degree – You must hold a four-year baccalaureate from a regionally accredited institution or an approved equivalent.
  • Advanced Certificates require a regionally accredited Master's degree.
• Grade Point Average – You must have a minimum overall grade point average of 2.75 (4.00=A) for the bachelor's degree or a minimum 3.00 (4.00=A) for the last two years (60 semester credits).
• All applicants are required to submit an unofficial transcript from each postsecondary institution attended, showing all degrees and coursework, the dates awarded, and grades received. Official transcripts required upon admission.
  • Credentials not in English must be accompanied by an English translation certified as true by a university official, an official representative of a United States embassy or consulate, the United States Information Service, the United States Education Foundation, or an approved professional translating service. Notarized copies of originals or translations are not considered official.

Department Admission Requirements

The following items are required:

• Transcripts must show coursework in Advanced Physical Assessment, Advanced Pathophysiology, and Advanced Pharmacology and the Family Nurse Practitioner degree concentration. Additionally, if unofficial transcripts are available to the student, please upload to the application. Nursing coursework must have been completed at a nursing program accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
• Three letters of recommendation from either instructors or employers that speak to the applicant's potential to complete the Advanced Graduate Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program.
• Statement of 300 words describing the students' professional goals and reason for seeking a nurse practitioner certificate.
• Current resume or curriculum vitae (CV).
• Current valid unencumbered and unrestricted RN license in state of residence.
• Interviews may be required.

Seat Holding Fee: A one-time, non-refundable deposit of $500 is required as a seat holding fee. This deposit will be credited towards tuition costs once admissions acceptance has been completed.

Students are accepted into a certificate program as described in the Graduate Catalog. The faculty and corresponding sub-disciplines and sub-plans within the described programs are subject to change at any time.

Plan Requirements

Total Credits Required: 21

Course Requirements

• NURS 751 - Clinical Synthesis for the Psych Mental Health NP
• NURS 794 - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner I
• NURS 796 - Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan
• NURS 796L - Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan Lab
• NURS 799 - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner III

Certificate Requirements

• This Program is available Exclusively Fully Online (Please see the Fully Online Modality Tracks in Programs section of this Catalog for more information).
• Completion of a minimum of 21 credits with a minimum GPA of 3.00.

Plan Certificate Completion Requirements

Students may apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements. All required forms must be submitted to the graduate college via the Grad Rebel Gateway.

Plan Disclaimer

In Nevada, the educational prerequisites for professional licensure in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) are an active Nevada RN License, National Certification as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and graduation from a nationally accredited Nursing Program with a minimum of 500+ hours of direct patient care. The Advanced Graduate Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner is an accredited program by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The MSN Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner subplan does satisfy those licensure and certification requirements. However, UNLV School of Nursing has not made a determination with respect to the licensure requirements in any other state. As such, MSN Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner is not authorized in any other state in which the prospective or enrolled student resides. If you reside in a state other than Nevada, UNLV will refund the application fee in accordance with its procedures. License requirements for other states are being explored.

Documents/Downloads

• Plans of Study
• Syllabi
• Degree Worksheets
• Careers
• Graduate Handbooks
• Additional Downloads
• Related Links

Contacts

Graduate Coordinator

Reimund Serafica, Ph.D, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, CNE, FTNSS, FAAN

Associate Professor (Tenured), Associate Dean for Advanced Education

Degree Contact

General School of Nursing

School of Nursing

The School of Nursing educates nurses at the undergraduate and graduate levels to meet health care needs in Nevada and beyond. We promote, improve, and sustain human health through evidence-based education and advances in research and practice.