Program Overview
Introduction to the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program
The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program at Columbia University School of Nursing is designed to prepare advanced practice nurses in the assessment and treatment of mentally ill patients across the lifespan. The program focuses on providing holistic care, conducting psychiatric assessments, and creating treatment plans that may include medications and other therapeutic modalities.
Program Overview
- The program is sensitive and responsive to the complex and diverse needs of a growing population of children, adolescents, adults, and elderly individuals in acute, chronic, and community settings.
- Emphasis is placed on the comprehensive assessment of patients and families and the provision of treatment, including crisis intervention, medication management, psychotherapy, education, and referral.
- Graduates of the program practice in varied settings, including acute care settings, community mental health centers, day treatment programs, substance abuse programs, shelters for women and children, liaison settings, and private practice.
Curriculum
The curriculum for the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program includes:
- Post BSN Doctor of Nursing Practice: Students complete approximately two years of coursework to complete degree requirements, including lecture, clinical, simulation, and final intensive practicum.
- Coursework: The program includes a range of courses, such as:
- Advanced Clinical Assessment Across the Lifespan
- Advanced Health Assessment in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing I and II
- Advanced Pharmacology
- Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan I and II
- Advanced Practice in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing I and II
- Clinical Practice and Supervision with Families
- DNP Intensive Practicum
- DNP Portfolio Advisement
- Fundamentals of Comprehensive Care Across the Lifespan I: Seminar (Psychiatric-Mental Health)
- Global Health Experiences
- Group Theory
- Health and Social Policy in the Context of Practice
- Health Policy and Advocacy
- Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
- Incorporating Genetics and Genomics in Advanced Practice Nursing
- Informatics for Practice
- Introduction to Addictive Behaviors
- Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice
- Management and Advanced Practice Nursing
- Practice Leadership and Quality
- Principles of Epidemiology and Environmental Health
- Psychopharmacology for the Advanced Practice Nurse
- Psychotherapy: Theories and Techniques
- Scholarly Writing and Dissemination I and II
- Seminar in Advanced Practice in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing I and II
- Seminar in Family Therapy and Technique
- Supervision and Practice in Group Psychotherapy
- Supervision and Practice in Individual Psychotherapy
- Translation and Synthesis of Evidence for Optimal Outcomes
Total Credits
The total credits required for the program range from 83 to 92 credits.
Program Director
The program director is Latisha Hanson, MSN, BS, DNP, PMHNP-BC, RN, Assistant Professor of Nursing at CUMC.
Clinical Sites
Clinical sites are available in the tri-state area and beyond and are arranged with students according to their learning needs.
Graduation and Certification
Graduates of the program are eligible to take the certifying exam offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and are eligible for licensure in New York State as Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners.