Program Overview

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, DNP Advanced Practice Track

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) track at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing prepares students to diagnose and manage acute and chronic mental health problems across the lifespan, including pediatric, adult, and geriatric populations. This track is based on the American Association of Colleges of Nursing's Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education (2021), the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties' (NONPF) Nurse Practitioner Role Core Competencies (2022), and the NONPF Psychiatric-Mental Health Competencies (2013).

Curriculum

The curriculum for this track includes the following courses:

• Introduction to Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Practice Interview Techniques (NR.406.700)
• Diagnostic Skills for Psychiatric and Mental Health Advanced Practice Nursing (NR.406.703)
• Neurobiology of Mental Disorders (NR.406.706)
• Clinical Psychopharmacology (NR.406.708)
• Differential Diagnosis of Mental Disorders (NR.406.710)
• Psychotherapeutic Frameworks and Modalities (NR.406.712)
• Diagnostic Reasoning I: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner: Adult/Gero (NR.406.714)
• Diagnostic Reasoning II: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner: Children and Families (NR.406.715)
• Clinical Management I: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner: Adult/Gero (NR.406.720)
• Clinical Management II: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner: Children and Families (NR.406.722)
• Integrated Care I for the Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (NR.406.724)
• Integrated Care II for the Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (NR.406.725)
• Diagnostic Reasoning III: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (NR.406.726)
• Diagnostic Reasoning IV: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (NR.406.727)
• Clinical Management III: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (NR.406.730)
• Clinical Management IV: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (NR.406.731)

Program of Study

The program of study for the PMHNP track is as follows:

First Year

• First Semester:
  • Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology Part I (NR.400.700)
  • Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Part I (NR.400.706)
  • Application of Biostatistical Methods for Evidence-Based Practice (NR.400.717)
  • Health Promotion and Disease Across the Lifespan (NR.400.721)
  • Advanced Health Policy (NR.400.723)
• Second Semester:
  • Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology Part II (NR.400.701)
  • Advanced Health Assessment and Measurement for Advanced Practice Nurses (NR.400.704)
  • Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Part II (NR.400.707)
  • Human Growth, Development, and Supervision: Birth through Adolescence (NR.400.710)
  • Organizational and Systems Leadership for Quality Healthcare (NR.400.727)

Second Year

• First Semester:
  • Healthcare Finance for Advanced Nursing Practice (NR.400.732)
  • Neurobiology of Mental Disorders (NR.406.706)
  • Clinical Psychopharmacology (NR.406.708)
  • Differential Diagnosis of Mental Disorders (NR.406.710)
  • Psychotherapeutic Frameworks and Modalities (NR.406.712)
• Second Semester:
  • Inquiry for Scholarly Practice (NR.400.725)
  • Scholarly Project Discovery and Foundations of Nursing Leadership in Healthcare (NR.400.740)
  • Scholarly Problem Discovery and Foundations of Nursing Leadership in Healthcare Practicum (NR.400.742)
  • Diagnostic Reasoning I: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner: Adult/Gero (NR.406.714)
  • Clinical Management I: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner: Adult/Gero (NR.406.720)
  • Integrated Care I for the Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (NR.406.724)

Third Year

• First Semester:
  • Advanced Applications of Information Technology in Healthcare Delivery (NR.400.738)
  • Health Policy, Advocacy, and Legislation Transformation in Healthcare (NR.400.748)
  • Health Policy, Advocacy, and Legislation Transformation in Healthcare Practicum (NR.400.750)
  • Diagnostic Reasoning III: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (NR.406.726)
  • Clinical Management III: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (NR.406.730)
  • Integrated Care II for the Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (NR.406.725)
• Second Semester:
  • Clinical Data Management and Analyses for Advanced Practice (NR.400.736)
  • Quality, Safety, and Systems Improvement and Dissemination in Healthcare (NR.400.752)
  • Quality, Safety, and Systems Improvement and Dissemination in Healthcare Practicum (NR.400.754)
  • Diagnostic Reasoning IV: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (NR.406.727)
  • Clinical Management IV: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (NR.406.731)

Certification

Graduates of the PMHNP track will be eligible to apply for certification as a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP-BC) through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board.

Program Total

The total credits required for the PMHNP track are 76 credits, with 1040 clinical hours and 160 project practicum hours. For students in Fall 2023 or earlier cohorts, the total credits required are 83-90 credits, with 784 clinical hours and 224 project practicum hours.