Program Overview

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DNP: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

The University of Maryland School of Nursing offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program with a specialty in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. This program prepares students to assess, evaluate, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions in individuals across the lifespan.

Program Overview

The DNP program is designed to be completed in as little as three years, with a blended format that combines face-to-face and online instruction. The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Tuition and Fees

The tuition for the program is $926 per credit hour for in-state students and $1,643 per credit hour for out-of-state students. Additional fees are charged by the university and the school to support various educational services.

Competency-Based Education

The program's curriculum is aligned with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing's (AACN) Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education, which focuses on competency-based education (CBE). CBE is a student-centered approach that provides multiple opportunities for students to demonstrate and use what they are learning as they learn it.

Program Structure

The program includes core DNP courses that are available online, while specialty courses are conducted in person. The program offers flexible scheduling, with 3-, 4-, and 5-year plans of study available. Students learn from faculty with diverse doctoral training, research interests, and practice appointments.

Clinical Opportunities

Students are paired with faculty specialists and preceptors in clinical opportunities for sub-specialization in various high-risk populations, such as geriatric, children and adolescents, those with severe and persistent mental disorders, and those with substance abuse disorders. Clinical placements are available at premium sites throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C.

What You'll Learn

The program prepares students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to provide primary care psychiatric services to children and adults. Students learn an evidence-based holistic approach to treat mental health problems, building on four core competencies:

• Physical and psychosocial advanced health assessments
• Diagnosis of mental disorders, pathophysiology, and neurophysiology
• Individual, family, and group psychotherapy
• Medication management (pharmacology and psychopharmacology)

What You'll Do

Upon completion of the program, students are prepared to:

• Sit for certification examination with either the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) for the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (across the lifespan) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) for the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• Meet the growing demand for qualified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners in private practices, outpatient clinics, and urgent care settings or as hospital liaisons
• Educate nursing students across all education levels in psychiatric mental health nursing

Post-BSN Plans of Study

The program offers three plans of study for post-BSN students:

• Three-Year Plan of Study
• Four-Year Plan of Study
• Five-Year Plan of Study

Each plan of study includes a combination of core DNP courses, specialty courses, and clinical practicum hours.

Post-Master's Option

The program also offers a post-master's option for students who have already completed a master's degree in nursing. The post-master's option is designed to be completed in a variable number of credits, depending on the student's individual educational experiences.

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements for the program include:

• Bachelor's degree with a major in nursing from an accredited college or university
• Undergraduate cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0
• Two years of full-time psychiatric mental health work experience at the time of application
• Certification in PsychiatricMental Health Nursing (RN-BC credential) is recommended
• Membership and participation in the professional specialty organization, the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, is also recommended

Application Materials and Instructions

Application materials include:

• Online application and non-refundable $75 application fee
• Two recommendations from sources knowledgeable about the applicant's work performance and experience
• Essay addressing the impact of earning the DNP degree on the care of the population the applicant expects to serve after graduation
• Typed résumé or CV
• Copy of valid, unrestricted RN license in the United States
• Official transcripts from all institutions previously attended or currently attending
• Residency classification application (if applicable)

Scholarship Opportunities

The University of Maryland School of Nursing offers multiple scholarship opportunities to help students afford their graduate education. These include:

• Federal financial aid
• Merit scholarships
• Donor-funded scholarships
• Conway Scholarship
• Graduate assistantships

Postdoctoral Certificate

The program also offers a postdoctoral certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner for doctoral-prepared nurses who want to add or change their area of specialty. The postdoctoral certificate requires a minimum of 43 credits and 990 clinical hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

The program's website includes a list of frequently asked questions, including information on the length of the program, clinical opportunities, and job market demand for graduates.