Program Overview

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Introduction to the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Program

The Master of Science with a major in Nursing Program's PMHNP track is designed to graduate PMHNPs who will be prepared to provide quality, holistic, scientifically sound, and patient-centered care while optimizing the health and well-being of diverse populations and communities.

About the Program

The focus of the PMHNP track is to prepare PMHNP graduates who will provide patient-centered quality care to individuals and families across the lifespan. The PMHNP role includes providing primary mental health care to patients seeking mental health services in various settings. Primary mental health care provided by the PMHNP involves relationship-based, continuous and comprehensive services, necessary for the promotion of optimal mental health, prevention, and treatment of psychiatric disorders and health maintenance.

Program Values and Outcomes

Through the values of leadership, scholarship, collaboration, innovation, excellence, global health, humanism, learning, courage, and diversity, advanced practice nurses who complete the curriculum of the respective track of the Master of Science program will:

• Integrate critical analysis from the sciences and humanities to improve advanced practice nursing and health outcomes.
• Develop innovative practice by integrating principles of change throughout health care systems.
• Apply investigative skills in the translation of new knowledge to improve practice and health outcomes.
• Demonstrate proficiency in the use of improvement sciences and peer review to achieve measurable health outcomes, including, but not limited to, value-based health care.
• Apply technology and scientific health information to coordinate and deliver personalized health care to a diverse global population.
• Advocate strategies to impact the ethical, legal, and social factors of global health care policy.
• Collaborate as leaders and members of the interprofessional team to maximize communication and coordination of care to achieve optimal health outcomes.
• Provide a full spectrum of evidence-based health care services throughout the life cycle of the population served to optimize health outcomes.
• Demonstrate professionalism, accountability and ownership while providing patient-centered care that recognizes diversity and respects consumer preferences.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the program occurs only in the fall semester. Applications submitted after the March 1 deadline are reviewed based on available space. The requirements for admission include:

• A BS in Nursing from an accredited institution with a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale for baccalaureate nursing degree and subsequent graduate work.
• An unencumbered New York State RN license.
• Nursing clinical experience: Prior to entering the clinical coursework of the program in the fall of year 2, a minimum of two years of current clinical experience is required.
• Verification of a basic health assessment course.
• Verification of a statistics course (within the last 5 years).
• American Heart Association Certification: current copy of BLS certification.
• A resume that includes relevant work experiences (including dates of employment by month and year), evidence of community service, examples of leadership and commitment to the profession of nursing, and memberships in professional nursing organizations.
• Three letters of recommendation submitted through the online recommendation form, accessible through the online application.
• A pre-admission interview.
• CASPer, a 90-minute online situational judgment test, serves to further enhance our holistic application review process by assessing non-cognitive skills and identifying personal attributes such as ethics, empathy, cultural sensitivity, collaboration, resiliency, and adaptability.
• One essay.
• Comprehensive background check.
• Student Health Requirements: Proof of physical examination within one year of application, student NP liability insurance, and health insurance, current immunizations for MMR, Chickenpox, Hepatitis B, Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis.

Program Requirements

The total program requirements are 49 semester hours, completed over three years.

Year One

Completion of 15 semester hours as follows:

• Fall:
  • NUR 201 - Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan (3 semester hours)
  • NUR 203A - Advanced Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics (1.5 semester hours)
  • Total: 4.5 semester hours
• Spring:
  • NUR 202 - Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan (3 semester hours)
  • NUR 203B - Advanced Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics (1.5 semester hours)
  • Total: 4.5 semester hours
• Summer:
  • NUR 242 - Psychopathology: Developmental, Neurobiological, and Environmental Basis (2 semester hours)
  • NUR 273 - Advanced Psychiatric Assessment (2 semester hours)
  • NUR 274 - Applied Psychopharmacology (2 semester hours)
  • Total: 6 semester hours

Year Two

Completion of 22 semester hours as follows:

• Fall:
  • NUR 281A - PMHNP I: Care of the Adult Psychiatric Client: Group and Family Therapy and Care of the Older Adult (2 semester hours)
  • NUR 281B - PMHNP I Care of the Adult Psychiatric Client- Group and Family Therapy and Care of the Older Adult (3 semester hours)
  • Total: 5 semester hours
• Spring:
  • NUR 308 - Health Literacy and Health Information Technology (3 semester hours)
  • NUR 282A - PMHNP II: Care of the Child, Adolescent, and Family Across the Lifespan (2 semester hours)
  • NUR 282B - PMHNP II: Care of the Child, Adolescent, and Family Across the Lifespan (3 semester hours)
  • Total: 8 semester hours
• Summer:
  • NUR 306 - Health Finance, Health Policy & Economic Leadership in Complex Health Systems (3 semester hours)
  • NUR 304 - Population Health, Epidemiology & Statistical Methods (3 semester hours)
  • NUR 205 - Scientific Foundations, Theories and Organizational Leadership (3 semester hours)
  • Total: 9 semester hours

Year Three

Completion of 12 semester hours as follows:

• Fall:
  • NUR 218 - Applied Evidence-Based Practice & Principles of Translational Research (2 semester hours)
  • NUR 283A - PMHNP III: Substance Abuse Disorders and Care of the Adult with Complex Mental Health Issues (2 semester hours)
  • NUR 283B - PMHNP III: Substance Use Disorders and Care of the Adult with Complex Mental Health Issues (3 semester hours)
  • Total: 7 semester hours
• Spring:
  • NUR 284A - PMHNP IV: Care of the Psychiatric Client Across the Lifespan (2 semester hours)
  • NUR 284B - PMHNP IV: Care of the Psychiatric Client Across the Lifespan (3 semester hours)
  • Total: 5 semester hours

Graduation Requirements

Students enrolled in the PMHNP track of the MS program are required to perform direct advanced practice clinical care hours. These credit-bearing clinical hours are a component of each of the four clinical courses in which the student is placed with an appropriate preceptor. The PMHNP track of the MS program requires students to perform 720 direct care hours.

Project Included in NUR 218

With a focus on practice inquiry, students will design an evidence-based practice initiative of significant importance that is a current problem or issue for their patients' or healthcare organization. The students will develop the evidence-based practice skills of collaborating with a team, identifying and evaluating critical problems and recommending solutions based on evidence.

Cumulative Exam Upon Completion of NUR 284A

A cumulative exam is required upon completion of NUR 284A.