Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Certificate

APU’s Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) specialty prepares students to help clients with psychiatric and mental health problems across the lifespan.

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate program is a nondegree course credit option for nurses with a master’s degree in nursing.1 This program prepares students as psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners for clients with psychiatric and mental health problems across the lifespan. Nurses are eligible to apply to the California Board of Registered Nursing for certification as a nurse practitioner, and may apply for national PMHNP certification through examination. Note: Students must be admitted to the university before registering for this program (see Admission section below).

1

Students may be given transfer credits for previous content completed in a master’s degree program. Students who hold current California certification as a nurse practitioner or nurse midwife, and students who hold a master’s degree in nursing and/or national certification as a clinical nurse specialist (CNS), may challenge or request waiver of the coursework required for the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program, as appropriate to the student’s current specialty. Petitions for challenge or waiver of courses must be initiated upon admission and approved by the MSN chair. Students must show proof of current nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, or clinical nurse specialist certification.

Requirements 

Advanced Practice Core Courses14
GNRS 510Family Theory in Health Care2
GNRS 513Advanced Nursing Practice Role2
GNRS 610Advanced Pathophysiology3
GNRS 611Advanced Pharmacology3
GNRS 612Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning 14 (3/1)
Advanced Practice Specialty Courses29
GNRS 533Psychiatric Theories across the Life Span2
GNRS 534Integrated Psychiatric and Health Assessment across the Life Span2
GNRS 535Psychiatric Interventions and Health Promotion across the Life Span6 (3/3)
GNRS 536Psychiatric Mental Health Care with Adults and Older Adults6 (3/3)
GNRS 537Psychiatric Mental Health Care with Children and Adolescents6 (3/3)
GNRS 538Psychiatric Mental Health Care with Selected Populations5 (2/3)
GNRS 539Psychopharmacology2
Total Units43
1

Units in parentheses are classroom/clinical units.

Admission

University graduate admission and program-specific requirements must be met before an application is complete (see Admission to the University). Program-specific application requirements are available online.

International students should contact Graduate and Professional Admissions for application procedures.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this program shall be able to:
  1. Articulate a Christian worldview, demonstrating respect for the dignity and uniqueness of others, valuing diversity, and applying spiritual concepts.
    2.
  2. Engage in scholarly inquiry and critical thinking, including evaluation and application of evidence-based research.
    3.
  3. Appraise and apply knowledge to develop, implement, and evaluate interventions that promote health and prevent disease.
  4. Demonstrate thoughtful analysis of the legal, political, ethical, and/or financial factors impacting healthcare.
    5.
  5. Use information systems and technology to communicate, manage knowledge, promote quality, mitigate error and support decision-making.
    6.
  6. Demonstrate the ability to coordinate and collaborate with other health care team professionals.
  7. Engage in clinical reasoning, effective communication, and act as change agents to develop professional identity and practice skill.