Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
Prepares students to become safe, effective advanced practice providers equipped to prescribe psychotropic medications and deliver psychotherapy.
Fall Application Deadline: July 31
Spring Application Deadline: Nov. 30
Overview
The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practioner (PMHNP) Program is designed for BSN-prepared nurses seeking to specialize in psychiatric care. Building on prior education and professional experience, the program provides advanced expertise in the diagnosis and management of psychiatric patients across the lifespan. Students master both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions, including psychotherapy and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).
Through a mental health lens, students apply principles of evidence-based practice, leadership, population health, and emerging healthcare technologies to clinical settings. The curriculum further explores social determinants of health, ethical and legal issues, and professional development, with a heavy emphasis on the critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills required for diverse healthcare environments.
Program length 10 terms | Start Fall and Spring terms | Time commitment 20-30 hours per week |
Admission requirements
- Baccalaureate degree in nursing (BSN) from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning
- Minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all undergraduate coursework
- Official transcripts from all institutions where credit was earned
- Current curriculum vitae (CV) or resume
- Current unencumbered, unrestricted Missouri licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN) or a multi-state compact license in good standing
- Current Basic Life Support (BLS) provider status
- Two letters of reference from individuals who can address the applicant’s academic and clinical potential
- A personal statement that addresses desired area of specialization, personal attributes that will contribute to successful accomplishments of the program, and career goals
Curriculum
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Health Promotion Theory & Population Health | 3 |
| Foundations of Scholarly Writing & Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Health Systems Policy | 3 |
| Leadership & Collaboration for Quality & Safety | 3 |
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Advanced Pathophysiology for Primary Care | 3 |
| Role of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner in Promoting Health | 2 |
| Systems Interventions for Individuals and Groups | 2 |
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Pharmacotherapeutics | 3 |
| Biostatistics & Epidemiology | 3 |
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Advanced Health Assessment | 3 |
| Healthcare Informatics, Economics, & Financial Principles | 3 |
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Psychopathological Disorders Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| Neurobiology and Psychopharmacology | 3 |
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Psychotherapeutic Clinical I | 3 |
| Systems-Based Practice & DNP Project I | 3 |
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Psychiatric Diagnostics & Management of Adults | 3 |
| Psychiatric Diagnostics & Management Clinical II | 4 |
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Psychiatric Diagnostics and Management of Children | 3 |
| Systems–Based Practice & DNP Project II | 3 |
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Psychiatric Diagnostics and Management Clinical III | 5 |
| Systems-Based Practice and DNP Project III | 3 |
| Total credit hours | 64 |
|---|
Courses and sequencing are subject to change.
Tuition and fees
For detailed tuition and fee information, visit our Tuition and Fees page.
For more information, please contact our Business Office by email at [email protected].
Faculty
Christina Lucido Williams, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC
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