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You’re known as a caring therapist, a psychiatric whiz-kid, and an advocate for mental health. You’re ready for a DNP. If you’ve already decided to aim for the doctorate, feel free to skip ahead to our program listings. But if you’d like some background information on the role of the PMHNP, advice on certification, examples of DNP capstone projects, and real-world tips from a practicing PMHNP, read on!
Becoming a Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
The Modern Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs), also known in nursing circles as PMH-APRNs, provide advanced psychiatric care to patients. In most situations, they are able to assess patients, diagnose mental illnesses and psychiatric disorders, and prescribe medication. In the role of psychotherapists, PMHNPs help patients deal with depression, addiction, and suicidal thoughts, and advise families and communities on ways to manage a patient’s condition. However, they typically refer any patients with significant primary care/medical problems to other experts.
PMHNPs can be found all over the country – from correctional facilities to community mental health centers. In addition to nursing roles in hospitals and clinics, they may work as consultants, community educators, university professors, policy makers, and independent practitioners. Some are experts in sub-specialties such as adolescence, substance abuse, or geriatrics. And although PMHNPs often consult with doctors and psychiatrists, they have considerable independence in their role.
One important thing to note. Although the job of a PMHNP is similar in some respects to a psychiatrist and overlaps with the tasks of a psychologist or social worker, it is still a nursing discipline. The scope of practice and titles for PMHNPs varies from state to state, so please consult your State Board of Nursing to learn more about the specifics.
Helpful Professional Organizations
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
- American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
- American Nurse Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA)
- International Nurses Society on Addictions (IntNSA)
- International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses (ISPN)
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
PMHNP Certification Requirements
Most states require you to complete a master’s degree or DNP in nursing with a psychiatric/mental health focus and become nationally certified before you can practice as a PMHNP. The most important certification for PMHNPs is the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) credential from the American Nurse Credentialing Center (ANCC). This was formerly known as the Family Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner credential. DNP programs should clearly state that they are accredited and able to prepare you for PMHNP certification. Ask the school for its pass rates on the certification exam.
PMHNP-BC Requirements
- Hold a current, active RN license.
- Hold a master’s, postgraduate, or doctoral degree from a psychiatric–mental health nurse practitioner program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), or or the National League for Nursing (NLN) Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA).
- Complete a minimum of 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours during your nurse practitioner program.
- Complete graduate-level courses in advanced physiology/pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, and advanced pharmacology, as well as coursework in health promotion/maintenance, differential diagnosis, and disease management (including the use and prescription of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions).
- Complete clinical training in at least two psychotherapeutic treatment modalities.
- Pass the national PMHNP-BC exam administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
- Maintain your certification & licensure through continuing education.
CARN-AP Requirements
For NPs working with addicts, the Center for Nursing, Education, and Testing (C-NET) also offers a Certified Addictions Registered Nurse-Advanced Practice (CARN-AP) credential. Applicants should:
- Hold a current, active RN license.
- Hold a master’s degree or higher in nursing.
- Provide proof that you have completed a minimum of 500 hours of supervised, direct client contact in advanced clinical practice working with individuals and families impacted by addictions/dual diagnoses.
- Have a minimum of 1,500 hours of nursing experience in addiction as an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) within the last 3 years prior to submitting the exam application. Hours may be in an administrative, teaching, private practice, consultation, counseling, or research capacity.
- Have a minimum of 45 contact hours in addiction nursing.
- Pass the CARN-AP exam.
- Maintain your certification & licensure through continuing education.
The Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner DNP
Typical DNP-PMHNP Curriculum
Many PMHNP programs are listed as “graduate tracks” or “concentrations” in DNP degrees. In other words, you start by taking general APRN courses like advanced nursing research and gradually focus on advanced psychiatric and mental health nursing. Look for programs that expose you to a wide range of mental health issues, therapies, settings, and interactions (e.g. individuals, families, groups, etc.). Your supervised clinical hours are a vital part of your DNP degree, and you’ll want plenty of experience assessing, diagnosing, and caring for at-risk patients. Prescriptive practices should be included as a component.
In terms of coursework, you can expect classes in advanced pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, advanced pharmacotherapeutics, mental health promotion, disease prevention, neurobiology, clinical genetics, addiction treatment, and other subjects related to psychiatrics (e.g. psychosocial theory). Because this is a DNP – a degree meant to train the next generation of nursing leaders – most programs will also include courses in areas such as biostatistics, healthcare policy, healthcare systems, and ethics. The DNP culminates in your capstone project, an evidence-based assignment that combines theory, research, and clinical practice into one mighty whole.
Dual FNP/PMHNP Degree
Particularly interested in primary care? You may wish to consider DNPs that offer a dual concentration in psychiatric mental health nursing and family nursing practice. Dual degrees are often targeted towards APRNs who often work with vulnerable psychiatric patients – for example, FNPs working in community mental health centers and prescribing medications. Another option is to complete an DNP-FNP (or master’s degree in FNP) and follow it up with a post-master’s qualification in PMHNP.
DNP-PMHNP Experience Requirements
Experience requirements vary from school to school. In general, most psychiatric nursing practitioner DNP programs will expect candidates to have at least 1-2 years of clinical experience as an RN. The more experience you have caring for individuals and families who are dealing with mental health issues, the more attractive you will be as a candidate. Clinical work can be completed be in hospitals, inpatient facilities, geriatric settings, community programs – you name it.
Examples of DNP-PMHNP Capstone Projects
- An Educational Workshop: Introducing an Evidence-Based Psychotherapy Strategy “Tool Kit” for the Treatment of Chronic Depression (University of San Francisco)
- Psychiatric House Calls as an Alternative to Office Visits: A Project to Decrease Depression and Anxiety Symptoms and Increase Medication Adherence (Frontier Nursing University)
- Nonpharmacological Treatment of Adolescent Depression Using the Guidelines for Adolescent Depression (GLAD-PC) Toolkit (University of Pennsylvania)
Real-World DNP Advice
Dr. Melissa DeCapua, DNP, PMHNP
Dr. Melissa DeCapua is a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner. She has a background in child and adolescent psychiatry, as well as psychosomatic medicine. Uniquely, she also possesses a bachelor’s degree in studio arts, which she uses to enhance patient care, promote the nursing profession, and solve complex problems. Dr. DeCapua currently works for Microsoft as a design researcher on their Research & Insight team. She has also served as a healthcare strategist, curriculum developer, consulting psychiatric nurse practitioner, and mental health specialist. Dr. DeCapua graduated with a DNP from DeSales University in 2015.
For more about Dr. Melissa DeCapua, check out her website: www.melissadecapua.com.
Q&A with Dr. DeCapua
Q. Why did you choose the DNP?
A. I had an itch to learn more. Although my MSN prepared me to provide safe, effective, patient-centered clinical care, the curriculum focused mostly on medical treatment in psychiatry. The DNP degree offered me the opportunity to branch out of the standard nurse practitioner role and assume greater accountability for the health care system as a whole. The doctoral program provided a holistic approach to leadership, ethics, health policy, translational research, and information technology.
Q. How did you decide which school to go to?
A. I attended DeSales University in Center Valley, Pennsylvania. I chose DeSales because I was impressed by their incredible library, simulation lab, and technological resources. It was also located close to both my home and place of employment. The program was flexible and designed for the adult learner. To finance my DNP, I maintained a full time job as a psychiatric nurse practitioner, and I was fortunate to receive tuition reimbursement from my employer throughout the program.
Q. Did you have any worries going into the program?
A. I was worried about being younger and less experienced than my colleagues. I had only been a nurse practitioner for about 9 months prior to starting my DNP program, and I had never worked as an RN because I went straight from nursing school to nurse practitioner school. Turns out, no one cared at all. Some students even looked to me for my unique perspective on the nursing profession.
Q. What were your favorite courses or experiences?
A. I loved my Health Policy & Ethics course. As part of the course, I became more involved with the local nurse practitioner political action committee, and I attended lobby day at the state capitol. This experience was so exciting! With a team, I lobbied for a senate bill that permitted nurse practitioners to serve as licensed independent providers, and it removed the collaborative agreement between the nurse practitioner and physician.
Q. What did your DNP capstone project focus on?
A. The title of my DNP Project was “Using Light Therapy to Treat Seasonal Affective Disorder: An Integrative Review and Clinical Practice Guideline.” I conducted an integrative review of the literature regarding the use of light therapy to treat adult seasonal affective disorder. Specifically, I investigated the overall efficacy of light therapy, as well as the most effective light therapy parameters. These parameters included exposure, luminance, timing, and duration.
Once I completed this integrative review, I developed a clinical practice guideline to aid clinicians in incorporating light therapy treatment into their practice. The guideline summarized the current evidence on the safety and efficacy of light therapy, and it included two algorithms that were designed to help psychiatric nurse practitioners initiate, monitor, and terminate light therapy treatment. This was the first clinical practice guideline to provide specific recommendations on the use of light therapy.
Q. Has the DNP had any effect on your job? How?
A. My DNP prepared me to transition smoothly from clinical to non-clinical work. Throughout my DNP program, I continued to work clinically in the psychiatric sub-specialty of psychosomatic medicine. During those years, I became fascinated with information technology and health care systems. Months before graduation, I accepted a job at a small start-up healthcare technology company as a strategist and product manager. I use the knowledge and expertise gained from my DNP program on a daily basis at work. Following graduation, I earned a substantial salary increase.
Q. Any other advice or tips you have for future DNP students?
A. First and foremost, take advantage of every clinical opportunity you have. This is your chance to try it all under the guidance of an expert. Don’t just practice skills; practice empathy. Network. Consider creating simple business cards to exchange at conferences or an online professional profile to meet people nationally. Having a support system of friends who understand exactly what you’re going through will make it much more enjoyable. Also, ask a professor for advice and consider seeking a mentor.
Don’t forget why you wanted to become a nurse practitioner. For many of us, it’s a desire to serve and care. It’s also a job with excellent opportunities that stretch around the world. When the exams get hard and the clinicals get harder, remember that your knowledge, understanding, compassion, and competence will change the lives of many, many people in the future.
DNP Programs with a Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Focus (DNP-PMHNP)
119 schoolsPrograms in Alabama
Samford University
Birmingham, Alabama
Accreditation: CCNE
Nurses who already have a master's degree and are certified as primary care nurse practitioners are eligible for Samford University's program leading to a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Students in this online program can complete their clinical experiences close to home and take asynchronous coursework online. They also come to the Samford campus in Birmingham, Alabama, three times during their studies. The curriculum requires 41 credits and 600 clinical hours, and students can complete the requirements in two years. Graduates are eligible to take the PMHNP certification exam and can assess, diagnose, and treat mental health and psychiatric disorders. The combination of skills in primary care and mental health care increases job opportunities for graduates of this program.
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP - Dual Psychiatric Mental Health and Family Nurse Practitioner TrackOnlineBSN to DNP option
The Capstone College of Nursing at the University of Alabama offers several options for nurses who want a DNP in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. The college grants a DNP in PMHNP and also has a dual concentration in PMHNP and Family Nurse Practitioner. Additionally, the college offers both a BSN to DNP pathway and an MSN to DNP pathway for either concentration. Nurses with a BSN must complete 70 credits for the PMHNP DNP, which takes 12 semesters of part-time study. The dual-focus degree requires 91 credits. Graduates receive their MSN and DNP concurrently. MSN-prepared nurses can follow a full-time or part-time plan of study, completing the required 40 credits in as few as five semesters. The BSN to DNP pathway can only accept residents of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, or Mississippi.
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Accreditation: CCNE
The University of Alabama at Birmingham has a Post-BSN to DNP program that prepares nurses as Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners. The program is presented in a part-time, distance-accessible format that requires students to attend an on-campus intensive annually. Students may enter the program in the fall or summer semester. The curriculum requires 79 credits, including a scholarly DNP project. The bulk of specialized coursework in mental health nursing and practicum experiences take place during the third year of the program, with students completing 32 credits in three semesters. Graduates are eligible to take the credentialing exam in PMHNP.
University of South Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Accreditation: CCNE
The University of South Alabama has three pathways to the DNP in family psychiatric nursing. Nurses with an MSN in PMHNP can earn a DNP in the same specialty by completing 36 credits. Nurses with an MSN in a different specialty area can earn a PMHNP DNP to gain certification as a psychiatric nurse. BSN-prepared nurses can complete their MSN and DNP in PMHNP. The program requires 69 credits for BSN to DNP students and 60 credits for MSN-prepared nurses seeking a new specialty. Classes are online with a few required meetings in Mobile, Alabama. Students complete clinical rotations with a preceptor near their home. All students must produce a scholarly, evidence-based project to create an improvement in patient outcomes. Nurses must have at least 2 years of psychiatric nursing experience before they begin the clinical portion of the degree. Students may start in the fall or spring.
Programs in Arizona
Arizona State University
Tempe, Arizona
The Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation at Arizona State presents its DNP in Family Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program in a hybrid format. Students must come to campus for up to a week for orientation at the start of the program. After that, students meet on campus two or three times per semester, for two or three days. The curriculum requires 41 credits in core classes and 41 credits in the concentration, plus a 3-credit culminating experience. Concentration classes include neuropsychopathology, psychopharmacology, and mental health assessment as well as classes and practicum in managing common, complex, and chronic mental health disorders across the lifespan. If students can't find a preceptor in their home region, they must complete clinical experiences in Phoenix. Applicants should have at least a BSN with a 3.0 GPA for the last 60 credits. DNP students can enter in the spring or fall.
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Accreditation: CCNE
The psychiatric mental health DNP at the University of Arizona is a 67-credit program that BSN-prepared nurses can complete in about three years of full-time study or four years of part-time study. Students complete 720 clinical hours and produce a scholarly DNP project. Classes include psychopharmacology, behavioral health therapy, and PMH nursing for children, adolescents, and older adults. The program uses a hybrid format that includes online coursework, on-campus intensives, and clinical placements. DNP students come to Tucson for an intensive learning experience at the start of the fall semester at least twice during their academic program. Students can earn a rural health certificate by taking rural health coursework and completing their practicum in a rural setting. Applicants for the BSN to DNP pathway must have a BSN with a 3.0 GPA. Applicants for the MS to DNP pathway must have a 3.5 GPA and advanced practice national certification.
Programs in Arkansas
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Little Rock, Arkansas
Accreditation: CCNE
Post-BSN to DNP - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse PractitionerBSN to DNP option
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences has a Post-BSN to DNP program to prepare Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners. The program requires full-time attendance, and graduates are eligible to take the PMHNP certification exam. MSN-prepared nurses with a different APRN certification can enter the program to add the PMHNP specialty. The program requires 69 credits and nearly 1,100 hours of clinical practicum experience. Some of the specialized classes in the concentration include mental health nursing theory, psychopharmacology, and psychiatric mental health nursing diagnosis. PMHNP students enter the program in the fall semester, with classes beginning in August.
Programs in California
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda, California
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP - Psychiatric Nurse PractitionerMSN required
At Loma Linda University, the curriculum for the Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner DNP program emphasizes psychiatry. Nurses gain skills in therapy so they can counsel and assist patients suffering from depression and anxiety. They also learn to provide intervention through psychopharmacology. The curriculum for the BSN to DNP in mental health nursing requires 117 quarter units, which is equivalent to 78 semester hours. Core courses use a hybrid format that requires students to be on campus between two and ten days per quarter. In addition to taking core and specialty courses, students complete more than 1,000 clinical hours. Candidates must also complete a DNP project that translates evidence-based research into practice, and they may use their workplace for the project.
University of San Diego
San Diego, California
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP - Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse PractitionerBSN to DNP option
Students in the BSN to DNP Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track at the University of San Diego are supervised by preceptors who are PMHNPs or psychiatrists. Practicum experiences can take place in a variety of clinical settings. Practicum are arranged by the Hahn School of Nursing staff and include experiences performing individual, group, and family psychotherapy. The PMH track requires 83 credit units, including the NP core, PMHNP specialty classes, DNP core, and the DNP project. The scholarly practice project requires mental health nursing majors to complete clinical hours in the specialty and perform a translational science project that involves testing a solution to a practice program. The program is campus-based, and students are required to be on campus at least twice a week. Some courses may use a hybrid format.
University of San Francisco
San Francisco, California
Accreditation: CCNE
Doctor of Nursing Practice: Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse PractitionerOnlineBSN to DNP option
The psychiatric nursing DNP at the University of San Francisco has a focus on using medication to treat psychiatric disorders and making differential diagnosis of medical disorders with psychiatric symptoms. The program has pathways for BSN- and MSN-prepared students. In conjunction with the DNP, students can earn an optional MSN (if they only have a BSN) or a Master of Public Health (if they hold a BSN or MSN). Classes are delivered in a hybrid format that combines online coursework with on-campus Teaching Weekends, which meet twice a month all day on Friday and Saturday. PMHNP students also complete more than 1,000 clinical hours, and placements are selected by the faculty. Students are required to produce an evidence-based project designed to improve outcomes in a clinical setting. Applicants should have BSN or MSN with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0. All students must have a California RN license.
Programs in Colorado
Colorado State University-Pueblo
Pueblo, Colorado
Accreditation: ACEN
Colorado State University Pueblo concurrently awards both a Master of Science in Nursing and a Doctor of Nursing Practice to DNP-Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner graduates. The curriculum requires 86 credits and 1,125 practicum hours, with 585 hours devoted to PMHNP experiences and the rest in DNP practicum. Students can complete the doctorate in four years. During the first year, students take core coursework, such as informatics and health care finance. In the second year, students begin foundational work in mental health, taking classes such as theoretical mental health models, psychiatric assessment, and psychiatric differential diagnosis. During the third and fourth years, students spend a large portion of their time in PMH and DNP practicum. Graduates are prepared to provide evidence-based care to patients across the lifespan and to sit the PMHNP certification exam.
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Denver, Colorado
Accreditation: CCNE
PMHNP students at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus gain skills in providing assessments and interventions for chronic and acute mental health conditions for patients of all ages. Coursework in the BSN to DNP program emphasizes holistic care and integrated mental health, including treatment for substance abuse. Students can complete the mental health nursing DNP in 10 semesters, including clinical components. Most of the coursework is online, but students must come to campus for some intensives. PMHNP students begin their specialty courses in mental health nursing in the first semester when they learn about common psychiatric presentations. They complete their clinical rounds in psychiatric nursing during the second and third years of study. The final semesters are dedicated to the DNP project and core classes.
Programs in Connecticut
Fairfield University
Fairfield, Connecticut
Psychiatric Nurse PractitionerBSN to DNP option
Nurses who earn the DNP in Psychiatric NP from Fairfield University are prepared for health care leadership roles as well as advanced practice psychiatric nurse roles. They develop leadership skills through the DNP core, with classes in IT for health care improvement, interprofessional collaboration, and finance and quality management in health care organizations. Students gain experience at clinical sites across Connecticut, including hospitals, mental health clinics, schools, and correctional facilities. They learn to provide care for patients across the lifespan with a variety of conditions, including substance abuse, anxiety, trauma, and mood and eating disorders, and the curriculum includes psychotherapy and medication management. The program requires 76 credits and 1,000 hours of practicum and immersion. This program is for nurses with a BSN, although RNs with a non-nursing bachelor's degree may be considered. A GPA of at least 3.0 is preferred. GRE scores are not required.
University of Saint Joseph
West Hartford, Connecticut
Accreditation: CCNE
Nurses with a BSN can earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner in four years of part-time study through the University of Saint Joseph. The program uses a hybrid class format, and students complete their required 1,000 hours of clinical experience in Connecticut. The PMHNP track requires students to complete 75 credits. In one foundational PMH class, students learn to assess, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions from different perspectives. Other specialized courses for the track include modalities of psychotherapy and neuropsychopharmacology. The curriculum also has four classes that focus on the DNP scholarly project and help guide students through the process of developing, implementing, and evaluating their project and creating the final document.
Programs in Florida
Florida International University
Miami, Florida
Accreditation: CCNE
The DNP program at Florida International University is designed so that psychiatric-mental health majors earn an MSN degree after six semesters, allowing them to gain advanced nursing practice certification while they complete the doctoral program. The program requires 77 DNP credits and 1,170 clinical hours, with full-time students completing the DNP in 10 semesters. The focus of the DNP is on providing leadership for evidence-based practice, and students have the option of preparing a thesis, a master's paper, or a research practicum. The post-BSN to DNP program is delivered in a combination of classroom and online courses. Students complete clinical experiences at a variety of settings where FIU has developed partnerships, and out-of-state students must obtain a Florida nursing license. Applicants must have a BSN with a GPA of 3.0 for their entire coursework and their upper-division nursing coursework.
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida
Accreditation: CCNE
Nurses with an MSN and certification as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner can earn a DNP in the major through the Florida State University College of Nursing. Coursework for this degree is delivered online using interactive video conferencing. Students must come to the campus in Tallahassee for orientation, to present their DNP project, and possibly for skills intensives or examinations. They complete practicum work with a preceptor in their local community. For PMHNP students, preceptors can include social workers and psychologists as well as MDs and Advanced Practice RNs. To earn the PMHNP DNP, students must complete 41 credits beyond the master's and 540 clinical hours. The PMHNP program uses a cohort format over eight semesters.
Palm Beach Atlantic University
West Palm Beach, Florida
Accreditation: CCNE
Palm Beach Atlantic University offers a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track in its BSN to DNP program. The 75-credit track trains nurses to promote mental health by assessing, diagnosing, and managing mental health disorders through psychotherapy and psychopharmacology. Some of the specialized courses in the track include assessment strategies for psychopathological disorders, mental health nursing of adults and older adults, and mental health nursing of children and adolescents. Candidates are also required to complete a clinical immersion in a psychiatric mental health care setting where they prepare for certification as an APRN and gather data for their scholarly project on evidence-based practice. Full-time students can complete the degree in nine semesters. Students can take the PMHNP certification exam before graduation.
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Accreditation: CCNE
Nurses who are nationally certified in PMHNP can earn a DNP in 5 semesters in the MS to DNP program at the University of Florida. The program is offered online with minimal requirements to come to campus. All candidates complete a focused scholarly work in which they identify, analyze, and find solutions to improve a problem that impacts patient care. Nurses with a BSN can earn a PMHNP DNP through a 76-credit program that requires 1,000 clinical hours. Full and part-time schedules are available. Classes are delivered online and students visit campus once for orientation, for 3 days for a health assessment course, and for 2 days to present DNP projects. PMHNP students may have to make additional campus visits. Applicants should have a 3.0 GPA on their upper-level nursing classes or master's degree and they must be eligible for a Florida nursing license. BSN applicants must submit GRE scores.
University of North Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Accreditation: CCNE
The University of North Florida has a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track in its post-MSN Doctor of Nursing Practice program. To qualify for this program, individuals must hold an MSN, be licensed as an APRN, and be certified as a Nurse Practitioner. The 53-credit curriculum prepares students to take the test for PMHNP certification. Students are required to complete 630 clinical hours meeting the mental health care needs of clients of all ages in settings such as out-patient, in-patient, and private practice facilities. Coursework is delivered online using traditional semester-length courses, and full-time and part-time options are available. Full-time students begin taking mental health nursing classes in the first semester. Courses in the PMH track include family counseling, psychopharmacology, and diagnosis and management of psychiatric conditions.
Programs in Georgia
Augusta University
Augusta, Georgia
Accreditation: CCNE
Post BSN DNP - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse PractitionerBSN to DNP option
Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, Georgia
Accreditation: CCNE
Georgia Southern University's Post-BSN to DNP program allows students in the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track to "opt out" after they complete the MSN portion of the program and receive their master's degree. That allows nurses to take the PMHNP certification exam. Students who opt out have four years to return to the program and complete the remaining requirements to earn the DNP. This BSN to DNP program is presented online using a mix of synchronous and asynchronous elements. Additionally, students typically must be on campus in Statesboro, Georgia, two or three days a semester. The program takes 14 semesters, with the opt-out occurring after nine semesters and 43 credits. Students who follow the entire BSN to DNP program complete 77 credits and 1,350 clinical hours. PMHNP candidates get hands-on experience working with individual patients, families with substance abuse issues, and special populations.
Programs in Idaho
Idaho State University
Pocatello, Idaho
Idaho State University's psychiatric mental health DNP is an online program, but students are required to come to the campus in Pocatello, Idaho, each semester for 2 or 3 days of clinical intensives. There's also an onsite orientation at the start of the program. The degree is designed for BSN-prepared nurses, and students may choose a full-time or part-time program. Full-time students can complete the degree in about 3 years. The curriculum includes 78 credits and 1,000 hours of clinical practice. Idaho residents select clinical sites from a list of partners compiled by the nursing school. Out-of-state residents must locate a preceptor and clinical site near their home. Students are required to complete a DNP scholarly project. Applicants must have a BSN and a GPA of 3.0 for their last 60 credits of undergraduate work. Two years of nursing experience is preferred. Students start the program in the fall.
Programs in Illinois
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Accreditation: CCNE
The BSN to DNP in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program at Loyola University Chicago offers a specialization in substance abuse and addiction disorders. The program prepares nurses for an expanded role in treating addiction disorders and equips graduates for systemwide leadership roles. The program requires 72 credits, and students can attend full time or part time. Loyola delivers most classes for this program online, and students must come to the campus once a semester for immersion sessions and seminars. For their clinical rotations, mental health nursing students are assigned to academic-practice partnerships around Chicago, frequently treating underserved populations. The faculty arranges the clinical rotations. Graduates are eligible to take the PMHNP certification exam. The admissions process gives preference to RNs with relevant experience in addiction disorders.
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
North Chicago, Illinois
Accreditation: COACRNA
Rush University
Chicago, Illinois
Accreditation: CCNE
Rush University offers three options for the psychiatric-mental health DNP. It has a BSN to DNP program that students can complete on a full-time or part-time basis. It also has an MSN to DNP option that varies depending upon whether the student is an APRN or not. All core classes, as well as PMHNP classes, are available online. Some classes are taught on campus as an option for local residents. Students must attend on-campus meetings for courses in health assessment and mental health assessment, which are scheduled together in the summer. During the final summer term, students must present their DNP projects on campus or online. Students also complete more than 1,000 clinical hours, working two days a week for the entire last year, which requires full-time study. The PMPNP program at Rush University was ranked #1 by U.S. News & World Report in its 2020 rankings.
Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing
Peoria, Illinois
Accreditation: CCNE
Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing has an online BSN to DNP program that includes a specialization in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. RNs who enter this program must have at least one year of experience in psychiatric mental health care before they begin any theory or practicum courses that are directly related to the PMH specialty. That experience must have been completed within the past five years. Specialized classes in this program include family mental health, psychopharmacology and courses in diagnosis and management of PMH that focus on specific populations, such as children and adolescents, adults, and special populations. Students who follow a part-time format, taking one or two courses per semester, can earn their doctorate in six years. This program prepares nurses to take the PMHNP certification exam.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Edwardsville, Illinois
Accreditation: CCNE
Nurses who want a career as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner have two pathways to the DNP in PMHNP from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. One path is for nurses with a BSN, and the other is a post-master's pathway open to individuals who are certified as Family Nurse Practitioners. The BSN to DNP is a three year, 62-credit program. MSN-prepared nurses must complete 43 credits. Some of the specialized courses PMHNP candidates are required to take include neurobiology and clinical psychopharmacology, psychiatric interviewing, and PMHNP role synthesis. All PMHNP students are required to complete a DNP project before graduation. The program uses a hybrid format, and students must attend four immersion experiences at the Edwardsville campus. Graduates are eligible to take the PMHNP certification exam.
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
The University of Illinois has a DNP PMHNP program with tracks for nurses with a PMHNP master's, for nurses with a BSN, and for RNs with a non-nursing bachelor's degree. PMHNP students can also pursue a concentration in rural nursing. Post-master's students complete 42 credits, students with a BSN complete 83 credits, and RNs with a non-nursing bachelor's take up to four additional courses. All students complete a DNP project that shows how they can translate evidence into practice by identifying a real problem in a clinical setting, analyzing it, and proposing and implementing a solution. For example, a recent PMHNP DNP candidate completed a DNP project showing how long-acting injectable medications may reduce readmissions for schizophrenia patients. The DNP program is offered in a hybrid format that includes online, on-site, and blended courses, and the program is offered at campuses in Chicago, Rockford, Peoria, Springfield, Quad Cities, and Urbana.
Programs in Indiana
Indiana Wesleyan University
Marion, Indiana
Accreditation: CCNE
Post-Baccalaureate Doctor of Nursing Practice - Psychiatric Mental Health NP (PMHNP)OnlineBSN to DNP option
Purdue University
West Lafayette, Indiana
Accreditation: CCNE
The Post-BSN to DNP program at Purdue University uses a blended delivery format and emphasizes collaborative practice. During clinical preceptorships, students may work with interdisciplinary teams to treat underserved populations in rural and urban areas. The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specialization track requires 78 credits and more than 1,000 clinical hours. Classes in the specialty include topics such as PMH therapeutic modalities and psychiatric nursing across the lifespan. Students may complete clinical practicum rounds and leadership experiences in the school's nurse-managed clinics and at regional health care facilities and HMOs. Full-time students can complete the degree in three full years, but the School of Nursing also allows students to attend part time while they continue to work.
University of Southern Indiana
Evansville, Indiana
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN-prepared nurses can earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner through a hybrid program at the University of Southern Indiana. The format uses online course delivery, but most semesters, students must come to the campus in Evansville for two or three days. These intensives include class time, meetings with faculty, presentations, and work on student projects. Full-time students can earn the mental health DNP in four years, and part-time students can finish the requirements in five years. In addition to 80 credits, all students must complete 1,000 clinical hours. The plan of study calls places all the core nursing classes at the start of the program, with the specialty psychiatric nursing classes and clinical experiences taking place in the final year of study.
Programs in Iowa
Allen College
Waterloo, Iowa
Accreditation: CCNE
Nurses with a BSN can specialize in psychiatric mental health nursing in the BSN to DNP program at Allen College, a program that requires 71 credits and 600 clinical hours. Full-time students can earn a degree in nine semesters or three full years. Part-time students can complete the doctorate in 13 semesters or a little over four full years. Some of the specialized classes in the PMHNP track include psychopharmacology, neuropathophysiology, and three semesters of advanced practice psychiatric nursing courses. Other courses include standard core subjects such as evidence-based practice, informatics, and leadership. DNP candidates also must complete a clinical scholarship project with a focus on improving outcomes in some aspect of mental health nursing.
Clarke University
Dubuque, Iowa
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse PractitionerBSN to DNP option
Students in the DNP-PMHNP program at Clarke University can complete the doctorate in three years of full-time study or five-years as part-time students. Classes are presented in a hybrid format, with meetings scheduled on the first and third Thursdays of each month. The curriculum includes 81 credits and 1,000 clinical hours, where students gain experience in assessing, diagnosing, and managing psychiatric disorders and mental health problems. During clinicals, students work with mental health clients across the lifespan, providing individual, group, and family therapy. They also gain skills in prescribing psychiatric medications. Students are also required to complete a doctoral research project, and by the third semester they begin work on that project, ending with a defense of the project in their final semester.
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
Accreditation: CCNE
Graduates of the Psychiatric-Mental Health NP DNP program at the University of Iowa have a 100% pass rate on the certification exam and a 100% employment rate within three months of graduation. The College of Nursing has PMHNP DNP programs for BSN- and MSN-prepared nurses. Nurses with an MSN can choose a 2-year or 3-year plan, and BSN nurses may select a 3-year or 4-year plan to complete the degree. BSN nurses complete 77 credits and 1,000 clinical hours. During their clinical year, students complete practicums for 3 semesters, and placements must be completed in Iowa. The school handles placements. Many DNP classes are offered online, but didactic nurse practitioner classes are only offered on campus. The classes are scheduled so that students only come to campus one day a week. Students in the Post-MSN/ARNP track may be eligible for a scholarship of up to $3,000 per semester.
Programs in Kansas
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
The DNP program at the University of Kansas School of Nursing gives nurses the skills to collaborate and innovate. The post-BSN DNP has a specialty track in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Nurses with an MSN who are already nurse practitioners can follow the post-masters DNP curriculum, which requires 32 credits and as many practicum hours as needed so that the nurse has 1,000 post-baccalaureate practicum hours. Nurses with a BSN complete 79 credits and at least 1,000 hours of practicum. Graduates have the skills needed to assess psychiatric disorders, implement community-based psychotherapy, and plan rehabilitation services for patients with chronic mental illness. Most classes are available online, although BSN-prepared students must come to campus for two classes and post-master's students must come to campus for one class. The minimum GPA for applicants is 3.0 for their most recent degree, and applicants with a 3.5 GPA receive preference.
Washburn University
Topeka, Kansas
Accreditation: CCNE
The DNP program at Washburn University has a unique focus on entrepreneurship, and students in the PMHNP concentration take classes in accounting, finance, marketing, and health care economics along with traditional nursing classes. The program is offered in an online format, but students must attend 3 on-campus events in Topeka, Kansas, each academic year. On-campus meetings allow students to network, complete high-stakes testing, learn about current topics in nursing, and develop the skills needed for their scholarly project. Washburn's DNP has three tracks. The BSN to DNP track is for nurses with a BSN and requires 76 credits and more than 1,000 clinical hours. The MSN to DNP (non-APRN) is for master's-prepared nurses who don't have an advanced practice certification and want to become PMHNPs. MSN-prepared nurses who are already certified as PMHNP can earn the DNP with 44 credits. Students can complete practicums in their home state.
Wichita State University
Wichita, Kansas
Accreditation: CCNE
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse PractitionerBSN to DNP option
Wichita State University has pathways to a DNP in PMHNP for students with a BSN and for post-master's students. The post-master's program is for nurses who are certified in PMHNP. Students enter the online MSN to DNP program in the spring and complete the degree in 2 to 3 years. The program for BSN-prepared nurses starts in the fall, and students attend classes on campus with some online options. Most students complete the 74-credit degree in 4.5 years. The BSN to DNP curriculum includes two practicum and a preceptorship in psychiatric mental health nursing, All DNP candidates complete a residency for the required evidence-based nursing project. Students may be placed in clinical settings across Kansas, including rural and urban areas. BSN-prepared applicants should have a 3.0 GPA in their last 60 credits, all undergrad nursing classes, any graduate-level classes taken, and certain science courses.
Programs in Kentucky
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Accreditation: CCNE
The University of Kentucky's DNP PMHNP specialty classes use a hybrid immersion format. Most coursework is delivered online, but students must be in Lexington for up to six days each semester at the start and end of term. The BSN to DNP program requires 74 credits and 1,020 clinical hours. Full-time students can complete the program in 3 years, but 4-year and 5-year plans are available. Classes focus on treating individuals across the lifespan, and students learn to provide the full spectrum of psychiatric care in different health care settings. All DNP students complete a scholarly DNP project. Recent projects have covered topics such as evaluating substance-abuse screening tools and factors that influence depression in men. The College of Nursing has a long list of scholarships for graduate students, such as the Melva Jo Hendrix Scholarship, which is awarded to a PMHNP DNP student and is renewable.
University of Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
Accreditation: CCNE
Students in the BSN to DNP Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program at the University of Louisville take classes in a hybrid format. Most coursework is asynchronous and online, but four to six times each semester, students must attend an on-campus meeting. During days when students are on campus, they are engaged in learning activities all day long. The program requires 77 credits. Students who follow the full-time plan typically begin coursework specific to the mental health concentration in their fifth semester. Courses for mental health nurses include psychiatric assessment and clinical interviewing, psychopathology, and psychopharmacology. Candidates complete their clinical practicums in the third year when they are also working on their DNP project. The University of Louisville School of Nursing also permits students to attend on a part-time basis.
Programs in Louisiana
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse PractitionerBSN to DNP option
The Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans offers both BSN- and MSN-prepared nurses a pathway to a DNP in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Nurses with a BSN can choose the PMHNP concentration or a dual concentration in mental health and primary care family nursing. The BSN to DNP is a nine-semester program. Nurses with an MSN in PMHNP can pursue a doctorate in the same specialty, and nurses with a different APRN role can add the PMH population. Nurses who have current PMHNP certification can complete the doctorate with 36 credits and at least 180 practicum hours. APRNs seeking to add the PMH population may have to complete additional practicum courses. The School of Nursing offers full-time and part-time options for these programs.
Programs in Maryland
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Bethesda, Maryland
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (DNP)BSN to DNP option
The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences offers a DNP in psychiatric mental health to prepare advanced practice nurses for military operational readiness, clinical decision-making in the federal health care system, and evidence-based practice. The school's unique curriculum also has a focus on providing students with global, environmental, cultural, and political context. Some of the specialized curriculum in the DNP program covers health promotion for warriors and families, transition to technology, and leadership. The PMHNP DNP requires 94 credits. Classes unique to this program for military nurses cover topics such as military sexual assault, battlefield acupuncture, administrative behavioral health, and operational readiness for advanced psychiatric practice. Nursing leaders from the uniformed services nominate and authorize students to apply for admission to this program. Applicants must have a nursing degree and must be a commissioned officer or service-sponsored civilian in the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, or Public Health Service.
University of Maryland-Baltimore
Baltimore, Maryland
The PMHNP DNP at the University of Maryland School of Nursing prepares nurses to assess, evaluate, diagnose, and treat individuals with mental health conditions across the lifespan. The curriculum focuses on evidence-based practice, systems leadership, and quality improvement. Nurses with a BSN can choose a 3-, 4-, or 5-year plan of study. Core DNP courses are delivered online; specialty courses are held in-person on the Baltimore campus and meet one day a week. Clinical rotations take place in a variety of settings across Maryland and in Washington, D.C. Students may have opportunities for subspecialization with populations such as geriatric patients, children, and patients with substance abuse disorders. BSN-prepared students complete 81 credits and 1,035 clinical hours. Post-master's students work with an advisor to devise a plan of study that takes into consideration what classes they have already completed. All candidates must complete a scholarly DNP project.
Programs in Massachusetts
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
Accreditation: CCNE
Direct Entry DNP - Psychiatric/Mental HealthMSN required
Post-Baccalaureate DNP - Psychiatric/Mental HealthBSN to DNP option
Post-Master's DNP - Psychiatric/Mental HealthMSN required
RN to DNP - Psychiatric/Mental HealthBSN to DNP option
Boston University has four entry points for nurses who want a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Psychiatric Mental Health NP. RNs with or without a BSN, MSN-prepared nurses, and individuals with a non-nursing bachelor's degree who want to enter the profession can all earn an advanced degree. The requirements vary based on previous education. Nurses with an MSN can complete the doctorate with just four semesters of full-time study, and those with a BSN can earn the doctorate in eight semesters. Students prepare to work in settings such as in-patient hospitals, community mental health programs, private practice, EDs, or in the criminal justice system, working in prisons or court clinics. Graduates are eligible to take the credentialing exam as a PMHNP, and the most recent graduating class had a 100% first-time pass rate on that exam.
Regis College
Weston, Massachusetts
Accreditation: ACEN
Regis College has a 10-semester BSN to DNP program in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Students attend full time for eight semesters, then focus on completing their scholarly DNP project for the final two semesters when they have completed all other coursework. Work on the scholarly project is spread over four semesters so that students have the time to make an in-depth study of an important issue in mental health care. The curriculum includes 73 credits and includes PMHNP specialized classes such as contemporary psychotherapy and psychopharmacology. Students work with community preceptors to gain hands-on experience in a variety of health care settings. Courses for the program are available at the Regis campus or through a fully online program.
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst, Massachusetts
Accreditation: CCNE
The University of Massachusetts Amherst's psychiatric DNP program is delivered entirely online. Students complete their clinical rounds with preceptors near their homes. The DNP program is designed for BSN-prepared nurses, but advanced practice nurses who have a master's degree and want to change specialties can take the PMHNP classes through the Post-MS DNP Completion program. BSN nurses can select a 4-year or 5-year plan of study. The program is designed to provide nurses with advanced practice skills and knowledge, the ability to evaluate and apply research, and the skills to enhance clinical outcomes. All DNP students are required to complete a scholarly project. Recent grads have researched topics such as Alzheimer's dementia screening in primary care and created an adolescent depression prevention toolkit. Applicants must have a BSN, MSN, or an associate degree in nursing and a non-nursing bachelor's degree. All applicants should have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester
Worcester, Massachusetts
Accreditation: CCNE
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse PractitionerBSN to DNP option
The Graduate School of Nursing at the University of Massachusetts Medical School's BSN to DNP in Psychiatric Mental Health NP uses a hybrid format with both in-person and online learning. The 76-credit PMH track prepares nurses to diagnose and treat mental health conditions ranging from chronic to acute. Graduates also have skills in providing psychotherapy for patients with addiction issues or psychosocial stressors. The program provides students with the knowledge needed for the national PMHNP certification exam. Students can complete the mental health nursing DNP in eight semesters of full-time study. Classes in the specialty start in the third semester when students learn about psychotherapeutic interventions. Other specialized courses include PMH assessment and diagnosis and clinical courses where students work with specific populations, including children, families, and older adults.
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
North Dartmouth, Massachusetts
Accreditation: CCNE
BS to DNP Plan - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner trackBSN to DNP option
The College of Nursing and Health Sciences at UMass Dartmouth gears the BSN to DNP PMHNP track toward working nurses by offering it as a part-time program that includes two summers off. The program uses a mix of on-campus and blended coursework. Courses in the mental health specialty begin in the fifth semester with a class in neuropsychopharmacology and biologically based treatments. During their third and fourth years in the program, students take their specialty PMH classes and complete their psychiatric clinical hours. In the fifth and final year of the program, they transition to working on their evidence-based practice research project, which also requires three residencies. In all, PMHNP majors complete 66 credits and more than 1,000 practice hours.
Programs in Michigan
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP - Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse PractitionerBSN to DNP option
Michigan State University recently added a PMHNP concentration for its BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice program. In this concentration, nurses gain expertise in mental illness, substance abuse disorders, and mental health promotion. The knowledge base covers assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. The curriculum includes a course in psychopharmacology and the neuropathological basis of mental illness. Classes in clinical diagnosis and management cover psychiatric assessment, therapeutic interventions, working with special populations, and complex and collaborative mental health care. The program uses a hybrid format, and some classes are completely online. Students typically have to come to the campus in East Lansing about five times a semester. Graduates are eligible to take the PMHNP certification exam.
University of Michigan-Flint
Flint, Michigan
Accreditation: CCNE
The DNP at the University of Michigan Flint uses an online format that requires students to visit the campus 3 to 6 times per year. Students work with a preceptor in their area to complete clinical rounds and gain hands-on experience on a health care team. Students in the DNP psychiatric mental health concentration must perform clinical hours treating children, adolescents, and adults. Nurses with a BSN must complete 78 credits to earn the DNP. The curriculum includes 54 credits in core classes and 24 credits in the psychiatric NP specialty. Core courses cover topics such as advanced practice skills, research skills, informatics and biostatistics, and health policy. The core also includes the DNP research project. Students may choose a full-time or part-time study plan. The university also has an RN to DNP pathway for nurses with an associate degree and a non-nursing bachelor's degree.
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan
Accreditation: CCNE
Nurses from throughout Michigan and Ohio can complete much of the coursework for Wayne State University's BSN to DNP in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner through a distance-learning format. Distance students gather at a classroom closer to their home to interact with a live, on-campus class through audio-video technology. Occasionally, however, they are required to attend an on-campus meeting. The PMHNP DNP is a 78-credit program where students learn about psychiatric assessment, crisis intervention, and biophysical causes of mental illness. The curriculum includes courses that examine nursing theory, domain of knowledge, research and statistics, and the advanced practice nursing segment that includes PMH-specific courses. Through practicum work, students get hands-on experience managing patients dealing with issues such as addictions, eating disorders, and major psychiatric illnesses.
Programs in Minnesota
The College of Saint Scholastica
Duluth, Minnesota
The DNP in psychiatric mental health NP from the College of St. Scholastica is delivered partially online with some face-to-face meetings in Duluth or St. Cloud, Minnesota. The PMHNP DNP is for nurses who have a bachelor's degree and who want to treat the mental health needs of people with serious mental illnesses, substance abuse problems, and common medical conditions related to those issues. The 83-credit program includes 1,035 classroom hours and 1,130 clinical hours, with 630 hours of direct patient care. Psychiatric practicums include adults, children/adolescents, and groups. For their DNP project, students complete an evidence-based, outcome-oriented quality improvement project under guidance from a faculty advisor and agency project sponsor. Applicants must have a BSN with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and professional psychiatric nursing experience. The college prefers RNs with experience in a rural or underserved healthcare setting. Students enter the program in the summer term.
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Accreditation: CCNE
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse PractitionerBSN to DNP option
The Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner DNP at the University of Minnesota is a full-time, 3-year program. Classes are in a hybrid format. Each semester, students must attend a 4-day session on campus for core classes, enhancement programs, specialty programs, and meetings with advisors. Starting in the second year, students must come to campus 4 or 5 additional times each semester for a day or two. The School of Nursing arranges clinical rotations, and students must complete 1,000 hours of practicum. This degree prepares nurses to diagnose disorders and provide treatment across the lifespan. Classes cover psychotherapy, pharmacological interventions, and complementary and alternative therapies. The School of Nursing also has a DNP in the PMHNP specialty for graduates with a Master of Nursing. Post-baccalaureate applicants must have a year of experience as an RN and must have a year as an RN in a mental health setting before beginning practicums.
Winona State University
Winona, Minnesota
Accreditation: CCNE
Winona State University gives students in the BSN to DNP Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program the choice of attending face-to-face classes in Rochester, Minnesota, or completing courses primarily online. The curriculum includes 74 credits and 1,260 clinical hours. Mental health majors complete 39 credits in core classes and 35 credits in the PMHNP specialty. Students may select a three-year or four-year plan of study. Students are allowed to work in a team for the DNP project, which seeks to enhance patient outcomes or the quality of care. Recent PMHNP candidates have produced DNP projects on topics such as strengthening school-based mental health programs and interventions to improve the management of bipolar disorders in homeless adults.
Programs in Mississippi
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Jackson, Mississippi
Accreditation: CCNE
The Psychiatric Mental Health DNP track at the University of Mississippi Medical Center uses a combination of course delivery modes. Classes are generally online, but some courses require students to come to the campus in Jackson, Mississippi, twice a semester for one- or two-day intensives. The program is flexible, and students may take up to 14 semesters on a part-time schedule to complete the requirements. Full-time students can earn the PMHNP DNP in 10 semesters. Each student meets with a faculty member to design a plan of study based on the student's goals and education. Students must complete their clinical experiences in Mississippi. Full-time students complete all their core coursework in the first five semesters, then transition to specialized PMH classes and work on their scholarly project. The PMHNP track requires 80 credits and 1,155 clinical hours.
University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse PractitionerBSN to DNP option
The University of Mississippi's School of Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice offers an online BSN to DNP in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing. The curriculum includes 64 credits, and full-time students can complete the degree in three years, including summer semesters. Classes in the mental health nursing specialty have a focus on developing the skills needed to provide primary and psychiatric health care in rural and community health settings. Students gain expertise in working with individuals and families and complete clinical hours where they gain hands-on experience managing psychiatric disorders in individuals, groups, families, and couples. PMHNP students are also required to complete a DNP project where they translate evidence-based knowledge into practice, including the use of information systems and technology.
Programs in Missouri
Maryville University
Saint Louis, Missouri
Accreditation: CCNE
Maryville University has an online BSN to DNP in Psychiatric Mental Health NP that doesn't require students to come to campus at all during their studies. The program requires 77 credits, including core courses covering topics like clinical scholarship, biostatistics, and patient safety. For the PMHNP concentration, students take a class in psychopharmacology and mental assessment and three courses in PMH diagnosis and management. Each diagnosis/management class also requires clinical hours, and students may complete practicums near their homes. During clinical rounds, students gain experience in treating adults, children, adolescents, and families with acute and chronic psychiatric symptoms or disorders. In the final practicum, students get experience in managing complex psychiatric symptoms across the lifespan. DNP candidates are also required to complete an evidence-based clinical inquiry project.
Saint Louis University-Main Campus
Saint Louis, Missouri
Accreditation: CCNE
Saint Louis University has a 72-credit program for BSN-prepared nurses who want to earn a DNP in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. The curriculum features 21 credits in the PMHNP concentration, including an ecological approach to human behavior, family and child development, and psychopharmacology. Graduates are prepared to take the national PMHNP certification exam and can find employment working with psychiatric or mental health patients of all ages. They are ready to provide care that is based on evidence, holistic, and oriented toward recovery. DNP students gain the skills needed to work in an interprofessional team to promote optimal mental health. Saint Louis allows students to follow a full-time or part-time plan of study while working toward the Doctor of Nursing Practice.
University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia, Missouri
Accreditation: CCNE
The University of Missouri offers a DNP in psychiatric-mental health primarily online. Students must visit campus about once a year. BSN-prepared PMHNP students complete 74 credits and 1,080 clinical hours. Students complete the clinical practicums near their home, and they are required to locate a preceptor. Nurses with an MSN who do not have an advanced practice specialty may enroll in the DNP program to gain a PMHNP certification. BSN-prepared nurses can complete the program in 4 years of full-time study or 5 or 6 years part time. Post-master's students can complete the degree in 3 or 4 years of part-time study. All students are required to complete the DNP Residency project, a scholarly project that includes research, identifying a practice problem, designing an evidence-based solution, implementing it, and evaluating outcomes. Applicants should have a 3.3 GPA for undergraduate nursing classes or a 3.5 GPA in their master's degree.
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Accreditation: CCNE
The MSN to DNP program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City has two options for MSN-prepared nurses interested in psychiatric nursing. Nurses who are already certified as a PMHNP can enter the post-MSN to DNP program, and nurses who want to add a new or additional NP role can earn the DNP and add a certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. The School of Nursing and Health creates an individualized study plan for each student adding the PMH specialty based on prior coursework. Classes are delivered online and may have synchronous and asynchronous elements. Nurses who already have PMHNP certification can complete the DNP with 31 post-master's credits and 600 project hours, and the university offers plans of study that span two years or three years.
University of Missouri-St Louis
Saint Louis, Missouri
Accreditation: CCNE
The University of Missouri-Saint Louis has a BSN to DNP in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner that full-time students can complete in three years, and part-time students can complete in four years. The curriculum requires 70 credits and at least 1,000 practice hours, including 400 hours devoted to the DNP Clinical Scholarship project. Mental health nursing students learn to provide primary mental health care to patients of all ages in a variety of settings. Students gain skills in assessing, diagnosing, and managing psychiatric and mental health conditions. Classes are delivered online, but students must attend six intensives, each scheduled to cover three days, during the program. Recent DNP projects have focused on topics such as depression screening in new mothers, barriers to mental health treatment, and depression in HIV-positive individuals.
Programs in Montana
Montana State University
Bozeman, Montana
The University of Montana's DNP program has a rural focus and prepares students for certification as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. The program combines distance education, in-person classes, and on-site clinical supervision. Classes are delivered primarily online supplemented with teleconferencing. Students must travel to Bozeman at the start of each fall semester. The Nursing School has multiple sites in Montana's major population areas, allowing students to work with a diverse patient population. The psychiatric DNP's goal is to prepare nurses with clinical expertise, judgment, scholarship, and leadership. Students can select from a 3-year or 4-year option to complete the program. The curriculum requires 83 credits, including clinical classes and a scholarly project. Applicants must have a bachelor's degree in nursing with a 3.0 GPA. Nurses with at least a year of clinical experience are preferred, and Montana residents are given preference.
Programs in Nebraska
Clarkson College
Omaha, Nebraska
Accreditation: ACEN
Clarkson College has a BSN to DNP program with a concentration in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner that allows students to select a full-time or part-time plan of study. Courses are delivered online for additional flexibility. The curriculum includes 28 credits in core courses, 39 credits in the specialization, and at least four credits in electives. Core courses cover topics like health care economics, evidence-based practice, and epidemiology. Classes in the specialty include pharmacology for mental health practitioners, complex psychiatric mental health nursing concepts, and transition to practice. For their electives, students can take classes in entrepreneurship, grant writing, or nursing education. In addition to completing a DNP project, all students are required to perform a service experience and take an interprofessional education course.
Creighton University
Omaha, Nebraska
Accreditation: CCNE
Creighton University has an online DNP in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner that provides students with flexibility and the chance to complete their clinical hours in their home community. The program emphasizes managing care for patients in diverse populations. Students also learn about practice in acute and primary care settings. The curriculum requires 73 or 74 credits, including five semesters of practicum plus a DNP residency. Before they begin clinical classes, students must have at least 2,000 hours of direct patient care in psychiatric mental health. However, they can start the DNP program while still acquiring that professional experience. Candidates must complete a scholarly project where they collaborate with other health care professionals to design, manage, and evaluate systems or clinical practices in a mental health setting. Graduates are eligible to take the PMHNP certification exam.
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, Nebraska
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse PractitionerBSN to DNP option
Nurses with a BSN can earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Psychiatric Mental Health NP at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing in 3 or 4 years. The program requires 66 to 70 credits. For the psychiatric NP specialty, students take courses in counseling models and neuroscience psychopharmacology. They also complete psychiatric nursing classes and practicum experiences focusing on children, adolescents, and adults. The DNP portion of the curriculum includes classes on assessing outcomes, implementing evidence-based practice, and health care policy. All students complete a clinical inquiry project. Applicants must have a BSN with a 3.0 GPA and a valid nursing license. BSN to DNP students start the program in August. DNP students who are residents of Northeast Nebraska may be eligible for the UNMC Excellence Scholarship designed to address the shortage of advanced practice nurses in that area of the state.
Programs in Nevada
University of Nevada-Reno
Reno, Nevada
Accreditation: CCNE
Students in the BSN to DNP in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program at the University of Nevada, Reno, take most of their classwork online. However, they must attend a two-day orientation at the start of the program and come to Reno for immersion sessions in some semesters. They're also required to visit campus to defend their DNP project proposal and their final project. The mental health nursing DNP requires 72 to 76 credits, and full-time students can earn the degree in seven semesters. The part-time plan spans 13 semesters. Specialized classes cover topics such as pharmacology for mental health, mental health assessment, and assessment and management in PMH settings. Unlike many DNP programs, the University of Nevada's plan of study has students completing their DNP project before they begin PMHNP practicum courses.
Programs in New Jersey
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Madison, New Jersey
Accreditation: CCNE
Rutgers University
Newark, New Jersey
Rutgers University's PMHNP DNP program prepares nurses to address emerging issues in mental health while working with individuals, groups, and families across the lifespan. The DNP is for nurses with a bachelor's degree, and students can complete the degree in 3 years of full-time study or 4 years of part-time study. The program requires 74 credits, including 720 hours of clinical experience with a preceptor and 500 mentored hours devoted to the DNP project. Rutgers School of Nursing presents this program in a hybrid format with online and in-person classes. PMHNP courses include care of the adult and older adult, care of the child and adolescent, and care of specialty populations. DNP core courses cover topics such as evidence-based practice, analyzing health data, and health care economics. Students in this program have the option of adding an HIV care certification. Applicants should have a 3.2 GPA and New Jersey licensure.
Programs in New Mexico
New Mexico State University-Main Campus
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Accreditation: CCNE
New Mexico State University's BSN to DNP program has a track in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner that emphasizes four competencies. Students become experts in assessing health (including psychosocial health), diagnosing mental disorders, providing psychotherapy, and managing medication. Their expertise in psychotherapy extends to individuals, groups, and families. Graduates are eligible to take the certification exam to be a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Classes for the program are delivered online. Students must come to campus for an orientation at the start of the program and again for a weeklong clinical boot camp before beginning their NP specialty classes. Students can complete their 1,000-plus hours of clinical requirements near their homes, and they are required to locate preceptors and clinical sites on their own.
Programs in New York
Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, New York
Accreditation: AACN
BSN to DNP - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMH)BSN to DNP option
The Columbia University School of Nursing trains mental health nurse practitioners to be therapists who can provide holistic care to patients. Students in the Post BSN to DNP Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program also gain skills in conducting psychiatric assessments and creating treatment plans incorporating therapeutic modalities and possibly medications. While classes cover mental health theory across the lifespan, students select a clinical specialty on a specific population, such as families, the elderly, children, or adults. They'll also gain clinical experience practicing with individuals, families, and groups. To earn the doctorate, students complete a minimum of 81 credits. Courses in the specialty include group therapy, psychotherapy theories, and family therapy. Clinical sites where PMHNP candidates may complete rounds include Bellevue Hospital, New York State Psychiatric Institute, and regional and community health centers.
CUNY Hunter College
New York, New York
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)BSN to DNP option
Nurses with a BSN or MSN are eligible for the DNP with a specialization in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at the Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing. The degree requires 90 credits and more than 1,000 supervised clinical hours, although nurses with an MSN may receive up to 42 credits for their master's classes and they can count clinical hours completed during their master's studies toward the 1,000-plus hours. The curriculum includes 12 credits for the capstone, which requires an internship, proposal development, implementation, and evaluation. The PMHNP track includes classes in psychopharmacology, neuroanatomy and neurophysiology of the brain, therapeutic counseling modalities, and courses in treating children and adolescents, family and group therapeutic modalities, and acute and chronic conditions. The DNP application doesn't require GRE scores, but applicants should have a 3.5 GPA for their BSN or MSN. A New York RN license is also required.
D'Youville University
Buffalo, New York
Accreditation: CCNE
Nurses with an MSN in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner can earn a DNP in the same subject in as few as two years at D'Youville University. The program is flexible, allowing students to attend full time or part time. Additionally, each student follows an individualized plan of study that is based on their previous education and clinical hours. Candidates must complete at least 36 credits, including a translational capstone project. For the capstone, students translate evidence-based research into practice by designing, implementing, and evaluating a solution to a problem in a clinical site. The faculty includes working mental health professionals who can share their experiences in applying theory to practice. Students gain a deep understanding of mental illness across the lifespan. They learn to treat patients holistically and to consider personality structures and environmental issues.
Molloy University
Rockville Centre, New York
Accreditation: CCNE
Molloy College offers a DNP in Psychiatric Mental Health for nurses who hold an MSN and are certified as a PMHNP. The program uses a blended format, with on-site classes meeting on Thursdays in the late afternoon and evening. The program requires 37 credits, including nine core classes. Students are required to complete four clinical role immersions for a total of 500 clinical hours. During their residencies, students work with a faculty advisor to create, implement, and analyze an evidence-based practice. Candidates use the results to complete a scholarly project that can influence the health care system. The goal of the DNP program is to prepare nurses to translate evidence-based research into practice, improve patient outcomes, and develop leadership skills.
New York University
New York, New York
Accreditation: CCNE
The Meyers College of Nursing at New York University has a BSN to DNP program in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner that uses a part-time format. Most classes, including core and specialty courses, meet on campus in the evenings. Lessons for the advanced leadership part of the program use an executive hybrid format that requires students to attend a half-day of classes four Fridays a semester and to complete online classwork. The faculty arranges clinical hours for PMHNP students. During their clinical placement, students work on a DNP scholarly project, which they can do individually or as a part of a team. In the project, students evaluate the use of evidence-based practice changes to see how they affect health care quality. Meyers is well known for research and clinical expertise, including drug abuse research, and the college leverages that knowledge in the DNP curriculum.
Saint John Fisher College
Rochester, New York
Accreditation: CCNE
Students who want to earn a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner DNP at Saint John Fisher University must complete 72 credits beyond the bachelor's degree, including 23 credits in the PMHNP specialty. Courses in the track include advanced neuropsychiatric assessment, psychopathology and differential diagnosis, psychotherapy, and child and adolescent mental health. Students also complete 1,000 hours of related clinical residencies. Mental health students must complete four practica, each with a different focus. Depending upon the semester, a student's clinical experiences may focus on trauma-informed intervention, evidence-based treatment modalities, management of complex comorbidities, or strategies for at-risk populations. Full-time students can complete the BSN to DNP program in three years, and there is a part-time option. PMHNP students are only permitted to enter the program in the fall semester.
SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, New York
Accreditation: CCNE
The Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences at SUNY Binghamton has an Advanced Standing DNP program with a specialization in Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. The program is open to nurses who hold a master's degree in nursing and are certified as a PMHNP. The curriculum requires 35 to 38 credits, including a scholarly DNP project, and 540 clinical hours. Students can follow a full-time or part-time plan of study, with the full-time course of study taking four semesters and the part-time plan requiring six semesters. Because the DNP project is an integral part of the curriculum, applicants must discuss in their personal statement the kind of scholarly project they intend to investigate, with the goal of improving patient outcomes.
University at Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Accreditation: CCNE
The University of Buffalo School of Nursing has two options for its DNP PMHNP degree. Nurses with a bachelor's degree can complete the 94-credit program as full-time or part-time students. The curriculum includes foundation courses, research courses, the DNP core, PMHNP specialty courses, and the DNP advanced practice core, which includes a DNP project and advanced clinical practicums. About 40% of the coursework is available online, with the rest delivered in on-campus classes. Nurses who already have a master's degree and are certified as PMHNPs can complete a 36-credit program to earn the DNP. They are required to take DNP foundational core classes, an analytical core for evidence-based practices, and the advanced practice core. MSN-prepared nurses cannot gain a new specialty through this DNP. BSN-prepared applicants must have a year of experience and submit GRE scores. MSN-prepared nurses must submit GRE scores if their MSN GPA is under 3.5.
University of Rochester
Rochester, New York
Accreditation: CCNE
Post-BS to DNP - Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (FPMHNP)OnlineBSN to DNP option
The University of Rochester School of Nursing allows students to enter the BSN to DNP program in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner in any semester. The specialized PMHNP coursework for this program is delivered completely online with synchronous and asynchronous elements. However, students also attend on-site intensives to get hands-on practice and interact with fellow students and faculty. PHM students attend a two- to four-day residency most semesters. DNP coursework uses a hybrid format with online classes and in-person class meetings that are scheduled in the late afternoon. The School of Nursing has partnerships with about 500 preceptors around the state of New York, and the staff matches students with a qualified mental health nursing preceptor. Post-BSN students complete more than 1,000 clinical hours for the PMHNP DNP.
Programs in North Carolina
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina
Accreditation: CCNE
Duke University has a pathway to a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner for nurses with a BSN. Graduates of the program receive both an MSN and a DNP. Nurses who already have an MSN in PMHNP can also earn a doctorate in the specialty. Duke's mental health program has a focus on serving clients in rural and underserved locations. Candidates learn to provide integrated mental health and social care services in a variety of settings. Classes are delivered online, and students come to campus for intensives and sessions in the simulation lab. Students who complete the program can receive certification in telepsychiatry and an optional certificate in veterans health care. The curriculum requires at least 74 credits.
Gardner-Webb University
Boiling Springs, North Carolina
Accreditation: ACEN
Gardner-Webb University uses a blended format for its post-baccalaureate DNP track in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Most classes are online, but students must come to the campus in North Carolina for intensives. The curriculum requires 81 credits, and students can complete the practicum experiences with a preceptor in their home community. The School of Nursing has a clinical site specialist to help PMHNP students find appropriate placements. The program is designed to accommodate the schedule of working nurses, and full-time and part-time students are accepted. PMHNP students gain skills in psychiatric assessment, diagnosing mental health, and planning holistic treatment. Graduates are ready for positions with community-based health centers, in-patient mental health settings, and private mental health practices.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Psych Mental Health Nurse PractitionerBSN to DNP option
The PMHNP DNP degree at the University of North Carolina is a full-time, 3-year program that includes courses on advanced practice, leadership, and clinical inquiry. Students complete 1,000 practice hours and also produce a DNP project. Classes specific to the PMHNP specialty include diagnostic reasoning for psychiatric nurses, psychopharmacology, and complex problems in psychiatric mental health nursing. Students also complete practicum experiences working with individuals, children, families, and groups. The program is open to BSN-prepared nurses and to nurses who have an MSN and want to qualify in a new area of specialization. Applicants must have a BSN with a 3.0 GPA, although those with a GPA of at least 2.75 with a justifiable explanation may be considered. PMHNP applicants must have at least 6 months of full-time clinical experience as an RN in a community or acute setting that treats psychiatric illness or substance abuse.
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, North Carolina
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse PractitionerBSN to DNP option
Students in the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track of UNC Wilmington's BSN to DNP program can earn their degree in as few as eight semesters. The College of Health and Human Services arranges both full-time and part-time cohorts for the mental health track. Full-time students begin taking courses related to the psychiatric specialty in their fourth semester. Some of the specialized classes in the PHM concentration include advanced psychiatric mental health assessment, neuroscience and psychopharmacology, and therapy for groups or families. The curriculum consists of 70 credits, including three courses that guide students through the process of developing their DNP project. Graduates are prepared to take the national PMHNP certification exam.
Programs in Ohio
Cleveland State University
Cleveland, Ohio
Accreditation: CCNE
At Cleveland State University, BSN-prepared nurses who want a DNP in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner study full-time for 11 semesters. The blended format includes online and in-person classes that allow students to take advantage of CSU's modern clinical labs. Classes are all taught by full-time, doctorally-prepared faculty members. The program begins in the fall semester, and early in the program, students take core nursing classes. By the fifth semester, students enroll in foundational courses covering the mental health specialty, including psychiatric mental health assessment and neuropsychopharmacology. In later semesters, courses focus on individual adult clients, care of the family as a client, care of adolescents and children, and group therapy. In all, the degree requires 92 credits. Graduates are eligible to take the PMHNP certification exam.
Kent State University at Kent
Kent, Ohio
Accreditation: CCNE
The DPN in PMHNP from Kent State University gives nurses with a BSN a 2-year pathway to their MSN and another 2 years to the DPN. During the first 2 years, students learn advanced practice role fundamentals so they can become certified as a PMHNP. Then, they take about 2 years of classes covering topics such as advanced clinical and organizational leadership and conduct a scholarly project to earn the DNP. Students take core courses online and come to campus for in-person practice role courses. They complete practicum experiences in their own community. Nurses who already have an MSN in advanced practice nursing can complete the DNP 100% online in less than 2 years. Applicants must have a BSN or MSN with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Students in this program may be eligible for the Anita O'Toole Endowed Scholarship, which provides funds for graduate students in the PMHNP concentration.
Ohio State University-Main Campus
Columbus, Ohio
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN-prepared nurses can earn a Master of Science and Doctor of Nursing Practice in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner through Ohio State University's BSN to DNP program. The PMHNP program is available in a distance-learning format that presents classes synchronously, which means students must be logged in at a specific time to participate in the lesson. Classes usually meet once a week, on Wednesday or Thursday. PMHNP students gain the skills necessary to provide mental health care to individuals of all ages, including those who have chemical dependency problems. They also learn to design and implement strategies for behavioral health care. Students can complete their clinical requirements with an approved preceptor, either a PMHNP or a psychiatrist, and the program has preceptors throughout Ohio and in some other states. Graduates can take the PMHNP certification exam.
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio
Accreditation: CCNE
PMHNP students in the University of Cincinnati's BSN to DNP program take all their classes online and only have to come to campus twice. The first visit is for orientation, and the final visit occurs in the last semester when students defend their DNP project. In between, students may attend an optional DNP summer workshop that focuses on what's needed to create a successful DNP project. UC offers a full-time and part-time plan of study for PMHNP majors. Full-time students can complete the program in nine semesters, and they begin taking courses in the major during the fifth semester. Some of the required courses in the concentration include psychopathological disorders, clinical psychiatric diagnosis, and neurobiology and psychopharmacology. Students generally complete 81 to 85 credits beyond the bachelor's degree.
University of Toledo
Toledo, Ohio
Accreditation: CCNE
The University of Toledo uses a hybrid format for the BSN to DNP in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Some courses are online and may have synchronous and asynchronous elements. Other classes meet at the University of Toledo Health Sciences campus. Additionally, mental health nursing students must complete about 1,100 hours of supervised clinical practice. The College of Nursing uses a cohort format, with full-time and part-time cohorts available. Classes must be taken in a specific sequence and are only offered once each year. Full-time students can complete the degree in three years, including two summers. Part-time students take five years, including two summers of study. Mental health nursing students also complete a DNP project.Got instance, a recent PMHNP DNP project tested a method to improve medication adherence in an inpatient detoxification facility.
Walsh University
North Canton, Ohio
Accreditation: CCNE
Walsh University's BSN to DNP in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner uses an online format with scheduled meetings on campus for hands-on training. Instructors for the program include practicing PMHNPs, and mental health nursing students also take two classes taught by instructors from the Walsh University School of Behavioral and Health Sciences' counseling and human development program. Candidates can use their direct patient care hours to earn an addiction certification, which is offered by the International Nurses Society on Addictions. Additionally, candidates use their DNP project of focus on how current research might improve outcomes for mental health patients. Graduates are prepared to work in a variety of health care settings to meet mental health needs.
Programs in Oklahoma
Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Accreditation: ACEN
The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) track at Oklahoma City University's Kramer School of Nursing is the first DNP-PMHNP in the state. The 4-year BSN-DNP program is primarily online; students meet once weekly on campus for core nurse practitioner courses. Students with an MSN pursuing advanced practice may complete the degree in 3 years. Applicants must have a BSN with a GPA of at least 3.0, current RN licensure, and one year of nursing experience.
Programs in Oregon
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, Oregon
The psychiatric nursing DNP at the Oregon Health and Science University is known for its emphasis on primary mental health care. The focus is on nursing interventions, including psychotherapy and psychopharmacology, and students gain clinical experience primarily in community-based programs. Classes for this DNP are offered in Portland with supplement material delivered in an asynchronous online format. The DNP is a full-time, 3-year program that requires students to complete 111 credits. Applicants must be eligible for an Oregon RN license and must obtain that licensure before starting the program. Applicants must have a BSN with a 3.0 GPA. OHSU's Scholars for a Healthy Oregon program provides full tuition and some fees for PMHNP DNP students who agree to practice in a rural or underserved community in Oregon for as many years as they receive funding, plus one year. Students enter the DNP program in the fall.
Programs in Pennsylvania
Robert Morris University
Moon Township, Pennsylvania
Students in the psychiatric mental health DNP program at Robert Morris University can attend through online classes or take the program face-to-face. The program focuses on clinical reasoning and prepares nurses to deliver patient-centered care using evidence-based practice and informatics. To enhance those skills, students create an evidence-based DNP project that allows them to innovate and collaborate on a relevant topic. Students can complete the 86-credit degree in 3.5 or 4 years. During most semesters, students complete a practicum, including experiences in psychiatric diagnosis, management of psychiatric disorders across the lifespan, psychotherapeutic interventions with individuals and families, and psychiatric considerations in the geriatric population. Applicants must have a BSN, and the School of Nursing recommends an undergraduate GPA of 3.25. Nurses with a lower GPA may need to submit GRE scores or take additional coursework to be considered for admission.
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Accreditation: CCNE
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse PractitionerBSN to DNP option
The psychiatric mental health DNP at the University of Pittsburgh is a 95-credit program with 1,120 clinical hours. Full-time students with a BSN can complete the degree in 3 years, taking a mix of online and onsite classes. Nurses with a master's in PMHNP can complete the MSN to DNP program with 1.5 years of full-time study, and classes are available online. Part-time options are available for the BSN and MSN pathways. The university also has an option for RNs who have an associate degree or diploma in nursing. PMHNP graduates from Pitt have a 100% pass rate on the national certification test. Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA in their undergraduate or master's program and they must submit GRE scores. All students begin the program in the fall. Out-of-state MSN to DNP students receive a scholarship equal to the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition.
Programs in South Carolina
Anderson University
Anderson, South Carolina
Accreditation: CCNE
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Accreditation: COA
The Medical University of South Carolina addresses a variety of challenges in health care in the curriculum for its BSN to DNP in Psychiatric Mental Health NP. Some of those issues include telemedicine, integrated behavioral health assessment, and diagnosing and treating opiate-use disorders. The curriculum requires at least 75 credits and up to 1,300 clinical hours. Students are required to make arrangements for a preceptor and clinical sites. Classes are delivered online with synchronous and asynchronous elements. Students must come to the campus in Charleston, South Carolina, for orientation, to present their DNP proposal, and to present a poster near the end of the program. Four clinical specialty and health assessment classes also require a two- or three-day visit to campus.
University of South Carolina-Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina
Accreditation: CCNE
The University of South Carolina College of Nursing delivers all coursework for the BSN to DNP in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing online. Mental health nursing students must come to the campus in Columbia for one immersion session, to make their DNP project proposal, and to defend the project. The BSN to DNP psychiatric nursing track begins in the summer semester, and students may choose a full-time or part-time plan of study. The curriculum is arranged so that students take core coursework early in the program and begin planning their DNP in the second year. Candidates take their specialty mental health nursing classes and complete the PMHNP clinical experiences toward the end of the program. Students must complete more than 1,000 clinical hours for the DNP.
Programs in Tennessee
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, Tennessee
Accreditation: CCNE
DNP graduates from East Tennessee State University have a 100% pass rate on the PMHNP certification exam. ETSU's program is delivered in a blended format that combines online classes with a week of intensives that is scheduled for early each semester. Admission to this program is limited to residents of Tennessee and out-of-state students who live within 250 miles of Johnson City, Tennessee, and are eligible for Tennessee licensure. BSN to DNP students enter the program in the fall. BSN-prepared nurses complete 80 credits and 1,040 clock hours of clinical experiences. MSN to DNP students enter in the summer semester and complete 32 credits and 500 hours of clinical experiences. Master's-trained nurses who are not certified in PMHNP have to take a longer course of study. All applicants must have at least two years of full-time work experience as a nurse, and applicants with less than a 3.2 GPA must submit GRE scores.
Southern Adventist University
Collegedale, Tennessee
Accreditation: ACEN
BS to Doctor of Nursing Practice - Primary Care Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse PractitionerOnlineBSN to DNP option
Southern Adventist University has two pathways to the DNP - one for nurses with a BSN and one for nurses with an MSN. The BSN to DNP in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner is a 77-credit program that is delivered primarily through on-campus classes. In addition to the primary emphasis in psychiatric mental health care, students have 13 credits in electives that they can use to develop a second emphasis or to take elective nursing classes. The BSN to DNP core includes a scholarly project, three advanced practice core classes, and courses such as health care policy, health care technology, and Christian leadership. Nurses with an MSN must complete 50 credits for the DNP, including courses in the mental health emphasis and DNP core classes.
Tennessee Technological University
Cookeville, Tennessee
Accreditation: CCNE
Tennessee Tech and East Tennessee State University jointly offer a DNP in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner that has multiple entry points for nurses with different levels of education and experience. In addition to accepting RNs into the BSN to DNP program, there are four options for nurses with a master's degree. Nurses who are already certified as a PMHNP will have the shortest route to the DNP. MSN-prepared nurses who want to change their specialty to PMHNP have to take additional classes. The program also has a pathway for individuals with a BSN and a non-nursing master's degree. BSN-prepared nurses must complete 80 credits, including a scholarly project, and 1,040 clock hours. Classes in the mental health specialty include interpersonal treatment modalities and family psychiatric nursing care.
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Memphis, Tennessee
DNP students at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center can choose a concentration in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner or a dual concentration in PMHNP/Family Nurse Practitioner. Core courses are delivered online, but students must come to the campus in Memphis for meetings that include simulations, skills workshops, and interprofessional experiences. Nurses with a bachelor's degree complete 61 credits to earn the DNP with the PMHNP concentration, while nurses with an MSN complete 44 credits if they are seeking PMHNP certification and 33 credits if they already have the certification. The dual concentration requires 73 credits. The university's clinical coordinator helps students to find clinical placements near their home. Applicants must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on all college work or a GPA of 3.2 earned for their most recent degree program. Students interested in the dual concentration may be required to have work experience.
The University of Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Accreditation: CCNE
PMHNP DNP students at the University of Tennessee can complete their clinical practicum experiences in a variety of settings, including drug and alcohol treatment centers, in-patient psychiatric facilities, community residential facilities, special education settings, and private practices. Students complete at least 600 hours of direct patient care while gaining experience in patient assessment and patient management skills. The BSN to DNP in the PMHNP concentration is a full-time program that uses a blended curriculum. Some classes may require meetings in Knoxville, and online coursework may include live video conferencing as well as asynchronous elements. Graduates are eligible for the PMHNP certification exam, and the school's most recent graduates had a 95% pass rate.
Union University
Jackson, Tennessee
Accreditation: CCNE
Nurses with various levels of education can earn a DNP in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner through Union University. The College of Nursing has programs in the concentration designed for RNs with an associate degree or diploma, BSN-prepared nurses, and nurses with an MSN. All the DNP programs use a blended format that combines asynchronous classwork with on-campus intensives. MSN-prepared nurses can follow a part-time plan of study, but the RN and BSN to DNP programs are for full-time students. The PMHNP program uses a cohort format with cohorts starting in August. Nurses with a BSN earn their doctorate in 36 months. Students begin coursework related to mental health nursing in the first semester and start clinical rounds working with patients in their fourth semester. The PMHNP DNP requires 1,220 clinical hours.
Programs in Texas
Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, Texas
Accreditation: CCNE
Texas Christian University uses an online format for its BSN to DNP in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. All students begin the program in the summer term, and during the program, they must attend two on-campus intensives where they hone their skills in simulation labs. The curriculum requires 66 credits and 1,000 clinical hours, which students may be able to complete near their home with an approved preceptor. Some of the specialized classes that mental health nurses take include the neurobiology of mental illness, psychiatric care of children, and psychotherapy concepts. The program prepares nurses to provide primary mental health care to patients of all ages and in a variety of settings. PMHNP students learn to work in a multidisciplinary team to manage mental health.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Lubbock, Texas
Accreditation: CCNE
The BSN to DNP with a concentration in Psychiatric Mental Nurse Practitioner at Texas Tech is considered a hybrid program, with at least half of the course content available online. However, all students must come to campus multiple times, including for orientation, clinical exams, and to present their DNP project. Additionally, two-day intensives are required throughout the program, with some scheduled in Austin or Dallas and others in Lubbock, Texas. The DNP in mental health nursing is a three-year, full-time program with students entering in the fall semester. There is no part-time option. Students must find preceptors for the required 1,000 practicum hours, although the college has a preceptor team that can help with the process. Candidates begin working on their DNP project in the sixth semester.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Houston, Texas
Accreditation: CCNE
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse PractitionerBSN to DNP option
The UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing has partnerships with hundreds of preceptors in the San Antonio area, allowing the school to guarantee practicum placements for all BSN to DNP students. The nursing school staff works with each PMHNP student to find the most appropriate clinical sites based on individual interests. The BSN to DNP in PMHNP is a 76-credit program that requires 1,000 clinical hours. Students can complete the degree in three years. Full-time students take core classes for the first four semesters, then get to the heart of the psychiatric nursing curriculum in the fifth semester. Students can also follow a part-time plan of study. Specialized classes cover topics such as psychotherapy, mental health diagnosis and management, and psychopharmacology.
University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, Texas
Accreditation: CCNE
Nurses in the BSN to DNP program at the University of the Incarnate Word can select a concentration in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. The concentration requires 82 credits and more than 1,200 clinical and practicum hours. The program is delivered in a blended format that includes bi-monthly classes on the campus in San Antonio, Texas, and online classes that have synchronous and asynchronous elements. Students complete a PMHNP residency and must produce a scholarly DNP project. Classes in the specialty cover topics such as psychopharmacology, individual and group psychotherapy, and diagnosis and management of mental health conditions. Applicants must have a BSN with an overall GPA of at least 2.75 and a 3.0 GPA on upper-division nursing courses. The college prefers applicants who have at least a year of relevant professional nursing experience. Students enter the BSN to DNP program in the spring semester.
Programs in Utah
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Accreditation: CCNE
The University of Utah uses a full-time cohort format for the DNP with a specialty in psychiatric mental health. Over eight or nine semesters, BSN-prepared students take classes in mental health assessment, mood and anxiety disorders, group and family therapy, and advanced pathophysiology of mental illness. In the third semester, students have the first of 5 practicums in mental health nursing. They complete a PMHNP residency in their last semester. During their final 3 semesters, students work on a DNP scholarly project. The PMHNP program is available in a distance learning format for students who live more than 60 miles from the Salt Lake City campus. Students must attend events such as orientation, intensives, and project presentations on campus. Distance students can complete practicums near their home, but the university only guarantees clinical placements along the Wasatch Front. Students who want a different clinical site must make their own arrangements.
Programs in Virginia
George Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP - Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse PractitionerBSN to DNP option
The psychiatric mental health DNP at George Mason University prepares nurses to evaluate and apply evidence-based practice and create care delivery systems based on patient outcomes. To that end, the final step toward the degree is a DNP project. Over two semesters, students select a problem, synthesize literature about it, develop a proposal for a practice inquiry, implement it, collect data, analyze the findings, and create a scholarly work from the data they collect. The DNP requires 72 credits and at least 1,000 hours of clinical practice. Classes are divided into a level one core (including biostatistics and organization of health care delivery systems), level two core (informatics, health care administration, evidence-based practice), advanced practice competency (36 credits directly related to working with psychiatric mental health patients), and the DNP project. Applicants must have a BSN with a GPA of 3.0. Fall and spring admission slots are available.
Liberty University
Lynchburg, Virginia
Accreditation: CCNE
MSN-prepared nurses with certification and professional experience can earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice in psychiatric mental health completely online through Liberty University. Students gain advanced expertise in mental health nursing as well as research and leadership skills. Specialized classes cover topics such as psychotherapeutic theories and clinical psychopharmacology. Courses are delivered online in eight-week sessions, and the program has multiple start dates each year. The curriculum includes 58 credits, and students can earn the degree in eight semesters. During the program, students complete 504 hours of mental health practicum experience. Practicums consist of 224 hours working with adult and geriatric mental health patients for 16 weeks and 280 hours treating pediatric and family mental health patients over 16 weeks. Liberty has a practicum coordinator who helps students locate preceptors and clinical locations in their home region.
Radford University
Radford, Virginia
Accreditation: CCNE
The Doctor of Nursing Practice in PMHNP at Radford University is suited for nurses who plan to practice in a rural area. Graduates have the skills needed to treat individuals, families, and groups of all ages. Students learn to evaluate evidence-based interventions, including psychopharmacological, psychoeducational, and psychotherapeutic methods. The program emphasizes strategies to promote mental health and prevent disease. The curriculum also prepares nurses to take the certification exam to become a PMHNP. All candidates complete a DNP capstone project where they investigate a mental health care issue or problem in a practice setting with the goal of improving outcomes or bringing about a change in practice. Faculty members may be able to help students locate an appropriate preceptor and clinical site for practice hours.
Shenandoah University
Winchester, Virginia
Accreditation: CCNE
The BSN to DNP program in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program at Shenandoah University uses a hybrid model. Master's level core classes meet on Wednesdays in Winchester or Fairfax, Virginia, and the PMHNP specialty courses and DNP-level courses are delivered online. PMHNP students must attend one immersion event on campus each semester, and the meetings are scheduled for one or two days in length. Cohorts start their studies in the fall semester and can complete the program in eight semesters. Faculty members are available to help students in arranging clinical placements. The PMHNP curriculum requires 77 credits and 1,000 clock hours. Shenandoah's nursing program uses a rolling admissions system, which means early applications are considered as they are received.
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Accreditation: CCNE
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse PractitionerBSN to DNP option
The University of Virginia structures its psychiatric nursing DNP program so that full-time BSN-prepared nurses spend 2 years earning an MSN to qualify for PMHNP certification. Classes include the biological basis of mental illness, mental health theories and therapies, and psychiatric disorders and diagnosis. Students may work clinical hours at the UVA Medical Center, at other sites in Virginia where the university has relationships, or a site of their choosing. After earning an MSN, students spend another 2 years completing the DNP requirements, including a DNP project. Nurses with a generalist MSN can take the BSN-DNP program to earn the PMHNP certification and a DNP. In addition to the 2+2 plan, students may select an accelerated 3-year plan or a part-time plan. Competitive candidates for admission have a BSN GPA of at least 3.5 and more than 2 years of relevant, full-time experience as an RN.
Programs in Washington
Gonzaga University
Spokane, Washington
Accreditation: CCNE
Classes for Gonzaga University's PMHNP DNP program are delivered online, but students must come to the campus about once per semester during their 5th through 12th semester for an immersion session. During the immersions, students complete observed structured clinical evaluations, where they obtain a focused history and exam of a scripted model patient, identify a diagnosis and determine a plan of care. In addition to these practice immersions, students also complete at least 1,000 practicum hours at clinical sites located near their home region. The university has a list of established preceptors students may be able to work with. Students work on their DNP project during practicum courses. Nurses typically continue to work while completing their DNP, and students earn an MSN at the end of their third year, allowing them to seek NP licensure. Admission to this DNP program is limited to residents of 10 western states.
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, Washington
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse PractitionerBSN to DNP option
Pacific Lutheran University has post-bachelor's and post-master's pathways to a DNP in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. PLU recently received a federal grant to train DNPs to serve rural and underserved populations in Washington. The funding will help mental health DNP students receive training in telehealth systems using video technology to fill the need for mental health care in rural areas. The BSN to DNP-PMHNP program requires 90 credits, and students can complete the degree in three years of full-time study or four years of part-time study. Post-master's students who are already APRNs can complete the DNP in two years of part-time study. MSN-prepared nurses who want to add the mental health APRN specialty usually need two years as full-time students to complete the requirements. Specialized courses include trauma-informed care, psychotherapies across the lifespan, and managing substance-related and addictive disorders.
Seattle University
Seattle, Washington
Accreditation: CCNE
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse PractitionerBSN to DNP option
Nurses who want to provide addiction treatment and mental health care to diverse populations can prepare for that career through the Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner DNP program offered at Seattle University. Students will learn to treat patients across the lifespan, from young children to geriatric clients, in a range of health care settings. Full-time students can complete the doctorate in 12 quarters. Some of the specialized courses in this program include the neurobiology of psychiatric disorders, managing substance disorders, cognitive behavioral therapy, and psychopharmacology. A particular focus of Seattle University's PMHNP program is serving populations that are affected by health care disparities as well as mental health and addiction issues. Graduates of this program are eligible for the PMHNP certification exam.
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Seattle, Washington
Accreditation: CCNE
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse PractitionerBSN to DNP option
The DNP in psychiatric mental health nursing from the University of Washington prepares nurses to diagnose and manage mental health and substance abuse issues across the lifespan. The program uses a full-time, 3-year format that includes online and in-person elements. During the first year, students are on campus in Seattle one day a week and take classes such as leadership, health systems and policy, and quality improvement. During the second year, classes focus on mental health nursing and students start clinical practicums. During the third year, students complete clinical training and work on a DNP project where they collaborate with a local clinical agency to analyze an issue and create a solution to improve outcomes. Applicants must have a BSN with a 3.0 GPA for the last 90 quarter credits. The program prefers applicants with at least a year of direct patient care experience in psychiatric or behavioral health.
Washington State University - Vancouver
Vancouver, Washington
Accreditation: CCNE
Washington State University uses a hybrid delivery system and flexible scheduling for its DNP program in Psychiatric Mental Health NP. Classes are delivered mostly online, and in-person sessions are scheduled so that students can attend all of their courses in a 1- or 2-day block of time. Depending on a student's campus of registration, classes are held on WSU's campuses in Spokane, Tri-Cities, or Vancouver, Washington. Some courses are also available at sites in Yakima, Walla Walla, and Puyallup. Full-time and part-time programs are available. Nurses with a BSN complete 74 credits and 1,140 clinical hours. Nurses with a master's degree who want PMHNP certification take 69 credits and 1,140 clinical hours. Students complete clinical hours at sites across Washington and Oregon. Classes in psychiatric nursing cover topics such as psychiatric diagnosis and management, therapeutic modalities, and psychopharmacology and safe prescribing practices. All students produce a quality improvement DNP project.
Programs in Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, Wisconsin
Accreditation: CCNE
Students earning a DNP in psychiatric nursing from the University of Wisconsin gain knowledge and skills in 3 distinct areas: systematic evaluation of practice, leadership and policy, and the practice of psychiatric mental health nursing. There is one pathway for nurses who have a bachelor's degree or an MS without a specialty track, and another for those with an MSN and specialty certification. Post-BSN students complete 68 credits. The full-time program takes 3 years and the part-time program takes 5 years. Post-MSN students with a specialty certification complete 32 credits. The program uses a hybrid format with online classes and on-campus meetings. Post-BS students complete at least 1,000 practicum hours, with 500 hours in clinical practice and 500 hours in clinical leadership. Post-MSN students put in 500 clinical leadership hours. During their final year, all students complete a scholarly project where they use evidence to improve practice or patient outcomes.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Accreditation: CCNE
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse PractitionerBSN to DNP option
The BSN to DNP program at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee has four timetable options for the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner doctorate. Students who enter the 65-credit PMHNP program in the fall can complete their degree in three or four years. Those who begin in the spring semester can follow a 3.5-year or 4.5-year plan. All of the degree plans start with core nursing classes such as biostatistics and epidemiology. Most of the mental health theory and practice courses occur in the final four semesters of the program, which ends with a leadership practice immersion. The immersion is one of the requirements for the DNP project, where students translate evidence-based research to practice.
Programs in Wyoming
University of Wyoming
Laramie, Wyoming
Accreditation: CCNE
Doctor of Nursing Practice - Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse PractitionerOnlineBSN to DNP option
PMHNP students in the University of Wyoming's DNP program prepare for careers in rural psychiatric mental health care. The degree is a full-time, 3-year program designed for nurses with a BSN, and there is no part-time option. Master's-prepared nurses who want to earn a new specialization may enter the program, but they must take the entire 84-credit curriculum and 1,200 clock hours of practicum experiences. The program is distance-accessible, but students must make frequent trips to the campus in Laramie. In the first year, students attend orientation, health assessment intensives and other intensives, and a clinical boot camp. In the second and third years, they must come to campus 3 or 4 times per semester. Students must also be available on Wednesday mornings for synchronous webinars. Practicums must take place in Wyoming, north-central Colorado, or southern Montana. Students also complete a practice-oriented DNP project in their final year.