The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) is a specialized nurse with advanced training to provide mental health services to patients and their families in various places. PMHNPs diagnose, offer therapy, and can prescribe medications for patients dealing with psychiatric issues, brain disorders, or substance abuse. They can also offer urgent psychiatric help, assess patients both mentally and physically, create and manage treatment plans, and oversee ongoing patient care. Sometimes, they work as advisors or educators for families and staff. PMHNPs focus on diagnosing psychiatric issues, distinguishing them from medical problems with similar symptoms, and prescribing the right medications for mental health conditions. Depending on state rules, PMHNPs can often work independently.
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Graduates from Walden’s program will be qualified to take a national certification test, PMHNP—Across the Lifespan, which is administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
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Walden’s Specialization in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Specialization Courses (40 credits)
NURS 6501 – Advanced Pathophysiology* (5 credits)
5 credits
Nurse practitioners need to deeply understand how diseases affect the body throughout a person’s life. In this class, students learn about how the body works, what goes wrong in diseases, and the scientific ideas related to disease biology. Nurse practitioner students use their knowledge of how organs usually work to help them return to a healthy state. By understanding disease processes, students put together the knowledge they need to make treatment plans for patients of all ages. Students also study different topics about diseases in organ systems.
Prerequisites
- NURS 6002 or NURS 6003
NURS 6521 – Advanced Pharmacology* (5 credits)
5 credits
For advanced practice nurses, having a strong grasp of how medications work at all stages of life is essential. This course delves into advanced pharmacology principles, covering areas like how our genes affect drug responses, how drugs move in the body, and how they work. Students study common drug types prescribed by advanced practice nurses for people of all ages. They also consider various factors that affect the success of treatment, like how well the drug works, its safety, whether patients find it acceptable, the cost, genetic and environmental factors, complementary treatments, and patient behaviors. Through this course, students get ready to tackle complex decisions when it comes to managing and treating specific short-term and long-term illnesses using both medications and non-medication approaches. They also gain a deeper understanding of the rules and regulations around prescribing medications.
Prerequisites
- NURS 6501
NURS 6512 – Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning* (5 credits)
5 credits
Ensuring the health and well-being of patients and their families can be quite complex. Advanced practice nurses must have the knowledge and skills to perform safe, skilled, and thorough physical health assessments. In this course, students focus on the concepts and skills needed to evaluate patients of all ages. They learn how to use critical thinking, advanced communication, and physical examination techniques to spot changes in health patterns. Students also explore preventive healthcare, which involves assessing the risks for individuals who are in good health. This is a crucial aspect of clinical practice, alongside assessing patients with sudden or long-term health issues. The course also covers advanced skills like suturing wounds, interpreting 12 Lead EKGs, and analyzing X-rays. The assignments in the course highlight the importance of assessing risks, critical thinking, and using evidence-based methods when evaluating patients throughout their lives.
Prerequisites
- NURS 6521
NURS 6630 – Psychopharmacologic Approaches to Treatment of Psychopathology (5 credits)
5 credits
Sometimes, therapy alone can’t ease the emotional challenges some patients experience. In such cases, psychopharmacology comes into play. Psychiatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) need a solid foundation in this field, which builds on their prior education in pharmacology, enabling them to make the right choices regarding medications for their patients. In this course, students delve into psychopharmacological methods to address significant behavioral health issues, including conditions like major depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, and psychotic disorders. Students explore important factors related to choosing the right medications, tracking their effectiveness, and managing long-term treatment.
Prerequisites
- NURS 6501N
- NURS 6521N
- NURS 6512N
NRNP 6635 – Psychopathology and Diagnostic Reasoning (3 credits)
3 credits
Psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) must be well-equipped to conduct thorough and safe mental health assessments. In this course, students have the opportunity to gain the knowledge needed to understand mental health issues and use diagnostic thinking for the promotion of mental well-being and psychiatric evaluation. They also learn how to create differential diagnoses for patients dealing with mental health and substance use problems at all stages of life.
Prerequisites
- NURS 6501
- NURS 6512
- NURS 6521
- NURS 6052
- NURS 6630
PRAC 6635 – Psychopathology and Diagnostic Reasoning Practicum (2 credits)
2 credits
Advanced practice psychiatric-mental health nurses should be capable of conducting safe, skilled, and thorough mental health assessments for patients in mental health settings at all stages of life. In this course, students put their assessment skills to use, which includes conducting psychiatric interviews, taking patient histories, and performing examinations to collect information for making diagnoses. They also use their understanding of mental health issues and diagnostic thinking in clinical settings to promote mental well-being, carry out psychiatric assessments, and establish differential diagnoses for patients dealing with mental health and substance use problems at all stages of life. Additionally, students bring together their knowledge from previous coursework and professional experiences to develop advanced communication and documentation skills.
Prerequisites
- NURS 6501
- NURS 6512
- NURS 6521
- NURS 6052
- NURS 6630
Note: Students with catalog years before Spring 2018 must complete a minimum of 144 practicum hours. Students with catalog years beginning Spring 2018 must complete a minimum of 160 practicum hours. A minimum of 80 patients are required. Required hours cannot be completed sooner than 8 weeks.
NRNP 6645 – Psychotherapy With Multiple Modalities (3 credits)
3 credits
Psychotherapy goes beyond offering simple advice. To be an effective psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP), therapy needs to be based on deliberate, evidence-backed approaches. In this course, students explore different therapeutic methods that can be employed in psychotherapy sessions with individuals, families, and groups of all ages. The focus is on applying evidence-based practices for a wide array of mental health issues using various therapeutic approaches.
Prerequisites
- NRNP 6635
PRAC 6645 – Psychotherapy With Multiple Modalities Practicum (2 credits)
2 credits
In this course, students training to become psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners bring together their knowledge from past clinical courses and professional experiences. They focus on assessing, diagnosing, and treating different mental health issues in patients of all ages. Students also get hands-on clinical experience, where they apply psychotherapy methods in a mental healthcare setting.
Prerequisites
- NRNP 6635 and PRAC 6635
Note: 160 practicum hours and a minimum of 80 patient encounters are required for this course. Practicum experiences must include interactions with all three modalities: individuals, groups, and families.
NRNP 6665 – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Care Across the Lifespan I (3 credits)
3 credits
This course adopts a comprehensive approach covering the diagnosis and planning of psychiatric treatments across a person’s entire life. It covers various aspects such as evaluating mental health, applying diagnostic standards, creating diagnostic plans, distinguishing between different diagnoses, using medications for mental health treatment, and conducting relevant tests and assessments. Learners will choose a mix of psychotherapy methods along with the use of medications to treat common mental health issues that can arise at any age. Legal and ethical aspects of working with clients throughout their lives will also be discussed. As students progress in their journey from being a registered nurse to becoming an advanced practice nurse, they gain confidence in their abilities.
Prerequisites
- NRNP 6645
PRAC 6665 – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Care Across the Lifespan I Practicum (2 credits)
2 credits
This course is the third out of four practical courses in the advanced practice psychiatric-mental health curriculum. Students will put their understanding of psychopathology, psychopharmacology, and psychiatric evaluation into action when diagnosing, treating, and managing mental health problems in individuals of all age groups: children, adolescents, adults, and older adults. The primary emphasis of this course is on advanced nursing practice in mental health settings.
Prerequisites
- NRNP 6645 and PRAC 6645
Note: Students with catalog years before Spring 2018 must complete a minimum of 144 practicum hours; those with catalog years beginning Spring 2018 must complete a minimum of 160 practicum hours. A minimum of 80 patient encounters (40 children/adolescents and 40 adults/older adults) is required.
NRNP 6675 – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Care Across the Lifespan II (3 credits)
3 credits
In the final course for the psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP), students continue with the approach that considers the patient’s entire life. They focus on gaining clinical proficiency in mental health settings, building upon the content and skills acquired in previous courses. Students will learn how to choose the right assessment methods for patients of all ages and how to make differential diagnoses. They will apply diagnostic standards and appropriate tests, as well as create case formulations based on diagnosis. The learner will use both psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacologic methods to treat common mental health conditions. Through classroom activities and case studies, students explore the key nurse practitioner practice issues that play a role in providing safe, skilled, high-quality, and cost-effective care in a dynamic healthcare system. The course emphasizes the application of knowledge in managing clients and fostering collaboration between the advanced practice nurse, the patient, their family, and the interprofessional healthcare team. Its primary purpose is to enable nurse practitioner (NP) students to synthesize their knowledge and clinical skills to provide care to patients with complex health conditions.
Prerequisites
- NRNP 6665
PRAC 6675 – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Care Across the Lifespan II Practicum (2 credits)
2 credits
This marks the conclusion of the advanced practice psychiatric-mental health curriculum, consisting of four practical courses. In this final course, students will put into practice their understanding of psychopathology, psychopharmacology, and psychiatric assessment to diagnose, treat, and manage mental health conditions in individuals across the lifespan, including children, adolescents, adults, and older adults. The primary focus of this course is on advanced nursing practice within mental health settings.
Prerequisites
- NRNP 6665 and PRAC 6665
Note: Students with catalog years before Spring 2018 must complete a minimum of 144 practicum hours; those with catalog years beginning Spring 2018 must complete a minimum of 160 practicum hours. A minimum of 80 patient encounters (40 children/adolescents and 40 adults/older adults) is required.
Course Sequence
MSN – PMHNP Course Sequence Example 1
One MSN – PMHNP course sequence example is as follows. This quarter sequence is an example for BSN-Entry students. Please note that RN-MSN students must complete all RN Foundation and General Education courses before they can begin working on the MSN Core and Specialization courses listed below.
| Quarter | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Quarter 1 | NURS 6003 – Perspectives on Graduate Study for Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 credits |
| NURS 6050 – Policy and Advocacy for Improving Population Health | 5 credits | |
| Quarter 2 | NURS 6051 – Transforming Nursing and Healthcare Through Technology | 5 credits |
| NURS 6052 – Essentials of Evidence-Based Practice | 5 credits | |
| Quarter 3 | NURS 6053 – Interprofessional Organizational and Systems Leadership | 5 credits |
| NURS 6501 – Advanced Pathophysiology | 5 credits | |
| Quarter 4 | NURS 6521 – Advanced Pharmacology | 5 credits |
| NURS 6512 – Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning | 5 credits | |
| Quarter 5 | NURS 6630 – Psychopharmacologic Approaches to Treatment of Psychopathology | 5 credits |
| Quarter 6 | NRNP 6635 – Psychopathology and Diagnostic Reasoning | 3 credits |
| PRAC 6635 – Psychopathology and Diagnostic Reasoning Practicum | 2 credits | |
| Quarter 7 | NRNP 6645 – Psychotherapy With Multiple Modalities | 3 credits |
| PRAC 6645 – Psychotherapy With Multiple Modalities Practicum | 2 credits | |
| Quarter 8 | NRNP 6665 – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Care Across the Lifespan I | 3 credits |
| PRAC 6665 – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Care Across the Lifespan I Practicum | 2 credits | |
| Quarter 9 | NRNP 6675 – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Care Across the Lifespan II | 3 credits |
| PRAC 6675 – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Care Across the Lifespan II Practicum | 2 credits |
MSN – PMHNP Course Sequence Example 2
Another MSN – PMHNP course sequence example is as follows. This quarter sequence is an example for BSN-Entry students. Please note that RN-MSN students must complete all RN Foundation and General Education courses before they can begin working on the MSN Core and Specialization courses listed below.
| Quarter | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Quarter 1 | NURS 6003 – Perspectives on Graduate Study for Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 credits |
| NURS 6501 – Advanced Pathophysiology | 5 credits | |
| Quarter 2 | NURS 6051 – Transforming Nursing and Healthcare Through Technology | 5 credits |
| NURS 6521 – Advanced Pharmacology | 5 credits | |
| Quarter 3 | NURS 6052 – Essentials of Evidence-Based Practice | 5 credits |
| NURS 6512 – Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning | 5 credits | |
| Quarter 4 | NURS 6050 – Policy and Advocacy for Improving Population Health | 5 credits |
| NURS 6630 – Psychopharmacologic Approaches to Treatment of Psychopathology | 5 credits | |
| Quarter 5 | NRNP 6635 – Psychopathology and Diagnostic Reasoning | 3 credits |
| PRAC 6635 – Psychopathology and Diagnostic Reasoning Practicum | 2 credits | |
| Quarter 6 | NRNP 6645 – Psychotherapy With Multiple Modalities | 3 credits |
| PRAC 6645 – Psychotherapy With Multiple Modalities Practicum | 2 credits | |
| Quarter 7 | NURS 6053 – Interprofessional Organizational and Systems Leadership | 5 credits |
| NRNP 6665 – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Care Across the Lifespan I | 3 credits | |
| PRAC 6665 – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Care Across the Lifespan I Practicum | 2 credits | |
| Quarter 8 | NRNP 6675 – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Care Across the Lifespan II | 3 credits |
| PRAC 6675 – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Care Across the Lifespan II Practicum | 2 credits |
*Note regarding NURS 6051 and NURS 6052: It is recommended that these courses are NOT taken with a practicum experience.
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