Walsh University has taken a leadership role in addressing community mental health needs. First, in September, Walsh hosted a community symposium on mental health and addiction, and now the University has announced the launch of a new Master of Science in Nursing degree, the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program.
In the United States, 1 in 5 people are in need of mental health care. The demand for mental health professionals continues to grow as more individuals are seeking mental health treatment, especially in states such as Ohio that report a shortage of psychiatrists. In an effort to meet this critical community need, Walsh University is launching a new Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner degree program, enrolling now for fall 2019. Psychiatric nurse practitioners can assess, diagnose and treat patients like a psychiatrist, in collaboration with a physician. Program enrollment is now open for fall 2019 classes. For more information, visit walsh.edu/psychiatric-nurse, call 330-490-7406 or email Mona McCauliffe at mmcauliffe@walsh.edu. Or register for the November Grad Info Session on Nov. 13.
"Psychiatric nurse practitioners are needed because there has been a 10 percent decline in practicing psychiatrists in the last decade," said Program Director Julie Stone, Walsh Byers School of Nursing. "That number is expected to grow to 25 percent by 2025. We must act now to help meet this critical area of need for the benefit or our entire community."
The scope of practice for PMHNPs is similar to that of psychiatrists. PMHNPs can:
- Diagnose a mental health disorder
- Provide psychosocial treatment for individuals, families and groups
- Prescribe medication
- Diagnose and treats physical conditions
- Develop a plan of care and evaluate its effectiveness
Walsh University’s Byers School of Nursing is known for its tradition of excellence with MSN students routinely earning a 100% pass rate on certification exams. Relationships forged with area agencies also guarantee that students receive clinical experiences that meet the psychiatric mental health care needs of Northeast Ohio. The PMHNP program includes both nursing and counseling coursework that allows students to broaden their perspectives. Students will be able to simultaneously earn credits toward a Doctor of Nursing Practice, with the ability to earn a DNP from Walsh in just two semesters following the completion of the master’s degree.