The Byers School of Nursing Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Certificate Track allows students to expand their scope of practice by developing expertise in psychiatric and mental health care of individuals across the lifespan. The program includes didactic and clinical experiences which focus on providing care in acute, crisis, and chronic conditions including substance abuse disorders. Upon completion of the program students are eligible to sit for the national Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam.
Program Objectives
- Assess, diagnose and manage psychiatric care of individuals, families and populations across the lifespan at risk for developing or having a diagnosis of mental health disorders.
- Provide primary mental health care to patients seeking mental health services in a variety of settings.
- Interact with a variety of clients across the lifespan to provide relationship-based, continuous services for optimal mental health, including prevention and treatment of psychiatric disorders and health maintenance.
- Collaborate with interprofessional colleagues to provide optimal clinical outcomes for clients with mental health disorders across the lifespan.
- Develop in the role as advocate regarding policy issues at the local, state, and national levels to reduce health disparities and improve clinical outcomes for populations with mental health disorders.
Who should consider the Post Masters Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Certificate?
- Post-master’s nurses with clinical expertise who are seeking a specialization in psychiatric mental health.
- Nurses who are DNP or PhD graduates or students who wish to gain expertise as an PMHNP.
What makes Walsh's Nursing Education Certificate Program unique?
- Access to excellent faculty with real-world experience
- Opportunity to obtain the certificate within one calendar year
- Interprofessional venues with state of the art teaching modalities including simulation and active learning lab experience
- Opportunity to participate in a global experience through the Byers School of Nursing while enrolled in the certificate program. Learn more about international opportunities from the Office of Global Learning
*Online refers to the definition from the Higher Learning Commission: Distance-delivered courses are those in which all or the vast majority (typically 75% or more) of the instruction and interaction occurs via electronic communication, correspondence, or equivalent mechanisms, with the faculty and students physically separated from each other