Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Track

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Track (PMHNP)

The Byers School of Nursing Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Track allows students to expand their scope of practice by developing expertise in psychiatric and mental health care of individual 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.

• Primary care delivery systems: promoting prevention activities.
• Crisis Care: interventions in crisis situations and promoting a respectful environment.
• Substance Use Disorders: education in a multidisciplinary environment that will enhance the NP’s ability in mental health practice with a holistic, team approach.
• Pharmaceutical management of clients with psychiatric or mental health disorders.

Students interested in Addiction Certification as an Advanced Practice Nurse may be able to utilize clinical time towards certification through the International Nurses Society on Addictions (IntNSA).

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program Outcomes:

1. Assess, diagnose and manage psychiatric care of individuals, families and populations across the lifespan at risk for developing or having a diagnosis of psychiatric disorders or mental health problems.
2. Provide primary mental health care to patients seeking mental health services in a variety of settings.
3. 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.
4. Collaborate with interprofessional colleagues to provide optimal clinical outcomes for clients across the lifespan with mental health problems and psychiatric disorders.
5. 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 problems and psychiatric disorders.

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Track Guidelines

Admission Policy

Participants enrolled in the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program must comply with the Byers School of Nursing, Graduate admissions requirements.

Program Delivery

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program is offered using a distance learning methodology* and requires students to be on campus for two intensives.

Academic Advising

Upon admission to the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program, the student is assigned to a graduate faculty member who will work with the student to develop a curriculum plan. Students are encouraged to meet with their advisors prior to registration each semester to confirm their program plan.

Registration Procedures

New students are given instructions on how to register with their acceptance letter. Before or during the first half of the first semester, students are encouraged to meet with their faculty advisors to map out a curriculum plan. For the remainder of the program students are responsible for registering for their own classes. The process is as follows:

• Graduate students may register on-line via the Walsh University Cavalier Center (www.walsh.edu (http://www.walsh.edu) (http:// www.walsh.edu). To register on-line, the student must obtain an alternate PIN from their assigned academic advisor and resolve any holds that may prevent registration.
• Obtain a form from the website www.walsh.edu (http:// www.walsh.edu) (http://www.walsh.edu) . Click on “Academics” and scroll down to the “Office of the Registrar” link. Scroll down to the link “forms” and then on “Graduate Registration Form”. Download a copy and fax (330) 490-7372, mail or present the completed form to the Registrar’s Office (located in Farrell Hall).

*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.

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Track