Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
Prepares students to become safe, effective advanced practice providers equipped to prescribe psychotropic medications and deliver psychotherapy.
Fall Application Deadline: July 31
Spring Application Deadline: Nov. 30
Overview
The PMHNP Program is designed for BSN and graduate-prepared nurses seeking to specialize in psychiatric care. Building on prior education and professional experience, the program provides advanced expertise in the diagnosis and management of psychiatric patients across the lifespan. Students master both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions, including psychotherapy and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).
Through a mental health lens, students apply principles of evidence-based practice, leadership, population health, and emerging healthcare technologies to clinical settings. The curriculum further explores social determinants of health, ethical and legal issues, and professional development, with a heavy emphasis on the critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills required for diverse healthcare environments.
Program length 4 terms | Start Summer and Fall terms | Time commitment 20-30 hours per week |
Admission Requirements
- Master's degree in Nursing (MSN), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), or Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning
- Minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all graduate coursework
- Official transcripts from all institutions where credit was earned
- Current curriculum vitae (CV) or resume
- Current unencumbered, unrestricted Missouri licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN) or a multi-state compact license in good standing
- Current Basic Life Support (BLS) provider status
- Two letters of reference from individuals who can address the applicant's academic and clinical potential
- Personal statement that addresses desired area of specialization, personal attributes that will contribute to successful accomplishments of the program, and career goals
Curriculum
Students seeking to transfer credit or who currently hold a different APRN certification will need to submit course syllabi for a gap analysis to determine necessary coursework.
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Psychopathological Disorders Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| Neurobiology and Psychopharmacology | 3 |
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Psychotherapeutic Clinical I | 3 |
| Role of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner in Promoting Health | 2 |
| Systems Interventions for Individuals and Groups | 2 |
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Psychiatric Diagnostics and Management of Adults | 3 |
| Psychiatric Diagnostics and Management Clinical II | 4 |
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Psychiatric Diagnostics and Management of Children | 3 |
| Psychiatric Diagnostics and Management Clinical III | 5 |
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Health Promotion Theory & Population Health | 3 |
| Advanced Pathophysiology for Primary Care | 3 |
| Pharmacotherapeutics | 3 |
| Advanced Health Assessment | 3 |
| Total credit hours | 40 |
|---|
Curriculum and schedule of classes are subject to change.
Tuition and fees
For detailed tuition and fee information, visit our Tuition and Fees page.
For more information, please contact our Business Office by email at [email protected].
Faculty
Christina Lucido Williams, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC
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