MSN: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Major: Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health
Degree Awarded: Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 52.0 quarter credits; 640 clinical hours
Co-op Option: None
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 58.3801
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 29-1171

About the Program

The online Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program prepares practitioners to provide a wide range of services to patients across the lifespan and their families. The program of study is based on a biopsychosocial model of care and includes the study and application of diagnostic and treatment modalities and theories and approaches to practice. Graduates of this program practice in a wide variety of settings as this program enables them to provide direct (assessment and intervention) and indirect (consultation, case management and supervision) advanced practice services to individuals who are at risk and those who need mental health services. Graduates are eligible to sit for the ANCC’s Psychiatric Mental Health Certification Examination.

The nurse practitioner faculty is committed to quality and excellence in the nurse practitioner (NP) programs. Students meet on campus for mandatory On-Campus Intensive (OCI) learning experiences, simulation and evaluation. There are a maximum of two OCIs in each program. Students will attend an OCI during week one of their first clinical course for three to four days (summer quarter). An additional OCI visit may be required for two to three days in another clinical quarter. Dates are subject to change. During the OCIs, students engage in simulated clinical learning experiences conducted in the College of Nursing and Health Professions' state-of-the-art, multidisciplinary patient simulation lab. These visits provide direct guidance and mentoring from faculty and the opportunity to collaborate with peers. Mandatory, on-campus visits are essential to students transitioning into the NP role.

The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Additional Information

For more information about this program, contact:

Graduate Nursing Division

CNHPGraduateDivision@drexel.edu

Additional information is available on Drexel's College of Nursing and Health Professions MSN Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner webpage and on Drexel University Online's MSN Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner webpage.

Degree Requirements 

Core Courses
NURS 500 [WI] Confronting Issues in Contemporary Health Care Environments3.0
NURS 502Advanced Ethical Decision Making in Health Care3.0
NURS 544Quality and Safety in Healthcare3.0
RSCH 503Research Methods and Biostatistics3.0
RSCH 504Evaluation and Translation of Health Research3.0
Support Courses
NURS 548Advanced Pathophysiology3.0
NURS 549Advanced Pharmacology3.0
NURS 550Advanced Health Assessment & Diagnostic Reasoning4.0
NURS 555Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan3.0
NURS 664Professional Issues for Nurse Practitioners1.0
Clinical Courses
NURS 592PMHNP I: Advanced Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Theoretical Foundations and Psychopathology I5.0
NURS 593PMHNP II: Advanced Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Theoretical Foundations and Psychopathology II5.0
NURS 594PMHNP III: Advanced Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Theoretical Foundations and Psychopathology III5.0
NURS 595PMHNP IV: Adv Mental Hlth NP Management and Care of Clients in Diverse Pop Across the Lifespan5.0
Elective3.0
Total Credits52.0

Writing-Intensive Course Requirement

A [WI], Writing Intensive, next to a graduate course in this catalog indicates that the graduate course is a writing intensive course. The graduate course is a required course in your curriculum.

Sample Plan of Study

Note: Some terms are less than the 4.5-credit minimum required (considered half-time status) of graduate programs to be considered financial aid eligible. As a result, aid will not be disbursed to students these terms.

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
NURS 5003.0NURS 5023.0NURS 5443.0Elective3.0
NURS 5493.0NURS 5483.0RSCH 5033.0 
 6 6 6 3
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
RSCH 5043.0NURS 5553.0NURS 5504.0NURS 5925.0
  NURS 6641.0 
 3 3 5 5
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
NURS 5935.0NURS 5945.0NURS 5955.0 
 5 5 5 
Total Credits 52
  • Schedule of Classes
  • All Course Descriptions
  • Co-op
  • Academic Advising
  • Admissions
  • Tuition & Fees
LEARN MORE