The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program is designed to prepare graduates to provide holistic, mental health care integrating neuroscientific priniciples of behavior, experience and psychopharmacology with psychotherapy, consultation and trauma-related care across the lifespan. The PMHNP will be prepared to practice in diverse settings including nurse-managed clinics, inpatient psychiatric facilities, home health, private psychiatric practices, addiction centers, general ambulatory clinics and schools. Graduates are eligible to sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s PMHNP examination.

Learning Outcomes

• Apply knowledge from core courses in the assessment of clients.
• Integrate core and clinical course content in the diagnosis and treatment of clients.
• To use core and clinical course content within the context of the community and to understand community as client.
• To apply theory to practice problems, to analyze practice guidelines, and to conduct an evidence based practice project
• To understand laws governing advanced practice, to understand scope of practice, and to apply evidence based practice knowledge in treatment planning.

Admission

The admission process attempts to identify individuals who have a high probability of successfully completing the program. All factors are considered in combination. Specific requirements include:

1. a bachelor of science in nursing degree from a program that is nationally accredited;
2. transcripts of all previous college studies with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher for full admission;
3. registered nurse licensure in South Carolina or possession of an unencumbered license in the state in which clinical practice will occur;
4. a completed application to The Graduate School with the College of Nursing supplement;
5. three references written by master’s or doctorally prepared nurses or physicians who are qualified to evaluate nursing practice performance and academic potential;
6. resume or cv with a personal goal statement.

Course planning with the student’s advisor is required before registration. All students are required to submit a Master’s Degree Program of Study form to the Office of Graduate Studies at the earliest convenient date (no later than the end of the first year). These forms may be obtained in the Office of Graduate Studies and must be completed with the assistance of the academic advisor. The original will be forwarded to the dean of The Graduate School for approval. Copies of the approved program will be kept in the student’s permanent file in the Office of Graduate Studies, College of Nursing.

Degree Requirements (45-48 Hours)

Requirements for earning the M.S.N. degree include:

1. completion of an approved program of study;
2. completion of an applied research course, NURS 791  (3), or a thesis, NURS 799  (6);
3. a GPA of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) on all courses attempted for graduate credit and all courses numbered 700 and above;
4. a GPA of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) an all courses on the approved program of study;
5. and passing a comprehensive assessment during the last semester of the program. 

Objectives: Students in the master’s programs of the college acquire a) knowledge and skills required for advanced nursing practice, b) the ability to apply theory and research in practice, and c) leadership skills for advanced nursing practice.

This curriculum prepares nurses to sit for national certification examination as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.