Certificate: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
The Certificate: Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program option offers registered nurses the opportunity to expand their scope of practice to include the care of individuals, families and groups with psychiatric and mental health needs.
Our lifespan curriculum is a synthesis of knowledge derived from nursing science, neuroscience, behavioral change theories, motivational theories, learning theories and other psychotherapeutic frameworks to provide a holistic perspective from which to assess, diagnose, treat, manage and evaluate acute and chronic mental illnesses.
You will learn about neuropsychopharmacology, interprofessional collaborative practice, crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, health policy, family systems theory, psychotherapy, group therapy, care of vulnerable populations, promotion of mental health and prevention of mental illness, substance use and co-occurring disorders, and other mental illnesses across the lifespan.
Highlights
- Develop and foster therapeutic relationships as a basis for the provision of holistic and compassionate care to individuals, families, and populations across the lifespan who are at risk of developing and/or have a psychiatric disorder or mental health problem.
- Provide holistic, compassionate, and recovery-oriented care consistent with current legal, ethical and evidence-based standards of advanced practice psychiatric/mental health nursing to individuals, families, and populations across the lifespan.
- Demonstrate cultural competence through the delivery of mental health care which recognizes and acknowledges the influence of culture and spiritual beliefs on health outcomes.
- Engage in professional leadership skills to manage, integrate, and coordinate client care services across the continuum of care.
- Collaborate and consult with other members of the interprofessional team to support improved health and enhanced quality of life for individuals, families, and populations across the lifespan experiencing psychiatric/mental health needs.
- Implement strategies to promote health policies that improve mental health, prevent disease, reduce stigma, and improve access to care for individuals, families, and populations across the lifespan experiencing mental health needs.
- Apply information technology and knowledge-based resources to manage data that informs clinical practice.
- Synthesize theoretical, scientific, and clinical knowledge to promote health, prevent disease, and manage mental illnesses with pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for individuals, families, and populations across the lifespan.
Who Should Apply
If you are interested in serving patients with mental health needs, our Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) post-master’s certificate option is for you!
Application Deadlines
Fall 2025
Application Open: 09/01/24
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Priority: 12/01/24
Final: 05/01/25
Requirements
Overview
The Certificate: Psychiatric Mental health Nurse Practitioner program consists of 22 credit hours and 600 clinical hours. Questions about program requirements should be directed to the program director.
Program of Study
Courses
For full listing of courses and descriptions, please visit the University Bulletin.
Technology Requirements
Each student admitted to the Certificate program is expected to own and have ready access to a laptop or tablet with basic productivity software for classroom use. View Policy.
Complete applications that are submitted by the priority deadline will be reviewed first. Applications do not have to be verified by the priority deadline, only completed and submitted. Questions? Contact the Office of Admissions at [email protected]
A completed application includes the following components:
- Master’s degree in nursing from a regionally accredited college or university
- Preferred scholastic GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale from a regionally accredited college or university
- Successful completion of graduate-level courses in pathophysiology, pharmacology, and advanced health assessment
- An active RN license
- Statement of Purpose
- Current resumé/CV
Note:
- GW Nursing is subject to state authorization requirements in order to offer an approved nursing curriculum. View available states.
None
Students will complete a total of 600 clinical hours distributed over the course of the program. Clinical rotations begin with the first course, NURS 6245: Psychiatric/Mental Health Diagnostic Assessment Across the Lifespan.
Our certificate program’s online format allows practicing APRNs to advance their education while completing the course and clinical requirements in their own communities.
Complete applications that are submitted by the priority deadline will be reviewed first. Applications do not have to be verified by the priority deadline, only completed and submitted. Questions? Contact the Office of Admissions at [email protected]
A completed application includes the following components:
- Master’s degree in nursing from a regionally accredited college or university
- Preferred scholastic GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale from a regionally accredited college or university
- Successful completion of graduate-level courses in pathophysiology, pharmacology, and advanced health assessment
- An active RN license
- Statement of Purpose
- Current resumé/CV
Note:
- GW Nursing is subject to state authorization requirements in order to offer an approved nursing curriculum. View available states.
None
Students will complete a total of 600 clinical hours distributed over the course of the program. Clinical rotations begin with the first course, NURS 6245: Psychiatric/Mental Health Diagnostic Assessment Across the Lifespan.
Our certificate program’s online format allows practicing APRNs to advance their education while completing the course and clinical requirements in their own communities.