Prepare for psych NP certification and meet the growing need for specialized mental healthcare providers

This course provides an in-depth study of the physiological changes and responses to altered health states and their impact on the functional status of patients. Students will focus on the essential knowledge of human health and disease across the lifespan. Pathophysiological theories and evidence-based research serve as a basis for applying content to population groups.

This course builds upon the student’s previous health assessment knowledge offering more advanced health assessment content to provide the foundation for advanced professional nursing roles. This course emphasizes knowledge of health assessment, including physical, psychosocial, spiritual health assessment, risk assessment, and functional assessment in diverse populations in the promotion of health and prevention of disease. To maintain a nursing focus on patient responses to health, illness, or the threat of illness, the nurse must exhibit effective communication and client teaching, which is incorporated throughout the course. The importance of effective documentation and health record keeping is included.

This course focuses on the concepts, principles, and application of pharmacotherapeutics used in the management of health problems encountered in primary care. Emphasis is placed on theories and principles of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacogenetics, which provide a foundation for critical thinking, and the application of research finding. The focus on pharmacology is aimed at the treatment of acute and chronic health problems in populations over the lifespan. Prescriptive authority for nurses is explored.

This course focuses on current evidence-based knowledge of neurobiology in relation to psychiatric mental health disorders and addresses principles of psychopharmacology. Emphasis is on neurotransmitters, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and concepts related to prescribing psychotropic drugs as treatment for psychiatric mental health disorders across the lifespan in clinical practice. Note, this course has proctored exam(s).

This course focuses on select psychotherapeutic treatment modalities for individual, group, and family psychotherapy. Theories and varied approaches to psychotherapy are reviewed. Differential diagnosis formation of psychiatric mental health disorders is examined through observation, interviewing skills, mental health assessment, and screening mechanisms. Emphasis is placed on comprehensive mental health assessments with knowledge and use of the most current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-5) to clinically formulate accurate differential diagnosis and match the diagnosis with treatment planning of age appropriate, evidence-based psychotherapeutic treatment modalities.

This course provides students an opportunity to synthesize and apply psychotherapeutic theories and pharmacology as they further develop advanced clinical skills for the PMHNP role. Interviewing and mental health assessment skills are reinforced. Emphasis is on cultivating competencies in conducting individual, group, and family psychotherapy across the lifespan while incorporating developmental norms, cultural humility and cultural competency in developing inclusive approaches to care. Clinical hours are required.

This course provides the nurse practitioner student with application of advanced theoretical knowledge in the principles of psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacological theories while advancing their clinical skills in the role of a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). Students will work with a preceptor to interview and complete mental health assessment, with a focus on developing skills in individual, group, and family psychotherapy. Emphasis is placed on incorporating diverse, culturally sensitive approaches to care across the lifespan. In the clinical setting, students will conduct comprehensive mental health assessments to support decision-making, formulate differential and working diagnoses, develop treatment plans involving diagnostic tests, psychotherapy, and psychotropic medications, and accurately document each visit. The course will include clinical hours.

This course is designed to further increase the knowledge of psychiatric diagnoses and treatment to ensure that holistic care is provided to the client with consideration of the family’s role in mental health wellbeing. The PMHNP student will explore the theoretical basis of care for clients across the lifespan in regard to specific psychiatric diagnoses as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) criteria and evidence-based treatment options. This course will cover the diagnoses of Neurodevelopmental disorders, Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Trauma and Dissociative Disorders. This course builds on providing the student opportunity to apply psychotherapeutic clinical skills for the PMHNP role. Clinical hours required.

This course provides the nurse practitioner student with application of advanced theoretical knowledge in the principles of psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacological theories while advancing their clinical skills in the role of a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). Students will work with a preceptor to interview and complete mental health assessment, with a focus on developing skills in individual, group, and family psychotherapy. Emphasis is placed on incorporating diverse, culturally sensitive approaches to care across the lifespan. In the clinical setting, students will conduct comprehensive mental health assessments to support decision-making, formulate differential and working diagnoses, develop treatment plans involving diagnostic tests, psychotherapy, and psychotropic medications, and accurately document each visit. The course will include clinical hours.

The course is designed to ensure that the PMHNP student develops the knowledge of psychiatric diagnoses and treatment to ensure that holistic care is provided to the client with consideration of the family’s role in mental health wellbeing. The PMHNP student will explore the theoretical basis of care for clients across the lifespan in regard to specific psychiatric diagnoses as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) criteria and evidence-based treatment options. This course will cover the diagnoses of somatic symptoms, sleep-wake disorders, feeding/eating disorders, elimination disorders, sexual dysphoria, gender dysphoria, disruptive, impulse-control and conduct disorders, substance-related and addictive disorders, personality disorders, paraphilic disorders, and neurocognitive disorders. This course builds on providing the student opportunity to apply psychotherapeutic clinical skills for the PMHNP role. Clinical hours required.

This course provides the nurse practitioner student with application of advanced theoretical knowledge in the principles of psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacological theories while advancing their clinical skills in the role of a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). Students will work with a preceptor to interview and complete mental health assessment, with a focus on developing skills in individual, group, and family psychotherapy. Emphasis is placed on incorporating diverse, culturally sensitive approaches to care across the lifespan. In the clinical setting, students will conduct comprehensive mental health assessments to support decision-making, formulate differential and working diagnoses, develop treatment plans involving diagnostic tests, psychotherapy, and psychotropic medications, and accurately document each visit. The course will include clinical hours.

This is the capstone practicum course for the PMHNP student. It functions to encourage transition to practice from student to entry level independent practice. Students will integrate knowledge from previous courses to culminate their training to provide comprehensive psychiatric mental health care and the management of complex co-occurring disease processes and disorders across the lifespan. Emphasis is on the professional role of the PMHNP in disease prevention, health promotion, collaboration, quality, and APRN leadership. Clinical hours required.

This course provides the nurse practitioner student with application of advanced theoretical knowledge in the principles of psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacological theories while advancing their clinical skills in the role of a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). Students will work with a preceptor to interview and complete mental health assessment, with a focus on developing skills in individual, group, and family psychotherapy. Emphasis is placed on incorporating diverse, culturally sensitive approaches to care across the lifespan. In the clinical setting, students will conduct comprehensive mental health assessments to support decision-making, formulate differential and working diagnoses, develop treatment plans involving diagnostic tests, psychotherapy, and psychotropic medications, and accurately document each visit. The course will include clinical hours.

This course is designed to prepare the student to successfully pass the national certification exam. Emphasis will be on best test-taking practices and professional and independent practice in primary care for individuals and families.