Master of Science in Nursing

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

The Division of Nursing offers a combined Psychiatric Mental-Health Clinical Nurse Specialist (PMHCNS) and Practitioner (PMHNP) track for both RNs who hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree and RNs without a BSN who may enter the RN-MSN degree option.  The Clinical Nurse Specialist option consists of didactic and clinical course content essential to provide psychotherapy to individuals, families and groups within hospital and the community settings.  The PMHNP option is designed to provide the nurse with the necessary biopsychopharmacotheraputic knowledge and skills regarding differential diagnosis, health promotion and psychotropic medication management (prescriptive authority) for the psychiatric mental-health patient.  Some nurses may elect to stop their education at a Psychiatric Mental-Health Clinical Nurse Specialist (PMHCNS); others may elect to complete the coursework required for the Psychiatric Mental-Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP).  Flexibility to pursue either option of choice is based on student goals and life experiences.  Graduates of either option within this track have earned their MSN degree and are eligible to sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Certification PMHCNS or PMHNP exams.

For more information about the various entry options, click here.

For course descriptions, click here.

For course schedules, click here. 

Admission Requirements:

• Completed graduate application for admission, along with a $30 non-refundable application fee.
• Completed graduate nursing program application.
• Earned a BSN degree from an NLNAC or CCNE accredited program. 
• Successful completion of BSN courses in physical assessment and community nursing, and undergraduate statistics course.
• Minimum undergraduate cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale.
• Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education previously attended.
• Be a Registered Nurse licensed in Virginia.
• 2,080 RN Clinical work hours prior to specialty courses.
• CPR certification as a Healthcare Provider from the American Heart Association.
• Up to date immunizations and health record submitted to Wilkins Wellness Center at Shenandoah University.
• Three (3) letters of recommendation
• Complete Graduate Nursing Program interview process.

Transfer Credits:

• Only grades of C or higher are transferable.
• A maximum of 12 credit hours.

Where to Begin:

• Please contact our Abigail Griffeth, Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions at agriffet@su.edu or the office of Admissions at Admit@su.edu,  if you have any questions regarding admission or the application process.

• Apply online:  graduate application for admission

Degree Requirements:

Core Courses for both PMHCNS and PMHNP:

Additional core courses for PMHNP option:

Specialty Courses for both PMHCNS and PMHNP options:

Minimum grade of B required in all specialty courses.

* Those interested in taking the ANCC Family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Exams or Child and Adolescent Clinical Specialist Certificate Exam are required to take this course.

** This course is for those taking the PMHCNS option.

*** This course is for those taking the PMHCNS option as an elective.

Clinical hours for PMHNP option:

Clinical hours for PMHCNS option: