Be Part of the Future of Health Care Delivery
The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN): Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program consists of didactic and clinical course content essential to providing psychotherapy to individuals, families, and groups within hospital and community settings. The PMHNP program also provides the nurse with the necessary biopsychopharmacotherapeutic knowledge and skills regarding differential diagnosis, health promotion, and psychotropic medication (prescriptive authority) for the psychiatric mental health patient across the lifespan. The program can be completed in 2 years full-time with summer courses. A part-time program is available as well. Cohorts are established annually in the Fall. Clinical placement is a collaborative process between the student and the faculty. Clinical experiences are scheduled at the convenience of the facility hosting the student. Upon successful completion of the program, the student will be eligible to take the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner examination.
Shenandoah University and Inova are offering an in-demand graduate-level psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program at the Inova Center for Personalized Health, located just outside the Beltway, on Gallows Road in Fairfax, Virginia.
Graduates can take the American Nurses Credentialing Certification PMHNP exam. The PMHNP student will complete approximately 700 clinical hours during this program of study, which builds on a successful program already in place at Shenandoah University’s Eleanor Wade Custer School of Nursing.
Learn More About The PMHNP Program
The Psychiatric Mental-Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Program is designed to provide the nurse with the necessary biopsychopharmacotherapeutic knowledge and skills regarding differential diagnosis, health promotion and psychotropic medication management (prescriptive authority) for the PMH patient across the life span. The specialty also consists of didactic and clinical course content essential to provide psychotherapy to individuals, families, and groups within hospitals and the community settings. Graduates of this specialty have earned their MSN degree or Post Graduate Certificate and are eligible to sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Certification PMHNP exams.
Nursing at Shenandoah
Eleanor Wade Custer School of Nursing‘s programs are challenging, but the rewards of completing your degree and entering this critical profession are many. We are committed to providing an outstanding education to nurses at all levels— from people entering the profession with a Bachelor’s degree in nursing, to advanced practice nurses seeking doctoral-level training. Our programs are dynamic and responsive to the needs of our students and the health care industry. Shenandoah Nursing offers classes in Winchester at the Health and Life Sciences Building, and in Fairfax at the Shenandoah Northern Virginia campus. We’re excited to share our programs with you.
The curricula for the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs combine important knowledge and skills with a friendly and caring spirit. Students like you share diverse backgrounds and personal and professional experiences with seasoned teaching faculty and clinical preceptors, who contribute to robust classroom discussions and enriching and exciting clinical interactions. Our goal is to prepare and challenge you for that next step in your professional career.
Clinical Experience
A variety of clinical psychiatric inpatient and ambulatory care settings to include primary care sites are utilized. The psychiatric practice (PMH695) course combines didactic and a 120 hour clinical experience to apply differential diagnosis and medication management principles for the care of acute and chronic psychiatric clients. Students will have 180 clinical hours in both individual therapy and also group and family therapy along with 120 hours in primary care settings such as the emergency room where the students learns to integrate and differentiate primary care and psychiatric mental health care. The student completes at least 700 clinical hours by the end of the program of study.
Classes
Shenandoah’s collaboration with partner universities allows you to complete your core MSN courses at your home university, and complete your PMHNP courses at Shenandoah. The program is fully accredited by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and includes at least 700 clinical hours.
You’ll learn:
- psychotherapy for individuals, families and groups within hospitals and community settings
- assessment, diagnosis and psychotropic medication management
- education for students, patients and staff
- health promotion/maintenance
Upon completion of the program, you’ll be eligible to sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Certification PMHNP exam.
Our graduates work as educators, consultants, prescribers, therapists, researchers and in combined roles. Some work in military installations, community mental health centers, child and adolescent settings, private practice with community psychiatrists or as teaching faculty.
You’ll study with students and faculty from other disciplines such as pharmacy, social work, medicine and psychology; and gain valuable clinical experience for providing psychotherapy to a diverse range of populations in a variety of hospitals and community settings.
Alumni are eligible for a tuition discount.
MSN - PMHNP Full Time Student Curriculum
MSN-PMHNP Two (2) Year Plan of Study
Fall 1
- N507 Data Interpretation & Informatics 3
- N512 Theory, Research, & Reasoning I 3
- N560 Advanced Concepts in Physiology and Pathology 3
Spring 1
- N521 Theory, Research, & Reasoning II 3
- N550 Advanced Pharmacology & Therapeutics 3
- N580 Advanced Health Promotion & Assessment Across the Lifespan 4
Summer 1
- N532 Advanced Practice Roles, Ethics & Policy 3
- NP 525 Behavioral Neuroscience and
- Psychopharmacology 3
- PMH 635 Foundations of Psychotherapy 3
Fall 2
- PMH680 Management of Psychiatric Mental Health: Child & Adolescent with Practicum – 120 clinical hours 2/2
- PMH641 Management of Psychiatric Mental Health: Adult with Practicum – 120 clinical hours 2/2
Spring 2
- PMH685 Management of Psychiatric Mental Health: Geriatric 2
- PMH660 Management of Complex Mental Health Across the Lifespan with Practicum – 120 clinical hours 2/2
- HP576 Substance and Relationship Abuse 3
Summer 2
- N690 Advanced Nurse Practitioner Role Development 2
- PMH695 Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Practicum – 240 clinical hours 4
Total Credits 51 and 600 Hrs.
MSN - PMHNP Part Time Student Curriculum
MSN-PMHNP Three (3) Year Plan of Study
Fall 1
- N 512 Theory, Research, & Reasoning I 3
- N 560 Adv Concepts in Physiology & Patho 3
Spring 1
- N 507 Data Analysis & Interpretation I 3
- N 550 Adv Pharmacology & Therapeutics 3
Summer 1
- NP 525 Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychopharmacology 3
- PMH 635 Foundations of Psychotherapy 3
Fall 2
- N 580 Advanced Health Promotion & Assessment Across the Lifespan 4
- N521 Theory, Research & Reasoning II 3
Spring 2
- HP 576 Substance Abuse and Relationship Abuse 3
- PMH685 Management of Psychiatric Mental Health: Geriatric 2
Summer 2
- N 532 Roles & Issues in Advanced Practice 3
Fall 3
- PMH680 Management of Psychiatric Mental Health: Child & Adolescent – 120 Clinical hours. 2/2
- PMH641 Management of Psychiatric Mental Health: Adult Practicum – 120 clinical hours 2/2
Spring 3
- PMH660 Management of Complex Mental Health Across the
- Lifespan Practicum – 120 clinical hours 2/2
Summer 3
- PMH695 Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Practicum – 240 clinical hours 4
- NP690 Advanced Nurse Practitioner Role Development 2
Total Credits | 51 credits and 600 Hrs.
Application Information and Requirements
We’re excited you’re interested in one of our graduate nursing programs! Shenandoah reviews applications on a rolling basis, which means we will begin evaluating your application once all your documentation has been submitted. Students submitting completed applications before our priority deadlines will be considered first.
Admissions Requirements
- SU graduate application along with $30 non-refundable application fee
- Earned BSN degree from CCNE or ACEN accredited institution with a minimum 3.0 GPA
- Unofficial transcripts for initial admission from all institutions of higher education previously attended
- 3 letters of recommendation (1 from nursing faculty, 2 from direct supervisors)
- Resume/C.V.
- Essay answering the following questions:
- How will this degree advance your professional goals?
- What is your research area of interest?
- Documentation of 2,080 RN clinical work hours prior to specialty courses (which may also be obtained during the first year of the MSN program at your place of work)
- Copy of current RN license
- Successful completion of BSN courses with a “C” or better in:
- Physical Assessment
- Introductory Statistics
- Community Nursing
- Interview with graduate nursing faculty may be required.
- TOEFL score at acceptable level for Non-Native English Speakers
- Upon admission – up-to-date immunizations and health records, a criminal background check, a urine drug screen and a BCLS from AHA only will be required.
