Master of Science in Nursing Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse

Master of Science in Nursing

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (World Wide Web)

Concentration Description

The psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) concentration prepares professional nurses as safe and competent practitioners of

psychiatric and mental health services who become eligible to sit for the certification exam given by the American Nurses Credentialing Center

(ANCC) upon graduation. The 47-semester hour concentration includes core courses, concentration courses, and clinical practicums (total of 550

hours). All content courses are offered online, and the clinical experiences are arranged in a geographically convenient area for the student.

Requirements for Admission

Admission to the Master of Science in nursing program requires the student to meet the minimum admission requirements for graduate study of the

university and the following requirements of the College of Nursing:

• A baccalaureate degree in nursing from an accredited program

• A minimum GPA of 2.7 in undergraduate studies and a minimum GPA

of 3.0 in nursing major

• Current non-restricted license to practice as a registered nurse (RN) in

North Carolina or an NCSBN-compact state

• A current resume

• A personal interview with a member of the PMHNP faculty

• A course in statistics with a grade of “C” or higher

Requirements for Clinical Courses

• One-year experience as a registered nurse (RN). Admission priority is

given to applicants who have at least one year of psychiatric nursing

experience and plan to provide direct care upon program completion.

• Three current professional references, with at least one reference from a

NP.

• A statement of purpose essay describing the applicant’s interest in

this concentration, career goals and the MSN degree’s relationship

to those goals

Information regarding clinical requirements can be found in the ECU College of Nursing Student Handbook at:

www.ecu.edu/csdhs/nursing/customcf/downloads/handbooks/grad_handbook.pdf Upon admission all graduate students are required to complete a

criminal background check. Students will receive specific instructions from the Office of Student Services on how to complete this process.

Curriculum Plan for MSN core courses/ 24 credit hours (Consider taking up to 9 credit hours as a non-degree

graduate nursing student prior to acceptance)

Fall Semesters 1

year and

NURS 6080

Theory for the Practice of Advanced Nursing

Fall

NURS 6081

Research for the Practice of Advanced Nursing

Fall

NURS 6082

Influencing Healthcare, Quality, Safety, & Policy

Fall

Spring Semester 1

year

NURS 6083

Healthcare Finance & Economics

Spring

NURS 6011

Clinical Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nursing

Spring

NURS 6050

Human Physiology & Pathophysiology for Advanced

Practice Nursing

Spring

Summer Semester/ (SS) 1

year

NURS 6610 Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing

Summer Session

NURS 6208 Concepts of Health Promotion & Disease Prevention 3 **

** Semester to be determined and can be alternated with Fall, Spring courses. Course is not typically available in Summer

Curriculum Plan for PMHNP Core courses / 23 credit hours

Fall Semester 2

year for MSN students, 1

year for post-masters certificate students

NURS 7501 Neuroscience and Psychopharmacology in Advanced Nursing Practice (prerequisite for clinical courses) 3

NURS 7502 Psych Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Role Development (prerequisite for clinical courses) 1

NURS 7503 Substance Use & Addiction for the Advanced Practice Provider 3

Semester Total 9

Spring Semester

NURS 7520 Diagnosis, Disease Management, and Psychotherapeutic Treatment of Adults in Advanced Nursing Practice 3

NURS 7521 Advanced Nursing Practice Practicum and Supervision with Adults 2

Semester Total 5

Summer Semester

NURS 7510 Psychotherapeutic Interventions and Treatment of Couples, Families and Groups in Advanced Nursing Practice 3

NURS 7511 Advanced Nursing Practice, Practicum and Supervision with Couple, Families and Groups 2

Fall Semester

Semester Total 5

NURS 7530 Diagnosis, Disease Management and Psychotherapeutic Treatment of Children and Adolescents 3

NURS 7531 Advanced Nursing Practice Practicum Supervision in Children and Adolescents 2

NURS 6993 Advanced Nursing Synthesis (this course is taken during the semester of graduation/final semester) 1

Semester Total 6

Clinical courses & practicums are NURS 7520/7521 (Spring), 7530/7531 (Fall), & 7510/7511 (Summer)

Requirements for Graduation

• All graduate students are required to maintain a grade average of “B.”

• All PMHNP core courses require a “B” or better to progress

• Graduation application must be submitted at least one semester prior to completing the degree requirements as stated in the graduate

catalog.

• Students who do not register for courses for a semester must complete an electronic readmission form (available at

www.ecu.edu/gradschool/ and in the Graduate School Office).

• All graduate students complete a comprehensive assessment at the end of their program in NURS 6993.

• MSN student are required to keep graduate program/health requirements and liability insurance requirements up to date throughout their

clinical courses.

The master’s program at East Carolina University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750

Washington, DC 20001. Phone 202.887.6791

The University

The university is the third largest in the University of North Carolina system (UNC), which consists of the state’s sixteen degree-granting public

institutions. ECU is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate,

master’s, and doctoral degrees and is designated as an academic health center by the Association of American Health Centers. Governed by its own

Board of Trustees, which is responsible to the UNC Board of Governors, ECU offers 80 departmental certificates, 93 baccalaureate degree

programs, 76 master’s degree programs, two specialist degree programs, six first professional programs, and 15 doctoral programs in our

professional colleges, the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Dental Medicine, and the Brody School of Medicine. It

confers more than 5,800 degrees annually and it has approximately 160,000 alumni.

For more information, contact ECUNursingGradPrgm[email protected]

East Carolina University is committed to equality of educational opportunity and does not discriminate against applicants, students, or employees based on

race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, creed, sexual orientation, or disability.

An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, which accommodates the needs of individuals with disabilities.

Updated December 2020