Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Program Description

The Psychiatric Mental Health (PMH) Nurse Practitioner Program provides qualified students the opportunity to acquire an in-depth theoretical understanding of advanced psychiatric nursing practice. The PMH program first established in 1965 transitioned to an NP program in 1994. Today, graduates of the program are practicing in extremely varied and diverse settings such as community mental health centers, day treatment programs, substance abuse programs, shelters for women and children, liaison settings, and private practice.

Students are encouraged to select clinical specialization with children, adolescents, adults, or elderly patients and families. Theory and supervised clinical experience form the foundation for practice as a primary therapist for individuals, groups, and families suffering from psychiatric illness. The program draws on psychodynamic, developmental, biological, and family systems models. Attention is given to issues of ethnicity, gender, and culture.

Graduates are eligible to take the certifying exam offered by the American Nurses Association and are eligible for licensure in New York State as Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners.

The Program Director for the Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specialty is Penelope Buschman, MS, RN, PMHCNS-BC, FAAN.

The instructors for this program are:
Dr. Joan Kearney
Dr. Mellen Lovrin
Professor Jennifer Highley
Professor Karen Fleming-Sherman
Dr. Mary Cullen-Drill

Clinical Sites

Clinical sites are available in the tri-state area and beyond and are arranged with students according to their learning needs.

Admission

Please contact the Office of Admissions for details regarding admission and financial aid packages.

Admission criteria include:

Current New York State nursing license or eligibility
Minimum of one year experience in relevant area preferred
Satisfactory score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
An undergraduate course in statistics
A physical assessment course
Three references attesting to applicant's academic ability and potential
Personal goal statement that is congruent with program goals (two pages, double-spaced, 12 pt. font)
Resume or Curriculum Vitae
Bachelor's degree in nursing from an NLN or CCNE accredited program or a non-nursing bachelor's degree

*RN's with a non-nursing baccalaureate degree are required to complete 5 credits in community health in addition to the course requirement listed. The courses that fulfill the community health requirement are N6703, The Science of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in the Community (3 didactic credits) and N5292, Nursing Practice in the Community (2 clinical credits).

Curriculum

For Applicants Who Hold an Undergraduate Degree in Nursing
A sample program plan is provided below to make you aware of the academic requirements of the program. Please be advised that this program plan is a sample, and individual plans of study are reviewed and approved upon acceptance to the program. Progression in the program is contingent upon meeting academic policies. The School of Nursing reserves the right to change the course offering schedule as stated in the student bulletin.

Sample Program Plan

Course Number	Course Name	Credits	Type
Summer I: 12 Credits
N6100	Advanced Physiology	3	Core
N6680	Introduction to Addictive Behaviors: Theories of Causation	3	Specialty
N6826	Evaluation and Application of Research	3	Core
N8786	Advanced Clinical Assessment Across the Lifespan	3	Core
Fall I: 12 Credits
N6511	Behavioral Development Across the Life Span: A Risk/Vulnerability Perspective	3	Specialty
N6920	Health and Social Policy: The Context for Practice and Research	3	Core
N8102	Advanced Pharmacology	3	Core
N8792	Advanced Health Assessment in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing I	2	Specialty
N8793	Advanced Health Assessment in Psychiatric-Mental Health in Nursing II: Clinical Practicum	1	Specialty
Spring I: 9 Credits
N6121	Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan	3	Core
N6594	Psychopathology	2	Specialty
N8560	Family Theory in Context	2	Specialty
N8590	Theory and Practice of Individual Psychotherapy I	2	Specialty
Summer II: 5 - 11 Credits
N6681	Contemporary Issues and Trends in Addiction	3	Optional Specialty
N6682	Clinical Management of the Patient with Addiction: Evaluation and Treatment	1-3	Optional Specialty
N6940	Management and Advanced Practice Nursing	1	Core
N8571	Seminar on Family Therapy and Technique	2	Specialty
N8591	Theory and Practice of Individual Psychotherapy II	2	Specialty
Fall II: 6 Credits
N8562	Practice of Family Therapy	2	Specialty
N8588	Theory of Group Psychotherapy	2	Specialty
N8592	Clinical Practice and Supervision with Groups	2	Specialty
Spring II: 7 Credits
N8290	Incorporating Genetics into Advanced Nursing Practice	3	Core
N8594	Advanced Practice in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing I	4	Specialty
Summer III: 5 Credits
N8113	Psychopharmacology in Psychiatric and Mental Health	1	Specialty
N8595	Advanced Practice in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing II	4	Specialty
Total Credits		56 - 61

This page was last updated on 03/29/2012 and is subject to change at any time.

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