Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNP) are strategically capable of providing comprehensive, integrated mental health and social care services in community based, rural, and urban health care settings. The PMHNP major focuses on developing the knowledge and skills necessary to deliver psychiatric mental health advanced practice nursing to people of all ages — especially to those in rural and underserved areas. On-campus intensives, telehealth techniques and state-of-the-art simulation techniques supplement an established program designed to prepare nurse practitioners to become active members of an interprofessional mental health care team engaged in the management of patients across all psychiatric and mental health care settings. Examples of practice settings include emergency departments, inpatient hospitalist and intensive care services, residential mental health care facilities, Department of Defense/Veteran’s Administration facilities, Department of Corrections facilities, private and public psychiatric practice settings and substance abuse treatment facilities.

This major utilizes experienced faculty with clinical backgrounds in various areas of pediatric, adult, veteran and military, outpatient, and inpatient mental health patient care areas. Other benefits include certification in tele-psychiatry upon completion of the major, as well as the option to pursue a certificate in veterans’ health care.

This major is also available as a Post-Graduate Certificate.