DNP-PMHNP Concentration Courses

The DNP Post-Baccalaureate Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) role concentration prepares clinical experts in the delivery of care to the psychiatric-mental health population.  They work with individuals, families, groups, and communities, assessing, diagnosing and treating individuals and families with psychiatric disorders or the potential for such disorders using their full scope of therapeutic skills.

In addition to the DNP core courses, the PMHNP students take:

PMHNP Courses

Course Descriptions

• N614 Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning- 3 credits
  Content focus is on acquiring the knowledge and skills needed to perform comprehensive health assessments and develop enhanced capacity for clinical reasoning and laboratory test interpretation.  
• N615 Advanced Pathophysiology- 3 credits
  This course presents the conceptual basis and specific knowledge of pathophysiology and disease recognition for children and adults as observed in the primary care setting.
• N619 Advanced Pharmacology- 3 credits
  This course provides an in-depth look at the principles of pharmacology for classes of drugs commonly used in various health care practices. The most pertinent drug classes for nursing practice are included in this course.
• N703 Pharmacotherapy Management- 3 credits
  Integration of principles of pharmacology and therapeutic patient care management to construct, implement and evaluate optimal pharmacotherapeutic regimens for patients in various healthcare settings. This course includes an assignment with a local pharmacist.
• N643 Assessment and Diagnosis of Psychiatric and Mental Health Disorders – 3 cr. This course provides an introduction to the diagnostic processes in mental health/mental disorders using DSM 5 diagnostic criteria, ICD coding, and other mental assessment tools while considering family, community, and cultural influences.
• N580 Integrative Therapies in Health Care
  In this course students will examine integrative health therapies including the cultural contexts of health and health care, telehealth, dynamics of systems and individual change, and evidence-based analysis of therapeutic effectiveness.
• N707 Neuropsychopharmacology- 3 credits
  In this course students examine the pharmacological treatment of psychiatric mental health disorders and is structured to develop the student with a logical approach and treatment strategy to use when prescribing.
• N612 Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing with Children and Adolescents- 3 credits
  Content in the psychopathology, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders affecting children and adolescents are presented.
• N698CA Practicum: Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing with Children and Adolescents- 3 credits
  This course will consist of a supervised clinical practicum experience in a community-based health care agency providing advanced practice psychiatric mental health nursing care to children, adolescents, and their families, 225 clinical practicum hours.
• N622 Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing with Adults and Older Adults- 3 credits
  This course prepares psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) students to achieve competencies in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders common in adult and older adults. Content focuses on etiology and symptomatology of disorders, including common physical disorders that may be present with psychiatric symptoms. The course fosters the development of skills in assessment, problem identification and decision-making with adults and older adults.
• N698AD Practicum: Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing with Adults and Older Adults- 3 credits
  This course will consist of a supervised clinical practicum in a community- based health agency or facility providing advanced practice psychiatric mental health care to adults and older adults, 225 clinical practicum hours.
• N721 Advanced Psychotherapy Modalities with Individuals, Groups and Families- 2 credits
  This course provides continued student preparation in the development of advanced skills to deliver individual, group and family psychosocial therapeutics using evidence based psychosocial treatment models across the lifespan.
• N798GF Practicum: Advanced Psychotherapy Modalities with Individuals, Groups and Families- 2 credits
  This course consists of a supervised clinical practicum experience in a community-based inpatient or outpatient mental health care agency providing psychotherapeutic mental health care to individuals, groups, and families, 150 clinical practicum hours.
• N722 Psychiatric Mental Health- Complex Health Problems- 3 credits
  A refinement of advanced knowledge and skills required to deliver psychiatric mental health care to culturally diverse individuals of all ages with complex mental health and psychiatric issues.
• N798X Practicum: Psychiatric Mental Health- Complex Health Problems- 2 credits
  This course will consist of supervised clinical practicum experiences in a health care agency/facility providing psychiatric mental health care to individuals, 150 clinical practicum hours.
• N898D PMHNP Practicum: Final Direct Care residency- 2 credits
  This final practicum affords students the opportunity to complete clinical hours as needed and to learn about the professional role of the PMHNP specialty, 112 clinical practicum hours.