Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Return to: School of Nursing: Programs/Courses

This track prepares nurses for advanced practice in the field of psychiatric-mental health nursing. Major emphases include the neurostructural, neurochemical, cognitive, behavioral, social, and cultural correlates of psychiatric illness in the context of the advanced practice of psychiatric-mental health nursing. Supervised clinical practice is directed toward applying this emerging scientific knowledge to patient care through psychiatric-mental health nursing interventions including prescriptive practice. The faculty works closely with students to develop individualized clinical experiences in appropriate settings. Graduates are prepared to practice in the PMHNP role and are qualified to sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Center PMHNP certification.

Required Courses

19 credits, 560 clinical hours

GNUR 6251 - Biological Basis of Mental Health and Mental Illness Credits: 3
GNUR 6252 - Mental Health Theories and Therapies Credits: 3
GNUR 6253 - Psychiatric-Mental Health Disorders and Diagnoses Credits: 3
GNUR 7251 - PMHNP Practicum I Credits: 5
GNUR 7254 - PMHNP Practicum II Credits: 5

Public Professional Licensure Disclosure

As a member of the State Authorizations Reciprocity Agreement, the University of Virginia (UVA) is authorized to provide curriculum in a distance learning environment to students located in all states in the United States except for California. (34 CFR 668.43(a)(6)& 34 CFR 668.72(n)).

Upon completion of the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate at the UVA School of Nursing, graduates may be eligible for initial professional licensure in another U.S. state by applying to the licensing board or agency in that state.

Please visit the University’s state authorization web pages to make an informed decision regarding which states’ educational requirements for initial licensure are met by this program. (668.43(a)(5) (v)(A) - (C))

Enrolled students who change their current (or mailing) address to a state other than Virginia should update this information immediately in the Student Information System as it may impact their ability to complete internship, practicum, or clinical hours, use Title IV funds, or meet licensure or certification requirements in the new state. (34 CFR 668.402).