Academic Programs
Master's and Post Master's Programs
PSYCHIATRIC-MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
PROGRAM OVERVIEW AND OBJECTIVES
The Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing program focuses on the the promotion and maintenance of health and on the prevention, detection and treatment of acute and chronic mental illness, with the goal of helping clients achieve the highest possible level of well-being throughout their lives and addresses various processes required of master clinicians in the delivery of psychiatric-mental health nursing care, now and in the future.
The program prepares students as advanced practitioners in Adult Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing. Through carefully selected and supervised clinical experiences, students are assisted with application to practice and problem solving with a variety of patient settings and populations.
MASTER’S AND POST-MASTER’S NURSE PRACTITIONER PREPARATION
The Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) role is designed to address the increasing complexity and fragmentation that currently defines the delivery of care to persons with acute/or chronic psychiatric illness. PMHNP preparation builds on advanced practice preparation that promotes integration of biological and pharmacological knowledge within a psychiatric-mental health nursing perspective. Pharmacotherapy, diagnostic reasoning and decision-making, individual and/or group and family psychotherapy, advanced assessment, consultation and referral skills as well as preparation for the certification examinations are intrinsic components of this course study. (Master's Courses and Post-Master's Courses)
MASTER’S AND POST-MASTER’S CLINICAL NURSE SPECIALIST PREPARATION
The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is an advanced practice nurse who provides expert nursing care, implements evidence-based interventions and influences the delivery of care wtihin the healthcare system. The course of study prepares a clinical nurse specialist to function autonomously and in collaboration with health care providers as a practitioner, educator, consultant, researcher and manager. Emphasis is placed on strategies relevant to the implementation of the CNS role, including evaluation and quality monitoring of nursing practice for selected patient populations, the establishment of collaborative and collegial relationships with health team members, and promotion of change within the health care delivery system. CNS preparation builds on advanced practice preparation that promotes integration of biological and pharmacological knowledge within a psychiatric-mental health nursing perspective. Pharmacotherapy, diagnostic reasoning and decision-making, individual and/or group and family psychotherapy, advanced assessment, consultation and referral skills as well as preparation for the certification examinations are intrinsic components of this course study. (Master's Courses and Post-Master's Courses)
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Graduation requirements for the Master of Science degree include the following:
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A minimum of 41 credit hours for CNSs, 42 credit hours for PMHNPs
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A “B” average in all course work, including nursing courses
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A synthesis project or research project in a selected area of gerontological nursing culminating in a satisfactory report
Effective for those starting in Fall 2007, students in a terminal master's program must complete all work within five years from the date of first enrollment in the program.
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Program Requirements (Master's Level)
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Program Requirements (Post-Master's Level)
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