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Online Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Programs
Your next great step begins today
Connect with an advisor to discuss career outcomes, curriculum, and get your questions answered.
Prepare to meet the patient care challenges of tomorrow.
Be a force for change in people's lives.
In 2010, the Affordable Care Act gave millions of people access to mental health care they were previously unable to obtain or afford. This contributed to almost 23 million Americans being able to receive the mental health treatment they needed in 2019.* However, this influx of patients stressed the delicate balance between available practitioners and patients — igniting a demand for more mental health professionals.
Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause depression and anxiety related to the ongoing shutdowns and general uncertainty, adding to the growing need for mental health services.
Bradley University is preparing highly skilled psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners to meet this growing demand and provide the best possible level of mental health care. Explore our PMHNP curriculum.
With our online nursing degrees, you can:
Learn 100% online with no campus residency requirements
Prepare for the ANCC certification exams
Benefit from multiple entry options*
* Master of Science in Nursing (RNs with an ADN, diploma, non-nursing bachelor’s, or BSN degree)
Doctor of Nursing Practice (BSN entry)
Post-Master’s Certificate (MSN entry)
Higher Learning Commission
The master’s degree program in Nursing, Post-Graduate APRN Certificate program, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Bradley University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Which path is right for you?
Depending on your education level, Bradley offers four online options to earn a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner degree:
RN to MSN PMHNP
If you are a RN with an ADN, nursing diploma, or non-nursing bachelor’s degree, we offer bridge courses that can start you on the path toward an MSN-PMHNP.
- 60 Credit Hours*
- 3.3 Years
- 10 Semesters
- 650 Clinical Hours
*Includes 9 undergraduate hours from RN completion courses
BSN to MSN PMHNP
If you already have your BSN, you may be eligible to start working toward your MSN-PMHNP right away. No bridge courses are required for this entry path.
- 51 Credit Hours
- 2.7 Years
- 8 Semesters
- 600 Clinical Hours
BSN to DNP PMHNP
This option is for BSN-credentialed nurses looking to earn a doctorate with a focus in psychiatric mental health.
- 74 Credit Hours
- 3.7 Years
- 11 Semesters
- 1,000 Clinical Hours
MSN to PMC PMHNP
This option is for MSN-credentialed nurses looking to earn a post-master's certificate in psychiatric mental health.
- 36 Credit Hours
- 2 Years
- 6 Semesters
- 600 Clinical Hours
Why earn an online psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner degree?
As of 2019, more than 50 million people in the United States were living with mental illness.* A recent report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration predicts that the mental health field will be short 250,000 mental health professionals by 2025. As a result, psychiatry-mental health is one of the fastest growing, non-physician specialties in the health care field.**
At Bradley University, we prepare you to:
- Deliver psychiatric mental health advanced practice nursing to all ages in various mental health settings
- Assess, diagnose, treat, and evaluate mental illness such as depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and substance use disorders
- Take the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Across the Lifespan) Certification exam
Online Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Program Curriculum
Online BSN to MSN-PMHNP Curriculum
For students with an ADN, nursing diploma, or non-nursing bachelor’s degree.
Bridge Courses
NUR 300
Conceptual Basis for Professional Nursing Practices
3 Credits
NUR 303
Research in Nursing
3 Credits
NUR 404
Community Health Nursing - Theory
3 Credits
NUR 407
Community Health Practicum RN-MSN*
1 Credit
Core Courses
BIO 526
Advanced Pathophysiology
3 Credits
ENC 510
Statistical Procedures
3 Credits
NUR 501
Nursing Theories: Analysis and Development
3 Credits
NUR 526
Evidence Based Practice
3 Credits
NUR 600
Advanced Health Assessment
3 Credits
NUR 615
Health Informatics
3 Credits
NUR 640
Healthcare Policy
3 Credits
NUR 651
Advanced Pharmacology I
3 Credits
NUR 655
Diagnostic Reasoning
3 Credits
Specialty Courses (600 clinical hours)
NUR 680
PNP Roles
3 Credits
NUR 682
Psychopharmacology and Neurophysiology for the PNP
3 Credits
NUR 684
Advanced Psychiatric Interviewing and Differential Diagnosis
3 Credits
NUR 685
PNP Continuum of Care Across the Lifespan and Practicum I
6 Credits
NUR 686
PNP Continuum of Care Across the Lifespan and Practicum II
6 Credits
NUR 687
PNP Specialty Practicum Focus III
4 Credits
NUR 688
Professional Aspects of the PNP
2 Credits
Online BSN to MSN-PMHNP Curriculum
For RNs with a BSN.
Core Courses
BIO 526
Advanced Pathophysiology
3 Credits
ENC 510
Statistical Procedures
3 Credits
NUR 501
Nursing Theories: Analysis and Development
3 Credits
NUR 526
Evidence Based Practice
3 Credits
NUR 600
Advanced Health Assessment
3 Credits
NUR 615
Health Informatics
3 Credits
NUR 640
Healthcare Policy
3 Credits
NUR 651
Advanced Pharmacology I
3 Credits
Specialty Courses (600 clinical hours)
NUR 680
PNP Roles
3 Credits
NUR 682
Psychopharmacology and Neurophysiology for the PNP
3 Credits
NUR 684
Advanced Psychiatric Interviewing and Differential Diagnosis
3 Credits
NUR 685
PNP Continuum of Care Across the Lifespan and Practicum I
6 Credits
NUR 686
PNP Continuum of Care Across the Lifespan and Practicum II
6 Credits
NUR 687
PNP Specialty Practicum Focus III
4 Credits
Online BSN to DNP-PMHNP Curriculum
For RNs with a BSN.
Core Courses
BIO 526
Advanced Pathophysiology
3 Credits
ECO 605
Health Care Economics & Finance
3 Credits
NUR 600
Advanced Health Assessment
3 Credits
NUR 651
Advanced Pharmacology I
3 Credits
NUR 700
Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Science
3 Credits
NUR 703
Health Promotion in Populations
3 Credits
NUR 705
Research Design and Statistical Methods
3 Credits
NUR 720
Methods in Evidence Based Practice
3 Credits
NUR 735
Leadership in Advanced Practice Nursing
3 Credits
NUR 740
Healthcare Policy and Ethics in Advanced Practice Nursing
3 Credits
NUR 752
Advanced Health Informatics
3 Credits
Specialty Courses (600 clinical hours)
NUR 680
PNP Roles
3 Credits
NUR 682
Psychopharmacology and Neurophysiology for the PNP
3 Credits
NUR 684
Advanced Psychiatric Interviewing and Differential Diagnosis
3 Credits
NUR 685
PNP Continuum of Care Across the Lifespan and Practicum I
6 Credits
NUR 686
PNP Continuum of Care Across the Lifespan and Practicum II
6 Credits
NUR 687
PNP Specialty Practicum Focus III
4 Credits
NUR 688
Professional Aspects of the PNP
2 Credits
DNP Courses
NUR 840
DNP Clinical Practice
2 Credits
NUR 841
DNP Project I (50 clinical hrs)
3 Credits
NUR 842
DNP Project II (50 clinical hrs)
3 Credits
NUR 843
DNP Project III (125 clinical hrs)
3 Credits
NUR 844
DNP Project IV (75 clinical hrs.)
3 Credits
Online MSN to PMC-PMHNP Curriculum
For RNs with a MSN.
Core Courses
BIO 526
Advanced Pathophysiology
3 Credits
NUR 600
Advanced Health Assessment
3 Credits
NUR 651
Advanced Pharmacology I
3 Credits
Specialty Courses
NUR 680
PNP Roles
3 Credits
NUR 682
Psychopharmacology and Neurophysiology for the PNP
3 Credits
NUR 684
Advanced Psychiatric Interviewing and Differential Diagnosis
3 Credits
NUR 685
PNP Continuum of Care Across the Lifespan and Practicum I
6 Credits
NUR 686
PNP Continuum of Care Across the Lifespan and Practicum II
6 Credits
NUR 687
PNP Specialty Practicum Focus III
4 Credits
NUR 688
Professional Aspects of the PNP
2 Credits
Learn from innovative nursing leaders.
The dedicated faculty members who lead our online psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program are committed to helping you succeed as you take the next step in your nursing career. They bring a broad base of clinical expertise and professional experience into our online classrooms each day and are eager to share their knowledge with you.
For more than 60 years, Bradley University has been setting the standard for excellence in nursing education. Our graduates work as advanced practice nurses and leaders in clinical and non-clinical settings across the country. They’re transforming the way health care is delivered in the 21st century — and so can you.
Make the next step in your nursing career a focused one.
Earn an advanced nursing degree online from Bradley University.