MSN, DNP, and PMCPsychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

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.

Click the button below to learn more about our online PMHNP curriculum.

Explore Our Curriculum

 

Have questions about our curriculum?

 

*National Institute of Mental Health

With our online nursing degrees, you can:

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Learn 100% online with no campus residency requirements

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Prepare for the ANCC certification exam

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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

Higher Learning Commission

CCNE

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 (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).

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:

Young woman counsels man

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

Young black male counselor works with patient

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

Happy black female counselor communicating with patient

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

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with Client

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

* National Institute of Mental Health
** Psychiatric Times

Is an online psychiatric mental health nurse
practitioner degree right for you?

Need help deciding if an online degree aligns with your current needs and future goals? We can help.

An online PMHNP program is right for you if:

• You have a passion for patient-centered, holistic, and collaborative approaches to care
• You are interested in psychological communication skills and therapeutic treatments
• You are empathetic with strong communication and relationship-building skills
• You would like to connect with patients on a different level and provide life-altering care

Here are a few other ways to know if an online psychiatric
mental health nurse practitioner degree from
Bradley is the right choice for you:

• You want to collaborate with and learn from other aspiring nurse practitioners
• You want a flexible online learning environment that fits your busy schedule
• You’re eager to learn from a faculty of passionate and experienced clinicians

Online Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Program Curriculum

Online RN 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 2 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

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
NUR 688 Professional Aspects of the PNP 2 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 (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

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.

Smiling female psychiatric care nurse practitioner in a yellow sweater in front of the laptop

Make the next step in your nursing career a focused one.
Earn an advanced nursing degree online from Bradley University.