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Next Start: September 3, 2024
Expand your skills and career opportunities as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with Rockhurst University’s Online MSN-PMHNP program. As a PMHNP, you’ll enjoy greater flexibility, personal fulfillment, a higher salary and increased opportunities to pursue a more traditional work schedule, all while providing invaluable service to those with mental health needs.
This online PMHNP program is designed for RNs with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) who are interested in becoming practitioners in the mental health field.
Rockhurst University’s CCNE-accredited online psych NP program provides:
Guided by Jesuit values, Rockhurst University prepares advanced practice nurses to care for the needs of the whole person through rigorous academics, rich and varied clinical experiences, and a spirit of inquiry and reflection.
Advanced Practice Nursing Foundations
Incorporate scientific and theoretical concepts from nursing and other relevant disciplines to improve nursing practice in various settings
Evidence-Informed Quality Improvement
Adopt a lifelong learning approach to care that draws upon research and data to ensure safety and quality for patients and organizations
Leadership, Systems, and Policy
Serve as an effective and collaborative nurse leader from organizational, systems, and policy perspectives
Students from Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia are welcome to apply to the online PMHNP program. Please see our State Authorization page for more detailed information. Please see our State Authorization page for more detailed information.
Saint Luke’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences is approved by the State of Missouri to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). As a participating institution, Saint Luke’s College may offer online programs to students in other SARA member states without seeking authorization in that state.
Rockhurst University and Saint Luke’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The online Master of Science in Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)*.
*The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs at Rockhurst University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
Learn why Lori Walters, MSN, was motivated to help others and pay forward the compassionate care of nurses in her life. A graduate of two MSN programs with dual certifications as an AGACNP and FNP, she chose Rockhurst University to enrich her nursing career and become a nurse practitioner.
This introductory course examines the role of advanced practice nurses as influenced by social, cultural, political, and economic forces. Issues present in the changing health care environment are examined for quality and patient safety initiatives to improve patient outcomes. The ethical dimensions and legal parameters for advanced nursing practice are investigated. (3 credits)
In the Advanced Health Care Research course, students explore the relationship between research, theory, and practice. Students examine qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. Students synthesize research findings to develop a research project. (3 credits)
This program introduces advanced concepts in neuroscience, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and clinical management of specific psychiatric symptoms in relation to the psychopharmacologic management of diverse psychiatric disorders throughout the lifespan. The course reflects current evidence-based practice knowledge of psychopharmacology and how it might be applied to clinical difficulties encountered in various settings. This course expands on the diagnostic and neuroscience content to assist advanced practitioners with clinical management of psychotropic drugs. Pre/corequisite: NUA 5650, 5750, 5950, 5700and 5720. (4 credits)
In the Advanced Pharmacology course, general and advanced principles of pharmacology, including selected pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, are addressed. Students investigate alternative and complementary therapeutics. Students apply knowledge of pharmaceutical principles to select the most appropriate medication using evidence-based medicine. (3 credits)
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners work with patients across the lifespan with mental health disorders or substance abuse problems. They provide mental health assessment, diagnosis, and treatment; psychotherapy for individuals and groups; psychotropic medication prescription/management; and advocacy for patients, populations and families. PMHNPs focus on delivering holistic mental health care and facilitating strong therapeutic relationships with patients experiencing acute and chronic mental/psychiatric disorders.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, nurse practitioners have a 52% projected job growth by 2030, making nurse practitioners one of the fastest-growing occupations within the decade.
Earning an MSN-PMHNP degree is an effective way to increase your earning potential as a nurse. While salary can depend on the state, the average salary for a Nurse Practitioner in the U.S. is roughly $137,000 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2021). Graduates of Rockhurst’s Online MSN-PMHNP program may see a quick return on investment in either option of a full-time or part-time education as the demand for PMHNPs continues to grow.
The online psych NP program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Rockhurst University and Saint Luke’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
You will learn from active clinicians who bring real-world experience into the online classroom. As trusted Rockhurst faculty members, they are committed to your success as an advanced practice nurse.
Yes. Clinical placement services are built into the cost of the program. A dedicated Rockhurst placement coordinator will identify an appropriate site and preceptor within a reasonable driving distance from where you live.
The online psych NP program is offered on a full-time and part-time basis. The full-time track takes 6 semesters to complete, while the part-time track takes 8 semesters.
The online psych NP program requires 49 credits of coursework and 750 clinical hours to graduate.
The online PMHNP program costs $734.69 per credit hour plus $1,750.00 per practicum course, for a total program investment of $42,091.67, plus fees (78.30/credit hour). Financial aid may be available to our online students.
Online PMHNP students will attend one clinical immersion on the Rockhurst campus in Kansas City, Missouri, for three days of clinical instruction in the new, state-of-the-art simulation lab and renovated nursing facilities. They will also engage in one virtual immersion to further hone their skills. In these immersive clinical experiences, students will receive hands-on skills training, complete high- and low-fidelity simulation and demonstrate competencies through objective structured clinical examination (OSCE).
Following the campus immersion, students will return home and continue their online coursework. Additionally, they will complete the rest of their clinical hours at a predetermined site under the direct supervision of a licensed preceptor and the indirect supervision of a Rockhurst clinical faculty supervisor.
92% First-time certification exam
pass rates that exceed national average
100% online coursework
plus campus immersion(s)
52% Projected NP job growth by 2030
Source: BLS
A dedicated enrollment adviser can answer your questions and guide you through the application process. Click the link below to fill out a form and start the conversation.
Your adviser can help with:
To proceed with either the BSN to MSN FNP or the BSN to DNP FNP, you are required to have a bachelor’s degree and hold your RN license.
If you don’t meet these requirements but would still like further information, please contact us.
To proceed with the EdD in Educational Leadership and Organizational Leadership, you are required to have a master’s degree.
If you don’t meet this requirement but would still like further information, please contact us.
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