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If you’re an active Registered Nurse with an MSN in another specialty, you can grow your skills and opportunities by earning a post-master's certificate as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. This will provide you with expanded competencies and scope of practice to better serve patients of all ages with mental health needs.
Rockhurst University’s Online Post-Master’s PMHNP 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.
*may vary depending on evaluation of your MSN courses
Advanced Practice Nursing Foundations
Incorporate scientific and theoretical concepts from nursing and other relevant disciplines to improve nursing practice in a variety of 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 post-master's PMHNP program. 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 Post-Master's program 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.
Get your guide to find out more about our Post-Master's PMHNP curriculum.
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)
The focus of this course is on the PMHNP's scope of practice, standards of practice, and prescriptive authority. Students will learn about the DSM-5 classification system, psychiatric disorders, and the levels and standards of the PMHNP function, including the PMHNP Standards of Professional Performance. (2 credits)
This course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of psychiatric assessment and psychopathology across the lifespan. Students will learn to conduct a thorough psychiatric evaluation, including the use of standardized assessment tools and the integration of clinical judgment. The course will cover diagnostic criteria and differential diagnosis for common psychiatric disorders across the lifespan, as well as the impact of biological, psychological, cultural, and environmental factors on the development and course of psychopathology. Students will also develop effective communication and collaboration skills with clients and other healthcare providers. (4 credits)
This course is designed to provide advanced knowledge and skills for psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) in the areas of psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, and clinical management of complex psychiatric disorders across the lifespan. Topics covered include advanced interventions for mood and anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, personality disorders, and addiction disorders, as well as advanced psychopharmacology and medication management. The course also focuses on developing skills in cultural competence, ethical decision-making, managing clinical risk, and collaborative treatment planning. (4 credits)
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.
This online PMHNP program can be completed in 4 semesters or more, depending on evaluation of your MSN courses.
The online PMHNP post-master’s certificate program requires 22 credits of coursework and 750 clinical hours to graduate.*
*may vary depending on evaluation of your MSN courses
The online PMHNP post-master’s certificate program costs $734.69 per credit hour plus $1,750.00 per practicum course, for a total program investment of $22,255.04, plus fees.* Financial aid may be available to our online students.
*may vary depending on evaluation of your MSN courses
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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