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Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Master of Science in Nursing

Care for the whole person.

There is a critical shortage of health care providers that specialize in mental health services. Statistics indicate that there is a great need for professionals that are trained in assessing, diagnosing, planning, intervening and treating clients with mental illness. Be a part of the solution by learning to use a variety of psychotherapeutic techniques, medication management and treatment strategies for individuals, families and groups.

At Regis, our mission demands that every individual’s human dignity is respected, the whole person is cared for and the most marginalized of our society are served. As a student in the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program, you'll gain the skills necessary to assess, diagnose, plan, intervene and treat clients with mental illnesses.

Graduates are awarded the Master of Science, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specialization and will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Graduates are able to enroll on the Colorado Advanced Practice Registry maintained by the Colorado Board of Nursing and will be eligible to obtain Prescriptive Authority (RXN) in the state.

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Program Snapshot

Program Format
Multiple modalities are used for course delivery including campus classes and online virtual classrooms.

Credits for Completion
48 credit hours

Tuition for the 23-24 Academic Year
$965 per credit hour

See cost of attendance

View Full Degree Curriculum and Requirements

Sample Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Classes

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NR 671: Psychiatric Assessment and Psychopathology

Explore the use of psychiatric interviewing techniques including tools that guide the development of an accurate diagnosis for successful therapeutic outcomes such as DSM-5 classifications, differential diagnosis and behavioral management.

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NR 672: Psychiatric Mental Health Advanced Practice

A theoretical and clinical course that provides students the opportunity to develop skills in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of individuals across the lifespan who are experiencing acute and chronic psychiatric disorders.

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NR 670: Psychopharmacology for Advanced Practice

Preparation for the clinical applications of the psychotropic drugs used to manage a spectrum of psychiatric disorders across the life span by discussing the efficacy, therapeutic and adverse effects, legal requirements and challenges of medication management.

Clinical Rotations

PMHNP students complete 630 hours of mentored clinical time as part of the program, which serves as a hands-on opportunity to apply theory to authentic learning experiences. Clinical experiences take place over the last three semesters of the program.


Program Length

The Master of Science in Nursing: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner degree is designed to be completed in as few as 2 years (6 semesters) of continuous study. Clinical experiences begin during the fourth semester (second year) of the program.


Accreditation

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science degree in Nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs at Regis University’s Loretto Heights School of Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).


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Become a Part of the Mental Health Solution

There is a critical shortage of health care providers that specialize in mental health services. Staggering statistics indicate that there is a great need for professionals that are trained in assessing, diagnosing, planning, intervening and treating clients with mental illness.

Help our country diminish tragic statistics such as:

  • 1 in 6 people in the United States has a mental health condition
  • 56 percent of American adults do not receive needed mental health treatment
  • Less than 1/3 of Coloradans receive needed care, especially in rural and frontier counties

How to Apply

To apply directly to the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program, you will need:

  • Completed online application through NursingCAS
  • Official degree-bearing transcript(s) from a regionally accredited college or university
  • Three professional letters of recommendation (one from a current employer or supervisor)
  • Resume
  • Essay
  • Virtual Interview for Invited Candidates

Eligibility:

  • Nursing bachelor's degree from an NLN or AACN-CCNE accredited program
  • Minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher, with a grade of "C" or better in all nursing courses
  • Completion of a statistics course with a grade of C or better (must be taken prior to NR 602)
  • Active RN license
  • Current AHA Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
  • Two years of experience in behavioral health or community health as an RN(preferred)

The first step in the application process is to contact an admissions counselor, who can evaluate your prior learning credit, provide information regarding financial aid and tuition assistance and help you through the entire application process.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition for the 2023-2024 academic year: $965 per credit hour
Total program credits: 47 credit hours
Tuition is one part of the overall cost of attendance, which includes all expenses students may have, including basic living costs. For more information about tuition, fees and your estimated cost of attendance, visit our Cost of Attendance for Adult Undergraduates and Graduate Students page. Tuition and fees are subject to change.

Additional fees may include background check and drug screen costs, application fees and clinical fees, among others.

Regis offers a variety of scholarships, grants and other programs to help you pay for school. Visit Financial Aid for more information.

Important Dates

The PMHNP program begins once a year in May.

Application opens: Sept. 1

Application deadline: Feb. 1

Virtual interview day: Mid- to late-January

All applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the application deadline.

A Culture of Excellence

The Master of Science in Nursing: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner is offered by the historic Loretto Heights School of Nursing within the Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions.