MSN PMHNP Program
Start HereMSN PMHNP Program Overview
The Master of Science in Nursing Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (MSN PMHNP) Program is designed for learners who already hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing and prepares graduates to become Advanced Practice Registered Nurses with specific emphasis on the role of the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. The MSN PMHNP content is grounded in the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials of Master’s Education in Nursing and evidence based on national standards and research related to current practice, education, legislative, and research trends in healthcare and local needs along with various guiding principles, documents, and regulations set forth by the:
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Standards of Master’s Education (2011)
- Criteria for the Evaluation of Nurse Practitioner Programs (5th ed.). A Report of the National Task Force (NTF) on Quality Nurse Practitioner Education (2016)
- The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties Nurse Practitioner Core Competencies (NONPF, 2017)
- Population-Focused Nurse Practitioner Competencies (2013)
- Quality and Safety in Nursing Education (QSEN) Competencies: Graduate KSA’s (2012)
The MSN PMHNP program is only offered in the following states:
Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Ohio,
South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Program Features
- Graduate in just 24 months
- Program consists of online instruction, one in-person seminar, and preceptorship experiences
- CCNE Accredited MSN
Mission at Work: Gideon Esuzor
Driven by the ability to use his training, education, and experiences to better serve his community, Nightingale Education Group Board Member Gideon Esuzor always knew he wanted to be a nurse. Originally from Nigeria, Gideon joined the Air Force to give back to the United States, a country that had given him so much. After the military, Gideon began a career in public health and obtained his doctorate to become a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. His story will inspire you!
MSN PMHNP Program Focus
The curriculum is designed to prepare nurses who complete the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track for the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse role by expanding their nursing body of knowledge and skills in a role and specified population foci. Learners in the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track will develop advanced knowledge and skills in assessment (including differential diagnosing), intervention (including prescribing), and management within the construct of the psychiatric-mental health patient-provider relationship and patient-centered care across the lifespan. The learner will be prepared to function as an effective member of the interdisciplinary healthcare team and to provide consultation, collaborative management, and/or referral.
The curriculum will prepare the learner to be eligible to become certified in their population foci. The curriculum addresses advanced practice psychiatric-mental health scope of practice concepts in the Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse course, and concepts are reinforced throughout the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specialty courses and applied in all practicum learning experiences. The graduate core courses will provide foundational knowledge and skills for the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse role. These courses also include Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan; Advanced Pharmacology Across the Lifespan; and Advanced Assessment Across the Lifespan. Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner learners will be expected to demonstrate skills in psychiatric-mental health differential diagnosis and disease management.
Learners will be prepared to be granted prescriptive authority, if applicable, in their state of licensure. The curriculum meets certification eligibility requirements for the ANCC Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner examination. After the achievement of the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse certification, graduates will be able to apply for an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse license.
A total of fifty-five (55) semester credits consisting of different combinations of courses: core, direct care core, specialty, and clinical are required for the conferral of the MSN degree. Thirty-seven (37) credit hours will be dedicated to didactic theory learning and eighteen (18) credit hours will be dedicated to clinical learning experiences. Learners can complete the MSN PMHNP program in six (6) academic semesters or ninety-six (96) academic weeks of instruction.
Application Deadline
All Master's program applications must be submitted by July 20th, 2025.
The next start for all Master's programs is Sept 2nd, 2025.
Start your application today by clicking the button then selecting your desired program. Applications are broken up by program and alumni status.
Tuition and Fees
Tuition for the MSN PMHNP Program is $540 per semester credit.
Tuition does not include the non-refundable application fee or any course resources fees. The College reserves the right to change its tuition and fees at any time, with a 30-day notice.
View the MSN PMHNP academic year (2 semesters) cost of attendance (COA):
Financial Estimate
When getting your financial estimate, you will see the total cost of attending Nightingale College, as well as the calculation of your housing and food consumption. That is not an amount you will pay to the college; it is an estimate of total cost of living while attending college.
Program Accreditation
The Master of Science in Nursing Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (MSN PMHNP) Program at Nightingale College is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
If you want to find out more about Nightingale’s Programs Accreditation, check Accreditation and Affiliation.
Consumer Disclosures