Degree Title and Name:  Master of Science in Nursing

Program Name and Number:  MSN Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Track – MS1238 (Online) & MS1237 (Hybrid)

Department/Unit:  School of Nursing

Delivery Mode:  Online, Hybrid

Term(s) of Entry:  Summer

Program Overview:  The Ohio University School of Nursing promotes excellence in the profession of nursing through education, scholarship, and service. The School provides quality educational experiences, utilizes clinical partnerships, and facilitates regional collaboration that will enhance the health of diverse communities.

The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program consists of both didactic and practice-based or clinical performance courses. The didactic courses present the nursing knowledge, theoretical concepts, models, and research that inform patient care and evidence-based practice. The practice-based courses provide opportunities for students to apply knowledge; practice skills, plan, implement and evaluate interventions and programs; and learn the full scope of the role for which they are preparing.

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) track option prepares students to be eligible for certification as a PMHNP. The PMHNP provides advanced psychiatric skills needed to offer therapy, prescribe psychiatric medications and clinical management to under-served patients with mental illness and chronic medical co-morbidities. As a graduate, a student is eligible to take the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner examination for the Psychiatric-Mental Health NP (Across the Lifespan) national certification.

Clinical practicum experiences occur in mental-health care settings under the supervision of qualified preceptors for a minimum of 500 direct care hours. Students taking the typical 2 courses per semester course load can complete the programs in 6 semesters.

Program Learning Outcomes: Students will be able to:

• Synthesize knowledge derived from a scientific foundation and evidence-based practice to demonstrate expertise in advanced nursing practice.
• Analyze health care policies to enhance and improve population health outcomes across diverse clinical practice settings.
• Demonstrate leadership and inter-professional collaboration for improving clinical prevention and health outcomes.
• Synthesize and apply quality improvement strategies to promote positive health outcomes.
• Demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and confidence for entry-level advanced nursing practice.
• Integrate knowledge and skills related to healthcare informatics in the advanced nursing

Opportunities for Graduates:  Graduates work in outpatient mental health clinics, psychiatric emergency services, private practice, and hospitals. They also provide primary mental health care that involves continuous and comprehensive services necessary to improve mental health, prevention and treatment of psychiatric disorders and health maintenance.  The PMHNP diagnoses, conducts therapy, and prescribes medications for patients who have mental health disorders. They may also serve as consultants or as educators.

Link to Program: https://www.ohio.edu/chsp/nursing/graduate/masters

Link to Program Handbook: https://www.ohio.edu/chsp/nrse/knowledge-center/graduate/support-help/forms-resources.cfm

Graduation Requirements:

• A minimum of 37 semester hours
• Thesis requirement: No
• Qualifying exam: Yes
• Comprehensive exam: Yes
• Expected time to degree completion for a full time student is six semesters.

Required (core) Courses (15 hrs)

• NRSE 6210 - Advanced Pathophysiology (3)
• NRSE 6021 - Assessment and Intervention in Family Care (3)
• NRSE 6805 - Analyzing EBP for the APN (3)
• NRSE 6221 - Health Appraisal for NPs (3)
• NRSE 6230 - Advanced Pharmacology (3)

PMHNP Track: (22 hrs)

• NRSE 6411 - Neurobiological and Theoretical Bases for Psychiatric Mental Health in Advanced Nursing Practice (3)
• NRSE 6412 - Psychotherapeutic Treatment Modalities for Advanced Nursing Practice (3)
• NRSE 6413 - Assessment & Management of Mental Health Disorders for Advanced Nursing Practice I (3)
• NRSE 6823 - Psychiatric Mental Health Practicum for Advanced Nursing Practice I (2)
• NRSE 6414 - Assessment and Management of Mental Health Disorders for Advanced Nursing Practice II (3)
• NRSE 6824 - Psychiatric Mental Health Practicum for Advanced Nursing Practice II (3)
• NRSE 6825 - Psychiatric Mental Health Practicum for Advanced Nursing Practice III (3)
• NRSE 6933 - Capstone Experience for Nurse Practitioners (2)

 

Culminating Experience:  The culminating experience for the major includes:

• Capstone Simulation
• Portfolio Evaluation

Admission Requirements:  In addition to the standard Graduate College admission requirements, potential MSN students must also supply/document the following:

• Specified health status requirements (immunization status, TB screening, etc. as delineated in the current MSN Student Handbook)
• Awarded Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from regionally accredited institution.
• FBI/BCI background checks free from disqualifying offenses under Senate Bills 38 and 160 (A list of these offenses may be found in the current MSN Student Handbook).
• Minimum grade point average of 3.0 for unconditional admission
• Statement of professional goals
• Resume or CV
• Three letters of recommendation from individuals who are knowledgeable about the applicant’s ability to complete graduate-level coursework and practice abilities. A minimum of 2 of these must be from individuals prepared at or above the Master’s level. One must be from an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse or Registered Nurse.
• Evidence of the equivalent of two years full-time experience working as an RN within the past five years.
• Residents of and evidence of valid, unencumbered RN licensure in one of the following states: California, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, or West Virginia.
• An admission interview with faculty, held online through communications programs like Adobe Connect.

International Students:  This certificate program does not permit full-time enrollment in residence at Ohio University, and an I-20 cannot be issued based on admission to this program.