Master of Science in Nursing

MSN Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner – MS1238

School of Nursing
Athens Campus (Main Office)
Grover Center E365
Ohio University
Athens, Ohio 45701
740-593-4494
800-560-0144 (toll free)
graduatenursing@ohio.edu

Delivery Mode:  Online

Terms of Entry:  Fall, Spring

Terms of Entry Requiring Program Permission: None

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 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 750 direct care hours. Courses are taught in a primarily online format with opportunities for synchronous web-based interactions with faculty and peers as well as brief on-campus intensives that focus on skills and advanced practice. Students taking the typical 2 courses per semester course load can complete the programs in 6 semesters.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

1. Synthesizes knowledge from nursing and other disciplines as a basis for clinical judgment, clinical reasoning, and innovative evidence-based education and practice.
2. Incorporates evidence-based practice in the delivery of person-centered care to enhance health outcomes and improve health systems.
3. Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to select and apply principles of population health and advocacy strategies that optimize health outcomes for individuals, families, communities, and populations.
4. Integrate and evaluate evidence-based practice to inform and promote advanced clinical practice.
5. Analyze and apply quality improvement strategies to create a culture of safe, professional nursing practice that optimizes health and protects all.
6. Apply leadership skills as a member of the interprofessional team to optimize the health of individuals, families, and populations within complex healthcare environments.
7. Apply evidence-based, innovative strategies based on organizational and systems policies to enhance value, access, quality, and cost-effectiveness within complex healthcare delivery systems.
8. Integrate information technology systems to drive decision making, healthcare change and interdisciplinary communication in complex healthcare delivery systems.
9. Integrate the role of the advanced practice nurse utilizing effective professional communication and presence to promote person-centered care.
10. Contribute to an environment that promotes self-care, personal health, well-being and professional development in a culture of accountability and collaboration.

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.

Further Information

Link to Program: https://www.ohio.edu/chsp/nursing/graduate/masters/msn-psychiatric-mental-health-nurse-practitioner

Admission Requirements

• Awarded Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from a regionally accredited institution with minimum grade point average of 3.0.
• 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.
• Residents of and evidence of valid, unencumbered RN licensure in an approved state (https://www.ohio.edu/chsp/nursing/graduate/masters/msn-application-process)
• A web-based admission interview with faculty
• Evidence of the equivalent of the two years of full-time relevant experience working as an RN within the past five years

Pre-Clinical Requirements

• Specified health status/clinical requirements (i.e., immunization status, BLS certification) per the current Graduate Handbook
• Federal and state background checks free from disqualifying offenses
• Evidence of malpractice insurance

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.

Graduation Requirements

Complete the courses below which total 40 credit hours and include 750 practicum hours: