September 2020 Graduate Catalog 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
September 2020 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Master of Science in Nursing with a Concentration in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner


Herzing University is approved to offer programs in an online learning modality through association with the main campus in Madison, Wisconsin. ​

Program Description 

This online graduate degree in nursing will provide students with the academic knowledge, skills, and expertise to apply for certification as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Graduates will be prepared to have integrated praxis philosophy throughout multiple courses. Courses consist of core MSN courses, specialty concentration courses, and clinical courses. This program is for licensed registered nurses (current, unrestricted license) who have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and are interested in advancing their careers to become certified as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

Prior to enrollment, individuals considering the Master of Science in Nursing program, particularly the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) concentration, should be aware of their state requirements regarding required clinical courses and eligibility to apply for licensure. 

Core MSN Program Outcomes

Upon completion of their program, the student should be able to:

1. Integrate scientific evidence from nursing and biopsychosocial disciplines, genetics, public health, quality improvement, and organizational sciences when designing and implementing outcome measures in diverse settings and through the lifespan.

2. Demonstrate leadership skills that emphasize ethical and critical decision-making, fiscal responsibility, inter-professional relationships that promote safe, quality care within a systems framework.

3. Apply methods, tools, performance measures, and evidence-based standards when evaluating quality indicators within an organizational system.

4. Synthesize theories, models and research findings inherent to nursing practice, education and management to guide an organization or healthcare system towards achieving successful outcomes.

5. Apply client/patient care technologies and informatics to coordinate and ensure safe quality care and promote effective communication among members of the inter-professional healthcare team.

6. Analyze ethical, legal and sociocultural factors to influence policy development and healthcare delivery systems that promote the health of individuals and populations.

7. Articulate a leadership role within inter-professional teams through effective communication, collaboration and consultation with other professionals to manage, coordinate care and provide safe, quality family-centered and population-based care.

8. Incorporate organizational and culturally sensitive client and population centered concepts in the planning, delivery, management, and evaluation of direct and indirect evidence-based health promotion care and services to specified individuals, families and populations.

9. Implement scholarly activities in selected individuals, populations, and systems.

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program Outcomes 

Students are expected to meet all the core MSN program outcomes as well as the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program outcomes. Upon completion of their program, the student should be able to:

1. Demonstrate critical thinking and holistic caring as an advanced practice nurse.

2. Analyze scientific literature for application to selected diagnoses and treatment plans.

3. Synthesize ethical principles into the management and evaluation of healthcare delivery concerns in culturally diverse care settings.

4. Articulate a personal philosophy and framework acknowledging professional and accrediting agency competencies relating to the role and scope of practice of the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.

5. Implement the role of the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner in selected clinical settings.

Porential Occupational Titles 

Potential occupational titles for this program include, but are not limited to nurse practitioner, advanced practice nurse and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.

Program Content 

A minimum of 48.00 semester credit hours is required for graduation.

Required Core Courses


All courses, 15.00 semester credit hours, are required.

Required Direct Care Core Courses


All courses, 9.00 semester credit hours, are required.

Required Courses in PMHNP Concentration


All courses, 24.00 semester credit hours, are required.