Only the states listed below are authorized for Wilkes' PMHNP Certificate program:

Alaska
Arizona
California
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Hawaii
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kentucky
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Mississippi
Montana
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington DC
West Virginia
Wisconsin

Post-Graduate/APRN Certificate - Psychiatric/ Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

Entrance points for the PMHNP concentration:

Post-Graduate/APRN Certificate

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

RN to MSN - Associate Degree in Nursing (RN) to MSN

Meet the Great Demand for Mental Health Care

Mental health and physical health are inextricably connected — one can affect the other — yet nearly half of all Americans lack access to proper mental health care.* Designed for MSN- or DNP-prepared registered nurses, the post-master’s PMHNP online program from Wilkes University allows you to be part of the solution and meet the great demand for mental health care in our country.

Wilkes University’s online PMHNP certificate program provides the essential skills to complete comprehensive mental health assessments and provide individual, family and group psychotherapy to treat your patients properly and with compassion. You’ll develop competence in prescribing and monitoring medications used to treat complex psychiatric disorders and substance abuse.

With your post-master’s psychiatric nurse practitioner certificate, you’ll apply discerning knowledge and critical thinking to provide evidence-based mental and behavioral health care for patients of all ages, considering culturally diverse, rural and underserved populations.

*National Institute of Mental Health

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Program Details

$729 per credit hour
3 start dates per year
10 courses
1.67 years to complete
29 credit hours
500 clinical hours

Admission Requirements

Applicants will be evaluated for admission based on the following criteria. These admissions standards represent the minimum eligibility requirements for this graduate-level program. Admission committee members reserve the right to request additional information from candidates, as needed, for a more in-depth review of qualifications.

MSN or DNP degree with a 3.0 GPA
Unencumbered RN license*
Current resume

*Applications presenting a history of disciplinary action on professional licenses will be subject to an additional review by the Special Licensure Discrepancy Committee of the University.

Clinical Placement Support

Wilkes’ dedicated clinical placement team works with you to offer a high-quality placement experience that meets University and national guidelines and prepares you for success in our online Post-Graduate/APRN Certificate – PMHNP program.

Clinical placement services are built into the program's cost so you can focus on your coursework and the core competencies you need to succeed. We partner with you to:

Research and find a nearby site* aligned with your interest in family health and wellness.
Secure a preceptor to mentor and support you.
Organize all necessary documents and clearance requirements before the start of your clinicals.
Monitor your schedule and placement hours to ensure compliance.

*Your placement site may be up to 125 miles from your location.

The baccalaureate degree in nursing/master's degree in nursing/ Doctor of Nursing Practice and post graduate APRN certificate programs at Wilkes University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.ccneaccreditation.org)

Sample Curriculum

Post-Graduate/APRN Certificate — Psychiatric/Mental Health

To see the full program curriculum, access your free program guide.

Time to Complete
1.67 years
Courses
11 Courses
Clinical Hours
500 Hours

NSG 526 — Clinical Modalities in Advanced Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing Practice

This course provides a foundation for the major systems of therapy for individuals and groups used in advanced psychiatric mental health nursing and other disciplines engaged in mental health practice. A key focus of this course will be on therapeutic modalities, such as brief psychotherapy, group processes and practices, milieu therapy, and crisis intervention, as they relate to advanced nursing practice in mental health (Prerequisites: NSG 500, NSG 550, NSG 552; Credits: 3).

NSG 526 — Clinical Modalities in Advanced Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing Practice

This course provides a foundation in the major systems of therapy for individuals and groups used in advanced psychiatric mental health nursing and other disciplines engaged in mental health practice. Focus will be on therapeutic modalities such as brief psychotherapy, group processes and practices, milieu therapy and crisis intervention as they relate to advanced nursing practice in mental health. (Prerequisites: NSG-550, NSG-552; Credits: 3)

NSG 527 — Psychopathology, Theories and Advanced Clinical Modalities

NSG-527 — Psychopathology, Theories, and Advanced Clinical Modalities

Coursework focuses on the most frequently observed pathologies in psychiatry and mental health, the various conceptual models and theories related to the practice of psychiatric mental health nursing, and the most advanced clinical modalities congruent with the analysis of the best evidence. (Prerequisites: NSG-550, NSG-552; Credits: 3)

NSG 535 — Advanced Practice in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing I

This foundational clinical course introduces students to advanced practice psychiatric nursing in a variety of mental health settings. Students will acquire skills in completing comprehensive mental health assessments, and will be able to identify and apply concepts, theories, and principles to the practice of individual, family, and group psychotherapy, with an emphasis on process dynamics. Considerations and challenges in providing psychotherapy to culturally diverse individuals, families, and groups are also explored and discussed. Skills will be developed in assessing psychopathological symptoms across the lifespan and in implementing planned interventions, as well as requiring students to integrate theory and practice of the advanced practice psychiatric nurse in a supervised clinical practicum (Prerequisites: NSG 500, NSG 550, NSG 552; Total: residency and 250 practice hours; Credits: 3).

NSG 535 — Advanced Practice in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing I

This foundational clinical course introduces students to advanced practice psychiatric nursing in a variety of mental health settings, including inpatient and outpatient environments. Students acquire skills in completing comprehensive mental health assessments. Students identify and apply concepts, theories, and principles to the practice of individual, family, and group psychotherapy, with emphasis on process dynamics. Considerations and challenges in providing psychotherapy to culturally diverse individuals, families, and groups are explored and discussed. Skills are gained in assessing psychopathological symptoms across the lifespan and in implementing planned interventions. Students integrate theory and practice of the advanced practice psychiatric nurse in a supervised clinical practicum. (Total: Residency and 250 practice hours; Prerequisites: NSG-550, NSG-552; Credits: 3)

NSG 536 — Advanced Practice in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing II

This clinical course focuses on refining the assessment, diagnosis, and pharmacological and psychosocial management of individuals of all ages with mental illness. Individual, family, and group psychotherapies will also be refined. Students will gain skills in identifying individuals/populations at risk of mental illness and primary prevention in mental health. The mental health needs of culturally diverse, rural, and underserved populations will also be explored. Leadership and advocacy roles of the advanced practice psychiatric nurse as an agent of healthcare policy change are emphasized, and students will be required to integrate theory and practice of the advanced practice psychiatric nurse in a supervised clinical practicum (Prerequisites: NSG 526, NSG 535; Total: residency and 250 practice hours; Credits: 3).

NSG 536 — Advanced Practice in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing II

This clinical course focuses on refining assessment, diagnosis, and pharmacological and psychosocial management of individuals of all ages with mental illness. Individual, family, and group psychotherapies are refined. Students gain skills in identifying individuals/populations at risk for mental illness and primary prevention in mental health. Mental health needs of culturally diverse, rural, and underserved populations are explored. Leadership and advocacy roles of the advanced practice psychiatric nurse as an agent of healthcare policy change are emphasized. Students integrate theory and practice of the advanced practice psychiatric nurse in a supervised clinical practicum. (Total: Residency and 250 practice hours; Prerequisites: NSG-550, NSG-552; Credits: 3)

Applications are currently being accepted for next intake - Summer 2024

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NSG 552 — Psychopharmacology

This course is designed to assist the P.M.H. nurse practitioner in developing competencies in prescribing and monitoring psychopharmacological agents used in the treatment of common psychiatric/mental health disorders across the lifespan. In addition, this course will examine the effects of major classes of psychopharmacological agents on neurobiological function with a particular emphasis on the clinical management of target psychiatric symptoms. Drugs of abuse, side-effects, issues of polypharmacy, and the management of advanced practice prescriptive privileges will also be explored (Prerequisite: NSG 533; Credits: 3).

NSG 552 — Psychopharmacology

This course is designed to assist the P/MH nurse practitioner to develop competence in prescribing and monitoring psychopharmacological agents used in the treatment of common psychiatric/mental health disorders across the lifespan. This course will examine the major classes of psychopharmacological agents on neurobiological function with a particular emphasis on the clinical management of target psychiatric symptoms. Pharmacology, drugs of abuse, side effects, issues of polypharmacy, and management of advanced practice prescriptive privileges are also explored. (Prerequisites: NSG-533; Credits: 2)