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

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
  • Check state authorization

*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 Services

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.

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* 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)

More About Clinical Placement Support

The Wilkes Clinical Placement team works with you to offer a high-quality placement experience that is compliant, meets the University and national guidance for clinical requirements and prepares you for success in your future nursing career.

How Does the Clinical Placement Process Work?

The Placement Team will collaborate with you to help you secure quality placement sites and preceptors. In addition to completing a Placement Intake Form, you will be responsible for completing all of your clinical clearance requirements prior to the start of the clinical placement process.

What Value Will the Placement Team Provide?

The Placement Team will help you identify and potentially secure quality placement sites. This process allows you to focus on the online coursework and the core competencies that will direct your placement experience. As an active participant in the placement process, providing referrals from your community increases your chances of securing quality sites and preceptors.

When Will I Receive My Placement Details?

You will receive a notification from your dedicated Placement Coordinator prior to each clinical start date. Once the placement has been confirmed and communicated, you are encouraged to begin working with your preceptor directly to establish a schedule for the semester.

How Should I Prepare for Clinicals?

You are not alone in preparing for clinicals! Your Placement Coordinator will be with you through the entire process by answering your questions, providing a clinical orientation, verifying your clinical clearances and walking you through the clinical checklist. The checklist details the dress code, clinical tools and professional expectations to ensure your success throughout each rotation.

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

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).

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).

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).

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).

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).

Get More Program Details

  •   Applications are currently being accepted for next intake

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More About Wilkes

At Wilkes, we support and applaud lifelong learning. We are constantly changing, evolving and growing to meet the needs of our online student nurses. We look ahead to the degree programs, experiences and opportunities our students will need to succeed, and that includes complimentary nursing clinical placement services.

Our online nursing programs offer a variety of options for working nurses. Whether you're looking to advance your current role or broaden your career path and pursue a new specialty, Wilkes has a flexible program for you. Going back to school is a big decision. That's why we offer the mentoring and faculty member support of skilled nurse educators you need to succeed.

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Reach Out to an Admissions Counselor

We’re here to talk about everything Wilkes, everything nursing and anything you need to make the right choice for your career. We'll even help with the application process. Call us or click the link below to start the conversation. We can’t wait! 

888-413-5633
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Out-of-State Students

Our online nursing degree programs prepare graduates to take the national board certification exam appropriate to their degree or chosen NP concentration. Please see our full list of state authorizations to determine whether our program fulfills requirements for licensure in your home state. Wilkes University will not be able to place any students who move to an unauthorized state before or during the program and this may impact your ability to continue with the program.

Primary State of Residence (PSOR)

Your PSOR is the state in which you declare as your primary residence for legal purposes. Sources used to verify your PSOR may include driver's license, federal income tax return, or voter registration. Only one state can be identified as the primary state of legal residence.

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