Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, MSN
Degree: Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Field of Study: Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Program Overview
This program prepares graduates to serve as psychiatric nurse practitioners. The curriculum will prepare you to address more efficiently the often unmet psychiatric mental health and substance use/abuse needs of people of all ages.
The work of an advanced practice psychiatric nurse practitioner is dynamic in scope, ranging from prevention and health promotion to early detection and assessment to integration and culturally appropriate, client-centered intervention. Similarly, they can practice in a multitude of environments, including community mental health clinics; hospitals systems; private physician offices; prison systems; military bases and Veteran’s Affairs Hospitals; treatment facilities; and psychiatric mental health community centers, among others.
Path to the MSN
The Master of Science in Nursing program prepares registered nurses for advanced practice either as a nurse practitioner or nurse midwife. Students in the MSN program choose from several different majors, but virtually all students must take at least ten core courses. Students must complete a required number of credit hours as well as clinical hours. Most majors require an average of 40 credit hours, usually completed in three or four semesters (including summer for some majors). MSN majors also require at least 600 or more clinical hours depending on major.
Students can choose either a part-time or full-time program, with full-time consisting of 9 or more credit hours per semester and part-time being anything less. Post-graduate APRN certificates can be provided for most programs and are crafted according to individual needs and background education. Dual degree programs are offered in Bioethics (MSN/MA), Anthropology (MSN/MA), and Public Health (MSN/MPH).
Course Grades
Progression in the MSN program is contingent on a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and passing grades in all courses (A, B, C, P, or S). If the cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 during any semester, the student will be placed on academic probation. In addition, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) students in the MSN program must maintain an APRN GPA of 2.5 or higher in all APRN core courses (advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology, and advanced physical assessment) and APRN clinical courses.
The grade of Incomplete (I) can only be assigned by the discretion of the instructor when: 1) There are extenuating circumstances, explained to the instructor before the assignment of the grade, which clearly justifies an extension of time beyond the requirements established for and met by other students in the class, and 2) The student has been passing the course and only an evaluative component of the course, such as a term paper, final exam, or project remains to be completed. The "Arrangement to Resolve a Grade of Incomplete" form must be completed prior to the end of the semester, or the instructor may assign a grade of U or F. The instructor shall enter a final evaluative grade if and when the completed work has been submitted. A grade of Incomplete must be removed by the 11th week of the semester following the one in which the courses were taken. If the student does not complete the required work by the date established, the Registrar will convert the I to an F when the deadline for completion has passed. Students may not sit in the same course in a later semester to complete the work required for the original course. Please see the School of Graduate Studies Incomplete Policy.
A student who receives a grade of F or U for a required course must register for the course the next semester it is offered to continue in the MSN program. If the grade of U or F is in a course that is not required for the MSN program, the student may register for the same course or a substitute course and achieve a passing grade to continue in the MSN program. MSN students who receive 2 failing grades (F, U, NP) will be separated from the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing.
Majors and Sample Full-Time Curriculum
Virtually all MSN students must take at least ten core courses in Professional Development, Scientific Inquiry, and Nursing Practice. Although the MSN program itself requires a minimum of 36 credit hours to graduate, most majors require an average of 40 credit hours, usually completed between 18 and 30 months depending on the MSN major. Students are required to complete 600 or more clinical hours depending on MSN major. Post-Graduate Certificates can be provided for most programs and are crafted according to individual needs and background education. Sample full-time curriculum are listed for each major.
Program Requirements
The Family Systems Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing major, as part of the MSN program, requires 46 credit hours of coursework and 720 hours of clinicals. The coursework is usually completed within four semesters.
Sample Plan of Study
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| NURS 405 | Inquiry I - Theoretical Foundations | 2 |
| NURS 453 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 4 |
| NURS 473 | Advanced Psychiatric Assessment and Diagnosis Across the Lifespan I: Infant through Young Adult | 2 |
| NURS 475 | General Systems Theory: Foundations for Practice | 2 |
| NURS 476 | Advanced Practice Seminar: Role of Psychiatric Mental Health Advanced Practice Registered Nurses | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 11 | |
| Spring | ||
| NURS 459 | Advanced Physical Assessment | 3 |
| NURS 430 | Advanced Pharmacology | 3 |
| NURS 465 | Psychopharmacology | 2 |
| NURS 474 | Advanced Psychiatric Assessment and Diagnosis Across the Lifespan II: Adults and Older Adults | 2 |
| NURS 481 | Family Systems: Theoretical Foundation | 2 |
| NURS 482 | Family Systems: Integration and Application | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Summer | ||
| NURS 425 | Inquiry II - Research Process | 3 |
| NURS 484 | Individual and Group Modalities for Family Systems Practice Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| NURS 485 | Practicum and Supervision: Family Systems Practice Across the Lifespan | 2 |
| NURS 451 | Leadership for Quality Healthcare within Organizations and Systems | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 11 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| NURS 502 | Inquiry III Evidence-Based Practice | 2 |
| NURS 486 | Modalities for Family Systems Practice: Vulnerable Family Populations | 3 |
| NURS 488 | Theoretical Basis of Practicum and Supervision in Consult, Collaborate, and Mental Health Education | 3 |
| NURS 489 | Practicum and Supervision in the Role of Family Systems Psychiatric Mental Health Advanced Practice | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 11 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 46 | |