Certified Mental Health Nurse

This post-master’s certificate is available for MSN graduates who would like to gain further knowledge in advanced practice psychiatric mental health nursing across the life-span. The program can be completed in one year of full-time study.

This post-master’s certificate program has a focus on advanced practice psychiatric mental health nursing as a specialty area. A multi-theoretical model is used to examine issues relevant to mental health and illness throughout the life-span. The program prepares students to provide comprehensive and integrative psychiatric mental health care to those in need of psychiatric services, as well as those who are at risk. The program has 18 graduate level academic credits of mental health theory, psychopharmacology, and supervised clinical experiences in three psycho-therapeutic treatment modalities (individual, group and family) and encompasses treatment across the life-span, from childhood through senescence.

The program is available to any nurse holding an MSN degree and is particularly relevant to:

• Adult Nurse Practitioners or Family Nurse Practitioners who wish to prepare for a second certification in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing.

Career Opportunities
Advanced practice psychiatric mental health nurses have multiple and diverse career opportunities including providing care in large health care organizations and in the community. Graduates of the program are prepared to function independently and collaboratively with health care team members to provide comprehensive health care that will maximize patient care outcomes.

Certification and Accreditation
Completion of the program provides eligibility for certification as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner by the American Nurses’ Association, American Nurses Credentialing Center, and for state licensure/certification where available.