Earn your online Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Degree (PMHNP) from Southern Miss!

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Nursing (Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner) MSN

Graduate

You are academically ready to take your passion for nursing to the next level, but a traditional classroom education is not compatible with your busy schedule. Fortunately, The University of Southern Mississippi provides a viable option with our online psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner degree (PMHNP).

This convenient and affordable online degree can be completed within six semesters! It prepares graduate nurses with the tools necessary to provide care to mental health patients. Our program is focused on individual, group, and family intervention. It provides a scientific and research-based curriculum to prepare our practitioners for the professional world.

Advisors are ready to guide you through this next step in your life; join USM today! This is your life, plus college.

Your future starts at Southern Miss!

Alternately, USM also offers a Family Nurse Practitioner online degree (MSN).

Your Future

Check out some of the jobs our graduates landed after earning this degree:
  • Psychiatric Registered Nurse
  • Behavioral Health
  • Nurse Practitioner (Mental Health Outpatient)
  • Primary Care Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse
  • Staff Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse
  • RN Psychiatric Mental Health House Supervisor
  • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Care Coordinator
  • Staff and Clinical Psychiatrich Mental Health RN
  • Psych/Behavioral Nurse
National Salary Averages* Career pathway for
Program Requirements

The generic Master of Science in Nursing degree requires a minimum of 92 undergraduate credit hours that include 30 hours of credit for lower-division nursing courses. The student must complete 22 hours of upper division nursing courses with a GPA of 3.0 or better. Students declare their emphasis area at the time of admission to the program. All candidates for the degree must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of coursework leading to the Master of Science in Nursing Degree. Students seeking admission to the Family Nurse Practitioner Program must meet the additional requirements for admission and complete a minimum of 45 semester hours of coursework. Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner students must complete a minimum of 46 semester hours of coursework. Academic progression policies are the same for all master’s degree students. A comprehensive exam is required. The students must complete the entire program of study and have a 3.0 GPA in order to receive a degree.

If a student has a felony conviction, the student may not be able to complete the degree because the student may not be able to perform the clinical experience.

Additional Note

Please note that the above information is meant to be a guide and is not official. For further information regarding courses for this degree, see the University Bulletin.

Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I complete my clinical work?

Clinical work can be completed at an approved state of Mississippi facility.

Online Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Degree courses can be completed fully online, but two campus visits in your first semester are required.

Additional course fees may apply to the online Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Degree. Fees range between $30 – $250.

The College of Nursing offers two online programs: Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

The program length varies with each program.
Family- 45 semester hours
Psych- 48 semester hours

Yes, however upon completion, students in this particular program do not receive a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing.

The number of students accepted varies with each program, the number of applications received, and the overall standing of those applicants. Each year the numbers can be different, but for the standard we allow 40-50 students into the Master’s Program each fall.

The online Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Degree program only offers admission in the fall, and the application deadline to apply is March 1st for all Master’s programs.

The prospective student must complete the Graduate School admission application online and pay the application fee at http://apps.usm.edu/graduate-school/grad-school-apps/.

  • Graduated from a baccalaureate program accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
  • GPA of 3.0 in undergraduate nursing courses.
  • Submission of scores on the verbal and analytical sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
  • Admission to the Graduate School at USM.
  • Completion of an introductory course in statistics.
  • Submission of three letters of reference from individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic and professional background and experience in nursing practice, specifying in detail the applicant’s capabilities for graduate study and for future practice as an advanced practice nurse.
  • Proof of current unrestricted Mississippi RN license.
  • Proof of Current CPR certification, Criminal Background Check and/or affidavit, hepatitis immunization, TB skin test, Tdap.

*NO medical records should be sent to Student Services in the College of Nursing until they have been notified of acceptance.

Yes, the Department of Advanced Practice allows part-time plans of study to better serve the nursing community and help balance work with furthering one’s education. Each program allows for a part-time track.

Students who have earned a master’s degree in nursing are able to enroll in post-master’s coursework to complete requirements needed for nurse practitioner certification.
All students entering the nurse practitioner tracks must complete a graduate level course in advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology and advanced health assessment for nurse practitioners.

Family Nurse Practitioner
The online program of study is designed to prepare graduate nurses to provide primary health care in rural and urban community health settings. Upon completion of the program, the graduate is qualified to apply for certification as a nurse practitioner with the American Nurses Credentialing Center and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Students continue the full-time program of study for four semesters.

 

Adult Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
The online program of study is designed to prepare graduate nurses to provide health care and address the specialized needs of the adult population in rural and urban community health settings.

 

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
The online program of study is designed to prepare graduate nurses to provide adult mental health care in diverse community health settings. Study is focused on individual group and family interventions. Upon completion of the program, the graduate is qualified to apply for the certification examination as a nurse practitioner. The online Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Degree program of study may be taken full-time or part-time. Students may complete the full-time program of study in six semesters.

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
All students admitted to the Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program take courses from the graduate core as well as PMHNP courses. The core courses are designed to enable the student to study the problems and concerns of a specialized area of nursing from a theoretical perspective. Core courses may be completed on a part-time basis prior to admission to the PMHNP program. All students also take a designated number of courses from their area of study. These courses provide students with the opportunity to develop competence and expertise as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.

Didactic coursework involves critical thinking and theory development in regards to the certain program. Core courses in the graduate programs are considered didactic. Clinical coursework is taught in conjuncture with an already established Nurse Practitioner usually in the student’s home area. This nurse practitioner is referred to as a “preceptor.” Each program requires an established amount of hours to be logged with a preceptor in order to sufficiently pass the clinical courses.

To find pricing information, click here. For financial aid information, click here. For detailed tuition information, click here.

Please visit our programs page here: https://online.usm.edu/programs/

If yes, visit online.usm.edu/military for more information on how Southern Miss can serve you and your needs.   We will help you with funding and scholarship information, admissions, and course enrollment.

Other classes that aren’t listed may count towards your online Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Degree once your transcript has been evaluated and posted.

No, online students pay resident tuition. For information about pricing, click here.

If yes, visit online.usm.edu/military for more information on how Southern Miss can serve you and your needs. We will help you with funding and scholarship information, admissions, and course enrollment.

Full-time students can complete this degree within 6 semesters.

Admission Requirements

A graduate student must meet the general requirements for admission to the university graduate program as outlined in the Graduate Bulletin. The Southern Miss Graduate School applications are fully online. Please submit your application, all required documentation listed below, and required fees via the online application found at the Graduate School for admission consideration.

Admission is competitive and based on a holistic review of the applicant’s credentials by departments. The University sets minimum requirements for regular admission into graduate school, including: 

  • Minimum GPA of 2.75/4.00 on the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework 
  • Good standing at last university attended 
  • Standardized test scores (GRE, GMAT, MAT, or other acceptable exam) 
  • Three letters of recommendation 
  • Statement of purpose or writing sample (according to departmental requirements) 
  • Acceptable TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE scores (international students) 
  • $60 non-refundable application fee 
  • Original transcripts and immunization records (required prior to enrolling for classes if admitted)
    International applicants, please mail official transcripts to:
    The University of Southern Mississippi
    International Admissions
    118 College Drive #5135
    Hattiesburg, MS 39406-001/USA 

All students admitted to the Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program take courses from the graduate core as well as PMHNP courses. The core courses are designed to enable the student to study the problems and concerns of a specialized area of nursing from a theoretical perspective. Core courses may be completed on a part-time basis prior to admission to the PMHNP program. Students also take a designated number of courses from their area of study. These courses provide students with the opportunity to develop competence and expertise as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.

Post-Master’s Certification is available for MSN graduates who desire to obtain additional education in this emphasis area.

 

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