Nursing (Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner) MSN
Program Overview
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 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.
Alternately, USM also offers a Family Nurse Practitioner online degree (MSN).
Interested?
Your Future
Check out some of the jobs our graduates landed after earning their 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 Psychiatric Mental Health RN
- Psych/Behavioral Nurse
Your future starts at Southern Miss!
Qualifications
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.
Degree Requirements
Program Requirements
Thirty-four (34) to forty-eight (48) credit hours are required to complete the program: 10 hours in the core and 24 to 38 hours in the area of emphasis, including clinical courses, and support courses at the 600 level. A comprehensive exam and a 3.0 GPA are required to graduate.
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 required clinical experience.
Continuous Enrollment Requirement: Students must meet the requirement specified in the front section of this Bulletin.
Core Courses (7 hours)
- NSG 600 – Policy, Organization and Financing of Health Care 3 hrs.
- NSG 605 – Research in Evidence Based Nursing 4 hrs.
Required Courses:
Upon graduation, students are eligible to sit for the national certification examinations.
- NSG 630 – Psychobiological Theories and Assessment in Advanced Psychiatric Nursing 3 hrs.
- NSG 631 – Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Diagnosis and Management with Individuals 3 hrs. AND
- NSG 631L – Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Practicum I 4 hrs.
- NSG 635 – FPMHNP Diagnosis and Management Groups/Families 3 hrs. AND
- NSG 635L – Family Psychiatric Mental Health NP Practicum II 4 hrs.
- NSG 636 – Psychopharmacology 2 hrs.
- NSG 634L – Family Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Practicum III 6 hrs.
- NSG 646 – Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics 3 hrs.
- NSG 647 – Advanced Pathophysiology 3 hrs.
- NSG 803 – Advanced Health Assessment Advance Practice Nurses 3 hrs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Clinical work can be completed at an approved state of Mississippi facility.
Courses can be complete fully online, but two campus visits in your first semester are required.
Additional course fees may apply. Fees range between $30 – $250.
The College of Nursing offers three online programs: Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult Gerontological Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
The program length varies with each program.
Family- 45 semester hours
Psych- 48 semester hours
Gerontological- 42 semester hours
How many students will be accepted?
Again, 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.
When is the deadline to apply?
The program only offers admission in the fall, and the application deadline to apply is March 1st for all Master’s programs.
Where do I apply?
Applicants should apply to the USM graduate school here:
What are the admission requirements (Specific to the College of Nursing programs)?
- 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.
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Do we offer a part-time plan of study?
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.
Do we offer Post-Master Certificates?
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.
What are the descriptions of the three programs?
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 Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program of study may be taken full-time or part-time. Students may complete the full-time program of study in six semesters.
What is the curriculum?
Family Nurse Practitioner
All students admitted to the Family Nurse Practitioner Program take courses from the graduate core as well as FNP 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 FNP 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 family nurse practitioner. Additional support courses provide students with the opportunity to individualize the program requirements.
Adult Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
The AGNP track requires six graduate courses offered over three semesters (summer, fall, spring) with one didactic and one practicum course each semester. The courses are sequential and co-requisites. The AGNP track may be completed for the MSN degree or as a Postmaster’s Certificate option.
Didactic courses are taken online with distance learning activities completed independently via both synchronous and asynchronous computer technologies.
- Clinical practicum courses may be completed in the student’s home area with a total of 600 hours:
*First semester—180 hrs.
*Second semester—180 hrs.
*Third semester—240 hrs.
Each practicum course requires licensed preceptors for direct care at clinical sites and at least one clinical evaluation on site by faculty.
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.
What is the difference between didactic and clinical coursework?
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.
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What are the costs?
For pricing information, click here. For financial aid information, click here. For detailed tuition information, click here.
What other online degrees are offered by Online at Southern Miss?
Please visit our programs page here: https://online.usm.edu/programs/
Are you a military veteran or service member?
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.
Will other classes besides the ones listed in degree requirements count towards my degree?
Other classes that aren’t listed may count towards your degree once your transcript has been evaluated and posted.
Do online students pay out-of-state tuition?
No, online students pay resident tuition. For information about pricing, click here.
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Are you a military veteran or service member?
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.
How long does it take to complete the psychiatric nurse practitioner degree?
Full-time students can complete this degree within 6 semesters.