Psych Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

 

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Starting summer 2019 Advanced Practice Nursing Programs will transition to offering the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree EXCLUSIVELY.  Learn More about the DNP
The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program prepares graduates for advanced specialty practice with a dual emphasis on intervention through psychotherapy and psychopharmacology.  PMHNP's intervene with vulnerable populations and promote mental health across the lifespan. They work with children, adolescents, adults, and older persons in a variety of settings, including community mental health clinics, public health departments, hospitals and outpatient mental health clinics, health maintenance organizations, government facilities, schools of nursing, and independent private practice.

Coursework – Offered for students in Portland

Courses are supported through a web based course management system called Sakai which allows asynchronous delivery of additional class materials and discussions forums.

What You Will Study and Learn

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program at OHSU School of Nursing has earned a national reputation for its emphasis on primary mental healthcare. Students study the interaction among biological and neurophysiological vulnerabilities, psychological and developmental factors, and social and physical environmental stressors.

The program emphasizes mental health nursing interventions, including psychotherapy and psychopharmacology.  Supervised clinical experience is available primarily in community-based agencies and programs. 

Students in this program can complete the DNP degree in three years and become licensed as a PMHNP.  A practice-focused curriculum will support the career trajectory for those pursuing expert clinical practice and leadership as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

Student Learning Outcomes For This Program

DNP graduates are expected to meet DNP program competencies.

  1. Demonstrate readiness to enter clinical practice via specialty competencies with the appropriate scientific knowledge, and considerations for its application to practice.
  2. Apply ethical principles along with the standards of professional conduct to clinical care, research, and education. 
  3. Evaluate emerging healthcare systems and policy that influence delivery of cost effective patient care. 
  4. Generate entry level practice scholarship through the completion of a clinical practice improvement project based on the principles of improvement science. 
  5. Model interprofessional communication and collaboration to improve individual and/or population health outcomes. 
  6. Identify and address gaps in professional knowledge through ongoing reflection to support the principle of life-long learning.

The OHSU graduate of the PMHNP-DNP programs will be competent to…

  1. Develop therapeutic relationships as a basis for the provision of mental health care across the lifespan
  2. Independently conduct a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, and diagnostic and biopsychosocial formulation for mental health and psychiatric problems across the lifespan.
  3. Utilize best practices and evidence to develop treatment in collaboration with patients, families and other care providers.
  4. Manage the treatment of mental health and psychiatric disorders for safe and effective care across the lifespan, including evaluation for quality outcomes
  5. Use effective communication skills and technologies to provide collaborative care for diverse communities.
  6. Demonstrate standards of professional conduct including integrity, honesty, self-reflection, ethical principles and legal responsibilities in professional activities
  7. Advocate for quality outcomes in mental health systems through policy change and quality improvement.

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For program specifics, Student Learning Outcomes and detailed school information, check out the School of Nursing Catalog/Student Handbook.