Description of the Program

The Post-Graduate PMHNP Program prepares graduates to function as psychiatric nurse practitioners. PMHNPs provide treatment of psychiatric disorders for individuals, families, and groups in a variety of clinical settings using therapeutic techniques and pharmacological treatments. This course of study will enable students to expand their abilities and employment opportunities and prepares them to sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) certification as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP).

All eligible applicants must have a graduate nursing degree. Three tracks are available:

• Licensed APRNs (e.g. FNP, AGNP)
• Licensed RNs without APRN status,
• Licensed Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS)

PMHNP Certificate End-of-Program/Student Learning Outcomes

At the completion of the Post-Graduate PMHNP Certificate program, the learner will be able to:

• Integrate nursing knowledge and theory with the natural, social, and organizational sciences to support evidence-based advanced psychiatric mental health nursing practice.
• Collaborate with intraprofessional and disciplinary teams within systems of health care to deliver safe and equitable population-based care.
• Utilize judicious critical thinking and clinical reasoning within the scope of advanced psychiatric mental health nursing practice.
• Formulate holistic person-centered care that is culturally proficient with diverse individuals, groups, and  communities.
• Demonstrate ethical and legal  principles in advanced psychiatric mental health nursing practice.
• Model personal, professional and leadership skills for reflection, self-care, and lifelong learning within the advanced psychiatric mental health nursing practice.
• Integrate healthcare technologies and informatics with advanced nursing practice to improve the quality and accessibility of care.
• Evaluate interventions aimed to promote health and prevent disease.

PMHNP Certificate Admission Requirements

Students who meet the requirements noted below may apply for admission to the PMHNP Certificate program. The requirements for admission to the program include:

• Submission of the Washburn University graduate degree seeking application (available online).
• Official (MSN, PhD, or DNP) transcripts sent to the School of Nursing.
• Evidence of current licensure in the states of residence and practice as a registered nurse and APRN (as applicable).
• Submission of completed application to include two references from current or past employers, faculty, or professional peers.
• Current resume.
• GPA of 3.25 or above in previous graduate work preferred.

The School of Nursing Graduate Admission, Progression, and Retention (GAPR) Committee reviews all applicants. The GAPR committee will make admission decisions.

The School of Nursing seeks applicants who exhibit the interpersonal skills and behaviors that enable them to work compatibly with others. Applicants seeking admission shall demonstrate respectful, timely communication, emotional stability, personal integrity, and ethical responsibility. Applicants must possess the ability to balance personal, work, and school obligations, the flexibility to deal with unexpected situations, and a willingness to utilize constructive feedback to develop behaviors characteristic of a professional psychiatric nurse practitioner. The School of Nursing reserves the right to withhold admission to or withdraw students from the program who do not demonstrate these professional behaviors.

PMHNP Certificate Application Procedures

1. Submit the Washburn University graduate application. A link to the application can be found on the PMHNP program webpage.  The online application includes:
   1. Two references from current or past employers, faculty, or professional peers.
   2. Current resume.
2. Request official transcripts be sent directly to the School of Nursing (MSN, PhD, and/or DNP as applicable).
3. Submit evidence of current licensure in the states of residence and practice as a registered nurse and APRN (as applicable).
4. National certifications if available.

Transfer Credit / Prerequisites

Prior coursework from another graduate nursing program may be considered for transfer credit or to satisfy prerequisite on a case-by-case basis after review of transcripts and related course syllabi. Up to 6 credit hours may be transferred from another program. The applicant must have received a grade of “B” or better in the course(s) being considered. Academic credit is not given for life or work experience.

Please note that all tracks require 3 separate advanced practice nurse practitioner graduate level core courses:

1. Advanced pathophysiology lifespan with nurse practitioner focus.
2. Advanced Health Assessment lifespan with differential diagnosis content and with nurse practitioner focus.
3. Advanced pharmacology lifespan with nurse practitioner focus.

Combined courses (e.g., advanced pathophysiology and pharmacology) are not eligible for transfer or to meet prerequisite requirements as they do not meet eligibility criteria to sit for ANCC national board certification. 

Courses from a non-US accredited school or from a non-nursing graduate program in a different health related discipline (e.g. medical school) are not eligible for transfer or to meet prerequisite requirements as they do not meet eligibility criteria to sit for ANCC national board certification. 

Certificate Requirements

Course Requirements for FNP Applicants

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Required Courses Inside Department
NU 827	Psychiatric Differential Diagnosis & Diagnostic Interviewing	3
NU 828	Advanced Psychopharmacology/Neurobiology	3
NU 850	Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nursing I	3
NU 854	Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing II	3
NU 857	Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practicum 1	6
NU 859	Advanced Psychiatric Nursing Special Focus Practicum 1	3
Total Hours		21

Course Requirements for ANP Applicants

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Required Courses Inside Department
NU 821	Advanced Pathophysiology Family	1
NU 822	Advanced Pharmacology: Lifespan (Pediatric)	1
NU 827	Psychiatric Differential Diagnosis & Diagnostic Interviewing	3
NU 828	Advanced Psychopharmacology/Neurobiology	3
NU 829	Advanced Health Assessment and Differential Diagnosis Across the Lifespan (Pediatric)	1
NU 850	Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nursing I	3
NU 854	Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing II	3
NU 857	Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practicum 1	6
NU 859	Advanced Psychiatric Nursing Special Focus Practicum 1	3
NU 860	Special Topics: Advanced Psychiatric Nursing Child/Adolescent	1
Total Hours		25

Course Requirements for Psychiatric CNS Applicants

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Required Courses Inside Department
NU 820	Advanced Pathophysiology	3
NU 822	Advanced Pharmacology: Lifespan	3
NU 827	Psychiatric Differential Diagnosis & Diagnostic Interviewing	3
NU 828	Advanced Psychopharmacology/Neurobiology	3
NU 829	Advanced Health Assessment and Differential Diagnosis Across the Lifespan	3
NU 857	Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practicum 1	6
NU 859	Advanced Psychiatric Nursing Special Focus Practicum 1	3
NU 860	Special Topics: Advanced Psychiatric Nursing Child/Adolescent	1
Total Hours		25

Course Requirements for Applicants without APRN Status

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Required Courses Inside Department
NU 813	Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Roles	2
NU 820	Advanced Pathophysiology	3
NU 822	Advanced Pharmacology: Lifespan	3
NU 827	Psychiatric Differential Diagnosis & Diagnostic Interviewing	3
NU 828	Advanced Psychopharmacology/Neurobiology	3
NU 829	Advanced Health Assessment and Differential Diagnosis Across the Lifespan	3
NU 850	Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nursing I	3
NU 854	Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing II	3
NU 857	Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practicum 1	6
NU 859	Advanced Psychiatric Nursing Special Focus Practicum 1	3
Total Hours		32

Course Requirements for Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (PNP) Applicants

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Required Courses Inside Department
NU 820	Advanced Pathophysiology	3
NU 822	Advanced Pharmacology: Lifespan (Adult/Geriatric)	2
NU 827	Psychiatric Differential Diagnosis & Diagnostic Interviewing	3
NU 828	Advanced Psychopharmacology/Neurobiology	3
NU 829	Advanced Health Assessment and Differential Diagnosis Across the Lifespan (Adult/Geriatric)	1
NU 850	Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nursing I	3
NU 854	Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing II	3
NU 857	Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practicum 1	6
NU 859	Advanced Psychiatric Nursing Special Focus Practicum 1	3
Total Hours		27

¹

PMH Practicum hours are a 1:4 ratio. One credit hour equals 60 clock hours. NU 857 can be taken in 1-4 credit hour increments. Six (6) credit hours are required to progress to NU 859. NU 859 can be taken in 1-3 credit hour increments. Three credit hours are required to complete NU 859.

• Following review of the applicant’s transcripts, additional course work or clinical practicum hours may be required.
• All coursework must be completed within four (4) calendar years.

Transfer Between Graduate Programs

A transfer between graduate programs (DNP to PMHNP-Certificate or PMHNP-Certificate to DNP) can be requested by the student or recommended by faculty. When this occurs, an advising session will be conducted in which the rationale for the transfer is discussed, determination is made that the student is in good standing in the current program, and a recommendation communicated to the GAPR Committee regarding the transfer request. A new program application is not required if one has previously been completed and the student is active in a current SON graduate program.