Put your passion to help children, youth, adults and the elderly to use by pursuing your MSN in Family Systems Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing. This program prepares graduates to serve as psychiatric nurse practitioners. The curriculum will prepare you to address more efficiently the often unmet psychiatric mental health and substance use/abuse needs of people of all ages.
Pursue Diverse Career Options
An advanced practice psychiatric nurse practitioner can practice in many environments, including community mental health clinics; hospitals systems; private physician offices; prison systems; military bases and Veterans Affairs Hospitals; treatment facilities; and psychiatric mental health community centers.
Serve the Family in All Its Forms
Graduates will be able to more effectively treat a wider variety of patients from a range of families, including military families, blended families, single-parent families, families of choice, migrant and immigrant families, and foster families.
Flexible Course Schedule
The psych mental health nursing major requires 45 credit hours of coursework and 720 hours of clinicals. The coursework is usually completed within four semesters. In addition to the intensive courses and NP core classes requirements for class meetings on campus, the remainder of the classes are web-based and as an intensive on-campus format.
Sample Full-Time Curriculum: Beginning Fall 2015
Fall Semester I
| Course ID | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 405* | Inquiry I - Theoretical Foundations | 2 |
| NURS 453 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 4 |
| NURS 473 | Advanced Psychopathology Across the Lifespan - Part I (infant through young adult) | 2 |
| NURS 475 | General Systems Theory: Foundations for Practice | 2 |
| NURS 476 | Advanced Practice Seminar: Role of Psychiatric Mental Health Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) | 1 |
| Total | 11 |
Spring Semester I
| Course ID | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 459 | Advanced Physical Assessment | 3 |
| NURS 430 | Advanced Pharmacology | 3 |
| NURS 465 | Psychopharmacology | 2 |
| NURS 474 | Advanced Psychopathology Across the Lifespan - Part II (adults & older adult) | 2 |
| NURS 481^ | Family Systems: Theoretical Foundations | 2 |
| NURS 482^ | Family Systems: Integration and Application | 1 |
| Total | 13 |
Summer Semester I
| Course ID | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 425* | Inquiry II - Research Process | 3 |
| NURS 484^ | Individual & Group Modalities for Family Systems Practice Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| NURS 485^ | Practicum and Supervision: Family System Practice Across the Lifespan | 2 |
| NURS 451* | Leadership for Quality Healthcare within Organizations and Systems | 3 |
| Total | 11 |
Fall Semester II
| Course ID | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 502* | Inquiry III - Evidence-Based Practice | 2 |
| NURS 486 | Modalities for Family Systems Practice: Vulnerable Family Populations | 3 |
| NURS 488^ | Theoretical Basis of Practicum and Supervision in Consultation, Collaboration and Mental Health Education | 3 |
| NURS 489^ | Practicum and Supervision in the Role of Family Systems Psychiatric Mental Health Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) | 3 |
| NUND 507 | Management in Advanced Nursing Practice (Elective) | 3 |
| Total | 11-14 |
Accumulated Total Hourse: 46-49
Note: The above curriculum is full-time; part-time plans are also available. The Advanced Practice Core courses (NURS 430, 453, 459) are co-requisites or pre-requisites for clinical nursing courses. Clinical nursing courses must be taken in the semester and sequence listed above. Clinical course availability is based upon enrollment.
* = Intensive Course, see MSN Intensives general schedule online for more information
^ = Clinical Course
Sample Full-Time Curriculum: Prior to Fall 2015
Fall Semester I
| Course ID | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 405 | Inquiry I Theoretical Foundations | 3 |
| NURS 453 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 4 |
| NURS 473 | Advanced Psychopathology Across the Age Span (Ages 0-17) | 2 |
| NURS 475 | General Systems Theory Foundations for Practice | 2 |
| NURS 476 | Advanced Practice Seminar Blended Role | 1 |
| Semester Total | 12 |
Spring Semester I
| Course ID | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 459 | Integrated Assessment for Advanced Practice | 3 |
| NURS 430 | Pharmacology and Therapeutics for Advanced Practice | 3 |
| NURS 465 | Psychopharmacology | 2 |
| NURS 474 | Advanced Psychopathology Across the Age Span (18-65+) | 2 |
| NURS 481 | Family Systems A: Theoretical Foundations | 2 |
| NURS 482 | Family Systems B: Integration + Application | 1 |
| Semester Total | 13 |
Summer Semester I
| Course ID | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 425 | Inquiry II: Research Process | 3 |
| NURS 484 | Individual and Group Modalities for Family Systems Practice | 3 |
| NURS 485 | Practicum and Supervision: Individual and Group | 2 |
| Semester Total | 8 |
Fall Semester II
| Course ID | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 502 | Inquiry III Evidence Based Practice | 2 |
| NURS 503 | Inquiry Practicum | 1 |
| NURS 486 | Modalities for Family Systems Practice: Vulnerable Families | 3 |
| NURS 488 | Theory for Practice: Supervision, Consultation + Education | 3 |
| NURS 489 | Practicum + Supervision: Role of Family Systems Integration | 3 |
| Semester Total | 12 |
Overall Total Hours: 45-48
| Course ID | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NUND 507 | Management in Advanced Practice (elective) | 3 |