Preparing psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners to provide a wide range of services to adults and their families
This online adult psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner track is designed to prepare practitioners to provide a wide range of mental health services to the adult population. The program of study is based on a bio-psychosocial model of care. It includes the study and application of diagnostic and treatment modalities, and theories and approaches to practice. Students also learn collaborative skills to work with other healthcare professionals to provide mental healthcare services. Graduates practice in a wide variety of settings, as this program enables them to provide direct (assessment, intervention) and indirect (consultation, case management, and supervision) advanced practice services to individuals who are at risk and those who need mental health services.
The online adult psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program is a high-quality program that demands a major commitment of time by the advanced practice nursing student. Because students are being educated to diagnose and treat patients, the master’s program was designed to combine the convenience of online learning with the necessary rigor to become a competent and confident advanced practice nurse upon graduation.
*While the majority of the track is online, students are required to be on campus once per quarter starting with NURS 550 the Advanced Physical Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning course and throughout all clinical practicum courses including NURS 592, 593, 594 and 595. When students come to campus they participate in simulated clinical learning experiences conducted in our new state of the art multidisciplinary patient simulation lab. Because students are being educated to diagnose and treat patients, the master’s program was designed to combine the convenience of online learning with the necessary rigor to become a competent and confident advanced practice nurse on graduation.
Upon completion of the program, students are eligible for Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certification through ANCC.
Location Requirements
Applicants seeking admission into the MSN in Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program must have a RN Nursing License in and be willing to complete the clinical practicum rotations in one of the following states:
- Pennsylvania
- Delaware
- New Jersey
- Virginia
- Washington DC
- Connecticut
- Rhode Island
- Maryland
Students living on the borders of these regions may be admitted with the understanding that all clinical practicum rotations must be taken only in the designated regional states.
On-Campus Requirements
The Nurse Practitioner Faculty are committed to quality and excellence in the online Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs. Campus visits are essential.
Students meet on campus for:
- A minimum of 3 days at the beginning of the clinical practicum rotations
- A minimum of 3 days at the end of the clinical practicum rotations
The residency visits afford faculty the opportunity to provide students with direct support, guidance, and mentoring. They provide students with the opportunity to interact with faculty and collaborate with their peers.
Key Program Features:
- Synchronous online lectures are offered in a highly interactive, e-learning method that challenges and engages students.
- Clinically active faculty with national board certification
- *Mandatory on-campus visits:
- NURS 550 – Advanced Physical Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning –Students are required to come to campus twice during the course: once for a midterm assessment and evaluation, and again at the end of the course for a final re-demonstration of clinical assessment skills
- Clinical Orientation coincides with the last day of the NURS 550 on-campus visit. Please note, all post-master’s students are required to attend the clinical orientation day.
- NURS 592 PMHNP I – Summer Residency 5 days
- NURS 593 PMHNP II – Fall Simulation Experience 2 days
- NURS 594 PMHNP III – Winter Simulation Experience 2 days
- NURS 595 PMHNP IV – Spring Residency – 5 days
This is a 55-credit graduate track with a 640 clinical hour requirement. Clinical practicum courses consist of two parts; didactic lectures and clinical practicum rotations that run concurrently. The didactic lectures are held once a week online for three hours. Each clinical practicum course has a required 160 total clinical hours. Students typically complete two eight hour clinical days each week.
Already have an MSN degree?
Post Master's Certificate: This MSN program is available as a Post-Master's Certificate for individuals that hold an MSN degree and would like to gain expertise and national certification in this area of advanced nursing practice. Applicants are evaluated on an individual portfolio review and must complete the master's application package for eligibility for admission.
For additional information on the program, please contact:
Track Coordinator:
Dorit Breiter, DNP, ARNP, PMHNP-BC
dgb33@drexel.edu
Academic Advisor:
Gladys Clapano-Mozdzonek, BA
215-762-8564
Gc346@drexel.edu
Program Coordinator:
Jackie Shepeski, BS
215-762-1751
jpd47@drexel.edu
