Program Overview
The Doctor of Nursing Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program track is designed to prepare advanced practice nurses to excel in psychiatric mental health care. The curriculum includes extensive practical experience, translational research preparation, expanded theoretical understanding and high-level integration of knowledge into professional practice.
Program Structure
The PMHNP program is a 9-semester 70-credit hour program that combines didactic coursework, simulated clinical experiences, and supervised clinical practice. The curriculum is carefully crafted to meet the ten American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials domains for advanced level nursing education, the Standards of the National Task Force (NTF) for quality nurse practitioner education, and the nine-core nurse practitioner (NP) competencies of the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF). Graduates are qualified to sit for the national PMHNP certification exam offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).
Note: The curriculum and program details are subject to change. Please refer to the university's official website or contact the program coordinator for the most up-to-date information.
The DNP program at Dominican University offers two options for admission: one for students with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, and one for students with a master’s degree in nursing. For post-BSN students, the focus is on coursework that expands their knowledge base in areas of pharmacotherapeutics, pathophysiology and health assessment. Post-master’s students take advanced coursework that builds on their prior education, professional roles, and practice-oriented experiences. As a post-master’s student, you will also gain new knowledge and skills that position you as a leader in advancing nursing practice that is evidence-based and grounded in collaboration and partnership.