Online MSN Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Advance Your Nursing Career in Psychiatric Mental Health
2.5 years
ANCC Exam Preparation
Learn More Today
Complete the form to learn more about this program.
Sacred Heart University’s 42-credit MSN PMHNP program is designed for BSN-prepared nurses who wish to advance as Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs). Students gain the expertise required for specialized, psychiatric APRNs. This credential is vital for those looking to achieve certification and APRN licensure in psychiatric mental health.
What Makes Us Unique?
Students develop the skills to manage the care of patients with mental health conditions, while faculty experts provide a close mentoring relationship, while residency experiences support hands-on learning skills.
- Duration 2.5 years
- Cost per Credit $955
- Credit Hours 42
Program Benefits
- Prepare for the certification exam from the American Nurses Credentialing Center
- Learn from practicing clinical experts
- Specialize your MSN in Psychiatric Mental Health
Become Licensed as an APRN in Psychiatric Mental Health
Graduates from the MSN PMHNP program emerge with expanded professional skills that allow them to care for a patient’s mental and emotional needs in various healthcare settings at all stages of life. In addition to conceptual knowledge and hands-on mastery, Sacred Heart nurses learn from clinical experts in an environment that prioritizes social justice and concern for the common good, resulting in advanced healthcare professionals invested in positively shaping their communities.
Collaboratively Manage the Care of Patients with Psychiatric Mental Health Conditions
In addition to enhancing patient care and career opportunities, earning the PMHNP can help nurses meet the growing demand for mental health nurse professionals. With more than 30,000 jobs projected to open each year for qualified practitioners1. PMHNP graduates will be able to successfully step into roles in hospitals, outpatient care settings, and more.
Career OutlookAn Online Curriculum for Expert Nurse Practitioners
Transfer up to 6 credits
Complete courses part-time
Sacred Heart core courses include Health Care Policy and Ethics for Contemporary Nursing Practice, Advanced Pathophysiology for the Nurse Practitioner, Advanced Primary Care of Families in Complex Systems and more. In addition, all programs supplement online coursework with in-person residencies and 540 hours of required practicum experience so nurses graduate with confidence in the skills they need to prepare for certification and, eventually, licensure.
Curriculum DetailsAdmission Requirements
Transfer up to 6 credit hours
No GRE/GMAT required
Students who apply to the MSN PMHNP program choose to embark on the next stage of their career with the support of an education that readies them to treat patients in mind, body and soul. An overview of the admissions requirements to apply to this program include:
| Degree | BSN from an accredited college with a 3.0 GPA |
| Transcripts | Official transcripts of all prior nursing and academic work |
| Current Licensure | Copy of current, unencumbered U.S. RN license from the state where you practice |
| Online Application Form | Apply Now |
| Additional Requirements | Visit our admissions page for a full list of requirements needed to apply |
Tuition and Fees
$40,110 Tuition
$955 per Credit Hour
By investing in Sacred Heart’s MSN-PMHNP program, nurses can acquire the knowledge, skills and credentials needed to become a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, a highly sought-after specialty in the nursing field. This advanced degree can help open up new career paths and leadership opportunities within healthcare organizations, allowing nurses to have a greater impact on patient care and outcomes.
Note: Tuition rates are subject to change and additional fees apply and vary by program and specialization.
Tuition & FeesWhat You’ll Learn
Students in Sacred Heart’s online MSN PMHNP degree will learn to assess, diagnose and treat patients at different life stages with a range of physical, mental and emotional healthcare needs. Upon completion, graduates will have the conceptual and practical knowledge to provide—and promote—equitable, high-quality care in their communities.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Translate into action knowledge from the philosophical and theoretical traditions of nursing science and other disciplinary perspectives to facilitate the ethical integration of evidence-based practice to advance nursing scholarship.
- Lead collaboratively within the interprofessional team to develop and evaluate plans of care with evidence-based, person-centered care principles promoting quality and safety outcomes.
- Collaborate with strategic partners to implement health policy while advocating for equitable and sustainable population health care.
- Integrate complex systems-based practice to develop innovative and evidence supported equitable solutions to improve health outcomes across the lifespan of diverse populations.
- Apply best practices of informatics and communication technologies in diverse care settings to collect, analyze, and synthesize data to promote quality and safe health care outcomes.
- Demonstrate professional behaviors reflecting current regulations, policies, and practice integrating professional concepts including ethics, compassion, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Model leadership within the nursing profession that embraces self-care, a spirit of inquiry, advocacy, change, mentorship, and service to others.
Online Study at Sacred Heart University
By enrolling in Sacred Heart University’s online program, students gain access to a team of supportive faculty and expert student services. Online study includes:
- A flexible, asynchronous format
- An experienced and caring faculty
- 24/7 IT Support
- Full-time and part-time flexibility
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have a question we don’t cover here, request more information or call 877-791-7181.
Sacred Heart University’s online MSN program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The CCNE is an autonomous accrediting agency that ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate, and residency programs in nursing. It demonstrates to potential students and future employers that their school meets specific high standards and adequately prepares nurses for practice at a particular degree level.
For nurses who are evaluating prospective programs, the accredited status tells them that the education they receive will provide them with the knowledge to practice at the next level in their nursing career. It’s also significant for students who may want to continue to further education, as most master’s degree programs will not accept candidates whose BSN has not been conferred from an accredited university or program.
The deadline is four weeks prior to the start date unless the program has reached capacity. We encourage you to apply early and secure your spot in the program if you’re considering the upcoming term.
There is no licensure for this program. The online MSN in Clinical Nurse Education will make you eligible to sit for the Nurse Educator Certification from the National League for Nursing.
You’ll complete 36–39 credits to earn your MSN, depending on the specialization you select.
We like to keep our class sizes small. Sacred Heart’s nursing programs typically have 15-28 students per online course.
You can earn a Master of Science in Nursing with Sacred Heart University within two years.
Sources
- “Nursing at Sacred Heart University.” Retrieved April 20, 2023, from https://www.collegefactual.com/colleges/sacred-heart-university/academic-life/academic-majors/health-care-professions/nursing/#rankings
- “Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives and Nurse Practitioners,” Occupational Outlook Handbook, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved April 13, 2023, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.htm