Online MSN PMHNP | Walsh University Online

Fast Facts
Curriculum
Clinical Placement

Clinical Placement Support

We know finding preceptors for clinical rotations can be one of the most challenging and stressful parts of any MSN program. As a Walsh MSN-PMHNP student, you’ll be paired with a clinical placement coordinator who will collaborate with you to secure clinical sites and preceptors for your clinical courses.

Our goal is to facilitate a streamlined, high-quality clinical placement experience to help you apply newly gained knowledge, values, and skills from the classroom to the clinical area. By assisting in the management of placement logistics, we hope you’ll be free to focus your efforts where they’re needed most—on coursework and developing competencies.

Online PMHNP Program Curriculum

Walsh’s contemporary curriculum ensures students are equipped with the core competencies required to prepare for their board certification. Students will complete 48 credit hours and 600 clinical hours in as few as two years of full-time study. A part-time study option is also available. Below is a sample list of courses you will take while enrolled in the MSN-PMHNP program. For a full list, please download a brochure.

NURS 637
Psychiatric Assessment and Intervention Across the Lifespan

This course will provide students with a comprehensive overview of the major principles of assessment and intervention related to psychiatric diagnoses across the lifespan. The course will place emphasis on the acquisition, use and interpretation of assessment data. Interviewing techniques commonly used will be explored. The course will also address risk assessment, ethical and diversity issues including cultural bias and fairness.

NURS 639
Advanced Principles of Psychopathology and Psychopharmacology

This course will build upon 610 (advanced pathophysiology) and 612 (advanced pharmacology) as a foundation for the PMHNP. Concepts related to psychopathology, neurobiology, genomics, immunology, epidemiology, and pharmacotherapeutics with application to psychiatric diagnosis and pharmacotherapy will be discussed. Evidence based psychiatric prescribing guidelines will be evaluated including classification of medications, actions, adverse reactions, drug interactions, interventions, and patient education to achieve the highest outcome for patients while addressing ethical issues.

NURS 660
Therapeutic Interventions

This course provides learners with advanced knowledge of individual and group therapeutic modalities needed to provide support to clients experiencing psychiatric and mental health disorders across the lifespan. Emphasis is on modalities used in preventative, acute and long-term care situations. The practitioner’s ability to recognize and address dysfunctional interpersonal patterns through effective and adaptive communication, including the importance of the therapeutic use of self in engaging the client(s) will be explored. Learners will be expected to critically examine various psychotherapeutic techniques and theoretical orientations while developing a working framework for future practice rooted in a growing professional identity.

NURS 675A
Seminar: Care of the PMH Patient

This course is designed to address common mental health disorders encountered in outpatient mental health settings. The course will focus on the development of knowledge and skills of the PMHNP student in the management of various mental health diagnoses in the outpatient setting. Emphasis will be placed on knowledge and skills needed for health history taking, mental health assessment and disease management of patients across the lifespan.

NURS 677A
Seminar: Care of the PMH Patient in Crisis

This course is designed to address the management of psychiatric patients in crisis across the lifespan. The course will improve the knowledge, competence and skills of the PMHNP student in addressing various mental health diagnoses in the acute psychiatric setting. The course emphasizes the development of knowledge and skills in mental health assessment and disease management of patients in crisis across the lifespan.

Upcoming Start Dates

Applications are currently being accepted for next intake

CCNE Accredited Online Masters in Nursing Education

Online PMHNP Program Eligible States

Currently the Walsh MSN-PMHNP program is available in the following states. Visit our State Authorization page for more information.

Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Hawaii
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
New Mexico
New Jersey
North Carolina
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Texas
Vermont
Virginia
West Virginia

Frequently Asked Questions

HOW DO CLINICALS WORK? IS THERE ANY PLACEMENT SUPPORT AVAILABLE?

Clinicals are a required portion of the program that allow you to apply the skills you learn in real-life situations. Our online MSN-PMHNP program includes three clinical rotations for a total of 600 clinical hours. 

As a Walsh MSN-PMHNP student, you’ll be paired with a clinical placement coordinator who will collaborate with you to assist in securing clinical sites and preceptors for your clinical courses.

How long is the program?

The program consists of 48 total credit hours. You can complete the program in as little as two years as a full-time student, with a part-time option also available.

ARE THERE ANY TUITION/FINANCING OPTIONS?

Yes, we offer competitive tuition rates at $775 per credit hour, and we also have a variety of financial aid options available. Visit our Tuition and Financial Aid page for more details.

WHAT ARE THE RESIDENCY AND TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS?

As a student enrolled in the online MSN-PMHNP program, you’ll participate in two intensive experiences: one online and one in-person on the Walsh University campus. The on-campus experience provides hands-on learning, workshops and training.

Online PMHNP Program Careers and Outcomes

Online PMHNP Program Salaries and Careers

Between 2020 and 2030, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, expects nurse practitioners' employment to grow 52%, well over the national average. You will have exceptional

opportunities as a PMHNP. With a nationwide shortage of psychiatric and mental health practitioners, organizations are seeking NPs in this discipline. PMHNPs are equipped to serve and answer the call.

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners work in a variety of environments, including:

Independent practices
Behavioral health clinics
Residential treatment centers
Mental health centers

Along with appealing job opportunities, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners also enjoy far above average compensation, with median wages of $137,000. This compares to median wages of $73,300 for registered nurses in 2019.

Download a Brochure

A PMHNP Nurse Fills a Substantial Demand for Mental Health Care

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners, or PMHNPs, are highly specialized advanced practice registered nurses who work autonomously or in collaboration with other healthcare professionals to deliver mental and behavioral care to patients. An online MSN-PMHNP program covers a curriculum that prepares a qualified nurse to take the PMHNP National Certification exam. PMHNP nurses care for individuals, families and groups throughout their lifespan, providing treatment for a range of mental, behavioral and substance abuse issues in independent practices, behavioral health centers, residential treatment centers and other healthcare environments.

A PMHNP nurse who graduates from an online MSN program, DNP program or PMHNP Certificate program is increasingly being called upon to fill the gap in mental health care. Current statistics show that 55% of U.S. counties have no practicing psychiatrists and only 4.7% of NPs specialize in psychiatric/mental health. Due to this substantial shortage of mental health practitioners, a PMHNP nurse is well positioned to help fill the mental health care gap.

With a focus on mental and behavioral health as well as health care policy and organizational management, Walsh University’s MSN-PMHNP online program can help you prepare to become a confident, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, ready to make a difference in the lives of patients and entire communities.

Walsh University also offers the following MSN programs:

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Master of Science in Nursing: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner