Master of Science in Nursing (Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner)
A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) who holds a master’s or doctoral degree in a specific population focus. These include family, adult-gerontology (primary or acute care), neonatal, pediatrics (primary or acute care), women’s health, or psychiatric-mental health populations. Texas Woman’s University offers programs for family, adult-gerontology (primary and acute care), pediatric (primary care), women’s health, and psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner tracks.
The Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) is prepared in the mental health assessment, treatment, and management of mental health disorders for clients and families of all ages. The PMHNP provides advanced therapeutic modalities such as individual, group, and family psychotherapy as well as prescribing psychotherapeutic medications.
Marketable Skills
Defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 60x30 Strategic Plan as, "Those skills valued by employers that can be applied in a variety of work settings, including interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skills areas. These skills can be either primary or complementary to a major and are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities."
- Advance a culture of excellence through lifelong learning in the care setting.
- Navigate and integrate care services across the healthcare system.
- Design innovative nursing practices.
- Translate evidence into nursing practice.
Admissions
All students must meet the University requirements as outlined in the Admission to the TWU Graduate School section of the catalog.
The academic program may have additional admission criteria that must also be completed as outlined on the program's website.
Degree Requirements
Total Semester Credit Hours Required
45 semester credit hours (SCH).
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| BIOL 5333 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 |
| NURS 5663 | Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NURS 5643 | Advanced Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NURS 5073 | Evidence-Based Practice for the Promotion of Quality Outcomes | 3 |
| NURS 5093 | Theoretical Foundations and the Advanced Nursing Role | 3 |
| NURS 5133 | Health Policy and Health Care Delivery for Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 |
| Total SCHs | 18 | |
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) | ||
| NURS 5912 | Advanced Psychiatric Diagnostics | 2 |
| NURS 5922 | Advanced Psychiatric Interviewing and Assessment | 2 |
| NURS 5932 | Psychopharmacology for the Advanced Practice Nurse | 2 |
| NURS 5952 | Psychotherapeutic Interventions | 2 |
| NURS 5933 | Establishing Therapeutic Relationships | 3 |
| NURS 5953 | Advanced Psychotherapeutic Interventions | 3 |
| NURS 5205 | Advanced Therapeutic Relationships | 5 |
| NURS 5183 | Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program Synthesis | 3 |
| NURS 5225 | Holistic Psychiatric Care | 5 |
| Total SCHs | 27 | |
Special Requirements
All tracks are approved for Distance Education.
- A grade of B or higher must be achieved in all required courses. A student who has earned a grade of less than B (C, D, or F) in two required courses at the graduate level or who has earned a grade of less than B (C, D, or F) twice in the same graduate-level required course will be removed from the nursing program. A student who does not maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher will be dismissed from the nursing program. For the purpose of removal from the nursing program, a grade of less than B is counted as a grade of less than B even if the course has been successfully repeated.
- Students admitted to the master’s program provisionally, based on low GPA, must complete the first 12 semester credit hours of graduate courses with grades of B or better in each course; at least 9 semester credit hours must be in nursing courses. A provisionally admitted student will be dismissed from the program if a grade of C or lower is made in any course during the probationary period.
- Graduate students have six years to complete the MSN program.
Time Limit
Semester credit hours older than six years, including transfer courses, cannot apply toward the master’s degree or post-master's certificate completion.
Final Examination
Oral examination of the completed professional or clinical project (subject to change).
