This post-master’s Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certificate prepares nurse practitioners to evaluate and treat patients suffering from mental health disorders by providing evidence-based therapies and medication management for patients of all ages. Qualified candidates will hold a Master of Science in Nursing or Doctor of Nursing Practice degree as an advanced practice nurse practitioner along with current certification and prescriptive authority. This one-year, 18 credit certificate, taught by mental health experts, will help fill the urgent need for mental health providers. 

General Information

1. The master’s degree program in nursing at Concordia University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
2. All students must maintain an unencumbered nurse practitioner prescribing license while in the program. As this is an online program, sometimes there are out of state requirements that apply to the clinical setting. If clinicals will take place outside the state of Wisconsin, it is the student's responsibility to make sure their program of study is eligible and meets all requirements within that state's Department of Licensing & Regulation.
3. Students must earn a minimum of a B in all courses. Policies regarding progression and retention will be applied if the the student earns less than a B in any course.
4. Students are expected to comply with the requirements as stated in the Student Responsibilities Agreement.
5. This certificate program requires a minimum of 500 clinical hours in the mental health field. Based on their level of performance, a student may need to complete additional hours to be successful.
6. Students will identify and secure clinical preceptors which then need to be approved for appropriateness by the graduate faculty. The Clinical Contract Coordinator is available for assistance.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation the graduate student will be able to:

1. Integrate liberal arts and sciences into advanced nursing roles and education.
2. Analyze organizational and systems leadership principles to improve quality and patient safety in advanced nursing roles.
3. Integrate evidence-based approaches into advanced nursing practice and education.
4. Integrate healthcare technologies in the delivery, enhancement, and coordination of quality patient care.
5. Analyze healthcare policies, finances, and regulations that impact healthcare systems.
6. Integrate patient-centered care using interprofessional teams to improve health outcomes of individuals and populations.
7. Integrate evidence-based, culturally appropriate knowledge in clinical prevention and population health at the individual and aggregate level.
8. Assume accountability for advanced nursing practice and lifelong learning.
9. Apply best evidence to assure competence in advanced nursing practice or nursing education with diverse populations.

Curriculum

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Required Core Courses
NURS 6500	Neuropathophysiology & Psychopharmacology for Advanced Nursing	3
NURS 6510	Psychiatric Mental Health Theory I	3
NURS 6515	Psychiatric Mental Health Theory II	3
NURS 6520	Psychiatric Mental Health Theory III	3
NURS 7510	Psychiatric Mental Health Practicum I	2
NURS 7515	Psychiatric Mental Health Practicum II	2
NURS 7520	Psychiatric Mental Health Practicum III	2
Total Hours		18

Entrance Requirements for the Graduate School of Nursing in Addition to Graduate School Requirements

• Current certification as an advanced nurse practitioner with prescriptive authority
• Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
• Science GPA is evaluated as part of the admission process
• Current unencumbered licensure as a registered nurse in the USA
• Current CPR certification
• Ability to perform Technical Standards for Registered Nurses

Application/Admission Process

Students must apply online through NursingCas. All students applying for admission must submit:

• All official college transcripts leading to the nurse practitioner degree
• A formal essay addressing the following topics:
  • Your rationale for choosing a career as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Your personal compatibility with the CUW mission
  • Your plans for academic success in the program, including time management, stress management, and professional communication
  • Address any previous academic issues
  • Upon completion of your degree, where do you envision yourself practicing and with what populations
• Professional resume
• Current unencumbered RN license
• Three letters of reference: two must be professional and/or academic and one must be from an individual who has worked with the applicant in a professional capacity and has a minimum of a Master's degree.
• Applicants who have completed graduate level classes and wish to have them evaluated must submit these transcripts and the transfer credit form.
• GRE exams are not required.

The deadline for fall admission is July 1.

In addition to the graduate admission requirements, there may be a pre-admission telephone interview.

The admission committee will review applications and a formal letter/email of acceptance or denial will be sent to the student.

Transfer of Credit

The Graduate Nursing Program will accept up to 3 transfer credits of previous graduate level coursework into the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certificate based on the following criteria:

1. Courses transferred must be comparable in scope and subject matter to courses offered in the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certificate. The student will need to provide a course description and the course syllabus for any course requested for transfer. A transfer credit form must be completed and submitted to the Graduate Nursing Office for approval upon admission.
2. All courses transferred in must be at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
3. All transfer credits must be certified by the Registrar and approved for the degree by the graduate nursing program director.
4. Neuropathophysiology and Psychopharmacology will not be accepted as transfer credits.
5. Transfer credits will not be applied to the cumulative grade point average the student earns while in Concordia's Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certificate .