School of Nursing
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Role Specialty
In our Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) role specialty, you will learn to provide a full range of specialized services that together constitute mental health and psychiatric care and treatment.
PMHNP Role Specialty at a Glance
Online coursework + one required virtual clinical intensive
RN to MSN
- 64 credit hours + practicum contact hours: 754
- 11 trimesters (3.7 years), although acceleration options are available*
- Sept. & Jan. start dates
BSN to MSN
- 55 credit hours + practicum contact hours: 754
- 9 trimesters (3 years), although acceleration options are available*
- Sept., Jan. & May, start dates + midterm starts
BSN to DNP
- 77 credit hours + practicum contact hours: 1,334
- 12 trimesters** (4 years), although acceleration options are available*
- Sept., Jan. & May start dates + midterm starts
Post-Graduate Nursing
Certificate:
Certificate:
- 37 credit hours + practicum contact hours: 754
- 6 trimesters (2 years), although acceleration options are available*
- Sept., Jan. & May start dates
PMHNP Programs That Prepare You to Provide Vital Mental Healthcare
In our online Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) role specialty, you will learn to provide a full range of specialized services that together constitute mental health and psychiatric care and treatment. You’ll prepare to assess and diagnose patients, prescribe medications and provide therapy interventions. Throughout our psychiatric nurse practitioner role specialty, you may also oversee case management, undertake policy development for programs, and engage in comprehensive advocacy education and research.
You will work with people who have psychiatric disorders, organic brain conditions and substance abuse issues. Our online psychiatric nurse practitioner role specialty prepares you to manage the care of acute and chronic problems. PMHNPs work across a wide range of settings, including private practices, schools, public health facilities, outpatient clinics and hospitals. In this capacity, you will also help meet society’s demand for more nurse practitioners. Employment of nurse practitioners is projected to grow a robust 35% during the current decade, 2024–2034. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, “Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners,” visited September 3, 2025
The MSN and PG-C program prepares you to practice as a skilled psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, while the DNP prepares you to lead, innovate, and transform mental health care at the highest level.
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate students at USAHS may enroll in these online PMHNP programs.
Clinical Intensive
This online nurse practitioner role specialty features one required virtual clinical intensive, where you can fine-tune your advanced practice nursing skills in one of our state-of-the-art Centers for Innovative Clinical Practice. Guided by expert faculty, you will participate in simulated real-world clinical scenarios with your peers and receive personalized feedback and support. For example, you will practice counseling patients in role-plays with your classmates and learn to provide differential diagnoses.
PMHNP Practica
You may complete your practica with a preceptor who is a nurse practitioner or other appropriate clinician who meets accreditation and state licensure requirements. During our online nurse practitioner specializations, you’ll gain experiential learning about the role of a psychiatric mental health NP from a mentor who is working in this capacity. A dedicated advisor on our clinical services team will work with you to secure practica sites. (Students in our PMHNP role specialty should plan on the need to travel and on some occasions, relocate for practica.)
PMHNP Role Specialty Learning Outcomes
In addition to the program learning outcomes, graduates of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner role specialty are expected to achieve the following learning outcomes:
- Perform comprehensive health assessments that incorporate diagnostic reasoning and the interpretation of diagnostic procedures.
- Engage patients and families in planning for health promotion, prevention of disease or disease progression, and symptom management.
- Apply critical thinking in the diagnosis and problem identification of complex issues related to clinical practice, individuals, populations and systems of care.
- Provide ethical, patient-centered care based on best evidence, clinician expertise, patient preference and circumstances.
- Evaluate outcomes of care using individual and aggregate data.
- Implement the role of a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner in a professional, respectful and ethical manner.
More Nursing Role Specialties
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Role Specialty
Are you intrigued to provide health care to patients of varying age demographics? Instead of our online psychiatric nurse practitioner specializations, consider advancing your nursing career by specializing as a family nurse practitioner. The Family Nurse Practitioner role specialty will help you work with people of all ages to diagnose and treat conditions, prescribe medication, and order tests, working from a strong focus on health promotion and education to improve outcomes.
Nurse Executive Role Specialty
As a nurse executive, you’ll have the opportunity to innovate new processes, influence policies and improve patient care. As you lead diverse teams and mentor staff, you can advance the role of nursing in your healthcare organization.
Nurse Educator Role Specialty
In our Nurse Educator role specialty, you’ll learn strategies for teaching various groups, including nursing students, practicing nurses, other healthcare providers, and patients.
The Nurse Educator role specialty is not currently enrolling students.
Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Role Specialty
We provide other cutting-edge online nurse practitioner programs that blend convenience with comprehensive training. Manage the care of patients from young adulthood to old age by considering our Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner role specialty. Top practice settings for AGNPs include hospital outpatient clinics, hospital inpatient units, and private group practices.
The AGNP role specialty is not currently enrolling students.
Let's Connect
We’re here to support you on your educational journey.
Please complete our contact form. An enrollment advisor will reach out to provide information and answer your questions.