Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
An advanced practice role that promotes health while also detecting and treating acute, episodic, and chronic mental illness across the lifespan
- In-person class about 1x/month, and the balance of learning completed online
- 750 clinical practicum hours, and guidance in finding clinical placements with qualified preceptors
- Graduates are eligible for the PMHNP certification exam administered by ANCC
- Guaranteed admission for UVA School of Nursing alumni
- Application deadline: January 5
BSN to DNP students who choose the psychiatric-mental health specialty are prepared to become advanced practice nurses who promote and maintain health and to prevent, detect and treat acute and chronic mental illness. Addressing the needs of underserved, rural populations is highlighted throughout the program.
The PMHNP is offered as a post-master's certificate and for students enrolled in the BSN to DNP pathway program.
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Students who attend UVA are mentored by faculty members who are experts in their field as educators, clinicians, researchers. Their experiences are additionally enriched by access to other disciplines across the University, including religion, ethics, contemplative sciences, mindfulness, and medicine. All graduate nursing students are required to have a laptop.
Though it depends on the degree with which students enter the program (whether it's a BSN or MSN), DNP students who choose the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) specialty track typically complete core classes, specialty courses, electives, and 14 credits (750 hours) of direct care practicum:
Core Courses (29 credits)
- GNUR 8180: Healthcare Data Analysis (3 credits)
- GNUR 8620: Quality and Safety in Healthcare Systems (4 credits)
- GNUR 8645: Ethics and Leadership in Interprofessional Practice (3 credits)
- GNUR 8650: Information Systems and Patient Care Technology (3 credits)
- GNUR 8660: Evidence-Based Practice (3 credits)
- GNUR 8680: Culturally Sensitive Care/Population Health (3 credits)
- GNUR 9026: Health Policy, Economics & Finance (3 credits)
- GNUR 9027: Practice Change Management (2 credits)
- GNUR 9710: Implementation of Practice Change (3 credits)
- GNUR 9720: Dissemination of Practice Scholarship (2 credits)
PMHNP Specialty Track Concentration and Elective Courses
- GNUR 6251: Biological Basis of Mental Health and Mental Illness (3 credits)
- GNUR 6252: Mental Health Theories and Therapies (3 credits)
- GNUR 6253: Psychiatric Mental Health Disorders and Diagnoses (3 credits)
- GNUR 6020 Advanced Pharmacology (3 credits)
- GNUR 6027: Advanced Pharmacology Specialty Seminar (1 credit)
- GNUR 6031: Transition to Advanced Practice (2 credits)
- GNUR 9027: Practice Change Management (1 credit)
- Electives (9 credits)
Practicum Courses
- GNUR 7251: Psychiatric Mental Health NP Practicum I (4 credits)
- GNUR 7254: Psychiatric Mental Health NP Practicum II I (5 credits)
- GNUR 7255: Psychiatric Mental Health NP Practicum III (5 credits)
All DNP students enroll in 14 credits (750 hours) in direct care practicum. Students select courses in consultation with their academic and faculty advisors based on the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to conduct their DNP projects. Additionally, students select master's and/or doctoral-level didactic coursework from across the University.
Clinical/practicum activities are generally conducted within Virginia, but may be conducted outside Virginia if the University is authorized to place students in that state and pending faculty approval.
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Nurses across the School's advanced practice specialty areas, including its MSN specialties, post-master's certificates, and DNP program pathways, earn clinical hours with qualified, highly-experienced mentor nurses, at sites across the Charlottesville-Albemarle area, central Virginia, the commonwealth, and the mid-Atlantic region, at sites including:
- Addiction Allies, LLC
- Bon Secours Blackstone Family Practice
- Bon Secours Patterson Avenue Family Practice
- Bon Secours St. Mary's Hospital
- Capitol Pediatrics, PC
- Carilion Clinic Family Medicine - Brambleton
- Carilion Roanoke Memorial (Clinic & Hospitalists)
- Charlottesville Integrated Psychiatry, LLC
- Children's Hospital a.k.a. CNMC
- CVHS - Buckingham
- CVHS - Southern Albemarle
- Family Medicine of Albemarle
- Inova Fairfax Hospital - Inova Health System
- Inova Health System
- KidMed Urgent Care
- Mental Fitness Matters, PLLC
- Old Dominion University Student Health Services
- Planned Parenthood
- Raphine Medical Associates
- Revolution Healthcare LLC
- Sentara Cardiology Specialists
- Sentara Family & Internal Med Physicians - Hampton
- Sentara Family Medicine - Virginia Beach
- Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital
- Sentara Norfolk General Hospital
- Sentara Obici Hospital
- The Pediatric Center - VCC Main Office
- UNC Medical Center (Neurosciences Hospital)
- UVA Child and Family Psychiatry
- UVA Child Development & Rehabilitation (was KCRC)
- UVA Children's Hospital
- UVA Developmental Pediatrics Clinic
- UVA Family Medicine Stoney Creek
- UVA Health Culpeper Medical Center
- UVA Heart and Vascular Center Fontaine
- UVA HIV Clinic
- UVA Infectious Diseases Clinic
- UVA Medical Center
- UVA Memory and Aging Care Clinic
- UVA Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery Clinic
- UVA Midlife & Gynecologic Specialties Northridge
- UVA OB/GYN Outpatient Clinic
- UVA Pediatric Hematology/Oncology(Battle Building)
- UVA Pediatric Neurology and Epilepsy Clinic
- UVA Primary Care Locust Grove
- UVA Primary Care Riverside
- UVA School of Nursing Clinical Simulation Learning Center (CSLC)
- UVA Student Health and Wellness Center
- UVA Teen and Young Adult Health Center
- UVA Transplant Center
- UVA University Medical Associates (UMA) Clinic
- VCU CHoR - Hematology and Oncology Clinic
- VCU Student Health Services
- VCU Virginia Commonwealth University Health System
- Veterans Affairs, Richmond, VA (McGuire)
- Virginia Hospital Center Arlington Health System
- Virginia Skin Medical and Cosmetic Dermatology
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