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. 

Building on the theoretical knowledge and clinical experience of the BSN-prepared nurse, the PMHNP seminars focus on assessment and management of serious mental illness. Particular emphasis is placed on the integration of neuro-biologic, psychosocial, and psychiatric nursing knowledge in delivery of care to individuals experiencing a wide range of psychiatric, mental health disorders.

Depending on the degree with which DNP students enter the program (whether it's a BSN, a generalist MSN, or a specialty MSN), DNP students who choose the PMHNP specialty area typically complete classes in:

• Advanced Pathophysiology
• Advanced Pharmacology
• Advanced Health Assessment
• Designing, implementing, and evaluating the DNP Scholarly Project
• Population Health/Epidemiology
• Data Analysis
• Ethics and Leadership
• Evidence-Based Practice
• Policy and Economics
• as well as PMHNP specialty classes in Biological Basis of Mental Health & Mental Illness, Mental Health Theories & Therapies, and PMH Disorders & Diagnoses

The length of time required to complete the program depends on several factors: whether you have enter having already earned a BSN or MSN degree; whether you are a full-time or part-time student; the number of practicum hours required; and your final scholarly project. Full-time students with a BSN degree can typically complete the DNP pathway in 33 months; students in the combined Adult-Gerontology Acute Care CNS and NP typically complete the program in 36 months. Part-time students complete the program in 5-6 years.

The DNP program culminates in the successful completion of a scholarly project—a significant, evidence-based contribution to existing nursing knowledge suitable for publication in a peer reviewed journal or a book—designed by the student in collaboration with a project team. Students are encouraged to discuss concepts for the scholarly practice project early in their study.

Practicum

DNP faculty mentors help students create individualized clinical plans to meet their professional, specialty and geographic goals. Clinical requirements do not need to be met at the UVA Medical Center; the School has existing clinical contracts across the Commonwealth and beyond and students may also ‘bring their own’ clinical sites from the area or outside of Virginia. If a new contractual arrangement must be established for the student’s practicum, be advised that this process can take two to three months.

Clinical/practicum activities are generally conducted within the Commonwealth of Virginia. Clinical/practicum activities may be conducted outside Virginia if the University is authorized to place students in that state and pending faculty approval.

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