Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Program Description

The Psychiatric Mental Health (PMH) Nurse Practitioner Program provides qualified students the opportunity to acquire an in-depth theoretical understanding of advanced psychiatric nursing practice. The PMH program first established in 1965 transitioned to an NP program in 1994. Today, graduates of the program are practicing in extremely varied and diverse settings such as community mental health centers, day treatment programs, substance abuse programs, shelters for women and children, liaison settings, and private practice.

Students are encouraged to select clinical specialization with children, adolescents, adults, or elderly patients and families. Theory and supervised clinical experience form the foundation for practice as a primary therapist for individuals, groups, and families suffering from psychiatric illness. The program draws on psychodynamic, developmental, biological, and family systems models. Attention is given to issues of ethnicity, gender, and culture.

Graduates are eligible to take the certifying exam offered by the American Nurses Association and are eligible for licensure in New York State as Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners. 

The Program Director for the Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specialty is Penelope Buschman, MS, RN, PMHCNS-BC, FAAN.

Clinical Sites

Clinical sites are available in the tri-state area and beyond and are arranged with students according to their learning needs.

Admission

Please contact the Office of Admissions for details regarding admission and financial aid packages. Faculty reviews applications on a rolling basis so that students may apply to begin this program in the summer or fall semester.

Admission criteria include:

*RN's with an associate degree and a non-nursing baccalaureate degree are required to complete 5 credits in community health in addition to the course requirements listed.

Curriculum

For Applicants Who Hold an Undergraduate Degree in Nursing
A sample program plan is provided below to make you aware of the academic requirements of the program. Please be advised that this program plan is a sample, and individual plans of study are reviewed and approved upon acceptance to the program. Progression in the program is contingent upon meeting academic policies. The School of Nursing reserves the right to change the course offering schedule as stated in the student bulletin.

Sample Program Plan

Course Number Course Name Credits Type
Summer I: 7 Credits
N6680 Introduction to Addictive Behaviors: Theories of Causation 3 Specialty
N6920 Health and Social Policy: The Context for Practice and Research 4 Core
Fall I: 12 Credits
N6121 Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan 3 Core
N6510 The Development of Human Behavior Across the Life Span 3 Specialty
N8102 Advanced Pharmacology 3 Core
N8792 Advanced Health Assessment in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing I 2 Specialty
N8793 Advanced Health Assessment in Psychiatric-Mental Health in Nursing II: Clinical Practicum 1 Specialty
Spring I: 10 Credits
N6594 Psychopathology 2 Specialty
N6835 Assessing Clinical Evidence 4 Core
N8560 Family Theory in Context 2 Specialty
N8590 Theory and Practice of Individual Psychotherapy I 2 Specialty
Summer II: 5 Credits
N6940 Management and Advanced Practice Nursing 1 Core
N8571 Seminar on Family Therapy and Technique 2 Specialty
N8591 Theory and Practice of Individual Psychotherapy II 2 Specialty
Fall II: 6 Credits
N8562 Practice of Family Therapy 2 Specialty
N8588 Theory of Group Psychotherapy 2 Specialty
N8592 Clinical Practice and Supervision with Groups 2 Specialty
Spring II: 7 Credits
N8290 Incorporating Genetics into Advanced Nursing Practice 3 Core
N8594 Advanced Practice in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing I 4 Specialty
Summer III: 5 Credits
N8113 Psychopharmacology in Psychiatric and Mental Health Advanced 1 Specialty
N8595 Advanced Practice in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing II 4 Specialty
Total Credits 52  

School of Nursing

The School of Nursing has paved the way for professional nursing since 1892 and continues to lead the field as the foremost institution for advanced practice nursing.

The School of Nursing is a designated World Health Organization Collaborating Center for International Nursing Development in Advanced Practice. With urban clinical sites, expert faculty practitioners, cutting edge research, and the strength of the Columbia name and reputation, the School of Nursing produces graduates who possess the skills necessary to bring advanced practice nursing into the new millennium. As medical advances offer a cascade of new and useful therapies, the need for more health care providers will increase exponentially. Our country will face many health care challenges in the next 20 years, and nurse practitioners are essential to providing access to quality primary care.

Founded in 1892 as Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing, the School became part of Columbia University in 1937 and began offering the baccalaureate degree. It is one of the oldest schools of nursing in the US. In 1956, it became the first nursing program in the country to award a master’s degree in a clinical nursing specialty. In 1999, the School granted its first doctoral degree. More than 10,000 nurses have graduated since the School opened.

The School shares the Columbia University Health Sciences Campus with the Mailman School of Public Health, the School of Dental and Oral Surgery, and the College of Physicians and Surgeons. Each of these schools adds to the richness and diversity of the educational experience of students and faculty.

School of Nursing faculty have substantial experience in curriculum, instructional design, and research. They maintain expertise in their areas of teaching responsibility through participation at local, regional, and national conferences, involvement in scholarly presentations and publications, and faculty practice.

Columbia University School of Nursing is distinguished by the clinical excellence of its programs and graduates. Columbia nurses are making crucial contributions and improving the health of individuals wherever they practice.

This page was last updated on 05/19/2009 and is subject to change at any time.