Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program
Philosophy
The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program is dedicated to preparing graduate nurses for clinical practice, management, research and leadership in the advanced practice role. The rigorous curriculum stresses concepts directed toward delivering care in the federal health care system; making USU graduates uniquely qualified to provide quality care in diverse settings. The program emphasizes research and statistical methodologies enabling our students to critically analyze scientific literature, evaluate nursing outcomes and participate in research activities.
Design
The PMHNP program is a 24-month, full-time program, which uses a life-span case study approach in the development of critical thinking skills. Our curriculum incorporates operational readiness in a changing environment with evidence-based clinical decision-making processes to optimize positive mental health outcomes. Didactic content is reinforced with clinical practice performed in military and federal clinics with experienced nurse practitioner and physician preceptors. Program faculty members are experienced Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Nurse Specialist clinicians and educators. A master's thesis or scholarly project is required for graduation.
Basic & Clinical Sciences: 16 Credit Hours
Applied Anatomy/Cell Biology
Advanced Health Assessment
Applied Physiology/Pathophysiology
Applied Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice
Leadership: 5 Credit Hours
Leadership Role in Interdisciplinary Healthcare
Leadership/Management in a Global Environment
Ethics and Policy in Federal Health Systems
Research & Statistics: 11 Credit Hours
Theoretical Foundations for Military and Federal Health Research
Statistical Measures/Analytic Methods
Applied Scholarly Inquiry I
, II
Capstone Clinical Investigative Project I, II
PMH Specialty: 28 Credit Hours
Foundations of Advanced Practice PMH Nursing
Advanced Diagnosis of Mental Disorders Across the Lifespan
Psychopharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice
Family Theory
Clinical Practicum
I &
II
Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Specialty Practicum
Operational Medicine: 5 Credit Hours
Operational Readiness for Advanced Psychiatric Practice in Contingency Environments
Total Credit Hours: 64
Downloadable Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Curriculum
Highlights
Spotlight
USU faculty takes first place in Navy Wide Research Competition
Several Graduate School of Nursing faculty members and students were honored during the 26th Annual Navy-Wide Research Competition held on May 26 at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP).
CDR Greg Nezat, USU's former research director at NMCP, and CDR Chris Oudekerk, USU's current research director at NMCP, represented the winning team in the Navy Medicine East competition.
Their presentation, "The effect of intraoperative intravenous lidocaine infusion on the reduction of postoperative pain and return of bowel function in patients undergoing minor laparoscopic gynecological procedures," was supported by USU teammates LT Philip Grady, LCDRs Nathaniel Clark and John Lenahan, CDR Robert Hawkins and CAPT (Ret) Joe Pelligrini.