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: 15 Credit Hours
Applied Anatomy/Cell Biology
Advanced Health Assessment
Applied Pathophysiology
Applied Pharmacology
Leadership: 5 Credit Hours
Leadership Role
Leadership/Management in a Global Environment
Health Policy/Ethics
Research & Statistics: 11 Credit Hours
Theoretical Foundations
Statistical Measures/Analytic Methods
Research & Scholarship
I,
II,
III &
IV
PMH Specialty: 26 Credit Hours
Foundations of Advanced Practice PMH Nursing
Advanced Diagnosis of Mental Disorders Across the Lifespan
Psychopharmacology
Family Theory
Clinical Practicum
I &
II
Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Specialty Practicum
Operational Medicine: 6 Credit Hours
Military Contingency Medicine/Bushmaster
Total Credit Hours: 63
Highlights
Spotlight
Kudos for the 2009 AORN Journal Writers Contest Award
GSN Masters students Major Stacey S. Freeman and Major Gregory L. Lara and faculty members COL (retired) Linda J. Wanzer, MSN and CAPT (retired) Sandra C. Garmon Bibb, DNSc won the Research Writing contest sponsored by AORN for their article entitled "An Evidence-Based Process for Evaluating Infection Control Policies" published in the AORN Journal. They kindly donated their $ 400 monetary award to the Support Fund for the USU Graduate School of Nursing.