Advanced Practice Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing

Developed to meet the  challenges and needs of today’s mental health populations, this innovative program prepares psychiatric nurses for advanced practice.

Program Description	The courses focus on preparing both a primary mental health care provider and a mental health service program director with pharmacology, assessment,and psychotherapy skills. A variety of educational experiences have been planned to prepare nurses to be on the cutting edge of psychiatric-mental health care as students will be able to focus on adult or child and adolescent populations. The two-year program may also be completed over a four-year period part-time, and scholarships are available for qualified students.
Program Goals	1. Function as advanced practice nurses in psychiatric-mental health settings 2.  Be community school-based and work with populations, especially the underserved and those from diverse cultures. 3. Work as primary care providers, case managers and/or program directors. 4. Have assessment and pharmacology skills. 5. Be eligible for certification as an Adult Psychiatric-Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist or as a Child/Adolescent Psychiatric-Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist. 6.Be on the cutting edge of health care reform.

Program Courses

Psychiatric-Mental Health/APN Academic Planning Record (Word Format)

Core Courses

Required Second Tier courses for this program
NURS 608 Psychopharmacology	1
NURS 610 Pharmacology	3
PSYCH 714 Introduction to Neuropsychology	3
ANTH 642 Ethnopsychology	3
PHIL 505 Moral Issues in Healthcare	3

Required Third Tier courses for this program
NURS 741 Bio-Behavioral Psych-Nursing	3
NURS 742 Mental Health of the Individual	3
NURS 743 Mental Health of the Family	3
or	3
NURS 756 Mental Health of the Group	3
NURS 746 Community Mental Health I	1
NURS 747 Community Mental Health II	2

For information contact:

Dr. Janet Merritt
The Catholic University of America
School of Nursing
Washington, DC 20064
Phone 202-319-6547