Deliver Holistic Psychiatric Care Across the Lifespan as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
The Master of Science Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program equips nurses with the advanced knowledge and skills required to assess and manage mental health disorders across the lifespan and to navigate ethical, legal, and cultural considerations specific to the psychiatric-mental health population. Through a combination of core nursing courses, specialized psychiatric nursing coursework, and extensive clinical practicum experiences, students learn to provide evidence-based care, advocate for patients, and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams. Graduates are prepared to pursue certification as a PMHNP through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board and the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
The upcoming start date is expected to be January 7th, 2025, pending SACSCOC approval.
SACSCOC Accredited
Florida Southern College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award bachelor’s master’s, and doctoral degrees. The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Master of Science in Nursing and Post-Master’s Certificate tracks are currently pending approval by SACSCOC. Applicants selected for the program will receive an offer of admission promptly upon notification of approval from SACSCOC.
Top Reasons
Exceptional Support
Your program faculty and support staff will be active in your experience from start to finish. Our committed support system assists you in preparing for the national certification exam and helping you reach your professional goals. The PMHNP program strives to produce responsible and productive citizens who will promote and advance the communities they serve. Learn from professors who will guide and mentor you toward success.
High Demand
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nurse Practitioner positions are projected to experience a remarkable 17% increase by 2030, highlighting the growing demand for skilled healthcare professionals. The Nurse Practitioner profession is the number one career across multiple ranked lists in 2024. As an NP, you'll play a pivotal role in patient care, blending clinical expertise with compassionate care to make a profound difference in people's lives.
Personalized Approach
Your program’s faculty and support staff will be active in your experience from start to finish. They will work with you to identify your goals and help you reach them as you move toward starting your career as a certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Our MSN faculty seek to create a positive and supportive environment where students can grow personally and professionally.
Meet Our Mocs
Ernie Parani, APRN
Kara Pinero, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Laurel Lawerence, APRN
Samantha Rios
Satoria Reid-Rowe, APRN, Family Practice
Colleen Wallace, MSN, NP-C
Kari Simpson
Mary Cornejo
Featured Faculty
Jeanne Jenkins
Program Details
Admission Requirements
- Official transcripts of all academic work
- BSN from a regionally-accredited institution and a CCNE, CNEA, or ACEN accredited nursing program
- Record and submit three short videos (no more than 2 minutes each) answering the following prompts:
- Where do you see yourself in five years as a nurse practitioner, nurse leader, or nurse educator?
- Why is now the right time for you to begin a graduate nursing program?
- Graduate school will put significant demands on your time, energy, and financial resources. What do you see as your most significant challenges for meeting the didactic and clinical requirements for the program?
- Current Résumé
- Minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework.
- Required prerequisite courses completed with a “C” or better: health assessment, nursing research or evidence-based practice, and statistics or biostatistics course.
- Proof of current active licensure as a registered nurse in the state of Florida.
- Personal interview may be required for eligible candidates
- Completion of a criminal background check, proof of immunization, and ten-panel drug screen (if admitted)
Additional International Requirements
- Official Translated Transcripts With Course By Course Evaluation**
- Bank Letter Verifying Funds of Sponsor***
- Sponsor's Guarantee Form
- Valid Passport
- Official TOEFL/IELTS Score****
** SpanTran (discount available), Academic Evaluation Services, Inc., Josef Silny, or World Education Services or another similar approved transcript evaluation agency.
*** A bank letter is a written statement on bank letterhead and signed by a bank official.
**** Must have completed an English language training program or at least one year at an English speaking institution to waive the TOEFL/IELTS testing requirement.
Course Delivery
On Campus
Family Nurse Practitioner students typically meet on campus one day per week for in-person classroom instruction. The curriculum is designed to be completed in six semesters. Actual time to degree completion may vary for individual students.
Curriculum
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Core Curriculum - 18 hours
| Course Number | Title |
|---|---|
NUR 5120 | Leadership, Role Development, and Advocacy for Advanced Nursing Practice |
NUR 5150 | Advanced Pharmacology Across the Lifespan |
NUR 5200 | Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan |
NUR 5220 | Advanced Health Assessment and Differential Diagnoses Across the Lifespan |
NUR 5250 | Evidence Translation and Quality Improvement for Advanced Nursing Practice |
NUR 5400 | Health Promotion, Clinical Prevention, and Population Health for Advanced Nursing Practice |
NUR 5450 | Informatics and Health Care Technologies |
Nurse Practitioner Track - 26
| Course Number | Title |
|---|---|
NUR 6530 | Transition to Advanced Nursing Practice Role: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner |
NUR 6600 | Advanced Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan |
NUR 6610 | Advanced Mental Health Assessment and Diagnostics Across the Lifespan |
NUR 6670 | Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Across the Lifespan I: Individual & Family Psychotherapy |
NUR 6680 | Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Across the Lifespan II: Individual & Group Psychotherapy |
NUR 6690 | Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Across the Lifespan III: Role Synthesis |
Total Credits - 44 hours
Clinical Practice Hour Requirement: At least 540 population-focused hours.
Program Costs
2024-2025
| Base Required Fees | Cost |
| Tuition Per Credit Hour | $650 |
| Technology fee per semester is based on credit hours enrolled | $25 to $100 |
$250 Non-Refundable Enrollment Deposit (Upon acceptance and applied toward your first semester tuition balance)
Related Materials
I have a Bachelor degree in another field besides nursing. Am I eligible to apply for the MSN program at Florida Southern?
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing is one of the requirements for admission to our MSN program. Students who are interested in nursing as a new career may wish to consider an accelerated “second bachelor’s degree” BSN program. Alternatively, they could complete an Associate of Science degree in Nursing (ASN) and then go on to enroll in an RN-BSN program. This would give them the foundation needed to prepare for an MSN program.
Do you require the GRE for admission?
No, we do not require the GRE for consideration for admission to our nursing programs.
For which types of careers will this program prepare me?
Our nurse practitioner programs prepare students for careers in primary care. Our Nursing Administrative Leadership and Nurse Educator programs prepare students for a variety of positions in both primary and acute care healthcare settings.
May I choose my own preceptors? Is there assistance if necessary?
You will have the opportunity to choose your own preceptors and will be given access to our database of clinical sites at the start of your program. If assistance is needed, we have a full-time clinical coordinator in the School of Nursing who can work with you to help identify preceptors to meet your clinical hour requirement. Since we have relationships with clinical sites across the state of Florida, it is possible for you to complete your clinical hours close to where you live.
I previously started an MSN program at a different school. Can I transfer my courses?
Florida Southern allows you to transfer up to two (2) graduate-level courses. If you have taken more than two courses elsewhere, our MSN program director will determine which courses would be best to transfer to Florida Southern and which would be most beneficial to repeat at FSC.
Online
Adult & Grad Admissions
MSN and Post-Master's Nursing Virtual Information Session
Adult and Graduate
Sep 9 12:00 PM
Join us online to learn more about our MSN tracks as well as Post-Master's certificate opportunities. Hear from your program director and admission counselor to get your questions answered and get ready for your next steps in advancing your education and career!
Location: Online
Online
Adult & Grad Admissions
MSN and Post-Master's Nursing Virtual Information Session
Adult and Graduate
Oct 9 5:30 PM
Join us online to learn more about our MSN tracks as well as Post-Master's certificate opportunities. Hear from your program director and admission counselor to get your questions answered and get ready for your next steps in advancing your education and career!
Location: Online
Online
Adult & Grad Admissions
MSN and Post-Master's Nursing Virtual Information Session
Adult and Graduate
Nov 4 5:30 PM
Join us online to learn more about our MSN tracks as well as Post-Master's certificate opportunities. Hear from your program director and admission counselor to get your questions answered and get ready for your next steps in advancing your education and career!
Location: Online
Online
Adult & Grad Admissions
MSN and Post-Master's Nursing Virtual Information Session
Adult and Graduate
Dec 12 12:00 PM
Join us online to learn more about our MSN tracks as well as Post-Master's certificate opportunities. Hear from your program director and admission counselor to get your questions answered and get ready for your next steps in advancing your education and career!
Location: Online
Program Contact
Jeanne B. Jenkins, Ph.D., MSN, MBA, RN
Assistant Professor of Nursing and MSN Program Director
Blanton Nursing - 123
863.616.6479
