Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program provides educational content and clinical experiences that focus on complex psychiatric nursing assessments and interventions for acute and chronic mental health conditions in children, adolescents, adults, and older adults. The curriculum has an emphasis on holistic care, integrated mental health, cultural sensitivity, and substance treatment. Coursework includes psychotherapy, neurobiology, and psychopharmacology content for patients across the lifespan. The PMHNP faculty are experts in the field with a broad range of clinical and research expertise. There is a high demand for PMHNPs in Colorado and across the country. The PMHNP program prepares graduates to provide a full range of psychiatric services and work in a variety of practice settings.

PMHNP Program Highlights

• Online and blended coursework with on-campus intensives
• Cohort model encourages student connections and community building
• Clinical placements are provided for students who live in the Denver metro area
• PMHNP faculty are highly experienced with a broad range of practice specialties, successful research agendas, and mental health policy influence
• Numerous Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Minority Fellows
• Outstanding record of first-time pass rates on the PMHNP ANCC national certification exam
• Graduates are in high demand and find employment quickly

Graduates of this specialty track are eligible to apply for national certification by examination. You will learn more about the certification organizations appropriate for this specialty during the completion of your program. Upon successful completion of the certification examination, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners are eligible for licensure in all 50 states, including Colorado (visit the Colorado Board of Nursing APRN application forms page), where licensure is granted as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) and is required for practice.