HEGIS Code: 1203.12 | CUNY Plan Code: PSYMH-AC | Program Fact Sheet (PDF)

The Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing offers a 36-credit post-graduate advanced certificate program to prepare nurses for roles as advanced practice registered nurses delivering psychiatric and mental health services. Psychiatric/mental health practitioners provide mental health treatment, preventive services, consultation and leadership in hospitals, clinics, community settings and private practice. Through classwork and 630 hours of supervised clinical experience, students learn to provide these services autonomously and in collaboration with other mental health professionals.

Graduates of this program are eligible for New York State NP certification and meet the educational requirements for national board certification by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Course of Study

The program includes core courses in nursing and specialization courses that combine advanced knowledge with 630 hours of supervised clinical experience. NURS 717, 750, and 751 may be waived based on prior graduate coursework.

Course descriptions are available in the Hunter College Course Catalog.

Required Courses (27-36 credits)

NURS 784    Theoretical Foundations of Adv. PMH Nursing Care and Practice (1 cr.)

NURS 737    Mental Health Policy and Advocacy: The Role of the PMHNP (1 cr.)

NURS 746    Epidemiology of Behavioral Health and Community Mental Health (1 cr.)

NURS 717    Advanced Pathophysiology for Nursing Practice (3 cr.)*

NURS 747    Advanced Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology of the Brain (1 cr.)

NURS 750    Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics (3 cr.)*

NURS 777    Advanced PMH Assessment and Intervention (3 cr.)

NURS 748    Therapeutic Counseling Modalities (3 cr.)

NURS 779    Family & Group Theories & Therapeutic Modalities (2 cr.)

NURS 719    Psychopharmacology (3 cr.)

NURS 751    Advanced Health Assessment (3 cr.)*

NURS 778    Advanced Child/Adolescent PMH Assessment and Intervention (2 cr.)

NURS 781    Comprehensive Psychiatric Mental Health Assessment (1 cr.)

NURS 782    Clinical Practicum in Advanced PMHNP I (4.5 cr., 315 practicum hrs)

NURS 783    Clinical Practicum in Advanced PMHNP II (4.5 cr., 315 practicum hrs)

*NURS 717, 750, and 751 may be waived based on prior graduate coursework

Sample Program Plan

• PMHNP-ac Program Plan (PDF)

How to Apply

This program is open to registered nurses who already possess a master's degree in nursing. Review our admission requirements for the post-graduate advanced certificate program. Information on the application process is available from the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Graduate Academic Program Outcomes

The program prepares graduates to:

1. Synthesize knowledge from nursing and arts/sciences to provide a theoretical framework for advanced practice.
2. Generate a philosophy and definition of advanced practice that emphasizes full range of health services for all members of society, affirms the worth and dignity of every human being, and demonstrates a humanistic caring approach that values diversity.
3. Collaborate with clients in managing their health-illness status through the advanced practice-nursing role.
4. Foster client participation and shared decision-making in health care and health care policy to maximize health and wellness for humans and the environment.
5. Evaluate specialized knowledge and skills needed to deliver care to clients and design programs to meet the health care needs of specific groups and communities.
6. Identify appropriate nursing science phenomena for nursing research to enhance practice.
7. Describe the nature of scientific inquiry in nursing as the basis for nursing practice.
8. Demonstrate activism, advocacy, and leadership in the health care environment and in the nursing profession.
9. Identify a nursing practice issue needing change and/or problem solving and use techniques for research utilization to translate and systematically use research findings and other credible information and data sources to facilitate evidence-based nursing practice.
10. Use the research process to systematically investigate ways to enhance nursing practice, improve delivery of health care services, and recommend innovative health policy initiatives.

For more information, contact Dr. Jennifer DiPiazza, PMHNP Specialization Coordinator, at jd1297@hunter.cuny.edu.