Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Website: nursing.utah.edu

10 S. 2000 E.,
Salt Lake City, UT, 84112

Phone: 801-581-3414

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Post-Graduate Certificate Program
The Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Post-Graduate Certificate Program prepares advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to deliver comprehensive mental health care across the lifespan. This program equips students with the knowledge and clinical skills to assess, diagnose, and manage psychiatric disorders using evidence-based psychopharmacologic and psychotherapeutic approaches in a variety of settings, including outpatient clinics, inpatient psychiatric units, and integrated behavioral health practices.

The curriculum builds upon the foundation of graduate nursing education and emphasizes trauma-informed care, culturally responsive practice, and interprofessional collaboration. Graduates are eligible to sit for national certification as a PMHNP.

Eligibility:
Applicants must hold a graduate degree in nursing (MSN or DNP) and current national certification and licensure as an APRN (NP, CNS, CRNA, or CNM). The program is ideal for nurse practitioners or other APRNs seeking to add or transition to a psychiatric-mental health population focus.

Admissions Requirements:

• Applicants to the PMHNP certificate program must apply and be accepted to the University of Utah as a non-degree seeking student in order to take the PMHNP courses as a non-matriculated student.

• An application must also be submitted to the College of Nursing as a certificate-only student. The application requirements include a:

  • statement of interest,

  • resume/CV,

  • educational transcripts,

  • copy of APRN certificate, and

  • letters of recommendation.

The director and faculty for the PMHNP track will review all PMHNP certificate applications in January/February each year, along with all DNP applications to the PMHNP program. Faculty use a "holistic review" process to select and admit students from the applicant pool, which requires evaluation of all application materials, not only academic GPA. All certificate applicants must be a current APRN (nurse practitioner or nurse midwife) with a master's or doctorate degree in nursing, and hold board certification in at least one population focus (e.g. family, adult/gerontology, nurse midwifery, pediatrics, women's health).