PSYCHIATRIC-MENTAL HEALTH NURSE PRACTITIONER

The Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track, a total of 47 credits, prepares students to provide specialized primary mental health care to patients across the lifespan from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic groups who are experiencing psychiatric and mental health problems. Focus is on the evidence-based treatment modalities of Family Systems Theory, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Brief Solution Focused Therapy with particular emphasis placed on holistic patient care.

Nurses graduate ready to assess, diagnose, and provide comprehensive care in a variety of settings, including emergency rooms, outpatient, telemedicine, behavioral health clinics, extended care facilities and residential treatment sites.

Core & Clinical Courses

Villanova's seven core courses prepare students with the foundational knowledge required of all graduate students and are offered online.

Clinical courses must be completed in-person and enable students to build on existing skills, broaden the knowledge base related to their specialty area and gain the knowledge and skills essential to independent or collaborative practice in primary care settings.

Clinical Placement

All clinical courses must be completed in person. Villanova Nursing secures MSN student clinical placement in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware in settings that provide for interdisciplinary collaboration among health professionals. Faculty and students will mutually select sites and activities to fulfill the program’s required 730 direct care hours.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the program all graduates will be able to:

• Integrate foundational and advanced knowledge of the psycho-pathophysiology of complex mental health problems in the clinical management of clients/patients in a variety of mental health settings.
• Communicate effectively with the client/patient, family and the interdisciplinary health care team regarding client/patient mental health issues and management plan.
• Apply appropriate therapeutic and behavioral interventions for mental illness management for diverse populations and specific clients/patients across the lifespan.
• Evaluate evidence for opportunities for innovation and change in clinical practice.
• Apply appropriate client/patient education, health promotion and disease prevention strategies to optimize safe and quality care outcomes for mental health issues.
• Implement strategies to foster and maintain therapeutic relationships with clients/patients, families and/or groups.
• Apply appropriate referral and consultation strategies in managing mental health issues across the lifespan.
• Assess best practices for the use of advanced information and communication technologies to support client/patient and team communication.
• Model professional and ethical behaviors in practice and leadership roles
• Advocate for practice environments that are supportive of practitioners’ professional development and well-being.