Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
Enjoy 100% online classwork and assistance with clinical placement as you pursue a master’s in a specialty area with a rapidly growing need.
TWU’s Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program will help you gain skills to become a practitioner in this high-need advanced practice specialty area.
America is experiencing an increased demand for mental health practitioners, causing increased wait times for patients and increasingly overworked providers.
PMHNPs provide mental health services to individuals across the lifespan in various inpatient and outpatient settings. This care includes assessment, diagnosis and treatment of both chronic and acute conditions. Gain specialty training in counseling and substance use disorder.
Our program is 100% online and emphasizes the importance of both medication management and psychotherapeutic interventions. Weekly clinical supervision in all practicum courses helps students attain counseling skills necessary to provide high-quality psychiatric care. We encourage students to gain experience in a variety of clinical settings.
Upon successful completion of the program, students are eligible to sit for the ANCC Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Across the Lifespan) certification exam.
Currently limited to Texas only.
Contact Misty Richmond, PhD for information on a Post-Master’s Certificate.
Program Information
- Students will complete 45 total credit hours which include 18 credit hours in core NP content and 14 credit hours in psychiatric specialty content
- Six specialty track courses require attendance in a synchronized evening class once a week
- Students are required to complete 780 hours of preceptored clinical practicum
- 12 months of psychiatric nursing experience is required before the first practicum in the PMHNP program
Admission to the M.S.N. (Nurse Practitioner)
Program Contacts
FNP Online Program – Ms. Trina Minix, Enrollment Counselor
940-287-3571
Trina.Minix@onlinenursing.twu.edu
Family Nurse Practitioner: Ms. Catherine Martin
cmartin5@twu.edu
Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner: Dr. Susan Chrostowski
schrostowski@twu.edu
Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner: Dr. Rita Dellostritto
rdellostritto@twu.edu
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner: Dr. Stephanie Evans
sevans17@twu.edu
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner: Dr. Misty Richmond
mrichmond4@twu.edu
Women's Health Nurse Practitioner: Dr. Susan Quisenberry
squisenberry@twu.edu {not taking applications at this time}
Nurse Educator: Dr. Elaine Wilson
cwilson@twu.edu
Application Deadlines
Fall - February 15
Spring - September 15
Psychiatric Mental Health NP - April 15
Admission Requirements
Current US RN license (unencumbered)
Basic statistics course (undergraduate)
BS or BSN degree from a nationally-accredited nursing program
Minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 in the last 60 hours of course work toward the undergraduate nursing degree and a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all prior graduate course work
Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP requires one year experience in an acute care environment. Psychiatric Mental Health NP requires one year experience in a behavioral health environment.
Psychiatric Mental Health NP requires experience in a behavioral health environment (one year full-time or two years part-time). Applicants are also required to submit a copy of their current CV/resume, two letters of recommendation from mental health practitioners/former faculty, a one-page essay about their desire to be a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, and an interview with program faculty. Applicants who do not possess experience in a behavioral health setting may be considered for provisional admission, in which case the required experience must be obtained before starting clinical practicum courses.
Applicants who do not meet these criteria but have minimum GPA of 2.5 in the last 60 semester credit hours of course work toward the undergraduate nursing degree may be considered for provisional admission on an individual basis. Factors that may be considered in the admission decision are: GPA on any prior graduate coursework, scholarly activities, professional leadership, and work history.
For applicants who have a baccalaureate degree in nursing and a master's degree in another field (or more than one graduate degree), the grade point average from all previously earned degrees and post-graduate work can be considered in making the admission decision.
Individuals who have a master’s degree in nursing may seek admission to a post-master’s certification program in one of three areas: nurse practitioner, nursing health systems management, or nursing education.
Applicants who wish to transfer from another nursing program must provide evidence of eligibility to continue in the previous nursing program. Nine semester hours for programs requiring 39-44 semester hours, 12 semester hours for programs requiring 45 or more semester hours, may be transferred, if approved. A grade of B or higher in each course is necessary for semester credit hours to be considered for transfer.
How to Apply
Apply for admission to the TWU Graduate School.
Contact
Misty M. Richmond, PhD, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Psychiatric-Mental Health Track Coordinator
mrichmond4@twu.edu
940-898-2430
Page last updated 10:24 AM, March 20, 2023