Degree Title: Master of Science in Nursing

Program Name and Number: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner - MS1238, MS1237

Department/Unit: School of Nursing

Delivery Mode: Online (MS1238), Hybrid (MS1237)

Terms of Entry: Summer

Program Mission: The Ohio University School of Nursing promotes excellence in the profession of nursing through education, scholarship, and service. The School provides quality educational experiences, utilizes clinical partnerships, and facilitates regional collaboration that will enhance the health of diverse communities.

Program Learning Objectives:

• Synthesize knowledge derived from a scientific foundation and evidence-based practice to demonstrate expertise in advanced nursing practice.
• Analyze health care policies to enhance and improve population health outcomes across diverse clinical practice settings.
• Demonstrate leadership and inter-professional collaboration for improving clinical prevention and health outcomes.
• Synthesize and apply quality improvement strategies to promote positive health outcomes.  
• Develop knowledge, skills, and confidence for entry-level advanced nursing practice.
• Integrate knowledge and skills related to healthcare informatics in the advanced nursing practice role.

Program Overview: The MSN Program consists of both didactic and practice-based or clinical performance courses. The didactic courses present the nursing knowledge, theoretical concepts, models, and research that inform patient care and evidence-based practice. The practice-based courses provide opportunities for students to apply knowledge; practice skills; plan, implement and evaluate interventions and programs; and learn the full scope of the role for which they are preparing. There is a core set of courses that students take before beginning their clinical performance courses: NRSE 6411, NRSE 6021, NRSE 6210, NRSE 6221, NRSE 6230, NRSE 6411, NRSE 6412, NRSE 6805.

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) track option prepares students to be eligible for certification as a PMHNP. PMHNPs provide advanced psychiatric skills needed to offer therapy, prescribe psychiatric medications and clinical management to under-served patients with mental illness and chronic medical co-morbidities.

The courses specific to the FNP track option are: NRSE 6413, NRSE 6823, NRSE 6414, NRSE 6824, NRSE 6825.

The capstone course for the FNP track option is NRSE 6933.

Clinical practicum experiences occur in mental-health care settings with qualified preceptors and total 550 direct care hours.

Graduation Requirements:

• Minimum semester hours required= 37
• Thesis requirement: No
• Qualifying exam: Yes
• Comprehensive exam: Yes
• Expected time to degree completion for a full time student= 7 semesters

Culminating Experience: The culminating experience for the major includes:

• Capstone Simulation
• Portfolio Evaluation

Admission Requirements: In addition to the standard Graduate College admission requirements, potential MSN students must also supply/document the following:

• Specified health status requirements (immunization status, Tb screening, etc. as delineated in the current MSN Student Handbook)
• Awarded Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from regionally accredited institution.
• FBI/BCI background checks free from disqualifying offenses under Senate Bills 38 and 160 (A list of these offenses may be found in the current MSN Student Handbook).
• Minimum grade point average of 3.20 for degree programs

Link to Program Handbook