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BSN to DNP-PMHNP
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Become a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) online in as few as 32 months with Herzing University.

Program Length

32 Mo.

Format

Online

Accredited by1

CCNE

Clinical Placement

Pledge

Learn More Today!

Classes start: May 4th

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Find your place as a decision-making leader in the field of nursing

AccreditationCCNE accredited1, Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
Format100% online didactic classes, hands-on clinical experience, and completion of a DNP Practice Project
Clinicals900 combined clinical/project hours—Herzing pledges clinical placement
AdmissionsEligibility requirements include a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and a minimum 3.0 GPA
CertificationBecome eligible for the Board Certified PMHNP (PMHNP-BC) exam from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
MSN Graduate
US News Best Graduate Nursing Programs 2026

Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best online graduate nursing programs in 2026

Go from BSN to DNP-PMHNP with Herzing University

The BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner degree is a 71-credit graduate program which prepares you for a career as a PMHNP. The online degree program provides students with fundamental knowledge and skills in systems-based practice, improvement science, epidemiology, telehealth, psychiatric mental healthcare, counseling and psychotherapy, and much more.

Earn the education required to transition from bedside nursing into an important role addressing a crucial need in mental healthcare. Our program is designed to help you reach greater career heights in nursing—both as a PMHNP and wider contributor to the nursing field.

BSN to DNP-PMHNP

  • Career-focused curriculum

    Discover the crucial knowledge and skills required to succeed in your work and build a foundation for continued career growth.

  • Flexible schedule

    We work hard to help you maintain school-life balance, striving to be as flexible as possible for busy non-traditional students.

  • Virtual services

    Access to extensive virtual services, including academic advising, tutoring, support services, technical support and library services.

  • Lifelong support

    We support your ongoing career advancement by providing comprehensive, personalized student services with lifelong career coaching.

  • Rolling admissions

    No application deadlines to worry about. Apply when you’re ready and prepare to get started soon.

Curriculum

BSN to DNP-PMHNP courses & curriculum details

Our curriculum is developed in compliance with the model for advanced nursing education of the AACN new Essentials (2021) Level 2 sub-competencies. The program prepares you for 21st century nursing practice focused on interdisciplinary knowledge, leadership, innovation, and the ability to impact systems and population health change.

All didactic courses are delivered online. The curriculum includes 540 hours of hands-on PMHNP clinical experience and a DNP Practice Project.

ProgramMonths iSemester Credits
Doctor of Nursing Practice in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner – BSN to DNP3271

i. Average number of months for students to complete program.

Required Core Courses

All courses, 33.00 semester credit hours, are required.

The course focuses on introduction of advanced level nursing competencies as described by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing in their 2021 publication The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education. By engaging in course learning resources students will gain knowledge of professional nursing concepts that when applied in practice result in improved outcomes and serve to transform the healthcare environment. Students will utilize their relatable and application level of competency, across numerous essential nursing domains, for exploring their role as a leader in healthcare and in designing a quality improvement process.

Building on foundational knowledge of statistical/bio-statistical concepts from prior education, the aim of the course is to foster the development of practice scholarship competencies. This graduate-level course integrates advanced concepts in nursing theory, research methods, and epidemiology to provide a comprehensive understanding of evidence-based practice in nursing. The course emphasizes the critical evaluation and application of theoretical frameworks in nursing, the evaluation of research findings for application to practice, and the analysis of epidemiological data as a basis for informing healthcare practice and policy.

This course focuses on the integration, translation, and application of established and evolving theoretical, evidence-based, and disciplinary nursing knowledge as the basis for clinical judgment and innovation in nursing practice. Students examine frameworks for knowledge and propose a practice application informed by leadership principals and ethical decision making.

The course focuses on a systems-based approach to enhance quality and minimize risk of harm to patients and providers through system effectiveness and individual performance using established and emerging principles of safety and improvement science. Students will review metrics and data driven benchmarks to analyze quality and safety initiatives, employ change theory and improvement science processes to design evidence‐based interventions, and demonstrate advocacy to promote a just institutional culture reflecting resiliency, civility, and respect.

This course focuses on the delivery of care using interprofessional teams in an environment fostering quality and safety and based on the adoption, integration, and dissemination of best practices, current practice guidelines, and evidence‐based interventions. Students will evaluate the effectiveness of interprofessional communication and the impact of team dynamics and performance on desired outcomes in practice. Using tools and techniques to support and improve the efficacy of team‐based interactions student will develop a plan to enhance collaboration.

The course explores the transformative role of telehealth in modern healthcare systems. The course provides an in-depth examination of telehealth technologies, their implementation, and their impact on patient care and healthcare delivery. Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of how telehealth can address disparities, enhance patient engagement, and improve health outcomes.

This course will explore information, communication technologies, and informatics processes used to provide care, gather data, drive decision making, and manage and improve the delivery of safe, high‐quality, and efficient healthcare services in accordance with best practice and professional and regulatory standards. Students will perform an information technology analysis of their practice and develop strategic planning to direct the selection and implementation of new information and communication technologies for their practice setting.

This course focuses on proficient multidimensional leadership for healthcare. Leadership theory, managing change in complex environments, mentoring, and creating a workplace environment that promotes social justice and equity, self‐care, personal health, and well‐being, and lifelong learning will be emphasized. Students will examine their personal, professional, and leadership development process, and create a three-dimensional advocacy-based approach to provide leadership in for the healthcare, professional, and community arenas.

This course applies the principles of best practices, change theory, and improvement and implementation science to the development of innovative solutions for complex health systems to ensure optimal care. Course key concepts include organizational structure, including relationships among macro‐, meso‐, and microsystems across healthcare, and financial and payment models for cost management and reimbursement. Students will engage in a strategic planning initiative for a complex healthcare system which enhances value, access, quality, and cost‐effectiveness, including policy to address health equity and eliminate structural discrimination.

The course focuses on the application, evaluation, and dissemination of knowledge in practice to improve health and transform health care. The processes for the generation, critique, synthesis, and translation of knowledge will be examined. Students will complete human subject protection certification, determine best practices for a specified clinical initiative, and apply evidence to clinical decision making using a framework of evidence-based practice and improvement science.

This course examines the healthcare delivery continuum from public health prevention to disease management of populations and describes collaborative activities with both traditional and non‐traditional partnerships from affected communities, public health, industry, academia, health care, local government entities, and others for the improvement of equitable population health outcomes. For a selected population, students will analyze health priorities and the potential for collaboration and partnerships to provide a basis for interventions, policy, advocate strategy, and emergency preparedness.

Required Specialty Courses

All courses, 30.00 semester credit hours, are required.

This course is an examination of the process of holistic assessment (physical, psychosocial, and cultural) of individuals across the lifespan. Focus is critical thinking and decision-making related to the role of the advanced practice nurse in a primary care setting.

The course examines scientific concepts of pathophysiology essential to diagnostic reasoning and clinical management of common disease states. The dilemma of cost and need for laboratory and radiographic evidence to support diagnosis is examined.

This course is designed to advance the student's knowledge of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics in the management of health and disease states. Major categories of pharmacological agents are examined in the context of the life span, culture, and health and disease states. State and federal regulation related to purchase, possession, administration and patient education about controlled substances, pharmacologic agents and non-pharmacologic agents used as medications are examined.

This course provides advanced scientific knowledge of psychopharmacology and its application in treating psychiatric disorders across the lifespan. Students examine neuroscience foundations, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of psychotropic medications, with an emphasis on safe prescribing, monitoring, and evidence-based decision making in psychiatric care. Applications of psychopharmacology in the management of complex mental health conditions are explored, along with the relationship between substance use disorders and co-occurring psychiatric conditions. Health promotion, patient education, and interprofessional collaboration are integrated throughout the course to support safe and effective medication management.

This course examines the processes essential to clinical decision making for patients across the lifespan who present with psychiatric disorders. Students apply clinical decision-making models, key psychiatric assessments, and diagnostic reasoning skills through supervised clinical experiences. Under faculty and preceptor guidance, students engage in case-based and real-world clinical activities that support the integration of assessment, diagnosis, and initial management strategies in psychiatric mental health practice.

This course examines the guiding principles, ethics, and foundational techniques of counseling and psychotherapy for mental health patients across the lifespan. Students are introduced to major therapeutic modalities and the elements of an effective therapeutic relationship. The course also continues to develop the PMHNP role in integrating psychotherapy with safe, evidence-based medication management. Under faculty and preceptor guidance, students apply counseling techniques within therapeutic milieus while building core skills essential for advanced psychiatric practice.

This course prepares students to assess, diagnose, and manage mental health needs across the lifespan, with a primary focus on adult psychiatric care. Emphasis is placed on recognizing and treating underlying acute and chronic psychiatric disorders using evidence-based psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacologic approaches. Under the guidance of faculty and preceptors, clinical experiences allow PMHNP students to apply core concepts in primary care, outpatient behavioral health, community mental health, and acute care settings while developing competency in diagnostic reasoning, treatment planning, and holistic care of adults and their families.

This course provides students with advanced study in the assessment, diagnosis, and management of psychiatric mental health disorders across the lifespan, with an emphasis on child and adolescent populations. Students build upon foundational psychiatric knowledge to apply evidence-based psychiatric mental health care for individuals, families, and groups experiencing acute and chronic mental health disorders. Supervised clinical experiences support the integration of developmental, family, cultural, and psychosocial considerations into patient-centered treatment planning. Clinical opportunities allow students to apply course concepts in a variety of primary and acute care settings, ensuring continuity of psychiatric mental health care across the lifespan.

This course is an immersion experience into a mental health practice and the role of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

Required Project Residency Core Courses

All courses, 8.00 semester credit hours, are required.

The course focuses on designing and preparing a quality improvement Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project. In this course, students will review expectations for a DNP project, examine completed DNP projects, identify a practice problem, create a project prospectus, develop a project protocol, create a project timeline, estimate costs associated with the proposed project, submit Institutional Review Board (IRB) project approval application, secure a project stakeholder/liaison agreement, and complete preparations necessary to support implementation, where possible, of the project.

This course is the first of a three-course residency series which supports the implementation, management, completion, and dissemination of a DNP project focused on improving clinical practice. In this first course students will work with their Chair and Committee to initiate their project.

This course is the second of a three-course residency series which supports the implementation, management, completion, and dissemination of a DNP project focused on improving clinical practice. In this second course students will continue to work with their Chair and Committee on the implementation and evaluation of their project. 

This course is the third of a three-course series which supports the implementation, management, completion, and dissemination of a DNP project focused on improving clinical practice. In this third course students will complete the implementation and evaluation of their project, present their project results, and prepare a written deliverable of their project.

Clinical Proficiency Exam and Policy

The following modules are 0.00 semester credit hours associated with the policy outlined above. Students are required to take as co-requisite module along with NU 611, NU 642, NU 664 or NU 671, depending on the program of study. Module Number Module Name  Semester Credit Hours NSG 0600 Clinical Proficiency Module 0.00 NSG 0600R Clinical Proficiency Remediation Module (if needed) 0.00  

Tuition & Cost 

Tuition & Cost

The cost of tuition for the BSN to DNP-PMHNP program is $770 per credit.

You can potentially earn even greater savings by transferring credit from prior college coursework, applying for financial aid, or potential partnership opportunities through your employer.

Our goal is your career advancement. That’s why we are always working to improve our curriculum and processes to make our program as affordable as possible while preparing you best for success in your work.

Find My Estimate 

  • Scholarships & Financial Aid

    You may be eligible for multiple scholarships and grants, both through Herzing University and several national scholarship websites.

    Find scholarships and grants  

  • Military/Veteran Discounts

    Veterans, Active Duty U.S. Servicemembers, and spouses may qualify for a 10-20% tuition discount.

    VA/Military benefits  

Find My Estimate 
Requirements

Admissions requirements

Prerequisites to enroll in the Herzing University BSN to DNP-PMHNP program include:

  • Hold a current, active, and unrestricted license as a registered nurse (RN) in the same state in which they live. (Note: Holding a multi-state, compact state license and being a resident in a compact license state will be deemed to have met this requirement.)
  • Hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from an accredited university or college with an overall minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

We Pledge Clinical Placement

Worried about clinical placement? You don't have to be.

At Herzing, clinical placement is built into your experience—because it's essential, and you deserve a program that treats it that way.

There's no guesswork. Just a proven framework backed by a promise. Our promise is your placement.

Clinical Guidance Process and Pledge Details

APRN Clinical placement pledge logo

Classes Start: May 4th

Waived Enrollment Fee

Discover the educational pathway designed to maximize your career potential. Reach for greater heights with Herzing University.

Request Info Apply Now 
Careers

Earn a DNP and become a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Graduate from Herzing University wearing a cap and gown with a Filipino flag stole, smiling and standing in front of a Herzing University banner. The stole features a PMHNP designation, indicating completion of the MSN-PMHNP program, Class of 2023.” Image
Image

Our program is designed to provide you the fastest path to both earn the highest degree in nursing and begin practicing as an PMHNP.

The current minimum degree requirement for PMHNP certification is a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a PMHNP specialization.

However, the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) has favored increasing the degree requirement to the DNP level for several years. The knowledge and skills earned in a DNP degree program can potentially better prepare you for the broad and complex care demanded from nurse practitioners in the present and future.

Becoming a PMHNP

Job outlook

Graduate from a DNP program with a PMHNP specialization and you’ll be prepared to join a career field expected to grow rapidly over the next 10 years.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of nurse practitioners is expected to rise 40% from 2024-2034.*

Locations

Program Finder

BSN to DNP - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Degree Programs / Showing 1 program for the Online campus

  • BSN to DNP - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

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The Student Experience at Herzing

Nursing is definitely a hard career choice, but Herzing’s program helped me find confidence in myself.
Samantha Hudson
Nursing | Minneapolis Campus
What I liked most about my experience at Herzing University were the faculty members. They made it feel like it was family here.
Wanda Colon
Nursing | Orlando Campus
Since day one at Herzing University, I have felt so unbelievably comfortable with my instructors. The small class sizes, tutors, the technology in the labs and the one-on-one time with instructors is what really sets Herzing apart from the other schools I considered.
Regina Schultz
Nursing | Akron Campus
I come from a family of nurses and I find the profession very rewarding. Friends who attended Herzing University told me how good the nursing program was, so I decided to enroll as well.
Donnalee Fulton
Nursing | Birmingham Campus
I was grateful for the experience, especially since I was able to complete my degree quickly.
Johanna Valdez
Nursing | Kenosha Campus
Disclosures

Accreditation & Disclosures

1. The doctor of nursing practice program at Herzing University Madison is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). Herzing University is approved to offer programs in an online learning modality through association with the main campus in Madison, Wisconsin.

Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

View all accreditation and approvals

* BLS pay estimates calculate the median annual wage for various occupations. Per the BLS the median wage for an occupation is: "The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount, and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey." Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2024. BLS median wage estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geographic market in which you want to work, and degree level and field, will affect career outcomes, including starting salary and earnings as an experienced employee. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the median salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, particular wage or salary, or other career growth.

Classes Start: May 4th

Waived Enrollment Fee

Discover the educational pathway designed to maximize your career potential. Reach for greater heights with Herzing University.

Request Info Apply Now