Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program
The online Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Across the Lifespan program prepares you to provide mental health care to individuals of all ages.
As a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, prepare to provide access to vital mental health services across the health care continuum. Develop expertise in assessment, diagnosis, psychotherapy, and psychopharmacology management of mental health challenges and psychiatric disorders.
About the Psychiatric Mental Health NP Specialty
Nurse practitioners in this specialty provide mental health services in acute and community-based settings, including inpatient and outpatient settings, chemical dependency, school-based programs, and private practice. In addition to traditional psychiatric settings, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners are also located in primary care and acute medical settings working to expand the efforts of behavioral health integration.
Program Format
This program is offered completely online with short on-site intensives designed to enhance access to students throughout New York state.
Two courses require travel to campus at the University of Rochester School of Nursing, each for a one to two-day intensive learning experiences (scheduled during the weekday). During the program, there are also two full-day skills workshops held at the School of Nursing.
This model balances flexible and supportive synchronous and asynchronous online learning experiences with rich, hands-on practice opportunities guided by our expert faculty.
Scholarship Opportunities
To address the critical need for mental health nurse practitioners in Western NY, we offer the following scholarship opportunities to cover costs of the program:
National Certification
Graduates of this program will be prepared to sit for national certification examinations with the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to earn professional certification as an PMHNP-BC. Learn more about nurse practitioner certification in the Student Handbook.
Degree Options & Curriculum
Specialize as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner by applying to the master’s degree program. We also offer the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specialty with an Advanced Certificate or the Post-BS to DNP program. Explore our specialty pathways below.
Meet the Program Director
Susan W. Blaakman, PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC, FNAP, FAAN
Specialty Director, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program
Susan Blaakman has been a member of the psychiatric nursing faculty at the University of Rochester School of Nursing since 1999. As a nationally-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, she has acquired vast clinical expertise in psychiatric assessment and diagnosis, crisis intervention, tobacco dependence intervention, high-risk youth behaviors, research with vulnerable populations, motivational interviewing, and health behavior change across the lifespan. She also serves as a project nurse, senior leader, and co-investigator in general pediatrics at the University of Rochester Medical Center.
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Interested in the Nurse Practitioner programs? Learn more about how to pursue a nurse practitioner degree by requesting more information or speaking with an Admissions Counselor.