The Post-Master of Science in Nursing Certificate Program is offered through an affiliation with the Intercollegiate Consortium for a Master of Science in Nursing.
Nurse Practitioner to Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
This program is fully approved by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing and is accelerated, offering completion of the Post-Master’s Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Certificate in 4 semesters. Nurses currently holding a master’s degree in nursing from a nationally accredited graduate nursing program and a national certification as an Adult Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Geriatric Nurse Practitioner, Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, are eligible to apply to the Post-Master’s Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) certificate program. The Post-Master’s Certificate Program will prepare completers as Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNP) and make them eligible to apply for an advanced practice PMHNP license and to take the National PMHNP certification exam. Formal application to the University is required.
Other factors considered for admission to the program include:
- A minimum graduate GPA of 3.00 as verified by transcript submission
- A current unencumbered registered nurse license in the State of Louisiana
- Two professional references
- Current resume
- Transcript analysis and evaluation of prerequisite courses (i.e., Advanced Health Assessment, Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics and Advanced Pathophysiology) to determine adequacy of the full lifespan content
The didactic courses are offered online and practicum courses have an online didactic component plus a clinical experience component (120 - 240 hours in each) in which the student works with an approved advanced practice preceptor guided by a graduate faculty. The curriculum for Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioners includes: