Home > Online Programs > Nursing > BSN to MSN - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Online Coursework
Flexible curriculum designed for working nurses
7-1-7 Model
Take one course at a time, allowing you to balance education and shift work
Dedicated Support
From enrollment to graduation to ensure you have the tools needed to succeed
Earn Your Degree Without Pausing Your Career
Pursue your degree while keeping your job as a registered nurse through a flexible, online and asynchronous program. The psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) program will prepare you to specialize in mental health care while supporting you every step of the way as you study alongside a small, compassionate cohort of students.
Designed with working nurses' rotating schedules in mind, Spring Arbor University’s CCNE-accredited* online Master of Science in Nursing - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (MSN-PMHNP) program is faith-based, allowing you to expand your nursing knowledge while applying the perspective of Christ to your mission.
And with a 95% pass-rate for certification, this program will equip you with the experience you need to take the next step in your career.
As a student in the online MSN-PMHNP program, you will:
- Continue working full-time as you earn your BSN to PMHNP degree on your schedule
- Gain the skills needed to prepare for licensure through a CCNE-accredited* program
- SAU works with you to secure clinical placements that match your preferred location, with extensive support, training and access to our clinical partner network to help you succeed
- Receive 1:1 support from a dedicated Student Success Coach and faculty who know you by name
- Prepares you to sit for the certification exam through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
- Deliver compassionate care and advocate for the healthcare needs of underserved populations
Spring Arbor University's online MSN Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program is CCNE-accredited* and highly ranked for academic quality.
*The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, post-master certificates, and doctor of nursing practice programs at Spring Arbor University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (https://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
If you already have your MSN, we offer a Post-Master’s Certificate-PMHNP that can be completed in 18 to 24 months, depending on prior coursework.
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Online PMHNP: Fast Facts
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Designed for Working Nurses
The MSN-PMHNP program is designed with nurses’ shift work, rotating schedules and full-time employment in mind. Our 7-1-7 model and flexible, online coursework help reduce burnout during the transition away from bedside care.
- 50 credits
- 500 clinical hours
- Complete part-time in as few as two years and five months
- Online, asynchronous coursework—flexible curriculum paired with built-in support
- Adaptable login times—complete your assignments on your schedule
- Take one seven-week course at a time and enjoy a week off in between
- Just one four-day campus residency in year two
Inspiring Outcomes
- Develop an advanced clinical practice for assessing, diagnosing and intervening in individuals, groups and families' dysfunctional coping patterns and psychiatric disorders
- Prepares you to sit for the certification exam through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
- Gain the skills required to provide holistic care to patients with mental health or substance abuse disorders
- Learn from highly educated, talented faculty who build close relationships with students in small class sizes
- Evaluate health policies based on ethical reasoning and Christian framework
- Enhance skills to serve patients with major psychiatric disorders, considering factors like epidemiology, age, socioeconomic background, cultural norms and level of disease risk
- Ranked on a national and regional level for its academic quality and value
- SAU is proud to have awarded over 2,000 Master of Science in Nursing degrees
- Graduating from a psychiatric nurse practitioner online program will equip you with the skills to join one of the fastest-growing job fields in nursing
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Designed for Working Nurses
The MSN-PMHNP program is designed with nurses’ shift work, rotating schedules and full-time employment in mind. Our 7-1-7 model and flexible, online coursework help reduce burnout during the transition away from bedside care.
- 50 credits
- 500 clinical hours
- Complete part-time in as few as two years and five months
- Online, asynchronous coursework—flexible curriculum paired with built-in support
- Adaptable login times—complete your assignments on your schedule
- Take one seven-week course at a time and enjoy a week off in between
- Just one four-day campus residency in year two
Inspiring Outcomes
- Develop an advanced clinical practice for assessing, diagnosing and intervening in individuals, groups and families' dysfunctional coping patterns and psychiatric disorders
- Prepares you to sit for the certification exam through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
- Gain the skills required to provide holistic care to patients with mental health or substance abuse disorders
- Learn from highly educated, talented faculty who build close relationships with students in small class sizes
- Evaluate health policies based on ethical reasoning and Christian framework
- Enhance skills to serve patients with major psychiatric disorders, considering factors like epidemiology, age, socioeconomic background, cultural norms and level of disease risk
- Ranked on a national and regional level for its academic quality and value
- SAU is proud to have awarded over 2,000 Master of Science in Nursing degrees
- Graduating from a psychiatric nurse practitioner online program will equip you with the skills to join one of the fastest-growing job fields in nursing
Online PMHNP Program Curriculum
For a complete listing of courses, contact us for a program guide.
Psychiatric mental health NPs work in community health centers, hospitals, private practices, schools and other organizations. Increasingly, they also provide patient care via telehealth.
These nurse practitioners perform mental health assessments, diagnosis and treatment; psychotherapy; psychotropic medication prescription and management; and advocacy for patients, populations and their families.
To be accepted in SAU’s online MSN-PMHNP program, you must meet the following requirements:
- A BSN degree from a regionally accredited institution and nursing program (CCNE or NLN)
- Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education attended
- A 3.0 GPA calculated from the most recent 60 academic credits
- Unrestricted, unencumbered, current nursing license from the state of employment
- Short personal statement
- Completed online application
SAU’s online BSN to MSN-PMHNP programs can be completed in as few as two years and five months
Take one course at a time while enjoying a week off between classes with our 7-1-7 model (seven-week courses, one-week breaks).
Typically, our MSN-PMHNP classes have 20-25 students.
Students are taught the skills needed to analyze current policies within ethical framework and Christian teachings and will gain the experience needed to identify available resources and present solutions when unethical behaviors are observed. In addition, students also have the option to submit prayer requests and devotions within weekly classes.
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Salary & Career Outlook
Over half of U.S. counties have no practicing psychiatrists.* You will prepare to expand critical access to psychiatric-mental healthcare through Spring Arbor University's online MSN Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program.
Similar to psychiatrists, PMHNPs can prescribe medication, perform examinations, diagnose illnesses and provide treatment for patients with mental health disorders and substance abuse problems.
PMHNPs are becoming increasingly integral to medical teams as more hospitals and healthcare facilities utilize their expertise. In some states, PMHNPs can practice independently.
PMHNPs may work in:
- Mental health private practice
- Inpatient centers
- Public health organizations
- Schools and universities
- Correctional institutions
The median annual wage** of PMHNPs is $125,000, which is 50 percent higher than RNs.*** PMHNPs also tend to earn higher salaries than nurse practitioners certified in other specialties.
*National Council for Mental Wellbeing
**American Association of Nurse Practitioners
***U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Grow as a Christ-Centered Nurse
At Spring Arbor University, it is a privilege to provide a Christ-centered nursing education to our students and to participate in their journey. You will grow spiritually, personally and professionally throughout this program and will gain a better understanding of what it means to live out your faith as a nurse.
While the Christian faith is the foundation of our program, we welcome all students regardless of personal faith. All students will benefit from introspection and critical thinking as they consider how to meaningfully care for patients of different faith backgrounds.
Watch this video for more information on our faith-based philosophy.
