University General Course Catalog 2018-2019 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
University General Course Catalog 2018-2019 ARCHIVED CATALOG: LINKS AND CONTENT ARE OUT OF DATE. CHECK WITH YOUR ADVISOR.

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, M.S.N


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I. Contact Information


Sandra Talley
Office: (775) 682 - 7162
Fax: (775) 784 - 4262
Email: stalley@unr.edu

Deborah Arnow
Office: (775) 682 - 7133
Fax: (775) 784 - 4262
Email: darnow@unr.edu

II. Brief Introduction


The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) specialization prepares advanced practice nurses to care for individuals and families with behavioral and mental problems. This specialty track within the MSN program prepares graduates to assess, diagnose, intervene (e.g., psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy), and provide follow-up to facilitate an ongoing level of wellness. The PMHNP is prepared to provide psychiatric and mental health care in a variety of treatment settings (e.g., hospitals, jails, home care, and outpatient clinics) and participate with other members of the health care team. With a shortage of mental health professionals and increasing demand for expert mental health care in rural health settings, the PMHNP’s scope of practice provides critically relevant skills to care for persons experiencing the full range of psychiatric and mental health problems.

III. Program Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes


  1. Integrates scientific findings from nursing, biopsychosocial fields, genetics, public health, quality improvement, and organizational sciences for the continual improvement of nursing care across diverse settings.
  2. Provide advanced, ethical, evidence-based nursing services for multi-cultural and ethnic individuals, families, aggregates, and select populations.
  3. Apply patient-care and communication technologies to deliver, enhance, integrate, and coordinate care.
  4. Collaborate with other professionals and members of the community to provide optimal health care to individuals, families, special populations, and communities with an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention.
  5. Respect diversity and address complex health care needs of persons, including the unserved and under-served populations and communities, in the role of nurse leader, educator and/or advanced practice nurse.
  6. Participate in the ethical organization, management, and policy negotiations of health care delivery systems to use advocacy strategies to influence health and healthcare.
  7. Participate in the application of safe patient care and quality healthcare practices.
  8. Participate in the development of nursing as a science, through the use of theory, research, and scientific processes while acquiring a foundation for doctoral study.

IV. Admission Requirements


This is a two-step process, wherein the applicant must first meet the university’s Graduate School requirements as well as the Orvis School of Nursing MSN requirements. Both schools must receive all application materials on or before March 1 for consideration for the fall semester.

  • Have an overall undergraduate grade-point average of at least 3.0.
  • Complete a baccalaureate degree with an upper-division major in nursing from an NLNAC or CCN accredited nursing school. The baccalaureate degree curriculum must include the following specific course work:
    • Statistics
    • Growth and development (must cover lifespan)
    • Basic research
    • Health assessment
  • Have verification of current licensure to practice as a registered nurse in the United States. Students must be eligible to practice as a registered nurse in Nevada.
  • Submit a statement of intent including graduate-study goals.
  • Provide three letters of reference to the graduate program director using the form on the OSN website.
  • Successful completion of a graduate level applied statistics course prior to fall admission.
  • Submit scores for the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). (Optional, required for those students applying for the MSN/MPH program of study).

An interview may be required.

The total of required units for completing the degree varies according to the option the student selects. The minimum number of required units for completion of the MSN is 35. With graduate advisor approval, MSN students may apply more than 3 S/U units to the 35 units required.

Applicants who plan to apply graduate-level credit earned at another university to the University of Nevada, Reno may be able to satisfy specific course requirements in the nursing program. Applicants must provide specific course information for review to determine if the transferred curses are equivalent to university requirements. If approved, such courses may be included in the official program of study.

VI. Total Units (52-54)


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