Master of Science in Nursing (Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse
About This Program
The Master of Science in Nursing (Nurse Practitioner Psychiatric Mental Health) degree prepares students for advanced practice, education, management, and research endeavors to address a changing health care landscape. Both full-time and part-time study options are available as well as online and classroom-based programs.
Competencies
- Upon completion, students will be able to function in the role of a mental health practitioner who provides medication management and psychotherapeutic interventions to those with all mental illnesses, including those with serious mental illness and addiction, and within the lifespan populations of children, adults, and the elderly.
- Upon completion, students will be able to provide care in a variety of settings including inpatient psychiatric institutions, community offices and facilities, as well as forensic institutions.
- Upon completion, students will be able to utilize evidence-based practice research and guidelines to direct care of patients and families with mental health conditions.
- Upon completion, students will be able to integrate comprehensive assessments and management of the patient with mental illness using psychopharmacologic and psychotherapeutic modalities.
- Upon completion, students will be able to coordinate care through recognition of conditions that require referral outside of psychiatry, and work with other members of the healthcare team-at-large to provide comprehensive services to those in need.
Admissions Criteria
Applicants for the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree must meet the general requirements for graduate admissions as well as the requirements detailed below.
All graduate nursing students must have an unencumbered Registered Nursing License as designated by the Board of Nursing (BON) for clinical courses. It is imperative that any student whose license becomes encumbered by the BON must immediately notify their department chair. The complete policy regarding encumbered RN license is available on the Department of Graduate Nursing website under Clinical Requirements.
Unconditional Admission
For unconditional admission to the MSN, applicants must have:
- A GPA of 3.0 or higher on the last 60 hours of courses in the bachelor's degree program (as calculated by UTA Admissions).
- Two years of clinical experience as a Registered Nurse (RN). International students must have two years of clinical experience in a healthcare system in the United States (or equivalent).
- BSN from ACEN or CCNE Accredited Program (evaluated by the Associate Dean or designee).
- A C or better in undergraduate statistics.
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation certification.
Probationary Admission
When admitted on probation, a student must maintain a 3.0 GPA in the first two semesters of enrollment in the graduate program. Probationary students are admitted for part-time study only.
If a person does not meet probationary admission requirements, he or she may request review by a Committee of the Graduate Nursing Faculty. The Committee may request completion of coursework and/or additional information to support the individual's petition for admission.
UTA offers probationary admission to the MSN for applicants who have:
- A GPA between 2.8 and 2.99 on the last 60 hours of courses in the bachelor's degree program (as calculated by UTA Admissions).
- GRE scores of at least 430 or 149 Verbal; 430 or 141 Quantitative; 3.5 Analytical Writing; and 430 Analytical.
Provisional Admission
An applicant unable to supply all required documentation prior to the admission deadline but who otherwise appears to meet admission requirements may be granted provisional admission.
Deferred Status
Deferred decision is granted when a file is incomplete or when a denial decision is not appropriate.
Denial of Admission
An applicant will be denied admission if they have less than satisfactory performance on a majority of admission criteria listed in the MSN Admission Table.
Admission Policy for Individuals Ineligible to Continue Graduate Study
Applicants who are on academic probation or who are ineligible to continue graduate study at another university are ineligible for admission. However, applicants may submit a petition to be reviewed by a Committee of the Graduate Nursing Faculty.
The committee will make a decision regarding admission based on the following:
- GPA on the last 60 hours of BSN, graduate GPA, GRE scores (if applicable), and English language score (if applicable);
- Official transcripts from BSN and all universities attended following completion of BSN;
- A narrative statement from the potential student providing a rationale for their ineligibility in the previous graduate program;
- A letter of reference from a graduate faculty in the previous program; and
- A plan for successful study at UT Arlington.
The admission committee reserves the right to ask for additional materials as needed. The committee will make its recommendation regarding admission to the Associate Dean or their designee of the Graduate Nursing Programs.
Curriculum
A degree plan is developed for the student upon admission to the MSN Program. Students are required to have any changes in degree plan approved by a Graduate Academic Advisor prior to registration. A minimum of 34 semester hours, thesis or non-thesis option, is required for the degree. Elective coursework that supports the selected nursing study area must be approved by a Graduate Academic Advisor prior to registration. Students electing the thesis option do not have elective course requirements.
MSN students must complete hours in required courses, nursing specialty area, functional role, and elective(s) depending on specific plan.
| MSN Core Courses | ||
| NURS 5327 | EXPLORATION OF SCIENCE AND THEORIES FOR NURSING | 3 |
| NURS 5366 | PRINCIPLES OF RESEARCH IN NURSING | 3 |
| NURS 5367 | EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE | 3 |
| Specialization in NP Psychiatric Mental Health | ||
| NURS 5315 | ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY | 3 |
| NURS 5334 | ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY FOR NURSE PRACTITIONERS | 3 |
| NURS 5220 | ADVANCED HEALTH ASSESSMENT AND DIAGNOSTIC REASONING | 2 |
| NURS 5120 | ADULT-GERONTOLOGY ASSESSMENT LAB | 1 |
| NURS 5130 | PEDIATRIC ASSESSMENT LAB | 1 |
| NURS 5410 | INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH FOR THE PMHNP | 4 |
| NURS 5140 | PSYCHIATRIC ASSESSMENT LAB FOR THE PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSE PRACTITIONER | 1 |
| NURS 5112 | THERAPY CONCEPTS FOR PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSE PRACTITIONERS | 1 |
| NURS 5213 | PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY FOR THE PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSE PRACTITIONER | 2 |
| NURS 5222 | CHILD, ADOLESCENT, AND SPECIAL POPULATIONS PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH FOR THE PMHNP | 2 |
| NURS 5223 | ADULT AND GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH FOR THE PMHNP | 2 |
| NURS 5324 | PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL CLINICAL PRACTICE I | 3 |
| NURS 5325 | PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH CLINICAL PRACTICE II | 3 |
| NURS 5650 | PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NP ADVANCED PRACTICUM | 6 |
| Functional Role | ||
| NURS 5350 | ROLE OF THE NURSE IN ADVANCED PRACTICE | 3 |
| Total Hours | 46 | |
Advising Resources
Graduate nursing students will be assigned a degree plan once admitted to the program. They are encouraged to make phone, in-person, or virtual appointments as needed to discuss their academic progression.
Location:
554 Pickard Hall
Email:
msnadvising@uta.edu
Phone:
817-272-2776