The DNP - Psychiatric Mental Health NP Option prepares advanced practice nurses to demonstrate clinical expertise, judgment, scholarship, and leadership to provide the highest level of nursing practice in a variety of settings. The focus of the Psychiatric Mental Health NP Option is to provide assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health needs for patients across the lifespan. The doctorally prepared Psychiatric Mental Health NP can provide treatment in a variety of ways, including with medication, crisis intervention, individual, group, and family psychotherapy.

Depending upon individual state regulations, nurse practitioners may practice independently with full prescriptive authority (check with your individual state). The DNP prepared PMHNP can work with children, adolescents, adults, and seniors in a wide range of practice settings. Graduates generate new knowledge through innovation of practice change, the translation of evidence, and the implementation of quality improvement process in specific practice settings, systems, or with specific populations to improve health or health outcomes.

The annual application deadline is December 15th for the following fall semester admission. 

 

Distance Delivered Format: 

All graduate courses are offered via distance delivery with video conference used to supplement content. Seeteaching methods belowfor more information. Travel to Bozeman may be required for some coursework. Applications are limited to students from states: MT, UT, WY, ID, CO, or AK. 

How to apply: 

All graduate nursing program applications are conducted through MSU's graduate application portal .  Please create an account to initiate the application process. 

The following elements are required for a complete application:

  • 3 personal essays (prompts can only be found on the first page of the application)​
  • 3 professional references that can speak to your nursing knowledge, motivation, work ethic, and writing ability.
  • Official transcripts from all institutions where you completed coursework, even if a degree was not conferred.
    • Unofficial transcripts will be accepted for coursework completed at MSU-Bozeman​

 

 

 

More Details Below: 

Applicants must meet the following requirements:  

  • Be physically located in MT, UT, WY, ID, CO, or AK.
  • Undergraduate and graduate minimum GPA of 3.0 is preferred.
  • A baccalaureate degree in nursing from a nationally accredited upper division program which included supervised clinical practice in a variety of nursing settings, including nursing leadership/management.
  • Successful completion of undergraduate courses in research and statistics. 
  • Current unencumbered licensure as a registered nurse. 
  • If clinical education experiences are to be completed in Montana, RN licensure in Montana is required.
  • If applicable, English proficiency scores as outlined by the Graduate School.
  • Maximum number of transferable credits from prior nursing graduate work is limited to 9 credits from a non-conferred degree, and 30 credits from a conferred degree. Read more in our Graduate Program policy

The BSN to DNP (Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Option) Program requires 82 credits for graduation. Students are able to choose a full-time three year or part-time four year course plan for completion of the DNP degree. A full breakdown of classes for PMHNP Option can be found in the MSU Catalog 

Full details on Montana State University's graduate cost of attendance and estimated fees can be found on the MSU catalog.  

Read more details on expenses 

Computer proficiency and reliable Internet access is required for graduate students who are admitted to the program: refer to Technical Requirements. 

All Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing graduate courses are offered via 'Distance Delivery' which is defined as a combination of synchronous and asynchronous activities.

 

Synchronous Intensive Classes: At the discretion of course faculty each semester, classes meet synchronously via video conference monthly.  Dates and times are announced at the beginning of each academic year.  Some exams/quizzes may also be held synchronously, and students will be given dates/times months in advance. 

 

Asynchronous: During a semester individual students log on to the digital learning management system (at their convenience) to participate in class discussions, submit assignments, take quizzes or exams, complete content modules, or other similar activities.  Courses will have published due dates for assignments and activities. 

 

Travel: Travel to Bozeman is typically not expected more than once per year, though this may vary across graduate program options. Travel to Bozeman may include in-person orientation for first year students, clinical skills weeks, and graduation All DNP students should be prepared for the possibility of travel to distant clinical sites within Montana to obtain necessary clinical experiences. Travel to other campuses (Billings, Great Falls, Kalispell, or Missoula) may be required once or twice per year for simulation, exams, or skills checkoffs. 

Each student completes a DNP Scholarly Project developed in collaboration with a faculty chairperson and committee. Examples of exciting and innovative student projects include: development of mental health outreach programs to the rural elderly; examination of alternative health practices for healing; establishment of pediatric cancer support groups for the rural client; and development of a school-based clinic. An oral defense of the scholarly project and final professional paper is required for the DNP degree. 

 

Accreditation Info:

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