Post-Masters Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate  Admission Requirements

1. To be considered for admittance to the Post-Master’s Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Certificate program in nursing, the applicant must meet both the general requirements listed at TAMIU http://catalog.tamiu.edu/graduate-information/admissions/  and the specific requirements set by the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

• Applicants must submit a complete application by the designated deadline established by the College of Nursing.

• If an application is incomplete at the time of the deadline, it will be deferred to the following admission cycle or may not be considered (Fall I; Spring I)

• The graduate committee from the College of Nursing will review and determine eligibility and final admission decisions.

• The College of Nursing will notify applicants of acceptance by issuing an official admission letter to all students determined to be eligible for entry into the program.

2. Applicants seeking admission to the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Certificate (PMHNP) program must complete the online “Apply Texas” application at the following site: https://www.applytexas.org/adappc/gen/c_start.WBX *Admission to the University does not automatically guarantee admission to the School of Nursing.

3. In addition to completing all requirements for general admission to the University, the applicant must submit/complete the following information to the Canseco School of Nursing in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences:

a. A valid, unencumbered RN license without restrictions in the State of Texas.

b. Verification of at least two years of employment as a Registered Nurse actively engaged in providing patient care.

c. Evidence of a baccalaureate nursing degree from a nationally accredited college or university.

d. Evidence of a completed graduate degree from a nationally accredited Master of Science in Nursing or Doctor of Nursing Practice Program.

e. Successful completion of APRN core courses: Advanced Pharmacology, Advanced Physical Assessment, and Advanced Pathophysiology from a prior master's degree.

f. Evidence of successful completion of an undergraduate statistics course.

g. Official transcripts identifying a minimum grade point average of 3.00 or better on a 4.0 scale in upper-level nursing courses.

h. Two academic or professional recommendation letters indicating achievement and motivation for graduate study.

i. Applicants must submit a current, professionally formatted resume along with three references. 

j. Personal Statement – Applicants are to submit a written statement of approximately 300 words that explains:

1. What inspired your decision to pursue a Post-Master’s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) certification?

2. In your response, highlight specific competencies, practice settings, or patient populations that have contributed to your readiness for graduate-level psychiatric nursing education.

k. Required immunizations

1. MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) – Proof of full MMR vaccination series or positive titers

2. Varicella (Chickenpox) – Proof of varicella vaccination series or positive varicella titer

3. Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) – Proof of a current Tdap vaccination; Booster required every 10 years

4. Hepatitis B (HBV) – Proof of full Hepatitis B vaccine series or positive Hepatitis surface antibody titer or signed informed refusal

5. Annual influenza vaccination (received in the Fall of each year)

6. Annual tuberculosis (TB) skin test or blood test

l. Compliance and Clinical Clearance Requirements -- must be submitted separately to a designated vendor for repository of documents (i.e., Verified Credentials). The following clearance requirements must be completed at the applicant's expense, through a designated company or agency approved by the College of Nursing. {Contact the admissions advisor for questions}

1. Medical health insurance -- Applicants are required to provide proof of health insurance obtained from a U.S. health insurance provider.

2. Physical examination – To be completed by a licensed U.S. medical health provider.

3. A criminal background check

4. 10-panel Drug screen test

m. A personal interview may be required as part of the admission review process. Applicants selected for an interview will be contacted directly with scheduling instructions and must complete the interview within the timeframe provided to remain eligible for admission consideration. The personal interview will be evaluated on the applicant's communication skills, professionalism, and readiness for graduate-level study in the nursing administration.

Program Description

The Post-Master’s Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) certificate is designed as a post master's certificate available for registered nurses with a Master of Science in Nursing or Doctorate in Nursing Practice degree seeking a secondary specialty. The coursework and practicums will prepare graduates to assume a healthcare provider role as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) to provide health care for clients across the lifespan with psychiatric and mental healthcare needs. The Post-Master's PMHNP certificate  prepares graduates to assess, diagnose, and provide clinical management through psychotherapy, psychopharmacology, and collaborative interventions to facilitate wellness and treatments for clients and their families in a variety of settings. As a PMHNP provider, mental health services can be provided in the community, acute care, inpatient, telehealth, private practice, and a variety of healthcare settings for clients across the lifespan. Graduates will also engage in health promotion and illness prevention strategies with their population, utilizing research to improve patient care and patient care systems. The foundation for advance practice is focused on content included in the core courses in pathophysiology, pharmacotherapeutics, and health assessments.

Upon completion of course requirements & clinical hours, graduates are eligible to take the national certification examination offered by the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center (ANCC) for recognition as a PMHNP. The curriculum also includes coursework required by the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners (TBON) to be qualified as an APRN. They will not, however, earn a second graduate degree.  

Note: Applicants who are not licensed Advanced Practice Registered Nurses or Nurse Practitioners, will be required to take and pass Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics, and Advanced Health Assessments to meet the admission requirements of the certificate.  

The Post-Master's PMHNP Certificate is a total of 29 course credits. The three theory courses for this certificate will be offered online with one required on campus learning intensive simulation at the end of the first semester at Texas A&M International University, College of Nursing & Health Sciences in Laredo, Texas. The on-campus learning intensives augment the online course work and allow assessment of students to ensure that advanced level competencies have been met before starting clinical practicum.

The three clinical practicum courses (total = 765 clinical hours) must be completed with a preceptor in a clinical setting, but may include telehealth hours, subject to course training, content, location, and faculty approval. All practicums must take place in Texas. The clinical practicum hours may be completed in the student’s home area with approved preceptors. Students are required to find their own clinical practice sites and preceptors; however, a coordinator or faculty will collaborate with students to secure clinical sites and preceptors for their clinical courses. Faculty evaluate both the clinical sites and preceptors to verify that clinical experiences are consistent with course and certification requirements, ensuring students have a productive clinical experience.

Program Learning Outcomes

MSN Program Mission Statement

To educate advance practice nurse leaders who, through research, policy, and practice will promote health and wellbeing of local, national and international communities so that all people can thrive.

MSN Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the MSN program, graduates will:

1. Critically analyze, interpret and utilize appropriate knowledge, research and theories to meet the health care needs of diverse client populations across the lifespan.

2. Collaboratively plan the delivery of culturally sensitive health care with organizations and the community.

3. Contribute to the advancement of nursing profession through evidenced-based research and practice.

4. Synthesize the leadership management, negotiating, teaching/coaching and consulting roles to foster continual improvement in order to meet changing societal and environmental needs.

5. Operationalize ethical, legal, political, and economic principles in application to management of healthcare delivery across the lifespan.

6. Advocate for advanced nursing practice through a commitment to lifelong learning and community service.

Marketable Skills

Scientific Foundation        

• Critically analyzes existing data and evidence for improving advanced nursing practice and patient care.
• Integrates knowledge from the humanities and sciences in providing primary care to patients across the lifespan.
• Translates and implements current research and other forms of knowledge to improve patient care.

Leadership

• Creates interdisciplinary and interprofessional collaboration with multiple stakeholders (e.g., patients, community integrated health care teams) in providing primary care.
• Communicates practice knowledge clearly and effectively both in oral and written formats.

Quality Competencies       

• Evaluates how organizational structures, care processes, financing, marketing and policy decisions impact the quality of care provided to patients across the lifespan.
• Acknowledges the importance of life-long learning as a health care provider in primary care.

Practice Inquiry       

• Educated in graduate-level investigative skills to conduct clinical investigations in the practice settings to improve patient outcomes.

Technological & Information Literacy   

• Integrates appropriate technologies such as use of appropriate applications in the management of acute and chronic conditions across the lifespan.
• Competent in the use of electronic medical records and the proper use of ICD-10 and CPT coding in making appropriate insurance claims.

Policy Competencies         

• Advocates for ethical policies that promote access, equity, quality, affordability of care in safe and healthy practice environments. 

Health Delivery System    

• Applies knowledge of organizational practices and complex systems to improve health care delivery.
• Collaborates with interdisciplinary team members in the planning for transitions across the continuum of care.

Ethics                         

• Applies ethical principles in finding sound solutions pertaining to complex issues in patient care.

Independent Practice       

• Functions as an independent family nurse practitioner within the scope of practice designated by the Texas Board of Nursing.
• Provides a full spectrum of health care services including health promotion, disease prevention, health protection, anticipatory guidance, counseling, disease management, palliative and end-of-life care.

Course List

Code	Title	Semester Credit Hours
Coursework
NURS 5411	Theory & Concepts Across Life	4
NURS 5412	Adv Practice Nursing Theory I	4
NURS 5414	Adv Practice Nursing Theory II	4
NURS 5513	Adv Practice Nurs Practicum I	5
NURS 5515	Adv Practice Nur Practicum II	5
NURS 5716	Int Psyc-Mental Health Pract	7
Total Semester Credit Hours		29