Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Emphasis

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) emphasis prepares the post-BSN student to complete the requirements for certification as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) in the role of a PMHNP. The DNP is a terminal nursing degree that prepares graduates to influence direct and indirect health outcomes, not only for individuals but also for populations and healthcare systems, through translational science.

The DNP-PMHNP program is a 76-credit, full-time, hybrid program over 7 semesters. Didactic classes are online with occasional synchronous meetings. Students receive personalized attention and instruction on campus for lab courses in our state-of-the-art nurse practitioner suites. Students must complete a total of 750 clinical practice hours during the last four semesters to graduate from the program. A DNP project will be completed over the last three semesters focusing on evidence-based practice and quality improvement to promote systems-level change related to healthcare outcomes.

• Grade Requirements: Graduates must successfully complete all DNP program courses with a grade of “B-” or higher.
• Program Code: Nursing Practice (2060DNP) with Concentration/Emphasis in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (2097).
• CIPC: 513818

Admission

Applicants must submit their application for admission to the DNP-PMHNP program by the specified deadline. Admission is competitive, and the criteria listed in the application should be considered as minimum standards. Please see https://www.weber.edu/nursing-graduate-studies/dnp-psychiatric-mental-health-nurse-practitioner.html for application information.

End of Program Student Learning Outcomes for all DNP Students:

1. Person-Centered Care: Create systems-level health promotion, risk reduction, and illness prevention strategies based on the holistic needs of individuals, families, and various populations.
2. Quality & Safety: Transform healthcare policy and practice using principles of safety and improvement science to enhance quality and minimize the risk of harm to patients and the healthcare team.
3. Evidence-Based Practice: Critically evaluate established and evolving nursing evidence to enhance clinical judgment and innovation in nursing practice.
4. Social Determinants of Health: Integrate strategies to address social determinants of health to mitigate health disparities for individuals, populations, and communities.
5. Information Literacy: Develop information literacy utilizing information communication technologies and informatics processes to provide care, gather data, inform decision-making, and support care teams.
6. Teamwork & Collaboration: Collaborate with care team members, patients, families, communities, and stakeholders to optimize health outcomes across the continuum of care for various populations.
7. Professionalism: Exhibit a professional identity reflecting accountability, civility, ethical comportment, and integrity.

Role Specific Competencies for DNP-FNP Students:

1. Person-Centered Care: Manage comprehensive, person-centered care within the regulatory and educational scope of advanced practice nursing based on the holistic needs of individuals, families, and various populations.
2. Quality & Safety: Design care management strategies using translational and improvement science methodologies to improve safety and the quality of care for various populations.
3. Evidence-Based Practice: Integrate evolving scientific knowledge from various sources as the basis for ethical clinical judgment, innovation, and diagnostic reasoning.
4. Social Determinants of Health: Implement clinical strategies across the lifespan to address social determinants of health.
5. Information Literacy: Employ electronic health, mobile health, and telehealth systems to deliver safe, high-quality, and efficient patient care effectively.
6. Teamwork & Collaboration: Collaborate with interprofessional teams to provide care through meaningful communication and active participation in person-centered and population-centered care.
7. Professionalism: Exemplify a professional identity inherent to the nurse practitioner role, reflecting accountability, civility, ethical comportment, and integrity.