Mar 29, 2024  
2021-2022 Graduate Studies Bulletin 
    
2021-2022 Graduate Studies Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Adv. Cert.


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The Hofstra Northwell School of Graduate Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies aims to be the global leader in interprofessional education preparing the next generation of Advanced Practice Nurses and Physician Assistants. We will offer a post-graduate Certificate program in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP).   Graduates are eligible for the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) national board certification examination. 

The Hofstra Northwell School of Graduate Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies will incorporate the diverse academic programs and infrastructure of Hofstra University, as well as the significant clinical activities and educational resources of Northwell Health.

The post graduate Certificate Program in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) track,  through an interprofessional learning model, will graduate PMHNPs who will be prepared to provide quality, holistic, scientifically sound, and patient-centered care while optimizing the health and well-being of diverse populations and communities for the betterment of humanity.

The focus of the PMHNP track is to prepare PMHNP graduates who will provide patient-centered quality care to individuals and families across the lifespan. The PMHNP role includes providing primary mental health care to patients seeking mental health services in a wide range of settings. Primary mental health care provided by the PMHNP involves relationship-based, continuous and comprehensive services, necessary for the promotion of optimal mental health, prevention, and treatment of psychiatric disorders and health maintenance. This includes assessment, diagnosis, and management of mental health and psychiatric disorders across the lifespan. (NONPF, 2013, 2017).

Through the values of leadership, scholarship, collaboration, innovation, excellence, global health, humanism, learning, courage and diversity,  advanced practice nurses who complete the curriculum of  the post graduate certificate program will:

  • Integrate critical analysis of the findings from the sciences and humanities to improve advanced practice nursing and health outcomes.
  • Develop innovative practice by integrating principles of change throughout healthcare systems.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in the use of improvement sciences and peer review to achieve measurable health outcomes, including but not limited to value-based healthcare.
  • Apply investigative skills in the translation of new knowledge to improve practice and health outcomes.
  • Apply technology and scientific health information to coordinate and deliver personalized healthcare to a diverse global population.
  • Advocate strategies to impact the ethical, legal, and social factors of global healthcare policy.
  • Collaborate as leaders and members of the interprofessional team to maximize communication and coordination of care to achieve optimal health outcomes.
  • Provide a full spectrum of evidence-based healthcare services throughout the life cycle of the population served to optimize health outcomes.
  • Demonstrate, as an advanced practice nurse, professionalism, accountability and ownership while providing patient-centered care that recognizes diversity and respects consumer preferences.

Admission Criteria


Admission to the program occurs only in the fall semester. Applications submitted after the March 1 deadline are reviewed based on available space.

  1. M.S. in Nursing from an accredited institution with a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale for a graduate nursing degree.
  2. An unencumbered and current RN license; an unencumbered New York State NP license and board certification eligible in one of the following: Adult Nurse Practitioner; Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner; Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner; Family Nurse Practitioner, Gerontology Nurse Practitioner.
  3. Completion of a gap analysis with the Chair of the Graduate Nursing Program:
  • Verification of APRN core: Advanced physiology/pathophysiology, including general principles that apply across the lifespan; Advanced health assessment, which includes assessment of all human systems, advanced assessment techniques, concepts, and approaches; and Advanced pharmacology, which includes pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacotherapeutics of all broad categories of agents.
  • Verification of three (3) graduate credits of research methods and design.
  1. AHA Certification, current copy of ACLS card.
  2. A resume that includes relevant work experiences (include dates of employment by month and year), examples of leadership and commitment to the profession of nursing, and memberships in professional nursing organizations.
  3. Three letters of recommendation submitted through the online recommendation form, accessible through the online application.  Letters must be from the following sources attesting to the applicant’s capacity and potential for post-graduate study from each of the following:
  • The applicant’s clinical director; and,
  • Two (2) professional colleagues who can attest to the applicant’s professional work.
  1. Letter of intent from the applicant: personal statement of reflection of current and future practice
  2. A pre-admission interview with the Chair of the Graduate Nursing Program.
  3. Comprehensive background check.
  4. Student Health Requirements: Proof of physical examination within one year of application, student NP liability insurance and health insurance, current immunizations for MMR, Chickenpox, Hepatitis B, Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis.

Year One


Year Two


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