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2024-2025 Graduate Studies Bulletin
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, DNP
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 Return to: Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies
The Doctorate in Nursing Practice 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).
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Admissions Requirements
The following are prerequisites for admission into the proposed DNP PMHNP program and are consistent with the present criteria for admission into graduate nursing programs.
- BS in Nursing from an accredited institution; a GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale for baccalaureate nursing degree and subsequent graduate work.
- An unencumbered New York State RN license.
- Nursing clinical experience: Prior to entering the clinical coursework of the program in the fall of year 2, a minimum of two years of current clinical experience is required.
- Verification of a basic health assessment course.
- Verification of a statistics course.
- AHA Certification: a current copy of ACLS certification.
- A resume that includes relevant work experiences (including dates of employment by month and year), evidence of community service, examples of leadership and commitment to the profession of nursing, and memberships in professional nursing organizations.
- Three letters of recommendation submitted through the online recommendation form, accessible through the online application. Letters can be from the following sources, attesting to the applicant’s capacity and potential for master’s study:
- The applicant’s current immediate manager;
- The director or a faculty member from the most recent academic program attended (if the applicant has been a nursing student in the last five years); and,
- A person who can attest to the applicant’s professional work.
- A pre-admission interview.
- CASPer™, a 90-minute online situational judgment test, serves to further enhance our holistic application review process by assessing non-cognitive skills and identifying personal attributes such as ethics, empathy, cultural sensitivity, collaboration, resiliency, and adaptability. CASPer™ test results are only valid for one admissions cycle. Applicants who have taken the test in previous years will need to re-take the exam.
- One essay.
- Comprehensive background check.
- 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.
- Certification in the area of clinical practice is preferred.
In addition to the admission requirements listed, additional admission requirements for applicants holding an MS degree will include:
- Be a graduate of an accredited nursing master’s degree program as a PMHNP.
- Be NYS licensed and board eligible as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.
Admissions Criteria for Advanced Standing Applicants with a MS Degree
Admission to the program occurs only in the fall semester. Applications submitted after the March 1 deadline are reviewed based on available space.
In addition to the admission requirements listed, additional admission requirements for applicants holding an MS degree will include:
- Be a graduate of an accredited nursing master’s degree program as either an AGACNP, an FNP, or a PMHNP.
- Be NYS licensed and board eligible as an adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner, or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.
- Be licensed as a registered nurse in New York State and have an unencumbered license.
- Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in a master’s degree program in nursing or equivalent professional experience.
- * For nurse practitioners holding an MS degree below are the procedures for gap analysis:
Gap Analysis Procedure
The APRN Consensus Model requires that all advanced practice nursing students complete advanced courses in pathophysiology across the lifespan, health assessment, and pharmacology (APRN Core).
The number of credits and direct care clinical hours required for a post-graduate certificate is determined through a gap analysis. The process of a gap analysis includes, and is not limited to: a) review of an applicant’s transcripts, course syllabi, and clinical experiences completed during the Master’s degree program for the applicant’s initial NP population; b) evaluate courses completed during the applicant’s master’s degree program for comparability to courses required for admission to the post-graduate certificate program.
During the admissions process, the Chair of Nursing will review transcripts, syllabi, direct care clinical hours, and experiences submitted for consideration for admission. The analysis will identify comparability with the Graduate Program requirements and achieved national population competencies.
Courses may be waived only if the individual’s transcript indicates that the required NP course or its equivalent has already been successfully completed. The waiver of coursework will be determined following the completion of the gap analysis.
Upon completion of the gap analysis, a matriculation program of study for the applicant will be developed. The Chair of Nursing Programs and lead NP faculty will recommend an offer for or declination of admission. Finally, a recommendation for admission will be presented to the Admissions Committee for approval.
Program Requirements: - Total Semester Hours: 68
Students must complete 68 semester hours, with the option to take NUR 400 as an optional course.
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Return to: Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies
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