No. 1 in Psychiatric-Mental Health NP Specializations in the U.S.
Care for the mental and emotional well-being of patients of all ages with an MSN Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) degree from Walden. Play a bigger role in raising awareness of societal issues around mental illness and become a catalyst for social change.
A pioneer in this specialization, Walden offers one of the first online psychiatric nurse practitioner MSN programs in the country—and we’re the No. 1 choice in psychiatric-mental health NP specializations in the U.S. Our online PMHNP MSN program academically prepares nurses to deliver a full spectrum of care to patients with psychiatric disorders, organic brain disorders, and substance abuse issues.
We are here to help you find your nursing practicum.
Choose the BSN to MSN track if you are a registered nurse (RN) and have already earned your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.
Curriculum
Degree Completion Requirements
- 63 quarter credits
- Core courses (23 cr.)
- Specialization courses (40 cr. includes the required 640 practicum hours)
View the COMPLETE CURRICULUM PLAN
Start dates are offered each quarter so you can begin your program when it is convenient for you. Enrollment in this nurse practitioner specialization is currently open to new students.
This sequence represents the minimum time to completion. Time to completion will vary by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. For a personalized estimate of your time to completion, call an Enrollment Specialist at 844-758-5248.
Choose the RN to MSN track if you are a registered nurse (RN) entering the MSN program with a hospital diploma or an associate degree in nursing.
Curriculum
Degree Completion Requirements
- 89 quarter credits
- Foundations courses (26 cr.)
- Core courses (23 cr.)
- Specialization courses (40 cr. includes the required 640 practicum hours)
View the COMPLETE CURRICULUM PLAN
Start dates are offered each quarter so you can begin your program when it is convenient for you. Enrollment in this nurse practitioner specialization is currently open to new students.
This sequence represents the minimum time to completion. Time to completion will vary by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. For a personalized estimate of your time to completion, call an Enrollment Specialist at 844-758-5248.
If you are a registered nurse (RN) and have earned your bachelor's in nursing degree, you can use these tracks to get started on your doctoral nursing degree.
Personalized Practicum Support
After you register for Walden Practicum Pledge™ (along with other requirements), if you can’t identify a site and preceptor, our dedicated Field Placement Team partners with you to secure your site and preceptor to help you find a match. This enhanced support gives you added confidence as you start your degree journey.
Admission Requirements
Program Admission Considerations (RN-MSN): Registered nurses who hold a hospital diploma, associate degree in nursing, or bachelor’s degree (other than BSN)
Program Admission Considerations (BSN-MSN): A bachelor's degree or higher
General Admission Requirements: Completed online application and transcripts
- The Technical Standards Policy Form, a statement of understanding of the MSN NP practicum requirements.
- Additional Walden admission criteria required. Contact an Enrollment Specialist for more details.
More information for international applicants.
Explore Real-Life Clinical Scenarios With Walden Grand Rounds
As a nurse practitioner student at Walden, you can take part in Walden Grand Rounds several times throughout the quarter. Meet virtually with faculty and classmates to review clinical patient scenarios that are focused on assessing, differentiating, and treating pathological conditions. This is a unique opportunity to connect what you’ve learned in class with real-life situations and challenges you’ll encounter in the field as an NP.
The progress you make now pays you back. You’ll receive your clinical practicum courses tuition-free.
We believe you can achieve your goals—and we’re here to support you along your journey.
Request information to learn more about scholarships and financial aid.
*Tuition and fees are subject to change. See Tuition and Fees section and Scholarship Details for more information.
| Curriculum Component | Requirements | Cost | AMOUNT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | 63 quarter credit hours | $750 per quarter hour | $47,250 |
| Program Fee | Per quarter | $170 | $1,360 |
| Clinical Course Fee | 4 courses (PRAC) | $160 | $640 |
| $49,250* | |||
| BELIEVE & ACHIEVE SCHOLARSHIP YOUR TUITION |
-$6,000 $43,250† |
||
Effective February 26, 2024
| Curriculum Component | Requirements | Cost | AMOUNT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | 63 quarter credit hours | $765 per quarter hour | $48,195 |
| Program Fee | Per quarter | $175 | $1,400 |
| Clinical Course Fee | 4 courses (PRAC) | $160 | $640 |
| $50,235* | |||
| BELIEVE & ACHIEVE SCHOLARSHIP YOUR TUITION |
-$6,120 $44,115† |
||
*Tuition reflects the minimum time to completion. Time to completion varies by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. Tuition and time to complete may be reduced if transfer credits are accepted, or if you receive grants, scholarships, or other tuition reductions. Walden may accept up to 30 transfer credits. For a personalized estimate of the number of your transfer credits that Walden would accept, call an Enrollment Specialist at 844-768-0109.
Tuition and fees are subject to change. Books and materials are not included and may cost between $1,500 to $2,000. Students may also incur additional costs related to practicum, including but not limited to costs of travel to their practicum site, practicum onboarding fees, per quarter practicum fees, and liability insurance costs.
† Represents BSN-MSN track, minimum time to completion, and Believe & Achieve Scholarship. Your actual total program time and costs may vary. Believe & Achieve Scholarship savings based on current tuition. See Scholarship Details for more information.
| Curriculum Component | Requirements | Cost | AMOUNT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | 26 RN Foundational quarter credit hours |
$415 per quarter hour | $10,790 |
| 63 MSN quarter credits | $750 per quarter hour | $47,250 | |
| Program Fee | Per quarter | $170 | $1,700 |
| Clinical Course Fee | 4 courses (PRAC) | $160 | $640 |
| $60,380* | |||
| BELIEVE & ACHIEVE SCHOLARSHIP YOUR TUITION |
-$6,000 $54,380† |
||
*Tuition reflects the minimum time to completion. Time to completion varies by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. Tuition and time to complete may be reduced if transfer credits are accepted, or if you receive grants, scholarships, or other tuition reductions. Walden may accept up to 40 transfer credits. For a personalized estimate of the number of your transfer credits that Walden would accept, call an Enrollment Specialist at 844-768-0109.
Tuition and fees are subject to change. Books and materials are not included and may cost between $1,500 to $2,000. Students may also incur additional costs related to practicum, including but not limited to costs of travel to their practicum site, practicum onboarding fees, per quarter practicum fees, and liability insurance costs.
†Represents RN-MSN track, minimum time to completion, and Believe and Achieve Scholarship. Your actual total program time and costs may vary.
Effective February 26, 2024
| Curriculum Component | Requirements | Cost | AMOUNT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | 26 RN Foundational quarter credit hours |
$425 per quarter hour | $11,050 |
| 63 MSN quarter credits | $765 per quarter hour | $48,195 | |
| Program Fee | Per quarter | $175 | $1,750 |
| Clinical Course Fee | 4 courses (PRAC) | $160 | $640 |
| $61,635* | |||
| BELIEVE & ACHIEVE SCHOLARSHIP YOUR TUITION |
-$6,120 $55,515† |
||
*Tuition reflects the minimum time to completion. Time to completion varies by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. Tuition and time to complete may be reduced if transfer credits are accepted, or if you receive grants, scholarships, or other tuition reductions. Walden may accept up to 40 transfer credits. For a personalized estimate of the number of your transfer credits that Walden would accept, call an Enrollment Specialist at 844-768-0109.
Tuition and fees are subject to change. Books and materials are not included and may cost between $1,500 to $2,000. Students may also incur additional costs related to practicum, including but not limited to costs of travel to their practicum site, practicum onboarding fees, per quarter practicum fees, and liability insurance costs.
†Represents RN-MSN track, minimum time to completion, and Believe and Achieve Scholarship. Your actual total program time and costs may vary.
Program Outcomes
Engage in Immersive Learning
Walden’s PMHNP specialization focuses not just on knowledge mastery, but also on helping you use that knowledge to positively impact the lives of individuals, families, and populations through holistic mental health services. Learn to interact with patients, perform mental health assessments, make diagnoses, and plan treatment—all through virtual simulations. Discover how to use research to develop, assess, and refine educational materials that best serve the healthcare audience in your community.
Walden MSN PMHNP practicum coordinators are available to assist you in meeting your practicum requirements and you can view this FAQ document for answers to some of the most common questions.
Career Outlook
According to research gathered by SAMHSA in 2020, effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have included increased anxiety, depression, traumatic stress, and substance use across the United States. With suicide, depression, and substance abuse at crisis levels, there is a growing demand for qualified mental health services and improved patient access to effective treatment.1
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of nurse practitioners is projected to grow 45% from 2022 to 2032.2
Our psychiatric nurse practitioner MSN program features a challenging curriculum designed to help you be an impactful provider in an area of need. Let Walden help you become the nursing leader and change-maker you were meant to be.
Where PMHNPs Work
- Mental health clinics
- Correctional facilities
- Inpatient and outpatient psychiatric facilities
- Residential substance abuse facilities
- Private psychiatric practices
- Community mental health centers
- Domestic violence shelters
- Psychopharmacology clinics
- Psychiatric consult services
- State psychiatric facilities
- Veterans Administration psychiatric facilities
Career options may require additional experience, training, or other factors beyond the successful completion of this degree program.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completing this specialization, graduates will be prepared to:
- Synthesize organizational/systems leadership for cost-effective specialist nursing practice that contributes to high-quality healthcare delivery, advancement of the nursing profession, and social change.
- Critique evidence-based literature drawing from diverse theoretical perspectives and pertinent research to guide decision making that demonstrates best practices for specialist nursing practice in a global society.
- Integratively assess, diagnose, plan, implement, and evaluate cost-effective healthcare strategies that reduce health disparities by patient/population advocacy for access to specialist nursing care.
- Demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate using audience-specific oral, written, and information technology for professional delivery of specialist nursing care.
- Evaluate health needs of diverse populations for necessary teaching/coaching functions based on specialist nursing knowledge to restore/promote health and prevent illness/injury.
- Exhibit ongoing commitment to professional development and value of nursing theories/ethical principles (altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity, social justice) in accordance with ethically responsible, legally accountable, specialist nursing practice.
- Implement specialist nursing roles to promote quality improvement of patient-centered care in accordance with professional practice standards that transform health outcomes for diverse populations.
Meet Your Academic Team
Meet Your Academic Team
Testimonial
I chose Walden to earn my advanced degree because I was pleased with the design and presentation of the curriculum, its flexibility, and the very encouraging reviews of the experiences of current students and alumni.
Lisa D. Stovel-Rolle ’12MSN
I was very surprised about how well-prepared I felt for my certification boards after graduation. The program prepared me for entry to practice.
Joshua Reed ’14MSN
Choosing to specialize as a family nurse practitioner has opened many doors. ... I can explore many areas in nursing and still be a nurse practitioner.
Melissa Bellamy ’18MSN
Related Articles
What is a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner?
A psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) is a nurse practitioner specially licensed and trained for applications in the psychiatric mental health field of medicine. These highly trained professionals—all of whom have earned at least a Master of Science in Nursing—are serving communities around the U.S. and the world, bringing psychiatric care to those in need.
What does a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) do?
Psychiatric nurse practitioners can diagnose mental illness and prescribe medications, but they also provide mental and behavioral health therapy. This includes counseling patients suffering from depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and other serious mental health issues.
Where do psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners work?
Numerous healthcare providers and other types of employers seek psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners. Those who hold an MSN degree with a PMHNP specialization work at:
- Inpatient or outpatient psychiatric practices
- Private psychiatric practices
- Mental health clinics
- Correctional facilities
- Residential substance abuse facilities
- Inpatient and outpatient substance abuse treatment programs
- Domestic violence shelters
- Community mental health centers
- Public and private schools
- General hospitals
What type of courses will I take when earning my MSN – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner degree?
Aside from the regular MSN course curriculum, you will take a number of courses designed specifically for mental health nurses. Examples might include:
- Advanced Pathophysiology
- Advanced Pharmacology
- Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning
- Psychotherapy With Individuals
- Psychotherapy With Groups and Families
- Psychopharmacologic Approaches to Treatment of Psychopathology
What does it take to be a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner?
Psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner is a great profession for anyone who wants to make a difference in people’s lives. But how do you know if you’re cut out for it? Aside from having an MSN degree with a specialization in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, there are some qualities it takes to be successful. These include:
- Patience: To be a good psychiatric nurse practitioner, you need to be a patient person. You have to allow healing to take its often-slow course.
- Emotional intelligence: You will need a high level of emotional intelligence, which means you need the ability to understand other people’s emotions and then connect with them on a meaningful level. If you’ve often been told you have a lot of empathy, you probably have high emotional intelligence.
- Tolerance: While you don’t have to alter your worldview to be a good psychiatric nurse practitioner, you do have to be tolerant of all kinds of people who have made all kinds of choices.
- Fortitude: If you work in the mental health field long enough, a patient is likely to direct an outburst at you. To last as a psychiatric nurse practitioner you have to be able to endure the verbal abuse you may receive from your patients.
- A love of learning: Psychiatric medicine is always evolving. To keep up, you have to read journals, attend conferences, and always be on the lookout for new information that pertains to psychiatry and mental health therapy.
What support does Walden provide for finding a nursing practicum site?
With our Practicum Pledge™, you will benefit from our large network of field sites and preceptors, an additional dedicated Field Placement Team that partners with you to identify a site and preceptor. If you’re unable to identify your own nursing practicum site and preceptor after several attempts, we’ll assist in finding you a suitable match (along with additional requirements).
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1Source: SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). Disaster Technical Assistance Center Supplemental Research Bulletin: A Preliminary Look at the Mental Health and Substance Use-Related Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic (May 2021).
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook | Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing (BSN), master’s degree program in nursing (MSN), post-graduate APRN certificate program, and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at Walden University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.ccneaccreditation.org).
Note on licensure: Walden’s MSN nurse practitioner specializations are designed to academically prepare graduates with an active registered nurse (RN) license to practice in the U.S. as nurse practitioners. However, each state has its own academic preparation and authority to practice requirements and issues its own license for an RN to be permitted to practice as a nurse practitioner in that state. Learn more about professional licensure.
No graduate program can guarantee that graduates will obtain licensure to practice as a nurse practitioner. We encourage students to consult the appropriate board of nursing or regulatory authority in the states or jurisdictions in which they reside or intend to seek licensure to determine specific requirements. Walden Enrollment Specialists can provide general information relating to licensure; however, it remains the individual’s responsibility to understand, evaluate, and comply with all requirements relating to licensure for the state in which they intend to practice, as requirements vary widely.
Note on certification: Walden’s MSN program is designed to academically prepare graduates to apply for national certification. Walden makes no representations or guarantees that completion of Walden coursework or programs will permit an individual to achieve national certification. We encourage students to consult an appropriate certifying body for the specific certification eligibility requirements. Students should also consult their state board of nursing or other state agency to determine what certifications are required or accepted in that state. It is an individual’s responsibility to understand, evaluate, and comply with all requirements relating to national certification, as requirements vary widely. For more information about nurse practitioner certification exams, students should visit the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board at www.aanpcert.org, the American Nurses Credentialing Center at www.nursingworld.org/ancc, the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) at [email protected], or the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) at https://pncb.org, or other nurse practitioner certification websites.
Enrollment Restrictions by State
Walden currently cannot enroll residents of the following states/districts into any nurse practitioner specializations: Louisiana, New York, Oregon, and Rhode Island.
Note on Field Experience and Relocating
Students who are considering relocating are advised to contact their Student Success Advisor prior to any decision to relocate in order to determine how relocation may impact progress in their program. Advisors can provide information and guidance on how relocating may result in possible changes, restrictions, and/or additional requirements affecting field experience. Each Board of Nursing and Higher Education Authority governs the field experience rules and regulations in their respective states, and students may be unable to complete field experience in the state in which they plan to relocate. While Walden is committed to working collaboratively with students to secure field sites across the United States, it is imperative that students contact their Student Success Advisor immediately when considering relocating.