MSN Degree Students: Choose the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Specialization

Nursing can be an exceptionally rewarding career, giving you the chance to make countless lives better. But if you’re looking to earn a master’s degree and moving from RN to nurse practitioner (NP), you may be unsure which of the many specialized fields of nursing is best for you. One to consider is the psychiatric-mental health field.

Demand for nurse practitioners is expected to grow by 40% by the year 2034, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.¹ And according to the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, advanced practice nurses (APRNs) who specialize in psychiatric-mental health care could be key to filling gaps in care in under-resourced communities and meeting needs in the critical area of substance use treatment.² For nurses interested in mental health care, earning a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) specialization could be a first step toward working in this nursing field.

What Exactly Is an MSN Program With a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Specialization?

Simply put, an MSN with a PMHNP specialization is an MSN degree program focused on clinical work with psychiatric and mental health patients. As with other nurse practitioner-focused MSN program specializations, the PMHNP specialization academically prepares you with foundational skills and knowledge to deliver a full spectrum of care to patients with psychiatric disorders, organic brain disorders, and substance abuse issues.

What Will You Learn in an MSN Program With a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Specialization?

A master’s degree in nursing with a PMHNP specialization will prepare you with the skills to assess psychiatric and mental health patients, diagnose psychiatric and mental health conditions, and provide appropriate treatment for those patients and conditions. Specifically, a master’s in nursing program with a PMHNP specialization will academically prepare you to:

• Apply for national certification as a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner.
• Synthesize organizational and systems leadership for cost-effective specialist nursing practice that contributes to high-quality healthcare delivery, advancement of the nursing profession, and positive 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 and population advocacy for access to specialist nursing care.
• Demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate using audience-specific oral, written, and information technology means for professional delivery of specialist nursing care.
• Evaluate health needs of diverse populations for necessary teaching or coaching functions based on specialist nursing knowledge to restore and promote health and prevent illness and injury.
• Exhibit an ongoing commitment to professional development and the value of nursing theories and 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.

Where Can You Work as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner?

A variety of healthcare providers and other types of mental health care-related organizations may seek psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners. Work settings may include:

• Inpatient or outpatient psychiatric practices
• Private psychiatric practices
• Mental health clinics
• Correctional facilities
• Residential substance use facilities
• Inpatient and outpatient substance use treatment programs
• Domestic violence shelters
• Community mental health centers
• General hospitals

What’s the Best Way to Earn an MSN With a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Specialization?

For many working RNs, earning a master’s degree in nursing online can offer a flexible path to advancing their education while continuing to manage professional and personal commitments.

In Walden’s online MSN program with a PMHNP specialization, didactic coursework is completed fully online, allowing you to study on a schedule that works for you. Clinical practicum experiences are supported through Walden’s Practicum Pledge®, which offers guidance throughout the placement process. The program also incorporates immersive, virtual learning opportunities, such as a skills lab and Grand Rounds, where students explore clinical patient scenarios in a collaborative environment. After graduation, students may also access no-cost test preparation resources for PMHNP certification board exams.

Choosing where to earn a Master of Science in Nursing with a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) specialization is an important decision. Walden University, a U.S. leader in nursing master’s education, offers an online master’s in nursing program that brings together flexible learning, dedicated practicum support, and immersive educational experiences to help RNs advance their education in a way that fits their lives.

Walden University is an HLC-accredited institution offering a CCNE-accredited Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program with a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specialization online. Earn your degree using a convenient, flexible learning platform that fits your busy life.

¹Source: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.htm
²Source: https://omsapaprod.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/APNA_2025_State_of_Psychiatric-Mental_Health_Nursing_FINAL.pdf

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, or other nurse practitioner certification websites.

Walden University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (www.hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.