Nursing@Simmons students will complete 47 course credits and a minimum of 672 clinical hours. Full-time students complete the program over a period of six terms. Part-time students complete the program over a period of seven terms.

NURP 402: Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse (1 credit hour)

This course will provide an overview of advanced practice nursing. This course will explore the history of nursing at Simmons University and how nursing at Simmons has evolved to prepare graduates at the advanced practice level. Students will review the four advanced practice nursing roles under the APRN Consensus Model. There will be a focus on salient topics for advanced practice nurses including quality and safety, interprofessional collaboration, professionalism, and ethical dilemmas. Core concepts will be explored from an advanced practice lens.

NURP 426: Clinical Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan (3 credit hours)

This course is designed to provide advanced knowledge of pharmacotherapeutics for acute and chronic mental health conditions across the life span. The course will also include the knowledge necessary to select and interpret the appropriate laboratory diagnostic procedures used in monitoring the physiological, psychiatric and behavioral responses to pharmacological interventions. Emphasis will be placed on learning the medications mechanism of action, selection, monitoring, and assessment of psychotropic medications based on current research and evidenced based practice guidelines.

NURP 540: Neurobiology & Differential Diagnosis of Mental Disorders (2 credit hours)

The course studies the major presentations of mental illness, neurobiology, and the use of the most current DSM in diagnosing for clients across the life span. Emphasis is placed on assessment of pathology in mental health, history taking, mental status evaluation, and differential diagnosis of psychiatric mental health care to clients across the lifespan.

NURP 541: PMHNP I: Psychotherapy Across the Lifespan (2 credit hours)

This course will explore evidenced based individual & family psychotherapy for various mental health disorders across the lifespan. The course will also introduce the theoretical basis for understanding group and family psychotherapy. Students will apply selected theories to case study material and evaluate the utility of theory-based research findings for specific client populations. Attention is given to the cultural, ethical, legal, and public policy implications of providing psychotherapy for diverse individuals.

NURP 542: PMHNP II: Diagnosis & Management (2 credit hours)

This course provides the theoretical content and clinical practice guidelines for assessment, diagnosis, and intervention in psychiatric disorders in pediatrics & pregnant populations. The most current DSM (Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) will be used as the basis for diagnostic nomenclature across the lifespan. Emphasis will be placed on the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment (evidence-based non-pharmacological & pharmacological treatments) of mental health disorders in pediatric & pregnant patients. Legal and ethical considerations are included.

NURP 543: PMHNP III: Diagnosis & Management (3 credit hours)

This course provides the theoretical content and clinical practice guidelines for assessment, diagnosis, and intervention in psychiatric disorders for the adult & geriatric population. The most current DSM (Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) will be used as the basis for diagnostic nomenclature across the lifespan. Emphasis will be placed on the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment (evidence-based non-pharmacological & pharmacological treatments) of mental health disorders. Legal and ethical considerations are included.

NURP 544: PMHNP IV: Serious Mental Illness & Addictions Medicine (2 credit hours)

This course provides the theoretical content and clinical practice guidelines for assessment, diagnosis, and interventions for serious mental illness and addictions disorders. The course will also include complex care of individuals with co-morbid substance use and medical conditions. The most current DSM (Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) will be used as the basis for diagnostic nomenclature across the lifespan. Emphasis will be placed on the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment (evidence-based non-pharmacological & pharmacological treatments). Legal and ethical considerations are included.

NURP 534P: PMHNP Immersion & Clinical Qualification Course [Immersion Weekend] (1 credit hour)

This course examines the clinical and advanced assessment skills practice across the lifespan for the psychiatric mental health advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) student. This course will build on the fundamental principles of health assessment and provide further information to obtain, conduct, interpret, diagnose, and intervene on common psychiatric mental health disorder findings. Students should take time to review and understand the concepts presented in this course in preparation for the Immersion experience. Clinical readiness and application of all didactic courses are included. Students must have successfully completed all 3Ps, NURP 541, NURP 542 and be enrolled in or passed NURP 543 and NURP 544 prior to attending NURP 534P: PMHNP Immersion & Clinical Qualification Course.

NURP 545/546: PMHNP Clinical Decision Making I & II (6 credit hours each; total 12 credit hours)

Clinical Decision Making I & II provides the opportunity to integrate the theoretical content from prior courses and apply it to clinical practice. Throughout the clinical conferences and clinical practice preceptorship experience, the student nurse practitioner (SNP) will achieve the skills needed for holistic, comprehensive psychiatric primary care across the lifespan. The student will spend approximately three full days (or approximately 24 hours) per week at clinical placement under the preceptorship of a number of specialized providers including (but not an all-inclusive list); Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners, Psychiatrists, Psychologists & Masters Prepared Therapists). During clinical, the student will have the opportunity to practice in an increasingly independent role as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

***Note: All PMHNP courses require admission to MSN PMHNP track.