Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing NP

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing track prepares nurses to assume advanced practice positions as providers of primary mental health care to individuals in traditional and non-traditional settings.  Preparation for advanced practice nursing is emphasized and includes supervised clinical experiences with individuals, groups, and families across the lifespan. A post masters certificate in the Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program is also available.  For more information on the Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing NP program, contact Dr. Kathy Tusaie at 330-972-7561 or ktusaie@uakron.edu.

All graduate nursing students complete core courses in theory, information management, health policy issues, pathophysiology, and research. Psychiatric Mental Health students complete specialty courses in advanced mental health assessment, differential diagnosis, psychopharmacology, medication management, and psychotherapeutic treatment modalities. Clinical management issues are considered within the context of providing health-care services to under-served and high-risk psychiatric populations.

Emphasis is placed on making independent and interdependent decisions in managing client care and on developing skill in planning, coordinating, and evaluating intervention programs. Nurses prepared for advanced practice in psychiatric mental health nursing integrate knowledge of education, research, consultation, and advanced clinical practice in collaboration with other health care professionals to influence health policy and client outcomes. Clinical experiences allow students to focus on individualized learning goals and prepare them for a career in a variety of mental health settings.

Graduates of the Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing program are eligible to sit for the Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner examination, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) examination.