Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing (CNS/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 with adults is emphasized and includes supervised clinical experiences with individuals, groups, and families.  Coursework may focus upon the Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Nurse Specialist or Psychiatric Family Nurse Practitioner role. Post masters certificates in Adult Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatric Family Nurse Practitioner programs are also available.  For more information on the Psychiatric 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 Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing track are eligible to sit for three (3) certification exams from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC): Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Nurse Specialist and Psychiatric Family Nurse Practitioner.