Child/Family Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Graduate Certificate
Program Description
This 29 credit post-master’s certificate is designed for nurses seeking to become an advanced practice nurse as a child/family psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. This certificate is predominantly an online distance education program with several immersion visits to the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus for orientation and intensive learning.
Graduate courses in application of theory to advanced practice, application of evidence to advanced practice, advanced pathophysiology and advanced health assessment provide a foundation for this specialty. Graduate education in psychiatric/mental health nursing gives opportunities for greater autonomy in practice, diverse employment opportunities, research and teaching capabilities and advanced assessment and intervention skills. Focused clinical experiences are arranged with preceptors and administrators in the student's local healthcare setting. Rural health and experiences with disadvantaged and multicultural populations are encouraged.
Courses are taught in a hybrid online format. Approximately one-third of the curriculum in each course is delivered in a traditional classroom setting, and two-thirds is completed in a Web-based format. Several different modalities are used to enhance the student's learning, including multimedia presentations, asynchronous discussion boards, and synchronous, online discussion sessions.
Psychiatric Specialties: Program Comparison, Concentration, and Competencies
See the Chart (PDF) or (Word) that explains the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner programs offered, the differences in scope of practice for each specialty, and the competencies that are covered in each program. This chart helps potential students understand the different options for practice and the Certification exam that would be taken at the completion of the program.
Degree Requirements
A 29-credit-hour graduate certificate program (including 585 clinical hours) to prepare nurses with a master's degree to become child/family psychiatric nurse practitioners.
Prerequisites Required:
- DNP 604 and 630 Human Pathophysiology - across the lifespan (3 credits)
- DNP 608 Pharmacology - across the lifespan (2 credits)
- DNP 605 and DNP 631 Advanced Health Assessment – across the lifespan (3 credits)
- DNP 609 and 610 Advanced Practice Nursing Role (3); or equivalent courses taken in master's degree program
Students will have an individual review of their transcripts and an individualized plan of study designed. Depending on how many of the prerequisite courses are completed in master's degree, up to 1 1/2 years of additional study may need to be added to complete this specialty.
