Florida Southern College PMHNP Program

School of Nursing and Health Sciences Lakeland, FL

Florida Southern College’s Ann Blanton Edwards School of Nursing offers 2 distinct PMHNP tracks:

  • MSN: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (44 credits)
  • Post-Master’s PMHNP Certificate (variable credits based on gap analysis)
The college maintains an extensive network of practice partners and provides state-of-the-art simulation facilities for optimal clinical learning experiences.

Program Tracks Overview

ProgramCostLength
MSN: PMHNP$30,950~3 years
Post-Master’s PMHNP CertificateVaries (based on gap analysis)Varies (individualized plan)

With 100% certification exam pass rates for post-master’s certificate graduates, small class sizes, and comprehensive clinical placement support, these programs feature hybrid delivery combining online and on-campus learning. 

MSN: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

The estimated cost for the MSN: PMHNP program is $30,950 and would take 6 semesters to complete.

Curriculum

Coursework includes:

NUR 5120 Leadership, Role Development, and Advocacy for Advanced Nursing Practice
This course builds foundational knowledge in leadership, advanced practice nursing roles, and professional advocacy. Students focus on interprofessional collaboration and strategies to advance population health through leadership in clinical and policy settings.

NUR 5150 Advanced Pharmacology Across the Life Span
Covers pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and therapeutic drug use across all life stages. Emphasis is placed on selecting appropriate drug therapies, understanding diagnostic criteria, and managing medications for diverse populations including pediatric, adult, pregnant/lactating, and geriatric patients.

NUR 5200 Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Life Span
Provides comprehensive study of acute and chronic disease processes affecting mental and physical health. Focus areas include pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnostics, and differential diagnoses across a range of populations.

NUR 5220 Advanced Health Assessment and Differential Diagnoses Across the Life Span
Equips students with advanced assessment and diagnostic reasoning skills. Emphasis is on gathering subjective and objective data, performing physical exams, and formulating differential diagnoses using an evidence-based, case-scenario approach.

NUR 5250 Evidence Translation and Quality Improvement for Advanced Nursing Practice
Focuses on translating research into clinical practice. Students apply theories, evidence-based models, and quality improvement strategies to drive measurable improvements in patient care and healthcare outcomes.

NUR 5400 Health Promotion, Clinical Prevention, and Population Health for Advanced Nursing Practice
Introduces concepts in population health, disease prevention, and health promotion. Students examine the impact of health systems and policy on clinical and community health outcomes.

NUR 5450 Informatics and Health Care Technologies
Covers the integration and application of healthcare technologies in clinical practice. Topics include ethical standards, data security, and the use of informatics tools to enhance care coordination and quality.

NUR 6530 Transition to Advanced Nursing Practice Role: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Prepares students for the transition to PMHNP roles by covering scope of practice, certification, legal and ethical responsibilities, reimbursement, and regulatory issues affecting advanced nursing practice.

NUR 6600 Advanced Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan
Offers an in-depth study of medications used in treating psychiatric disorders. Students learn to assess patient needs and apply evidence-based strategies to manage pharmacologic therapies across diverse age groups.

NUR 6610 Advanced Mental Health Assessment and Diagnostics Across the Lifespan
Teaches comprehensive psychiatric assessment and diagnostic techniques. Students gain expertise in clinical interviews, mental status exams, DSM-based diagnosis, and applying diagnostic criteria in practice.

NUR 6670 Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Across the Lifespan I: Individual & Family Psychotherapy
Introduces the theory and application of individual and family psychotherapy. Students begin clinical practice with a minimum of 180 direct care hours, focusing on therapeutic interventions for acute and chronic psychiatric conditions.

NUR 6680 Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Across the Lifespan II: Individual & Group Psychotherapy
Expands on psychotherapy skills with an added focus on group therapy theory and ethics. Students complete another 180 clinical hours, applying psychotherapy techniques in managing complex psychiatric conditions.

NUR 6690 Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Across the Lifespan III: Role Synthesis
Serves as a capstone course where students synthesize clinical, leadership, and administrative knowledge. Includes 120 clinical hours, during which students collaborate with preceptors to complete an administrative or leadership-focused project.

More curriculum details here

Students complete a minimum of 540 population-focused clinical hours with clinical site placement coordination provided by the college. The program requires monthly on-campus attendance with predominantly online asynchronous learning.

MSN Program Requirements:

  • BSN from regionally-accredited institution with CCNE, CNEA, or ACEN accredited nursing program
  • Current active Florida RN licensure
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA on last 60 undergraduate credit hours
  • Prerequisite courses with “C” or better grade:
    • Health assessment
    • Nursing research or evidence-based practice
    • Statistics or biostatistics
  • Three short videos (2 minutes each) addressing specific prompts
  • Current résumé
  • Personal interview may be required
  • Criminal background check, immunizations, drug screen (if admitted)

Post-Master’s PMHNP Certificate

The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s PMHNP Certificate varies based on gap analysis results and individual program requirements.

Curriculum

An individualized program of study is developed following admission based on gap analysis of completed MSN coursework. Students must complete all program requirements outlined in their individualized plan to ensure national certification exam eligibility.

Required practice hours correspond to the PMHNP track and can be derived from approved credit or completed during certificate enrollment.

The program utilizes hybrid delivery with some on-campus attendance required. Students must have completed graduate-level pathophysiology, pharmacology, health assessment, and research courses prior to clinical courses.

Post-Master’s Certificate Requirements:

  • BSN and MSN from regionally-accredited institutions with CCNE, CNEA, or ACEN accredited programs
  • Current active Florida RN licensure
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA on last 60 undergraduate credit hours
  • Same prerequisite courses and video requirements as MSN program
  • Graduate-level completion of pathophysiology, pharmacology, health assessment, and research
  • Gap analysis determines individualized program requirements

Tuition

Graduate programs cost $675 per credit hour plus $550 program fee per semester and $25-$100 technology fee per semester. One-time fees include $250 deposit and $224 CastleBranch package.

Accreditation

Florida Southern College’s nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), ensuring graduates meet national standards for PMHNP certification through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board and American Nurses Credentialing Center.

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