Grand Canyon University PMHNP Program (Psych NP)

Master of Science in Nursing – PMHNP Emphasis

The estimated cost for the MSN-PMHNP program is approximately $39,750 for online students and would take 2.5-3 years to complete on a full-time basis.

Students complete 750 clinical hours through combined didactic and clinical courses with immersive on-campus experiences for advanced practice skills development.

Prerequisites & Admissions

Bachelor’s degree from accredited institution approved by GCU
Minimum 2.8 GPA OR 2.5 GPA with qualifying test scores (GMAT: 500 or GRE: 300 combined)
Licensed registered nurse in the United States
Program available in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Texas
Up to 12 credits or 1/3 of total program requirements may transfer (whichever is less)
Additional admission requirements may vary by program and modality

Curriculum

The curriculum includes 53 credit hours covering advanced physiology, pharmacology, health assessment, and specialized psychiatric mental health courses.

Core coursework encompasses leadership, informatics, translational research, and evidence-based practice. Course details are as follows:

NUR-513A – Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice
Explores nursing theory, ethics, and the advanced registered nurse role through a Christian worldview and leadership perspective. Covers moral, legal, and regulatory responsibilities in health promotion and disease prevention. Reviews evidence-based practice literature, research processes, and navigation of scholarly resources.

NUR-514A – Organizational Leadership and Informatics
Examines leadership, policy, and informatics in delivering safe, cost-effective patient care. Discusses organizational relationships, care models, and practice change proposals. Introduces professional leadership theories, change management, ethical considerations, and healthcare informatics. Prerequisite: NUR-513A.

NUR-550A – Translational Research and Population Health Management
Focuses on translating scientific evidence into advanced nursing practice for population-based care. Evaluates research from multiple disciplines to design prevention interventions. Addresses policy evaluation, advocacy, and ethical principles for diverse populations. Prerequisite: NUR-514A.

NUR-590A – Evidence-Based Practice Project
Guides students in completing an EBP project proposal addressing a professional practice problem. Covers implementation planning, evaluation methods, and outcome measurement. Prerequisite: NUR-550A.

NUR-631 – Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology
Covers advanced physiology and pathophysiology across the lifespan. Topics include cellular function, genetics, immunity, and major body systems. Emphasizes interpreting changes that indicate illness. Prerequisite: NUR-590 or NUR-590A.

NUR-635 – Advanced Pharmacology
Teaches pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and the impact of physiological and pathological variables on drug response. Reviews prescribing strategies, drug interactions, and therapy for multiple health conditions. Prerequisite: NUR-631.

NUR-634 – Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning With Skills Lab
Expands on undergraduate assessment skills to include comprehensive and focused evaluations across the lifespan. Introduces systematic diagnostic reasoning for differential diagnoses. Includes physical, psychosocial, and risk assessments. Prerequisites: NUR-631 and either NUR-632, NUR-633, or NUR-635.

PMH-630 – Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health – On-Campus Experience I (
Introduces evidence-based care for mental health disorders and promotion. Covers advanced PMHNP role development, neuroscience, psychopharmacology, psychotherapy, and cultural competence. Includes a required 3-day on-campus immersion. Prerequisite: NUR-634.

PMH-630CE – On-Campus Experience I
Three-day immersion with lectures and simulation in psychiatric mental health care. Focus on psychopharmacology, psychotherapy, and clinical interviewing. Prerequisite: NUR-634.

PMH-652 – Intro to Psychiatric Mental Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning
Combines didactic and 250 clinical hours to teach assessment and diagnosis of mental health disorders. Emphasizes neuroscience, psychopharmacology, and psychotherapeutic principles. Includes interprofessional collaboration. Prerequisite: PMH-630.

PMH-654 – Integrative Management: Psychiatric Assessment, Diagnosis and Treatment
Integrates assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning for mental health disorders across the lifespan. Includes 250 clinical hours, emphasizing evidence-based management and cultural competence. Prerequisite: PMH-652.

PMH-656 – Advanced Management of Psychiatric Disorders – On-Campus Experience II
Final course combining advanced psychiatric management concepts with transition-to-practice topics. Covers licensure, credentialing, and policy updates. Includes a required 2-day immersion and 250 clinical hours. Prerequisite: PMH-654; Co-Requisite: PMH-656CE.

PMH-656CE – On-Campus Experience II
Two-day immersion with advanced simulations in psychiatric disorder management. Emphasizes diagnostic reasoning and treatment planning. Clinical hours: 250. Prerequisite: PMH-654.

Clinical Hours

The program requires 750 clinical hours distributed across multiple courses combining didactic and clinical components. Students engage in psychiatric mental health assessment, diagnosis, and treatment across diverse patient populations and healthcare settings.

The curriculum emphasizes evidence-based practice for managing psychiatric disorders throughout the lifespan with focus on integrative care approaches.

Tuition

Graduate tuition costs $750 per credit hour for online programs with additional fees for books, course materials, supplies, equipment, and technology totaling approximately $900 per academic year. See the official tuition page for more details.

Accreditation

Grand Canyon University has been institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1968. The nursing programs are offered through the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions, ensuring graduates meet professional standards for psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner practice.

Other Nursing Programs

MBA & MSN: Nursing Leadership in Health Care Systems
MSN: Acute Care Nurse Practitioner: Adult-Gerontology
MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
MSN: Health Care Quality and Patient Safety
MSN: Health Informatics
MSN: Leadership in Health Care Systems
MSN: Nursing Education
MSN: Public Health Nursing
Post-MSN: Acute Care Nurse Practitioner: Adult-Gerontology Certificate
Post-MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate
Post-MSN: Nursing Education Certificate

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