Program Track Overview
Doctor of Nursing Practice – PMHNP
The estimated cost for the D.N.P. – PMHNP program is $107,223 for Oregon residents and takes 3 years to complete on a full-time basis.
Curriculum
Students need 111 credits to earn the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner D.N.P. degree including 25 credits from clinical practicum courses (1,000 clinical hours) and 7 credits from D.N.P. project courses.
The curriculum focuses on holistic, patient-centered, trauma-informed care examining how biological, psychological, developmental, social, and environmental factors shape mental health across the lifespan.
Core Nursing and PMHNP Classes (79 credits)
NURS 515A – Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology I (3 cr.)
Study core physiologic systems and relate disruptions to disease across the lifespan. Build a working model that links cellular mechanisms to clinical signs and labs.
NURS 515B – Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology II (3 cr.)
Extend system-level physiology and tie exemplar pathologies to real clinical patterns. Strengthen integration of mechanisms for future management courses.
NURS 517A – Advanced Health and Physical Assessment (3 cr.)
Perform comprehensive, age-inclusive histories and exams using diagnostic reasoning. Practice advanced assessment skills in a hands-on lab.
NURS 519 – Principles of Pharmacology & Prescribing for APRNs (4 cr.)
Apply pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacogenomics to safe prescribing across the lifespan. Weigh efficacy, risk, cost, and patient factors in treatment choices.
NURS 720 – Roles, Responsibilities, and Concepts for APN (3 cr.)
Clarify APN scope, professionalism, and legal duties linked to outcomes and safety. Connect leadership and policy concepts to daily practice.
NURS 721 – Ethics for APN (3 cr.)
Use ethical theories to guide care, research, and organizational decisions. Analyze dilemmas and defend actions that protect patients and standards.
NURS 722 – Informatics and Technology for Health Care (3 cr.)
Leverage EHRs, telehealth, and basic databases to improve quality and safety. Address legal and ethical issues in health data use.
NURS 723 – Critical Appraisal of Evidence (3 cr.)
Identify types of evidence and practice core appraisal skills. Review essential statistics and map the steps of evidence-based practice.
NURS 724 – Application of Evidence to Clinical Practice (3 cr.)
Select a clinical problem, critique the evidence, and plan practice change. Use implementation models to move knowledge into action.
NURS 725 – Improvement Science (3 cr.)
Test and measure change to close care gaps. Compare IS methods, analyze results, and support continuous improvement.
NURS 726 – Health Care Economics and Finance (3 cr.)
Evaluate cost, value, and resource use in care delivery. Design feasible initiatives that balance quality and affordability.
NURS 727 – Leadership & Health Systems (3 cr.)
Apply systems and leadership theories to real operational problems. Practice entry-level leadership that aligns teams and outcomes.
NURS 728 – Health Policy and Population Health (3 cr.)
Examine how policy, equity, and social factors shape population outcomes. Use epidemiology to assess needs and inform advocacy.
PMH 750 – Foundations for PMHNP Practice (2 cr.)
Define the PMHNP role, ethics, and legal issues. Link health promotion and system context to modern mental health care.
PMH 755 – Professional Practice for PMHNP (4 cr.)
Engage with community mental health systems, policy, and advocacy. Build professional communication through presentations and reflective work.
PMH 760 – Mental Health and Illness Foundations (1 cr.)
Outline core role expectations, ethics, and health promotion in PMHNP care. Situate practice within historical and social contexts.
PMH 761 – PMHNP Practice Foundations (2 cr.)
Reinforce PMHNP role development and legal considerations. Connect system factors to practical care planning.
PMH 762 – Therapy Foundations (1 cr.)
Compare major theories of development, attachment, and family systems. Practice trauma-informed, collaborative basics for individual and group therapy.
PMH 774 – Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan for PMHNP (6 cr.)
Integrate neurobiology with pharmacology to craft individualized regimens. Address consent, substance use risks, and monitoring for diverse patients.
PMH 775 – PMHNP Professional Development and Engagement (6 cr.)
Blend multiple therapies to manage complex presentations and comorbidities. Design interventions that adapt across settings and populations.
PMH 781A – Assessment and Diagnosis: Adult (4 cr.)
Use psychopathology, neuroscience, and DSM frameworks to evaluate adults. Apply structured tools and cultural context to diagnostic formulation.
PMH 781B – Assessment and Diagnosis: Child and Adolescent (2 cr.)
Assess youth using biopsychosocial and family-system lenses. Select and interpret age-appropriate measures and communicate findings clearly.
PMH 783 – Adult Psychotherapy (3 cr.)
Set goals, plan care, and deliver evidence-based therapies for adults and older adults. Track progress with respect to diagnosis and environment.
PMH 785 – Child and Family Therapies (3 cr.)
Plan and implement therapies for children, adolescents, and families. Align interventions with diagnosis, family dynamics, and context.
D.N.P. Project Courses (7 credits)
NURS 703A – DNP Project Planning (2 cr.)
Design an improvement-focused DNP project and prepare IRB materials. Produce a faculty-approved proposal ready for implementation.
NURS 703B – DNP Project (5 cr.)
Implement, evaluate, and disseminate the approved project within practicum settings. Generate outcomes that support ongoing clinical scholarship.
Electives: 3 credits
More curriculum details are available here
Students must complete all courses with a B- or better to graduate.
Clinicals
Students complete 25 credits of clinical practicum courses totaling over 1,000 hours of supervised clinical practice in community-based settings.
Clinical experiences take place in diverse settings including:
- community mental health clinics
- public health departments
- hospitals and outpatient mental health clinics
- health maintenance organizations
- government facilities
- independent private practices
Students also complete a long-term clinical placement to build deeper practice skills while working with patients across the lifespan, with focus on patients who have serious mental illnesses in both inpatient and outpatient care settings.
OHSU handles clinical placements so students can focus on learning rather than arranging their own sites.
Admissions Requirements
Before Applying:
- RN license (conditional admission available if license obtained before first clinical course)
- GPA of 3.0 across all undergraduate and graduate courses, including all science courses
- GRE exam not required
Before Starting Program:
- B.S.N. or B.S. with a major in nursing
- Completed college-level statistics course with B- or better within 5 years of starting program (time limit waiver form available for courses beyond 5-year limit)
Application Process:
- Apply by January 5 for fall start
- Apply through Nursing CAS
- Enter college courses in Nursing CAS
- Submit 3 letters of reference, resume, and essays in Nursing CAS
- Send transcripts to Nursing CAS
Tuition
Graduate nursing program tuition for the D.N.P. – PMHNP is $713 per credit hour for Oregon residents and $926 per credit hour for non-residents. Additional fees may apply and are not included in per-credit costs.
See the official tuition page for more details
Program Features
OHSU’s PMHNP program provides dual-focus training developing expertise in both psychotherapy and psychopharmacology to address mental health needs across the lifespan. Students learn in small class sizes with a teacher-to-student ratio of 1:15 from leading mental health experts and experienced clinicians dedicated to student success. The program prepares graduates to assess, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions while providing therapy in various clinical settings, with training to provide compassionate care that treats symptoms and addresses root causes of mental health and substance use disorders.
Accreditation
OHSU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) and the OHSU School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Other Nursing Programs at OHSU
Bachelor’s Programs:
- B.S. with a major in nursing (Ashland, Klamath Falls, La Grande, Monmouth, Portland)
- Accelerated B.S. with a major in nursing (Portland, Bend, Ashland)
- Online RN to B.S.
Master’s Programs:
- Master’s in Nursing Education
- Master’s in Nursing: Health Systems and Organizational Leadership (HSOL)
D.N.P. Programs:
- Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Nurse Anesthesia
- Nurse-Midwifery
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
- Post-Master’s D.N.P. (100% online)
Doctoral Research Program:
- Ph.D. in Nursing (postbaccalaureate or post-masters)
Special Pathways:
- Accelerated B.S. to PMHNP pathway (allows direct transition from B.S. to D.N.P. with one application)