Program Tracks Overview
| Program Track | Cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Practice DNP: PMHNP | $67,660 | 4 years |
| Advanced Practice Certificate: PMHNP | $22,885 | 1.5 years |
The Kramer School of Nursing maintains ACEN accreditation and reports above-average NCLEX pass rates.
Advanced Practice DNP: PMHNP
The estimated cost for the Advanced Practice DNP PMHNP program is $67,660 and would take 4 years to complete on a full-time basis.
DNP Curriculum
The BSN-to-DNP program totals 68 credit hours and emphasizes mental health care across the lifespan. Core nurse practitioner courses meet once weekly on campus.
Students can expect one class day per week for on-campus attendance.
Required Courses:
NURS 5004 – Health Communication and Informatics in Advanced Practice (4)
Develops professional written, verbal, and digital communication, including literature synthesis, scholarly formatting, and manuscript prep. Covers ethical use of information, copyright/plagiarism, and effective use of presentation tools, databases, and media.
NURS 5113 – Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Practice Nursing (DNP) (3)
Analyzes philosophical perspectives and nursing theories to guide advanced practice and system change. Emphasizes theory appraisal, development, testing, and technology-enabled application to practice.
NURS 6203 – Advanced Pathophysiology (3)
Explores biochemical, genetic, and physiologic mechanisms of disease across the lifespan. Links current research to system-specific alterations and clinical implications.
NURS 6213 – Pharmacology for Advanced Practice (3)
Covers therapeutic drug selection, dosing, monitoring, and safety for common conditions. Stresses clinical decision-making and patient-specific pharmacotherapy.
NURS 6215 – Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning (5)
Builds comprehensive and focused assessment skills—history, physical, psychosocial, developmental, and cultural. Trains diagnostic reasoning to interpret findings, determine health status, and formulate differential diagnoses.
NURS 6333 – Research Integration for Advanced Practice Nursing (3)
Introduces translational science, evidence appraisal, and implementation strategies. Addresses ethics, role development, quality improvement, and the integration of best evidence into practice.
NURS 6853 – Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health for Advanced Practice (3)
Presents PMHNP scope, therapeutic relationships, and diagnostic frameworks. Emphasizes assessment and classification of psychiatric disorders.
NURS 6903 – Advanced Psychopharmacology (3)
Examines neurobiology of mental illness and mechanisms of psychotropics. Focuses on indications, actions, and monitoring of medications across the lifespan.
NURS 6913 – Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing for Advanced Practice I (3)
Addresses diagnosis and management of acute and chronic psychiatric disorders. Highlights individual and group psychotherapy across age groups.
NURS 6914 – Psychiatric Mental Health for Advanced Practice Practicum I (4)
Applies evidence-based assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for acute/chronic psychiatric conditions in supervised settings.
NURS 6923 – Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing for Advanced Practice II (3)
Explores theories and interventions for vulnerable populations with mental and emotional distress, including co-occurring disorders, across the lifespan.
NURS 6924 – Psychiatric Mental Health for Advanced Practice Practicum II (4)
Implements medication management and psychotherapy with children/adolescents and older adults, addressing acute, chronic, and co-occurring conditions.
NURS 6934 – Psychiatric Mental Health for Advanced Practice Practicum III (4)
Advances comprehensive PMHNP care across the lifespan, refining assessment, diagnosis, and complex treatment planning.
NURS 7113 – Advanced Healthcare Policy (3)
Evaluates how economics, politics, culture, media, and ethics shape regulation, financing, and care delivery. Develops strategies for effective policy advocacy and change.
NURS 7213 – Transcultural and Global Healthcare (3)
Examines cultural perspectives on health/illness and the impacts of stereotyping, discrimination, and marginalization. Applies ethical frameworks to promote equitable, culturally responsive care.
NURS 7253 – Translational Research and Evidence-Based Practice (3)
Guides identification of practice problems, appraisal of studies and reviews, and development of EBP guidelines. Focuses on implementing evidence to improve patient and system outcomes.
NURS 7603 – Introduction to Translational Research and Evidence-Based Practice (3)
Overviews practice change processes, stakeholder engagement, safety/quality metrics, resource planning, data collection/use, and technology in EBP implementation.
NURS 8413 – Population Health (3)
Applies population metrics and global indicators to assess health status and vulnerabilities. Considers moral, ethical, economic, access, and emerging threats affecting diverse groups.
NURS 8423 – Clinical Practice Management and Information Systems (3)
Covers operations of a clinical practice—staffing, compliance, contracts, billing, risk, and customer service. Introduces health IT for records, data exchange, inventory, and financial systems.
NURS 9103 – DNP Project I (3)
Designs and launches a practice-focused doctoral project targeting a defined population or setting, with measurable outcomes.
NURS 9102 – DNP Project II (2)
Continues implementation and evaluation of the doctoral project, refining interventions and dissemination plans.
More curriculum details are available here
DNP Clinicals
DNP practicum hours calculate on a ratio of 60 clock hours per credit hour. Practice settings include inpatient hospital care and outpatient clinical settings.
Students complete three practicum courses focusing on psychiatric mental health nursing across the lifespan. The program culminates in a DNP project based on translational research and evidence-based practice.
DNP Admissions Requirements
- Graduate of accredited baccalaureate nursing program with cumulative GPA of at least 3.00
- Current, active, unencumbered licensure as Registered Nurse in Oklahoma or multistate license
- BSN-level health assessment course completed
- BSN-level statistics course completed
- Minimum one year professional nursing experience or equivalent
- Three professional references from employer, coworker, or nursing faculty
- Personal essay of 500-750 words demonstrating writing skills and career goals
- Current curriculum vitae/resume with comprehensive professional accomplishments
- Interview with admission committee (may be conducted by telephone or Teams for distance students)
- English proficiency documentation
- GRE not required
Advanced Practice Certificate: PMHNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s Certificate PMHNP program is $22,885 and would take approximately 1.5 years to complete on a full-time basis.
Certificate Curriculum
The Post-Master’s Certificate requires 23 credit hours with coursework beginning in summer.
The program prepares advanced practice nurses for certification in psychiatric mental health nursing.
Required Courses:
- Advanced Psychopharmacology
- Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health for Advanced Practice
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing for Advanced Practice I
- Psychiatric Mental Health for Advanced Practice Practicum I
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing for Advanced Practice II
- Psychiatric Mental Health for Advanced Practice Practicum II
- Psychiatric Mental Health for Advanced Practice Practicum III
Certificate Clinicals
The certificate includes three practicum courses providing clinical experience in psychiatric mental health settings. Students apply assessment, diagnosis, and treatment skills for behavioral problems, mental disorders, and comorbid conditions.
Certificate Admissions Requirements
- Admission to the university
- Current active licensure with Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in Oklahoma as Adult APRN, Pediatric APRN, Acute Care APRN, or other Advanced Practice role with current national certification
- Master’s degree in nursing with graduate-level coursework in Advanced Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, and Advanced Assessment from ACNE or CCNE accredited program
- Graduate GPA of 3.25 or higher
- Personal essay of 750 words or less describing how certificate will help achieve career goals
- Current curriculum vitae
- Two recommendations
- Official transcripts from all institutions attended
- Summer admission cycle
Tuition
Graduate tuition costs $590 per credit hour with $165 general fees per credit hour and $240 program fees per credit hour.
See the official tuition page for more details
Accreditation
The Kramer School of Nursing holds accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). All programs maintain exceptional standards for nursing education.
Other Nursing Programs
- Advanced Practice DNP: Family Nurse Practitioner
- Advanced Practice DNP: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Advanced Practice Certificate: Adult Gerontology Acute Care
- Advanced Practice Certificate: Family Nurse Practitioner
- DNP Completion: Clinical or Executive Leadership Track
- DNP Completion: Community-Based Public Health Track
- DNP Completion: Nurse Educator Track
- Post-Masters Certificate: Nursing Education
- Post-Masters Certificate: Nursing Leadership
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Accelerated BSN – 12 months)
- Master of Science in Nursing
Other Oklahoma PMNHP Programs
View All PMHNP Programs in Oklahoma
- The University of Oklahoma - Oklahoma City