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Rutgers PMHNP Program

School of Nursing Trenton, NJ

Rutgers School of Nursing offers one of New Jersey’s few comprehensive Post-Baccalaureate DNP Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner programs.

This distinguished program is one of just a few in New Jersey training students in this specialty for patients across the entire lifespan. The program combines rigorous academic preparation with extensive clinical experience, offering both 4-year and 5-year study plans to accommodate different learning preferences and schedules.

Students benefit from a hybrid learning model that combines primarily virtual classes with essential in-person components on the Newark campus

Post-Baccalaureate DNP PHMNP

The estimated cost for the DNP Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program is approximately $72,228 for New Jersey residents ($108,264 for non-residents) and would take 4-5 years to complete on a full-time basis.

Curriculum

The 78-credit curriculum is structured around three main components: core nursing courses (9 credits), DNP core courses (37 credits), and specialty psychiatric-mental health courses (32 credits).

Course coursework includes:

  • NURS 5104 Advanced Pathophysiology
    Examines disease mechanisms across the lifespan and links them to clinical signs and symptoms. Builds on anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and chemistry to explain common health alterations.
  • NURS 5105 Advanced Clinical Pharmacology
    Prepares advanced practice nurses for safe prescribing using pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and therapeutics by body system. Emphasizes management of self-limited conditions and stable chronic diseases across the lifespan within collaborative and autonomous roles.
  • ADHA 5107 Advanced Health Assessment 3
    Develops comprehensive history-taking, physical examination, and clinical reasoning skills across the lifespan. Uses a family context to synthesize findings into appropriate care plans for direct patient care.
  • NURS 6010 Clinical Scholarship
    Builds scientific writing and critique skills while guiding creation of a D.N.P. project plan. Applies inquiry, critical thinking, and project management strategies in a chosen practice area.
  • NURS 6060 Clinical Inquiry for Evidence-Based Practice
    Teaches critical appraisal of research to support or change clinical practice. Covers study design, methods, analysis, and the foundations of systematic reviews.
  • NURS 6930 Information Technology for Evidence-Based Practice
    Strengthens informatics literacy for locating, evaluating, and applying information to clinical decisions. Highlights search strategy, critical appraisal, integration, and communication of findings.
  • NURS 6880 Leadership for the Doctor of Nursing Practice
    Applies leadership theories across clinical, professional, systems, and health policy domains. Analyzes policy impacts on D.N.P. practice and practices power, influence, and conflict resolution skills.
  • NURS 6020 Management and Analysis of Health Data for the Doctor of Nursing Practice
    Trains students to manage datasets and conduct quantitative, qualitative, and economic analyses using statistical software. Focuses on data cleaning, variable creation, appropriate tests, interpretation, and reporting for clinical and population questions.
  • NURS 6940 Evidence Translation & Implementation Science
    Explores theories and frameworks for moving evidence into practice, comparing linear and nonlinear models. Designs practical implementation strategies for real clinical problems.
  • NURS 6780 Healthcare Economics & Business Practices for Advanced Practice Nurses
    Applies economic principles to APRN practice at macro and micro levels. Reviews scope of practice, reimbursement, employment models, contracts, ethics, risk management, and business planning using the triple aim of access, quality, and cost.
  • NURS 6040 Social Determinants of Health
    Analyzes how biological, physical, and social environments shape outcomes for individuals and populations. Addresses ethics and equity while preparing leaders to plan evidence-based responses across global and local contexts.
  • NURS 6980 Epidemiology and Population Health
    Introduces epidemiologic measures, study designs, and disease patterns to guide prevention and policy. Emphasizes burden of disease, control strategies, ethics, and program evaluation.
  • NURS 6030 DNP Project Planning and Proposal Development
    Guides selection, design, and proposal writing for an evidence-based D.N.P. project, including outcomes, informatics supports, and cost impact. Prepares for committee approval and IRB submission while accruing project hours toward the 500-hour minimum.
  • NURS 6982 DNP Project Implementation
    Supports implementation, evaluation, and dissemination of the approved D.N.P. project in collaboration with a clinical site. Examines project impact on economics, quality, informatics, and policy, and completes required hours under IRB approval.
  • MHP 6090 Principles of Psychopharmacology
  • MHP 6110 Theoretical Foundations of Psychotherapy
  • MHP 6310 Biopsychosocial Assessment and Diff erential Diagnosis in Advanced Practice Nursing
  • MHP 6140 Human Behavior Theory I: Care of the Adult and the Older Adult and Family
  • MHP 6150 Human Behavior Practicum I: Care of the Adult and the Older Adult and Family
  • MHP 6160 Human Behavior Theory II: Care of the Adult and the Older Adult and Family
  • MHP 6170 Human Behavior Practicum II: Care of the Adult and the Older Adult and Family
  • MHP 6180 Human Behavior Theory III: Care of the Child and Adolescent and Family
  • MHP 6190 Human Behavior Practicum III: Care of the Child and Adolescent and Family
  • MHP 6210 Human Behavior Theory IV: Care of the Specialty Populations
  • MHP 6220 Human Behavior Practicum IV: Care of the Specialty Populations

Clinical Requirements

The program requires a minimum of 752 clinical hours through precepted practicum experiences, though students may need to complete more than 1,000 total hours (including DNP project hours) to meet competency requirements for graduation and certification.

Clinical experiences are structured across four practicum courses covering adult and older adult care, child and adolescent care, and specialty populations. All clinical experiences require background checks, and additional screening may be required depending on clinical site requirements.

Prerequisites & Admissions

  • Minimum Bachelor’s degree in nursing from nationally accredited program
  • GPA of 3.2 or higher on 4.0 scale
  • Current unencumbered RN license (NJ or Compact State license required after acceptance)
  • Personal and goal statements (maximum 2 pages)
  • Two professional letters of reference
  • Resume/CV
  • Official transcripts from all prior college work
  • Completed online application with paid fee
  • Criminal history background check required for clinical courses
  • GRE testing not required
  • International applicants are ineligible for this program

Cost

Graduate tuition costs $926 per credit hour for New Jersey residents and $1,388 per credit hour for non-residents. Additional fees include a $810 maximum program fee per semester, $250 technology fee per semester, and $225 annual clinical administration fee.

See the official tuition page for more details.

Accreditation

The Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Rutgers School of Nursing is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), ensuring the program meets the highest educational standards and prepares graduates for national certification examinations.

Other Related Programs

Rutgers School of Nursing offers an extensive array of DNP programs including post-master’s options in Practice Focus and Nursing Leadership that can be completed in as little as 2 years.

The school also provides 12 different post-bachelor’s DNP specialties including:

  • Adult-Gerontology Acute and Primary Care
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Pediatric Primary Care
  • Nurse Anesthesia
  • Women’s Health
  • Nurse-Midwifery
  • various dual specialty programs

Most programs utilize a flexible hybrid model with primarily virtual classes, though some specialties like Nurse Anesthesia remain campus-based for optimal learning outcomes.

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