Program Track Overview
DNP – PMHNP
The estimated cost for the DNP-PMHNP program is approximately $61,500 ($820 per credit × 75 credits) and would take 3 years to complete on a full-time basis.
Curriculum
The 75-credit curriculum emphasizes advanced clinical preparation in psychiatric care including psychotropic medication management, psychotherapy (individual, group, and family), crisis intervention, and care coordination. The program prepares graduates with advanced clinical judgment, cultural awareness, and evidence-based practice skills to serve vulnerable populations across urban and rural Hawaiʻi.
Core Courses:
NURS 607 – Applied Biostatistics and Epidemiology for Nurses in Advanced Practice (3 credits)
Students apply epidemiologic and biostatistical methods to real clinical questions. Students design and analyze data for DNP projects.
NURS 612 – Advanced Assessment and Clinical Reasoning (2 credits)
Students conduct systematic histories and exams across the lifespan. Students organize, document, and communicate findings for clear clinical decisions.
NURS 612L – Advanced Assessment and Clinical Reasoning Lab (1 credit)
Students practice advanced assessment skills in lab and practicum settings. Students integrate techniques and evaluate outcomes.
NURS 613 – Pathophysiology for Advanced Practice (3 credits)
Students link normal physiology to disease mechanisms by system. Students use these links to guide assessment and management.
NURS 629 – Pharmacology for Nurses in Advanced Practice (3 credits)
Students evaluate, monitor, and prescribe medications for acute and chronic conditions. Students consider indications, interactions, adverse effects, education, and cost. Prereq: NURS 613 (or concurrent) or consent.
NURS 631 – Advanced Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan (3 credits)
Students select and manage psychotropic medications using legal, ethical, and therapeutic standards. Students consider biopsychosocial factors across ages. Majors only.
NURS 640 – Chronic Illness Management (3 credits)
Students plan care for chronic conditions in diverse communities. Students blend practice, consultation, education, research, and evaluation. Prereqs: NURS 612/612L, 613, 629.
NURS 642 – Health Care Technology and Informatics (3 credits)
Students use health information systems to support clinical care. Students assess tools for workflow, safety, and data use.
NURS 662 – Leadership, Role, Identity, and Organizational/System Change (3 credits)
Students apply leadership models to advanced nursing roles and changing systems. Students develop strategies for team performance and outcomes. Majors only.
NURS 683 – Psychobiology of Mental Health Disorders (3 credits)
Students examine psychological and biological drivers of mental illness across the lifespan. Students apply biopsychosocial research to care planning. Majors only.
NURS 684 – Theory: PMH Advanced Practice Nursing Across the Lifespan I (3 credits)
Students build core PMHNP knowledge for assessment and initial management. Students connect theory to entry-level clinical decisions. Majors only.
NURS 684L – Clinical: PMH Advanced Practice Nursing Across the Lifespan I (variable credits; 135 hours)
Students begin supervised PMHNP practice with focused objectives. Students complete 135 clinical hours and reflect on outcomes. Repeatable once; majors only.
NURS 685 – Individual Psychotherapy for PMHNPs (3 credits)
Students study psychodynamic, CBT, solution-focused, and multicultural approaches. Students apply concepts to diverse case studies and role-plays. Majors only.
NURS 686 – Theory: PMH Advanced Practice Nursing Across the Lifespan II (3 credits)
Students advance PMHNP theory for moderate-complex cases. Students integrate ethics, safety, and interprofessional input. Majors only.
NURS 686L – Clinical: PMH Advanced Practice Nursing Across the Lifespan II (variable credits; 135 hours)
Students expand supervised practice and manage broader caseloads. Students document progress and adjust plans. Repeatable once; majors only.
NURS 687 – Family and Group Psychotherapy for PMHNPs (3 credits)
Students apply major family and group therapy models. Students address role, setting, and lifespan issues in diverse populations. Majors only.
NURS 688 – Theory: PMH Advanced Practice Nursing Across the Lifespan III (3 credits)
Students synthesize PMHNP theory for complex and special populations. Students prepare for transition to independent practice. Majors only.
NURS 688L – Clinical: PMH Advanced Practice Nursing Across the Lifespan III (variable credits; 135 hours)
Students lead near-independent care under supervision. Students complete 135 hours and demonstrate readiness for entry-level PMHNP practice. Repeatable once; majors only.
NURS 730 – Principles of Evidence-Based Practice for Advanced Nursing (3 credits)
Students evaluate EBP models and sharpen literature search and appraisal. Students synthesize evidence to design a focused practice intervention. Offered fall.
NURS 735 – Effective Program Evaluation for Quality Improvement (3 credits)
Students design evaluations that link interventions to outcomes for patients and communities. Students communicate findings to drive quality and translation. Majors only.
NURS 740 – Health Policy and Economics (3 credits)
Students analyze how policy and economics shape funding, regulation, and provider payment. Students evaluate system impacts on advanced practice. Majors only.
NURS 755 – DNP Scholarly Project A: Proposal (2 credits)
Students define a practice problem, craft a PICO(T), and synthesize literature. Students build a clear, feasible implementation plan. NURD majors only.
NURS 756 – DNP Scholarly Project B: Implementation (variable credits)
Students implement the EBP change with stakeholders and mentors. Students track process, barriers, and early outcomes. Repeatable once; NURD majors only.
NURS 757 – DNP Scholarly Project C: Evaluation & Dissemination (2 credits)
Students evaluate project impact, synthesize results, and prepare dissemination. Students produce deliverables for practice and scholarly audiences.
More curriculum details available in the course catalog.
Clinicals
The program requires 810 supervised clinical hours across diverse psychiatric settings throughout Hawaiʻi, with all site placements coordinated by the School of Nursing.
Students also complete 270 fieldwork hours and accumulate 1000+ DNP Essentials hours to ensure they meet all advanced practice and doctoral-level competencies. Clinical experiences emphasize serving vulnerable and underserved populations with culturally responsive, trauma-informed care.
Admissions Requirements
Prerequisites:
- Bachelor’s or higher degree in nursing
- Active, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license
- Completion of UH Manoa Graduate Division application ($100 fee)
- Completion of NCAS application ($80 fee)
- Application period: September 1, 2025 to March 1, 2026 (11:59 pm EST)
- Rolling admissions process
- Start date: August 2026
Applicants are encouraged to attend a free online information session. Students must be prepared to commit to the three-year full-time cohort model.
Tuition
Graduate tuition is $820 per credit hour for resident students and $1,458 per credit hour for non-resident students.
Additional mandatory fees include a Graduate Student Organization fee ($3 per semester), Campus Center fee ($4 per semester), and various other student fees.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Graduates who successfully complete the PMHNP DNP Program are eligible to obtain national certification as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB).
Other Nursing Programs
The UH Mānoa School of Nursing offers multiple advanced nursing programs beyond the PMHNP DNP track:
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – various specialties
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs
- Post-Master’s Certificate programs
- PhD in Nursing programs
- Undergraduate BSN programs
More PMHNP Programs in Hawaii
View All PMHNP Programs in Hawaii
- Hawai‘i Pacific University - Honolulu