Post-Graduate Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate

Program Outcomes

To prepare clinical nurse leaders, nurse educators, family nurse practitioners and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners who:

• apply knowledge of evidence-based practice,
• engage in life-long learning, and
• serve South Dakota, the region, the nation, and the world in urban, rural, and frontier health care settings.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Assess, diagnose, and treat patients appropriately throughout the lifespan who present to psychiatric mental health settings for acute and chronic health conditions.
• Demonstrate understanding of the professional and legal aspects of the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner role.
• Develop age-appropriate treatment plans for patients with mental health problems and psychiatric disorders that incorporate psychosocial and physical assessment, pharmacologic standards, are based on therapeutic relationship strategies, and integrate cultural, socioeconomic, and spiritual factors.

Certificate Requirements

• NURS 732 - Psychopharmacology and Neurobiology Across the Lifespan Credits: 2
• NURS 733 - Psychopathological Disorders Across the Lifespan Credits: 3
• NURS 734 - Theories and Interventions for Individuals and Groups Credits: 2
• NURS 735 - Advanced Psychiatric Assessment and Differential Diagnosis Across the Lifespan Credits: 2
• NURS 736 - Psychiatric/Mental Health Advanced Practice Across the Lifespan I Credits: 4
• NURS 737 - Psychiatric/Mental Health Advanced Practice Across the Lifespan II Credits: 5

Notes

For additional information, refer to the Graduate Nursing Department webpage.

Additional Admission Requirements

GRE: Not required
TOEFL: Score of 81 Internet-based
TOEFL Essentials: 8.5
IELTS: 6.5 total band
Duolingo: 110

In addition to meeting basic requirements for admission to the Graduate School, applicants for graduate study in nursing must have:

• Current licensure as a Registered Nurse (and if applicable, APRN and licensure) in the United States or its’ territories prior to enrollment in first graduate nursing course.
• 1500 hours of documented nursing practice experience prior to taking NURS 631/631L.
• Completed graduate level courses in Advanced Physical Assessment (Lifespan), Advanced Pathophysiology (Lifespan), Advanced Pharmacology / Pharmacotherapeutics (Lifespan) with a course grade of 3.0 within the last 5 years.
• Completed and verified application to the Graduate Nursing program via NursingCAS website.
• Completed an approved statistical methods course within 5 years of enrollment in the designated research course within the DNP program coursework.
• Interview assessment reviewed by graduate faculty.
• Completed Compliance requirements: Clear Background check, clear FBI rolled fingerprint, clear drug screen, Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers, ACLS certification for FNP specialization, professional liability insurance, influenza vaccine, and TB test.

For applicants who completed their higher education within the United States:

• Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an ACEN or CCNE accredited program with a minimum cumulative preferred GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 point grading system.
• Master’s degree in nursing (from an ACEN or CCNE accredited program) with a minimum cumulative preferred GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 point grading system.

For applicants who completed their higher education outside the United States:

• A degree deemed equivalent (by the World Education Service) to a Bachelor’s degree in nursing (within the United States Education System) with a minimum cumulative preferred GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 point grading system.
• A degree deemed equivalent (by the World Education Service) to a Master’s degree in nursing (within the United States Education System) with a minimum cumulative preferred GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 point grading system. 

Additional Information

Students enrolled in SDSU certificate programs are not eligible for federal student financial aid. The non-federal alternative loan programs may be used for students meeting the lender criteria as found at www.sdstate.edu (search alternative loans). For further information, please contact the SDSU financial aid office at 605-688-4695 or finaid@sdstate.edu.