Deliver Holistic Psychiatric Care Across the Lifespan as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
The Master of Science Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program equips nurses with the advanced knowledge and skills required to assess and manage mental health disorders across the lifespan and to navigate ethical, legal, and cultural considerations specific to the psychiatric-mental health population. Through a combination of core nursing courses, specialized psychiatric nursing coursework, and extensive clinical practicum experiences, students learn to provide evidence-based care, advocate for patients, and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams. Graduates are prepared to pursue certification as a PMHNP through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board and the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Upcoming Term Start Dates
1/7/2025
Priority Application Deadline for the Spring 2025 semester is December 16, 2025. The application and all admission materials must be submitted by this date to be considered for admission.
CCNE Accredited
The master’s degree program in nursing at Florida Southern College is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org)
Top Reasons
Exceptional Support
Your program faculty and support staff will be active in your experience from start to finish. Our committed support system assists you in preparing for the national certification exam and helping you reach your professional goals. The PMHNP program strives to produce responsible and productive citizens who will promote and advance the communities they serve. Learn from professors who will guide and mentor you toward success.
High Demand
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nurse Practitioner positions are projected to experience a remarkable 17% increase by 2030, highlighting the growing demand for skilled healthcare professionals. The Nurse Practitioner profession is the number one career across multiple ranked lists in 2024. As an NP, you'll play a pivotal role in patient care, blending clinical expertise with compassionate care to make a profound difference in people's lives.
Personalized Approach
Your program’s faculty and support staff will be active in your experience from start to finish. They will work with you to identify your goals and help you reach them as you move toward starting your career as a certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Our MSN faculty seek to create a positive and supportive environment where students can grow personally and professionally.
Meet Our Mocs
Ernie Parani, APRN
Kara Pinero, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Laurel Lawerence, APRN
Samantha Rios
Satoria Reid-Rowe, APRN, Family Practice
Colleen Wallace, MSN, NP-C
Mary Cornejo
Melissa Welch, MSN, APRN
Featured Faculty
Jeanne Jenkins
Program Details
Admission Requirements
- Official transcripts of all academic work
- BSN from a regionally-accredited institution and a CCNE, CNEA, or ACEN accredited nursing program
- Record and submit three short videos (no more than 2 minutes each) answering the following prompts:
- Where do you see yourself in five years as a nurse practitioner, nurse leader, or nurse educator?
- Why is now the right time for you to begin a graduate nursing program?
- Graduate school will put significant demands on your time, energy, and financial resources. What do you see as your most significant challenges for meeting the didactic and clinical requirements for the program?
- Current Résumé
- Minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework.
- Required prerequisite courses completed with a “C” or better: health assessment, nursing research or evidence-based practice, and statistics or biostatistics course.
- Proof of current active licensure as a registered nurse in the state of Florida.
- Personal interview may be required for eligible candidates
- Completion of a criminal background check, proof of immunization, and ten-panel drug screen (if admitted)
Additional International Requirements
- Official Translated Transcripts With Course By Course Evaluation**
- Bank Letter Verifying Funds of Sponsor***
- Sponsor's Guarantee Form
- Valid Passport
- Official TOEFL/IELTS Score****
** SpanTran (discount available), Academic Evaluation Services, Inc., Josef Silny, or World Education Services or another similar approved transcript evaluation agency.
*** A bank letter is a written statement on bank letterhead and signed by a bank official.
**** Must have completed an English language training program or at least one year at an English speaking institution to waive the TOEFL/IELTS testing requirement.
Course Delivery
On Campus
Students will be required to come to campus at least once per month during each semester. The majority of courses will be delivered online providing asynchronous learning opportunities with some hybrid components.
Curriculum
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Core Curriculum - 18 hours
| Course Number | Title |
|---|---|
NUR 5120 | Leadership, Role Development, and Advocacy for Advanced Nursing Practice |
NUR 5150 | Advanced Pharmacology Across the Lifespan |
NUR 5200 | Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan |
NUR 5220 | Advanced Health Assessment and Differential Diagnoses Across the Lifespan |
NUR 5250 | Evidence Translation and Quality Improvement for Advanced Nursing Practice |
NUR 5400 | Health Promotion, Clinical Prevention, and Population Health for Advanced Nursing Practice |
NUR 5450 | Informatics and Health Care Technologies |
Nurse Practitioner Track - 26 hours
| Course Number | Title |
|---|---|
NUR 6530 | Transition to Advanced Nursing Practice Role: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner |
NUR 6600 | Advanced Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan |
NUR 6610 | Advanced Mental Health Assessment and Diagnostics Across the Lifespan |
NUR 6670 | Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Across the Lifespan I: Individual & Family Psychotherapy |
NUR 6680 | Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Across the Lifespan II: Individual & Group Psychotherapy |
NUR 6690 | Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Across the Lifespan III: Role Synthesis |
Total Credits - 44 hours
Clinical Practice Hour Requirement: At least 540 population-focused hours.
Program Costs
2024-2025:
| Base Required Fees | Cost |
| Tuition per Credit Hour | $650 |
| Program Fee per Semester | $550 |
| Technology fee per semester | $25 to $100 |
One-Time Fees:
| Base Required Fees | Cost |
| Deposit (Applied to Tuition) | $250 |
| CastleBranch All-Inclusive Package | $224 |
A program fee will be charged per semester for all students enrolled in the MSN and PMC tracks. This fee will cover the costs associated with experiential learning, clinical placement, and additional resources to promote attainment of competencies. Fees will be periodically adjusted to align with the costs of supporting competency attainment. Students in all tracks are responsible for any additional FSC fees or program-specific costs, including but not limited to CastleBranch and Typhon, as applicable.
Related Materials
I have a Bachelor degree in another field besides nursing. Am I eligible to apply for the MSN program at Florida Southern?
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing is one of the requirements for admission to our MSN program. Students who are interested in nursing as a new career may wish to consider an accelerated “second bachelor’s degree” BSN program. Alternatively, they could complete an Associate of Science degree in Nursing (ASN) and then go on to enroll in an RN-BSN program. This would give them the foundation needed to prepare for an MSN program.
Do you require the GRE for admission?
No, we do not require the GRE for consideration for admission to our nursing programs.
For which types of careers will this program prepare me?
Our nurse practitioner programs prepare students for careers in primary care. Our Nursing Administrative Leadership and Nurse Educator programs prepare students for a variety of positions in both primary and acute care healthcare settings.
May I choose my own preceptors? Is there assistance?
All students are assigned to clinical sites/preceptors by the Clinical Placement Coordinator, eliminating the need for students to find their own preceptors, unless they prefer to do so. This streamlines the clinical placement process and ensures high-quality learning experiences.
I previously started an MSN program at a different school. Can I transfer my courses?
Florida Southern allows you to transfer up to two (2) graduate-level courses. If you have taken more than two courses elsewhere, our MSN program director will determine which courses would be best to transfer to Florida Southern and which would be most beneficial to repeat at FSC.
Online
Adult & Grad Admissions
MSN and Post-Master's Nursing Virtual Information Session
Adult and Graduate
Jan 14 5:30 PM
Join us online to learn more about our MSN tracks as well as Post-Master's certificate opportunities. Hear from your program director and admission counselor to get your questions answered and get ready for your next steps in advancing your education and career!
Location: Online
Online
Adult & Grad Admissions
MSN and Post-Master's Nursing Virtual Information Session
Adult and Graduate
Feb 19 12:00 PM
Join us online to learn more about our MSN tracks as well as Post-Master's certificate opportunities. Hear from your program director and admission counselor to get your questions answered and get ready for your next steps in advancing your education and career!
Location: Online
Program Contact
Jeanne B. Jenkins, Ph.D., MSN, MBA, RN
Assistant Professor of Nursing and MSN Program Director
Blanton Nursing - 123
863.616.6479
