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Yale University
School of Nursing
P.O. Box 9740
New Haven, CT
06536-0740
203.785.2389




Graduate Entry Prespecialty in Nursing
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Specialty

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Specialty

The aim of the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing (PMH) specialty curriculum is to prepare psychiatric nurse practitioners to provide a wide range of services to adults and their families. It includes the study and application of theories of practice. Students are taught to examine and formulate behavior using a model of multiple explanations: cultural/ethnic, intrapsychic, developmental, neurobiologic, familial, and social. Extensive supervised clinical study focuses on various types of assessment and psychotherapeutic interventions. The curriculum is designed to meet the needs of the changing health care environment. It focuses on developing skills that allow for flexibility in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of populations defined as high-risk consumers of psychiatric care. Students may specialize in one of three concentrations: Adult, Child/Adolescent, Primary Care. On completion of the required course work students are eligible for certification as clinical nurse specialists or nurse practitioners in psychiatric-mental health nursing through the American Nurses' Credentialing Center.

Year Two

In the first year of study, all students take course work and have clinical practica in human development and psychiatric phenomena in settings designed to treat multiple mental health problems. In the second year of study, students select a setting where advanced practice interventions can be utilized within the concentration of study. The settings include children and families; the medically ill client; adults with psychiatric disabilities; the gerontological client; and clients with substance abuse disorders. Course work and clinical practice focus on the development of advanced practice nursing skills with these special populations.

Primary Care Concentration

As of September 2008 YSN will not be admitting students to the Primary Care concentration.

Students who specialize in the care of adults with psychiatric disabilities may choose the Primary Care concentration that prepares them to provide comprehensive management to psychiatric clients, including physical and psychiatric care. In addition, students in this concentration are prepared to provide consultation to primary care providers. Upon completion of the concentration, students are eligible for certification in advanced psychiatric-mental health nursing (psychiatric nurse practitioner and/or clinical nurse specialist) through the American Nurses' Credentialing Center and are also eligible for adult nurse practitioner certification.

The plan of study includes
 

PMH Year Two

Fall Semester

Primary Care Adult Child
525a Research Methods for Clinical Nursing Research Research 2.0 2.0 2.0
529a Statistics for Clinical Nursing Research Research 3.0 3.0 3.0
533 Advanced Pathophysiology   * * *
554a Advanced Physical Assessment (or 630a) Clinical 2.9 2.9 -
557a Primary Care Problems of Adults I Seminar 2.0 - -
630a Pediatric Health Assessment Clinical - - 1.5
637a Child Development Seminar - - 1.5
656a Specialty Practicum in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Clinical - 3.0 3.0
657a Mental Health Assessment Across the Life Span Seminar 2.0 2.0 2.0
659a Personality Theory and Adult Development Seminar 1.5 1.5 1.5
658a Specialty Practicum in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing and Primary Care Clinical 2.0 - -
663a Child Development Psychopathology & Treatment Seminar - - 2.0
Total Semester Credits 14.4 11.9 14.0
 

Spring Semester

525b Research Methods for Clinical Nursing Research Research 1.0 1.0 1.0
533 Advanced Pathophysiology   3.03.03.0
557b Primary Care Problems of Adults I Seminar 2.0 - -
656b Specialty Practicum in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Clinical - 3.0 3.0
658b Specialty Practicum in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing and Primary Care Clinical 4.0 - -
659b Psychopathology and Human Behavior Seminar 2.0 2.0 2.0
661b Models of Treatment Seminar *** 1.5 1.5 1.5
855b Group Psychotherapy (Yr 1 or 2) Seminar 1.0 1.0 1.0
859b Clinical Psychopharmacology Seminar 1.5 1.5 1.5
871b Neurobiology and Mental Illness Seminar 1.5 1.5 1.5
895b Clinical Pharmacology Seminar 2.0 2.0 2.0
Total Semester Credits 19.5 16.5 16.5
 

Summer Semester

658c Specialty Practicum in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing and Primary Care Clinical 2.0 - -
869c Psychiatric Issues in the Primary Care Setting Seminar 1.0 - -
Total Semester Credits 3.0
 

PMH Year Three

Fall Semester

717 The Contexts of Care I Seminar * * *
721a Scholarly Inquiry Praxis Research 0 0 0
757a Primary Care Problems of Adults II Seminar 2.0 - -
850a Advanced Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Practice Clinical - 4.0 4.0
852a Advanced Psychiatric-Mental Health and Primary Care Nursing Clinical 4.0 - -
865a Family Psychotherapy Seminar (Yr 1 or 2) Seminar 1.0 1.0 1.0
Total Semester Credits 7.0 5.0 5.0
 

Spring Semester

717 The Contexts of Care II Seminar * 3.0 * 3.0 * 3.0
721b Scholarly Inquiry Praxis Research 0 0 0
757b Primary Care Problems of Adults II Seminar 2.0 - -
850b Advanced Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Practice Clinical - 3.0 3.0
851b Seminar in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing: Theoretical and Evidence-Based Perspectives Seminar 1.5 1.5 1.5
852b Advanced Psychiatric-Mental Health and Primary Care Nursing Practice Clinical 4.0 - -
853b Specialty Didactic: The Gero Client/Mental Health and Aging* Seminar - ** 2.0 -
Total Semester Credits 10.5 9.5 7.5
TOTAL REQUIRED CREDITS 54.4 42.9 43.5

*Year-long course; credits awarded at year's end.
**For students pursuing a specialization in geriatric-mental health nursing only.
*** For Primary Care students wanting Clinical Nurse Specialist certification.

The course plan for part-time study can be obtained from the Student Affairs Office.

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Specialty Tracks

The Curriculum

Applying to the Graduate Entry Prespecialty in Nursing Program

Policies





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