About the Doctor of Nursing Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Program
Our Doctor of Nursing Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (DNP – PMHNP) track will prepare you to work in a variety of settings, caring for individuals experiencing mental health conditions. These settings include, but are not limited to Community Mental Health Centers, Crisis Stabilization Units, Inpatient and Outpatient Psychiatric Programs or private practice, as well as caring for patients in Residential Treatment Centers for treatment of mental health or substance use disorders. The role of the PMHNP involves psychiatric evaluation and medication management as well as providing individual, family and group therapy for children and adults.
Certification and Licensure
Students are eligible to sit for the National Board Certification Examination from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and/or American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) upon successful completion of this nurse practitioner program.
PBA has determined that the curriculum of this program is sufficient to meet the educational requirements for licensure in the state of Florida.
If you have a question about out-of-state licensure, please contact our eLearning office at (561) 803-2652 or by email at [email protected].
What Can I Do with this Degree?
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A Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) degree opens unique opportunities for integrating Christian faith into a mental health career. Here’s how you can apply a PMHNP degree in a Christian context:
- Provide Faith-Based Counseling: Incorporate Christian principles into psychotherapy, using biblical teachings alongside evidence-based practices like CBT to address mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, or trauma. Offer prayer or spiritual guidance when appropriate and requested by patients.
- Work in Christian Healthcare Settings: Practice in faith-based hospitals, clinics, or counseling centers (e.g., Christian community health centers or organizations like Catholic Charities) that align with your values and prioritize holistic care addressing spiritual and emotional needs.
- Serve in Church or Ministry Settings: Partner with churches to provide mental health support for congregants, lead support groups, or offer crisis intervention. Some PMHNPs work directly with ministries to address issues like addiction or family conflict.
- Private Practice with a Christian Focus: Establish a practice catering to Christian clients, integrating faith-based approaches while diagnosing and treating mental health disorders, prescribing medications, and offering therapy tailored to spiritual beliefs.
- Missionary or Outreach Work: Use your PMHNP skills in global or local mission work, providing mental health care in underserved communities through Christian organizations, such as Samaritan’s Purse or local outreach programs.
- Advocate for Mental Health in Faith Communities: Educate churches on mental health to reduce stigma, promote understanding, and encourage seeking help. Develop programs that combine spiritual and psychological wellness. Participate in Faith Community Nurses chapters.
- Teach or Mentor: Work at Christian universities or seminaries, training future nurses or counselors in integrating faith and mental health care. Mentor students or professionals in balancing clinical practice with spiritual values.
Career Considerations:
- Demand and Salary: PMHNPs are in demand, with salaries typically ranging from $100,000-$140,000 annually (based on 2023 data), depending on location and setting. Faith-based roles may sometimes prioritize mission over pay.
- Certifications and Licensure: You’ll need PMHNP certification (AANP or ANCC) and state licensure. Some Christian organizations may value additional training in Christian counseling (e.g., through AACC).
- Ethical Balance: Navigate integrating faith with evidence-based practice while adhering to legal and ethical standards, respecting patients’ diverse beliefs.
Unique Opportunities:
- Collaborate with pastors or Christian counselors to provide holistic care.
- Use telehealth to reach Christian communities in rural or underserved areas.
· Develop faith-based mental health resources, like workshops or devotionals
Doctor of Nursing Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Program Details
PBA is known throughout the region for the quality of nursing graduates we produce each year. This is a result of our proven curriculum and exceptional instructors who serve as student mentors and bring decades of real-world experience. Other distinctives include:
- Christ-Centered Experience—concepts of faith and biblical principles are at the center of everything nursing students experience.
- Holistic Approach—we strongly believe, and teach our students, that true healthcare involves sociocultural understanding and spiritual encouragement in addition to the physical.
- Advanced Labs and Technology—you will benefit from training with the most advanced nursing lab technologies and patient simulation resources, preparing you to step in and succeed on day one.
- Personalized Learning—you will be guided by expert faculty who bring years of nursing experience at places such as Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center; Bethesda Memorial Hospital in Boynton Beach, Florida; Good Samaritan Medical Center; and Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Learn more about your classes and requirements in the course catalog.
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You may apply through the Nursing Centralized Admissions Service (Nursing CAS) at: https://nursingcas.liaisoncas.org/apply/
- Baccalaureate degree in nursing from a regionally accredited university and nationally accredited nursing program
- Applicants for Post-Master’s DNP track must have Master of Science in Nursing from a regionally accredited university and nationally accredited nursing program
- Graduates of Palm Beach Atlantic University’s BSN, RN to BSN and RN to MSN tracks are eligible for seamless admissions to the University’s DNP program. Contact the Graduate Admissions office for details.
- Minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, minimum nursing courses 3.0 GPA
- No GRE required; however, applicants who score less than 3.0 (cumulative and nursing) on a 4.0 scale must provide acceptable GRE scores of 50th percentile on both verbal and quantitative sections and 4.0 on the analytical writing section
- Minimum of one year’s work experience as an RN or current employment as an RN.
- Required documents below may be submitted through NursingCAS* at nursingcas.org.
- Official Transcripts from all schools attended
- Current Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Three letters of recommendation attesting to the applicant’s academic ability and leadership potential, including one from a current supervisor
- GRE scores if applicable
- Current and active Florida license OR a valid RN license from another state and proof of application to Florida Board of Nursing
- Personal statement supporting future goals, faith, and interest in obtaining a practice doctorate (no more than 500 words)
- Personal interview with the School of Nursing Graduate Admissions Committee
- After interview and upon acceptance, applicants must:
- Submit Admissions Deposit of $400 (non-refundable; will be applied to tuition upon enrollment
- Provide Documentation to the School of Nursing:
- Background Check with Fingerprints
- Drug Screen
- Proof of Immunization/Titers
- PPD or other TB Test
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CPR Certification from American Heart Association
- Florida RN License
- Proof of Health Insurance
For a complete program description and policies, click here.
*The advantage of submitting documents directly to PBA Admissions is that it is simpler and quicker, but transcripts must be sent directly to PBA Admissions at 901 S. Flagler Drive, P.O. Box 24708, West Palm Beach, FL, 33416 or submitted electronically to [email protected]. The advantage of NursingCAS is that if a student already has a completed profile including transcripts, they do not need to re-enter or submit that information. There is a nominal fee associated with applying through CAS.
ANCC PMHNP National Certification Examination
Students are eligible to sit for the ANCC PMHNP National Certification Examination upon completion of the NP program and board certification with ANCC OR AANP
The School of Nursing has a vast range of opportunities for both our students and our graduates. From student clubs and organizations to externships and internships, you can get involved!
Launching Brighter Futures
Graduates of the program are ready for licensure as nurses with careers in bedside nursing, leadership and community nursing. Many program alumni also pursue a graduate degree. PBA nursing graduates consistently achieve a 94 percent pass rate on the national licensure exam, and are employed by respected healthcare organizations around the country, some of which include:
- Canasi Medical Institute
- Cleveland Clinic
- Community Health Clinic of West Palm Beach
- Emory Healthcare of Atlanta
- Florida Cancer Specialists
- Florida Department of Health
- Jupiter Medical Group
- Marcus Neuroscience Institute
- Palm Beach Cardiology
- Mary’s Medical Center
- Team Health
PBA awards over three million dollars in scholarships every year. Learn more about financial aid.
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