Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Nursing graduate level courses are primarily held in-person. Certain core courses may be held in an executive/hybrid format.

Description of Program:

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a clinical doctoral degree for registered nurses who have already obtained a Bachelor’s or Master of Science in Nursing. Core requirements of the degree prepare students for evidenced-based inquiry, leadership, healthcare policy and finance, curriculum development, and advanced practice skills in three clinical specialties: Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. 

The culminating experience for students will be the completion of an evidence-based practice/translational research project.  Students are expected to complete the program in three years while attending full-time, and in four years when attending part-time. The number of units for the DNP program of study range between 70 – 78 units depending on specialty concentration. Three- and four-year curriculum plans are available.

• Three Year Curriculum Plan
• Four Year Curriculum Plan

Admission Criteria

1. The applicant holds an acceptable bachelor's or master’s degree in nursing earned at an institution accredited by a regional accrediting association and a national professional accrediting association.
2. Meet SDSU graduate admission requirements
3. Be in good standing at the last college/university attended
4. Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 in an acceptable bachelor’s or master’s degree program.
5. Satisfactorily completed a course in statistics (Statistics 250 or equivalent) with a grade of C or better.
6. Hold a current registered nursing license from the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN), unencumbered, unrestricted with no disciplinary action pending.
7. Have a minimum of two years of full-time experience working as an RN.
8. Two letters of recommendation from professional persons knowledgeable about the applicant's nursing practice experience and the applicant's potential for scholarship and leadership.
9. A written statement of purpose reflecting what the applicant expects to accomplish in the DNP program and how the DNP program will advance the applicant’s nursing career and practice.
10. A personal interview may be required prior to admission.
11. The applicant meets all requirements for credentialing or certification eligibility as appropriate to the nursing specialty area.
12. The applicant has demonstrated sufficient preparation and experience pertinent to nursing practice to be successful in doctoral education.
13. The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is not required for admission.

SDSU DNP Program Outcomes

1. Use knowledge from nursing and other disciplines to generate, appraise, synthesize, translate, and disseminate best evidence to inform and guide clinical judgements and innovations in advanced nursing practice.
   
   
2. Design, implement, and evaluate evidenced based and patient centered practice change to improve health and address social determinants of health, health inequities and disparities from public health prevention to disease management of individuals, communities, and populations.
   
   
3. Demonstrate excellence, innovation, and autonomy in advanced nursing practice and systems-based leadership to coordinate interprofessional teams to provide safe, compassionate, quality, efficient and equitable care to individuals and diverse populations.
   
   
4. Foster interprofessional collaborative efforts to evaluate and influence health policies to improve health care delivery and facilitate knowledge transfer through the development of innovative instructional designs at multiple levels (institutional, local, state, federal or international).
   
   
5. Integrate effective communication, patient care technology and information systems to expand knowledge and drive decision making to manage and improve healthcare services in alignment with professional and regulatory standards.
   
   
6. Demonstrate professional and ethical advanced nursing accountability, identity, and leadership integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion and fostering personal health, resilience, well-being, and lifelong learning.