Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Use your expertise to diagnose and treat mental health conditions across the lifespan with a dual focus on medication management and psychotherapy.
A Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who specializes in the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and management of mental health conditions across the lifespan. PMHNPs play a critical role in expanding access to mental health care, combining advanced clinical expertise with nursing’s holistic, person-centered approach to support emotional wellbeing, recovery, and resilience. PMHNPs provide comprehensive care for individuals with psychiatric conditions, substance use disorders, and co-occurring mental health needs. Graduates are prepared to deliver psychotherapy, medication management, crisis intervention, and integrated behavioral health services in diverse inpatient and outpatient settings, including primary care, hospitals, residential treatment centers, community mental health agencies, schools, long-term care facilities, and workplace or organizational health programs. 
Our PMHNP specialty track in our Master of Science in Nursing program is ranked #5 in the nation by U.S. News and World Report and #2 among public universities. In 2025, U.S. News and World Report ranked our PMHNP specialty in our BSN to DNP program as #5 overall and #2 among publics. At Ohio State, you’ll be part of one of the nation’s most comprehensive health sciences centers—where innovation, research and collaboration thrive. Guided by world-class faculty and dedicated mentors, you’ll gain clinically rigorous, evidence-based training that prepares you to lead in today’s healthcare environment. You will build skills across diverse settings—from community-based primary care agencies to The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center’s renowned teaching hospitals. Along the way, you’ll benefit from hands-on experiences, interdisciplinary collaboration with healthcare professionals and the support of expert preceptors committed to your growth.
Message from the Director
Our psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner track will prepare you to provide evidence-based mental health and addiction services for children, adolescents and adults of all ages.
Faculty
Available Degree Programs
This specialty can be completed either online or on campus through the following programs.
Online:
On-campus:
- Graduate Entry Master of Science (for non-nurses)
Skills
Graduates enter the workforce with the skills and competencies to:
- Provide primary health promotion and psychiatric mental health care for individuals who have or are at risk for mental health and chemical dependency problems across the lifespan
- Put theory and research into practice with individuals, groups, families and communities
- Design, implement and evaluate behavioral health care strategies
- Utilize leadership skills to effect positive change in policies
- Adapt professionally to the constantly changing healthcare environment
- Contribute to the advancement of the profession
Specialty Curriculum
- Nursing 7340 Neuroscience Principles and Concepts
- Nursing 7341 Advanced Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
- Nursing 7348.01 Advanced Practice Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing I
- Nursing 7348.02 Advanced Practice Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing II
- Nursing 7348.03 Advanced Practice Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing III
- Nursing 7350 Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan
Clinical Courses
Our specialty provides preceptors in a wide variety of geographic locations and clinical sites throughout Ohio and in other approved states where students may reside. Students collaboratively interact with all members of healthcare team. However, their clinical experiences must be precepted by PMHNPs and/or psychiatrists. Students must complete 600 clinical hours during their final year of study.
