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.
Program overview
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.
Take the next step
Join an information session to learn more about your program of interest, hosted by our recruitment coordinator.
This specialty can be completed either online or on campus through the following programs.
Online
On-campus
Admission and application requirements vary by degree program. Visit the degree program page to learn more about eligibility and how to apply.
Students will develop advanced knowledge and clinical expertise through specialty-focused coursework and immersive, supervised clinical practicum experiences. Clinical rotations allow students to apply these competencies in real-world settings under the guidance of expert preceptors. Clinical experiences meet the requirements for national certification in this specialty and are completed in approved sites across Ohio and other authorized states (as applicable). Students typically complete 16 to 20 hours per week of precepted clinical practice during their clinical courses.
The PMHNP curriculum is aligned with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education and the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) NP Role Core Competencies. Graduates are eligible for national board certification as a Psych-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB).
- Nursing 7410 Advanced Health Assessment
- Nursing 7450 Pathophysiology of Altered Health States
- Nursing 7470 Advanced Pharmacology in Nursing
- Nursing 7340 Neuroscience Principles and Concepts
- Nursing 7341 Advanced Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
- Nursing 7350 Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan
- 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 8895 Professional Role of the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
- Provide primary mental health promotion and psychiatric care across the lifespan.
- Integrate theory and evidence to care for individuals, families, groups, and communities.
- Design, implement, and evaluate patient-centered care plans that promote optimal developmental, behavioral, and mental health outcomes.
- Use leadership skills to promote system and policy improvements in mental health.
- Adapt professionally to evolving behavioral health environments.
- Contribute to the advancement of the psychiatric mental health nursing profession.
For more information on curriculum, visit the academic program page of the degree you are seeking.