Program Description
The Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner program at the LLU School of Nursing prepares registered nurses for a rewarding career of touching patient's lives by supporting their journey to improved mental well-being. The Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (Psych NP) program promotes whole person care, by focusing on the mental, physical, and spiritual health of patients. Students are prepared to promote optimal mental health, prevention, and treatment of psychiatric disorders and health maintenance within a variety of settings across the life span."The PMHNP focuses on individuals across the lifespan (infancy through old age), families, and populations across the lifespan at risk for developing and/or having a diagnosis of psychiatric disorders or mental health problems. The PHMNP provides primary mental health care to patients seeking mental health services in a wide range of settings. Primary mental health care provided by the PMHNP involves relationship-based, continuous and comprehensive services, necessary for the promotion of optimal mental health, prevention, and treatment of psychiatric disorders and health maintenance. This includes assessment, diagnosis, and management of mental health and psychiatric disorders across the lifespan." ("Population Focused Nurse Practitioner Competencies")
The Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner BS to DNP program is 3 years and 9 months full-time. Part-time option is also available.
The program is divided into 4 parts:
1- Core Courses: 4 days each quarter on-campus with online interaction, mentored-inquiry courses.
2- Concentration Courses: Pharmacology I & II, and Pathophysiology are taught on campus with classes meeting once a week.
3- Clinical Experience: students are required to complete on average 570 clinical hours+ DNP project hours (total 1000 hours) at a facility assigned by LLU School of Nursing in combination with theory classes taught on campus.
4- DNP Project: The DNP Project can be done in the workplace allowing students to collect evidence based research data.
Program Length
3 years and 9 months full-time, 5 years part-timePossible Careers
Behavioral medical centers, clinics, private practices, jails, schools.Application Deadlines
| Quarter | Application Open | Priority Deadline | Final Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn of 2021 | Oct 1, 2020 | — | Apr 1, 2021 |
| Winter of 2022 | Feb 1, 2021 | — | Aug 1, 2021 |
Prerequisites
- Baccalaureate degree in nursing from an accredited program
- GPA of 3.0, both cumulative and in nursing courses
- Current United States RN license before application*
- One year of RN experience in the area of desired clinical concentration is strongly advised for application competitiveness
- Application with personal statement
- Three electronic recommendations (recommenders will receive an email once application is submitted) – preferred: professor, current work supervisor
- Official transcripts for all college credits
- Shadowing highly recommended (4 to 8 hours)
- Interview by faculty members in the School of Nursing
*California RN license required before start of classes
Discipline Accrediting Agency
The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Graduates are prepared for certification by the State of California and the American Nurses Association as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner.State Accrediting Agency
Loma Linda University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).The California Board of Registered Nursing granted continuing approval in 2010 to the School of Nursing.
