Four student with laptops sit at desks and talk in front of blackboard

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, DNP

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program prepares registered nurses with a baccalaureate or master's degree as Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners in the PMHNP role. A post-graduate PMHNP certificate program is available for the doctorally prepared nurse.

Equipped for the Future

As a PMHNP, you'll be:

  • Equipped to provide a wide range of services to adults, children, adolescents, and their families in primary care facilities, outpatient mental health clinics, psychiatric emergency settings, skilled nursing and assisted living facilities, private practices, or in hospital or community health centers.
  • Trained to diagnose, conduct therapy, and prescribe medications for patients who have psychiatric disorders, medical organic brain disorders or substance abuse problems. Licensed to provide emergency psychiatric services, psychosocial and physical assessment of their patients, treatment plans, and manage patient care.
  • Serve as consultants or as educators for families and staff.
  • Focused on psychiatric diagnosis, including the differential diagnosis of medical disorders with psychiatric symptoms, and on medication treatment for psychiatric disorders.

My USF education has changed the way I think and approach my work and patients, as well as my life”

Balraj Bajwa DNP '21

USF Preceptor Program

The USF Preceptor program helps our mission to provide students with the academic and personal skills necessary for success. Preceptors play a vital role in the education of our students and the continued development of the profession.

Additional Campus banner shot of grad student

Accreditation

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, the master's degree program in nursing, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the University of San Francisco School of Nursing and Health Professions are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Students who graduate from the program are also eligible to receive the California Public Health Nursing Certificate.

Each DNP degree track (Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner) is included in the accreditation of the DNP degree program in the School of Nursing and Health Professions.

Graduates meet the outcome competencies and practice standards of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) for the DNP. In the program, students complete 1,000 hours of supervised clinical practice, complete the DNP qualifying examination, and complete an evidence-based practice project.

State Authorization

Please check our State Authorization Status List for the states and territories from which we can enroll students in specific online degree programs.

Addressing Opioid Use Disorder

Sara Hamilton, a DNP MPH learner, is focusing some of her degree work on addressing opioid use disorder.

Sara Hamilton headshot

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, DNP

School of Nursing & Health Professions
2130 Fulton St.
San Francisco, CA 94117
Hours

Monday–Friday
8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.