MSN in APRN – PMHNP
Master of Science in Nursing in Advanced Practice Registered Nursing – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Care for Patients’ Mind & Body Across Healthcare Settings
Are you ready to advance in your career while improving the health outcomes for patients in the latter stage of life? Regent’s Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Advanced Practice Registered Nursing (APRN) with a concentration in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) will prepare you to provide holistic care to patients and their families with common, acute or chronic mental health problems. Through the PMHNP online program, you will learn to use advanced clinical judgment and practice to evaluate, diagnose and manage a plan of care for those struggling with various mental health issues. You will also learn a variety of techniques and services that are specifically geared toward populations based on age of life, diagnosis and healthcare settings. Available 100% online with practicums in your community and with only one scheduled on-campus event in Virginia Beach planned during the program. Learn more about the benefits of pursuing an advanced nursing degree. You will be eligible to apply for the APRN certification examination upon successfully completing this concentration.
BUILD ON A STRONG FOUNDATION
Learn to respond to the mental health needs of patients across their lifespan through a Christian worldview.
Expand Your Career Opportunities with the PMHNP PROGRAM
Train to lead and facilitate as an advanced practice nurse and expert clinician in the mental health field.
Sharpen Your Skills
Gain the leadership training necessary to improve mental health services in various inpatient and outpatient settings.
LEARN FROM THE BEST
Be mentored by faculty in Virginia Beach who hold the highest degrees in their field. Regent has been ranked among Top National Universities by the U.S. News & World Report for four years (2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023). We are also both military and transfer-friendly.
Fulfill the In-Demand Need WITH THE PMHNP Online PROGRAM
The United States Bureau for Labor Statistics predicted that openings for nurse practitioners in the U.S. will increase 45% between 2020 and 2030, and that between 2014 and 2024, every state in the U.S. will see an increase in jobs for nurse practitioners.
Please complete the Request Information form on this page to learn more about this program.
Upon successful completion of the PMHNP online program, you can:
- Advocate, promote, and protect the dignity and safety of patients and families living with mental illness.
- Assess, diagnose, and treat individuals with evidence-based psychiatric care.
- Develop innovative healthcare practices to improve patient delivery and outcomes.
- Advance and transform psychiatric nursing care through education and research.
Career Opportunities
- Primary Care
- Psychiatric Centers
- Inpatient Settings
- Public Mental Health Agencies
- Residential Treatment
As a graduate of Regent University’s PMHNP program, you will be eligible to take the national certification exam to become a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). This type of certification is usually necessary to obtain a state license to practice with prescriptive authority, per your state regulations.
The Master of Science in Nursing program with an Advanced Practice Registered Nursing (MSN-APRN) concentration is intended for Registered Nurses (RNs), with a bachelor’s degree in nursing, that are seeking career growth as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse. Applicants to the MSN-APRN concentration must minimally:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing
- Have a current, unencumbered nursing license
- Have one year of full-time clinical RN experience before entering the program
- Have earned a minimum of a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) in undergraduate studies
State Licensure
This CCNE accredited program prepares students for the national certification as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). This certification is the initial step necessary to gain licensure to practice as an independent provider with prescriptive authority in most states. State regulations can vary by state. Students are encouraged to review their state requirements before applying to APRN concentrations in the MSN program.
Application Process – Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Step 1: Application
Submit your application using the Regent University Online Application.
Note: If you are unable to complete our application due to a disability, please contact our Admissions Office and an admissions representative will provide reasonable accommodations to assist you in completing the application.
Step 2: Submit your Unofficial College Transcripts*
We are able to examine and view your unofficial transcript from a U.S.-based school, which indicates successful completion of a bachelor’s degree program, in order to review you for an admissions decision. Please submit your unofficial transcript to our Admissions Office by email to apply@regent.edu using the subject line: MSN Master’s Application Pieces.
Non-U.S. transcripts must be evaluated by an NACES-approved company. For further details, please review the International Admissions Checklist on the International Students Admissions page.
International Applicants: Please visit the International Students Admissions page for a more detailed explanation of the Regent University application information and to determine whether or not you qualify as an international student.
*Upon conditional acceptance to the program by review of unofficial transcripts, Regent University’s Admissions Office will attempt to obtain your official transcripts from your U.S. degree-granting institution, which indicate successful completion of a nursing or non-nursing bachelor’s degree program. We will notify you if your previous institution will not release transcripts directly to us.
The MSN requires a candidate to have a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from an accredited institution and a 3.0GPA in previously completed nursing courses.
Report no more than two previous documented failures in MSN courses.
Step 3: Submit Your Nursing License
In order to be admitted to the MSN program, you must submit an active unencumbered/unrestricted Registered Nurse license from your state of practice. Please email a scanned copy or photograph of it to apply@regent.edu with the subject line: Nursing License.
Step 4: Submit Your Resume
In order to be admitted to the MSN program, you must submit a resume showing one year of full-time clinical RN experience before entering the degree. Please email a scanned copy or photograph of it to apply@regent.edu with the subject line: Resume.
Step 5: Submit a Government-Issued ID
To ensure academic integrity, Regent University requires a copy of a government-issued ID. Please email a scanned copy or photograph of it to apply@regent.edu with the subject line: Government ID.
Part-Time Students
| Degree | Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour | Average Credit Hours Per Semester | Average Tuition Per Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSN | $580 | 6 | $3,480 |
Full-Time Students
| Degree | Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour | Average Credit Hours Per Semester | Average Tuition Per Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSN | $580 | 9 | $5,220 |
Student Fees Per Semester
| University Services Fee (On-Campus Students) | $850 |
| University Services Fee (Online Students) | $700 |
PART-TIME STUDENTS
| Degree | Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour | Average Credit Hours Per Semester | Average Tuition Per Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSN | $565 | 6 | $3,390 |
Full-Time Students
| Degree | Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour | Average Credit Hours Per Semester | Average Tuition Per Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSN | $565 | 9 | $5,085 |
Student Fees Per Semester
| University Services Fee (On-Campus Students) | $800 (Fall & Spring) $650 (Summer) |
| University Services Fee (Online Students) | $650 |
*Rates are subject to change at any time.
Estimated Cost of Attendance: View the estimated cost of attendance to see an example of the total cost of tuition and fees.
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Advanced Practice Registered Nursing (APRN)
The MSN-APRN program offers a track that leads to Advanced Practice Registered Nursing preparation. This program offers expert preparation in the identified population and prepares students to function as change agents by bringing evidence to practice. Successful completion of the program qualifies students to register for national examination for certification as an APRN of the related degree track completed. Subsequently, students will be eligible to apply for an appropriate APRN license (licensure requirements differ by state). Licensure requirements may vary and are subject to change without notice.
APRN stands for Advanced Practice Registered Nurse.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) and Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) are essentially the same. They are responsible for the same duties though they are identified differently from state to state.
An APRN, or Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, is a primary care provider and has been educated at a master’s or post-master’s level. APRNs typically go through specialized training for a specific patient population. Their certification through higher education allows APRNs to “assess, diagnose, and manage patient problems, order tests, and prescribe medications.” [1]
The PMHNP online program at Regent University will teach you the necessary skills to diagnose and treat mental illnesses through prescriptions and therapy. A holistic perspective will allow you to care for the body and mind while meeting the needs of each patient.
How to become an APRN
To become an APRN, an individual must complete an advanced nursing degree, complete clinical hours, pass a national certification exam, and apply for licensure in their state of practice. [2] The individual must already have a registered nurse (RN) license before pursuing an advanced practice nurse license.
- Get a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
A bachelor’s degree is necessary before pursuing a master’s degree in nursing to become an APRN. You can transfer your experience as an RN to a bachelor’s degree with Regent’s fully online RN to B.S. in Nursing program.
- Achieve an advanced nursing degree.
The advanced nursing degree is the basis for RNs moving into APRN positions. Regent’s Master of Science in Nursing – APRN degree will prepare you to specialize for Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AG CNS) or Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). Both areas are expected to grow substantially in the coming years.
- Complete the required clinical practice experience hours.
According to the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), “Students must have the opportunity to practice and develop clinical/practice competencies that are appropriate for the degree level and for the role, population focus, and/or area for which they are being prepared.” [3] All MSN concentrations, starting in Fall 2022, will require a minimum of 500 direct care practicum hours related to the population/specialty of the MSN concentration.
- Pass a national APRN certification exam.
The exam that you will need to take depends on which specialization you seek to master. Several organizations offer the exams necessary to meet this requirement. The exams require a thorough knowledge of the subject matter studied during the degree program and insight gained from the clinical practice hours.
- Apply for licensure in your state of practice.
After passing the APRN certification exam, you can apply for licensure in the state you would like to practice in. Every state requires completion of the APRN certification exam, but some states have extra requirements. Your state of practice will also determine whether you can have an individual practice.
To demonstrate an advanced head-to-toe physical assessment on or near the Virginia Beach campus is an expectation of the Advanced Physical Assessment course. Specific details will be forthcoming as safety, travel, and scheduling are being considered on a semester-by-semester basis.
The median APRN salary was $117,670 or $56.67 per hour in 2020. The APRN career field is also growing nearly 6 times as fast as other occupations. [4]
References
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (2009, February 19). APRNS in the U.S. NCSBN.
- 2U Incorporated. (2020, December 15). Advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) career guide. Nursing License Map.
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. (2016, October). CCNE clinical practice experiences FAQs. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2021, June 2). Nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
