Overview:
The School of Nursing offers a curriculum leading to the degree of Master
of Science in Nursing. The program of study prepares students for roles in 
6th ranked program in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing
For
more information visit the
Psychiatric/ Mental Health Nursing website
advanced nursing practice. The program requires research, professional
and clinical cores, and a selected advanced practice area. Applicants are admitted
for either full-time or part-time study and can begin in fall or spring.
Changes in the care of persons diagnosed with or vulnerable to psychiatric
disorders have opened new opportunities for psychiatric-mental health advanced
practice. Ranked seventh in the nation in graduate programs in psychiatric mental
health nursing, the UNC-CH School of Nursing offers a curriculum where students
may choose to be prepared as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist
(PMH-CNS) or as a combined Psychiatric-Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist/Nurse
Practitioner (PMH-CNS and NP). Students cannot elect to be prepared as a PMH-NP
only, but must complete the combined curriculum.
With psychiatric mental health advanced practice skills, graduates can independently
manage the mental health care needs of clients by functioning as psychotherapists
and case managers in a variety of public, private, community, inpatient, and
collaborative practice settings, and as consultants for hospitals and community
organizations. An emphasis on the interaction and integration of common mental
and physical health problems gives the student an evidence-based framework for
comprehensive mental health care.
The curriculum includes core courses in advanced practice roles, research,
pathophysiology and pharmacotherapeutics. The specialty area focuses on psychiatric
mental health diagnostic reasoning, psychopharmacology, individual, group and
family psychotherapies and policy, ethical and legal frameworks applied to the
primary mental health care of underserved populations. Curricular emphasis on
cultural competence and sensitivity challenges students' assumptions and value
judgments, and promotes critical analysis of how racial and cultural biases in
psychiatric diagnosis have led to disparities in care.
Students seeking additional preparation as a PMH-CNS/NP - Adult focus will
be prepared to assume an expanded scope of practice that includes prescriptive
authority, advanced comprehensive assessment, diagnostic reasoning and collaborative
management of health problems common to adults. All students completing the PMH-CNS/NP
area are required to complete a course in advanced assessment and diagnostic
reasoning of adults, a course focused on primary care management of common health
problems in adults, and a final practicum that includes prescription and management
of psychotropic medications. Students electing to be prepared as a PMH-CNS/NP
Family focus must also complete additional coursework (2 courses) in primary
care management of children and pediatric pharmacology.
All of the specialty area courses contain both seminar and clinical practicum
components. Students prepared as a PMH-CNS complete a minimum of 660 hours of
clinical practice while students prepared for the combined PMH-CNS and PMH-NP
role complete 940 hours of clinical practice. Graduates are eligible to seek
the appropriate American Nurses' Credentialing Center certifications in Psychiatric
and Mental Health nursing. Full-time students who begin during fall semester
can complete the program in 4 to 5 semesters, plus one summer term. Part-time students
usually complete the program in 6to 9 semesters, plus one intervening summer term.
Curriculum:
The curriculum includes four components: professional core, research core,
clinical core, and the advanced practice area requirements:
Professional Core (6 credits):
NURS 646
Health Care Policy in the US: Development, Impacts, and Implications for Nurses (3 credits)
Examines health care systems development, impact, and prospects for change. Content enables nurses to draw implications for nursing practice and advocacy for improving systems. (3 classroom hours/week)
NURS 647
Approaches to Advanced Practice Integrating Theories, Roles and Issues (3 credits)
Examines the historical evolution, theoretical roots, current roles and context of advanced practice nursing. Content addresses the definition, issues, and scope of advanced practice nursing within a changing environment. (3 classroom hours/week)
Research Core (9-11 credits):
NURS 774
Research for Nursing Practice I (3 credits)
This two course sequence explores the philosophy, logic, and methods of research and statistical analysis for use in clinical practice. This course focuses on the relations between research and practice, the research process, and on non-experimental designs. (3 classroom hours per week.)
NURS 775
Research for Nursing Practice II (3 credits)
This two course sequence explores the philosophy, logic, and methods of research and statistical analysis for use in clinical practice. This course focuses on sampling, measurement, data management, experimental designs, and on the use of data for improving practice. (3 classroom hours per week.)
NURS 992
Master's Paper (3 credits)
Students complete a master's paper under the guidance and supervision of a faculty mentor and advisory committee. Completion of a scholarly paper reflecting the activity is required.
OR
NURS 993
Master's Thesis (3-6 credits)
Students complete a thesis under the guidance and supervision of a faculty mentor and advisory committee. Completion of a scholarly paper reflecting the activity is required.
Clinical Core (12 credits):
NURS 642
Health Promotion (2 credits)
This course focuses on the promotion of health, prevention of illness, and identification of factors that impact health across the life span. (2 classroom hours/week)
NURS 715
Pathophysiology for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 credits)
This course examines physiological and pathophysiological responses to injury - the effects of injury on cell function, host defense responses, the maintenance of vital functions, and neuroendocrine immune responses to stress across the life span. (3 classroom hours/week)
NURS 720
Pharmacotherapeutics in Advanced Nursing Practice (3 credits)
This course examines principles of pharmacotherapeutic decision making in advanced nursing practice, with application to clinical management of common health problems specific to all age groups, encompassing a life span approach. (3 classroom hours/week)
NURS 727
Health Assessment/Advanced Diagnostic Reasoning in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing (4 credits)
This course introduces students to the role of the advanced practice psychiatric/mental health nurse. Models for assessment, diagnosis (medical and nursing), intervention, and evaluation are explored and tested clinically. (3 classroom hours/week; 120 clinical hours/semester)
Psychiatric Mental Health -- Clinical Nurse Specialist
Option:
NURS 860
Psychiatric Nursing Interventions with Individuals (3 credits)
Students analyze theories, techniques, and research relevant to doing individual psychotherapy in a variety of practice settings with diverse clients. Experience with selected theories is gained in clinical practice. (3 classroom hours/week; 120 clinical hours/semester)
NURS 861
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Interventions for Families (3 credits)
Students will analyze theories, techniques, and research relevant to therapy with families experiencing mental health problems. Applications of traditional and contemporary models are emphasized. (3 classroom hours/week; 120 clinical hours/semester)
NURS 862
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Intervention for Groups (1 credit)
Students will analyze and apply theories, techniques and research relevant to doing individual psychotherapy groups. Clinical placement with selected preceptors provides opportunities for unique experiences. (1 classroom hour/week; 60 clinical hours/semester)
NURS 863
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing for Underserved Populations (3 credits)
Utilizes epidemiology, psychoeducation, clinical case management, and health policy to examine the scope of mental health problems and services for underserved populations. Model programs and mental health policies are critiqued. (3 classroom hours/week; 120 clinical hours/semester)
NURS 869
Practicum in Psychiatric-Mental Health Care for Advanced Practice Nurses (1 credit)
Students will apply knowledge and skill in selected domains of the advanced practice of psychiatric-mental health nursing. Supervision, peer evaluation and independent readings will enhance the experience. (At least one credit of practicum is required; if three credits are taken, no elective is necessary.)
Elective of student's choice (1-2 credits)
Many students take electives in nursing and in other disciplines such
as physiology, immunology, biologic psychology, health law, ethics, and health
policy. Popular elective options for psychiatric-mental health nurses include
psychology, social work, anthropology, and nursing courses in pain or death and
dying.
Psychiatric Mental Health -- Nurse Practitioner Option:
In addition to the above clinical nurse specialist courses, students who elect
the PMH-NP option take seven additional credits of course work as detailed below.
NURS 726
Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning in Primary Care Nursing (4 credits)
This course focuses on diagnostic reasoning as a framework to synthesize knowledge for comprehensive assessment of primary care patients throughout the life span. Prerequisites to all advanced practice area courses. (3 classroom hours/week; approximately 120 clinical hours including supervised labs/semester)
NURS 810
Primary Care Management of Adults (4 credits)
This course examines the management strategies in community-based ambulatory care settings that provide care to adult individuals and their families. (3 classroom hours/week and 120 clinical hours/semester)
NURS 869
Practicum in Psychiatric-Mental Health Care for Advanced Practice Nurses (1 credit)
Students will apply knowledge and skill in selected domains of the advanced practice of psychiatric-mental health nursing. Supervision, peer evaluation and independent readings will enhance the experience. (At least one credit of practicum is required; if three credits are taken, no elective is necessary.)
Additional courses required for Family Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse
Practitioner focus:
NURS 721
Pediatric Pharmacology (1 credit)
This course examines principles of pharmacotherapeutic decision making in advanced nursing practice with special emphasis on children and adolescents. (Primarily web-based).
NURS 827
Child Health Issues in Primary Care (3 credits)
This course examines the principles of assessment, management, evaluation and continuing care, of children in primary care settings. Developmentally appropriate, family-centered approaches and management of common medical problems are addressed. (2 classroom hours; 120 clinical hours per semester)
Clinical Placements
Clinical sites are selected to meet course objectives and individual student
learning needs. Clinical experiences may include providing psychiatric assessment
and crisis intervention in a primary mental health facility, providing intensive
intervention in a facility for severely and persistently mentally ill clients,
providing individual, family and group therapy in mental health centers, treating
medically ill clients with psychosocial needs, providing intervention care in
an inpatient setting, practicing in a private nurse-managed practices and providing
assessment and intervention to psychiatric home health agencies. Students receive
intensive individual and group supervision relative to clinical experiences.
Clinical experiences, research experiences, and elective courses are arranged
to meet the student's learning goals.
Admission
Applicants must be accepted by The Graduate School and the
School of Nursing. Applications for spring admission must be submitted by October
1st, and by March 31st for fall admission. No application will be reviewed by the Admission Committee before all the elements are received.
The School of Nursing admits students on a "rolling basis" however, if an
expeditious review is desired, applicants must submit all
supporting documentation to the School at the time the application is electronically
filed.
Admission Criteria
- Graduation from an accredited baccalaureate nursing program.
- Registered nurses with an associate's degree or diploma in nursing, or who
have an earned bachelor's degree in a field other than nursing, may apply to
the RN-MSN Program. These students complete three undergraduate nursing courses
prior to beginning the Master's clinical course sequence. Please contact the
Office of Admissions & Student Services for information on the RN-MSN Program
or see the RN-MSN
page.
- A strong overall academic record with an average of "B" or better in nursing
courses and during the four years of undergraduate work. For RN-MSN applicants,
the GPA is calculated using the 51 course credits required for admission (see
RN-MSN page).
- Competitive GRE scores.
- Note: The University considers scores at or near the 50th percentile as "competitive" for
each of the quantitative and verbal sections of the GRE. Applicants who feel
their working knowledge of algebra, geometry and data analysis may be "rusty",
are encouraged to prepare thoroughly before sitting for this exam. Completion
of a GRE Preparation Course may be
helpful.
- A minimum of one year of work experience as an RN, preferably in the area
of desired specialization.
- An introductory statistics course with a grade of C or better, completed
in the past 10 years.
- A health assessment course, approved by the School. Please refer to the School
of Nursing's Master's Application Instructions for details of this requirement.
- An unencumbered license to practice as a registered nurse in the state of
North Carolina is required for enrollment.
Please refer to the School of Nursing Master's
Application Instructions for detailed information on admissions requirements
and required application materials.
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Faculty:
Linda
Beeber, PhD, RN, CS
Beverly
Ferreiro, PhD, RN, CS
Diane
Kjervik, JD, RN, FAAN
Mary
Lynn Piven, PhD, RN, CS
Theresa
Raphael-Grimm, PhD, RN, CS
Victoria
Soltis-Jarrett, PhD, APRN-BC
FOR MORE INFORMATION
School of Nursing
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Carrington Hall, CB #7460
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7460
For general information on the School of Nursing and application materials,
contact:
Office of Admissions and Student Services
(919) 966-4260
nursing@unc.edu
