MSN: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Online)

  • MSN
  • Graduate
  • Online
  • Nursing & Health Professions

Gain the advanced skills and hands-on practicum experience to advance your career and meet the growing demand for mental health services.

Program Details

  • Next Start Date:  January 13, 2025
  • Est. Program Length:  Dependent upon entry path
  • Low-Residency Format:  Online coursework and three weekends on campus
  • Credit Hours:  43-49
  • Course Length:  14 weeks (NSG517 and NSG502 are 7 weeks)
  • Cost Per Credit (2024-25 Academic Year): Nursing Courses – $725/Clinical Courses – $1,132
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Rankings and Accolades

Rivier's online PMHNP program ranked second in United States

Rivier’s Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program is second in the United States, according to NursePractitionerOnline.com's 2025 national rankings.

Rivier ranked Top Nursing School in New Hampshire

Nursing Schools Almanac 2024 has recognized Rivier’s exceptional nursing education, ranking the University as the #1 nursing school in NH!

Rivier ranked #1 Online College in New Hampshire

Rivier University has been named the #1 online college in New Hampshire by Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for higher education programs. 

Why Earn an MSN Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Degree from Rivier?

Rivier University is ranked as the #1 nursing school in New Hampshire and a top 50 private nursing school nationally by Nursing Schools Almanac in 2024. Become a leader in mental health care and treatment with Rivier’s MSN: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Offered online with low residency, the program will prepare you to assess, diagnose, and treat individuals and groups with psychiatric disorders and mental health needs.  PMHNPs prescribe medication and administer psychotherapy as part of their patients’ treatment plans. Most PMHNPs maintain their own medical practices, but some work under the supervision of a physician according to state guidelines.

In this Master’s in Mental Health Nursing online degree program, you will:

  • Gain the knowledge and skills necessary to function in an advanced practice role
  • Learn the skills and practicum training for treating individuals and groups throughout their lifetime
  • Learn to prescribe medication and administer psychotherapy
  • Enhance your critical thinking and problem-solving skills
  • Become an effective communicator and collaborator

Program Overview

This MSN degree offers a combination of advanced theory and clinical education. Coursework includes:

  • Psychiatric nursing theory
  • Pathophysiology
  • Health assessment
  • Quality healthcare improvement
  • Health policy
  • Research design

Through hands-on clinical experiences in our state-of-the-art facilities, you’ll gain the practicals skills necessary to practice with autonomy while earning your MSN: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Degree in New Hampshire.

Multiple Entry Paths

The MSN: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner degree is a 43- to 49-credit program of study depending upon entry path:

  • MSN—for nursing baccalaureate-prepared RNs
  • MSN Bridge Option—for non-nursing baccalaureate-prepared RNs
  • RN to MS Option—for experienced associate degree or diploma-prepared RNs
  • Post-Master’s Certificate—for RNs with an MSN degree who are seeking PMHNP-BC certification

Rivier offers multiple term starts throughout the year.

Licensure and Accreditation

Registered nurses (RN) who complete this advanced degree coursework and clinical education are qualified to sit for the national exams to become a Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC).

Rivier University is unable to accept students from some states due to the post-secondary higher-education requirements. There are also some restrictions for programs that lead to professional licensure due to the various requirements of individual state boards of nursing. See State Guide.

For further information on Professional Nursing Licensure at the state level, please use the following contact list (also available on the NC-SARA website).

Commitment to Quality

Rivier’s ASN, BSN, MSN, Post Master’s Certificates, and DNP programs located in Nashua, NH are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30326, (404) 975-5000.

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the master’s nursing program is Continuing Accreditation. View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program.

Dr. Donna Proulx, Ph.D., RN, CCRN, CSC, the Program Director for Graduate & Doctoral Nursing Education, is working to advance substance use disorders treatment for vulnerable populations. Her doctoral research was a qualitative inquiry titled “The Lived Experience of Postpartum Women Attending Outpatient Substance-Abuse Treatment for Opioid or Heroin Use.” She holds two certifications in critical care from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (ACCN)—one in adult critical care (CCRN) and a second in adult cardiac surgery (CSC)—and is a past president of the New Hampshire Chapter of ACCN.

Where Will Your Degree Take You?

Our Psychiatric Mental Health Practitioner program will help you succeed in advanced clinical practice and leadership roles in mental health services.

Careers

Our graduates can pursue leadership roles as:

  • Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners
  • Psychiatric mental health clinical nurse specialists
  • Advanced practice psychiatric nurses
  • Clinical nurse specialists
  • Nurse practitioners
  • Many other nursing leadership roles

Explore Other Tracks

There are four other tracks offered in the online Master of Science in Nursing program.

Take the Next Steps

Contact

Office of Graduate and Professional Studies Admissions

Start Today

Prepare to advance your career with an MSN degree from Rivier.