Master of Science in Nursing – Psych-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Online
Delivered online with embedded supervised clinical residencies in a variety of settings, this nationally accredited MSN program is designed to help you achieve your psychiatric mental health nurse certification while you continue to work.
Program Overview
Learn more about the online MSN – PMHNP program at NKU
Our Master of Science in Nursing – Psych-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner online program at Northern Kentucky University covers the full scope of practice, integrating the diagnosis, treatment, and management of mental health disorders for patients across the life span. You will learn to treat individuals and families with acute or chronic psychiatric needs using comprehensive assessment, psycho-social intervention, and prescription medications.
Mental health nursing courses synthesize neuroscientific principles, neurophysiological theory, and a broad range of therapeutic methods — including how to incorporate variables of lifestyle, culture, religion, socio-economics, and genetics into risk assessments. Curriculum emphasizes advanced psychopharmacology and aligns with NKU's strategic mission to address a regional opioid issue and our overall commitment to be agents of change by promoting population health.
Core MSN coursework includes two DNP-level courses and provides in-depth study of fundamentals of theory and research for evidence-based practice, healthcare policy, economics, and the analysis and application of health data in advanced nursing practice.
Once you graduate, you will be eligible to take the ANCC Psychiatric-Mental Health NP certification examination. Our nurses have an ANCC three-year pass rate of 88.94%.
In this online MSN – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program, you will:
- Critically analyze data for practice by integrating knowledge from arts and sciences within the context of nursing's philosophical framework and scientific foundation
- Use evidence-based practice to demonstrate advanced levels of clinical judgment, systems thinking, and accountability while implementing change to improve healthcare outcomes
- Integrate nursing science, educational frameworks, health policy, professional values, and principles of business to implement initiatives that facilitate the highest level of advanced nursing practice
- Demonstrate sensitivity to diverse cultures and populations including patients and providers
- Analyze one's own behaviors and institutional practices and policies for coherence with principles of caring
- Apply effective communication in order to facilitate nursing practice at an advanced level
- Critically analyze data for practice by integrating knowledge from arts and sciences within the context of nursing's philosophical framework and scientific foundation
- Use evidence-based practice to demonstrate advanced levels of clinical judgment, systems thinking, and accountability while implementing change to improve healthcare outcomes
- Integrate nursing science, educational frameworks, health policy, professional values, and principles of business to implement initiatives that facilitate the highest level of advanced nursing practice
- Demonstrate sensitivity to diverse cultures and populations including patients and providers
- Analyze one's own behaviors and institutional practices and policies for coherence with principles of caring
- Apply effective communication in order to facilitate nursing practice at an advanced level
As a certified psychiatric nurse practitioner, you will be able to practice in many public and private healthcare settings, such as:
- Hospitals, clinics, and mental health facilities
- County and municipal health departments
- Military and veteran hospitals
- Private PMHNP practices or consulting organizations
- Hospitals, clinics, and mental health facilities
- County and municipal health departments
- Military and veteran hospitals
- Private PMHNP practices or consulting organizations
Also available:
Northern Kentucky University offers a variety of Nursing programs online. View our online healthcare programs.
Accreditation
The baccalaureate degree in nursing, master’s degree in nursing, postgraduate APRN certificate, and Post-Master's Doctor of Nursing Practice degree programs at Northern Kentucky University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
Tuition
Invest in yourself for less with our budget-friendly tuition
The MSN – Psych-Mental Health NP online program offers the same affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition for in-state and out-of-state students. Financial aid may be available to eligible students.
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Required Fees | Total Program with Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSN – Psych-Mental Health NP | $600 | $ | $29,177 |
Tuition and fees subject to change at any time. Some fees are course-based and subject to change based on date student enters such course.
Tuition Breakdown:
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Ranked among the “Best Colleges for Nursing in America” by Niche.com, 2023
Calendar
Set a calendar reminder for these key deadlines
The MSN – Psych-Mental Health NP online program is flexible and efficient for busy schedules, with accelerated courses that start multiple times a year. View the calendar to find the best start date for you, and be sure to submit your application, registration, documents and tuition by the corresponding deadlines.
| Session | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Due |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 2 | 6/30/25 | 6/18/25 | 6/23/25 | 6/27/25 | 6/30/25 |
| Fall 1 | 8/18/25 | 8/6/25 | 8/11/25 | 8/15/25 | 8/18/25 |
| Fall 2 | 10/15/25 | 10/2/25 | 10/7/25 | 10/10/25 | 10/15/25 |
| Spring 1 | 1/12/26 | 1/2/26 | 1/6/26 | 1/9/26 | 1/12/26 |
| Spring 2 | 3/16/26 | 3/4/26 | 3/9/26 | 3/13/26 | 3/16/26 |
| Summer 1 | 5/11/26 | 4/29/26 | 5/4/26 | 5/8/26 | 5/11/26 |
| Summer 2 | 6/29/26 | 6/17/26 | 6/22/26 | 6/26/26 | 6/29/26 |
Now enrolling:
Admissions
Know how to apply to the online MSN – PMHNP
The admission process is the first step toward earning your MSN – Psych-Mental Health NP degree online. Before you apply, please review the Program Map to determine eligibility of this program in your state.
Admission Requirements:
- 3.0 GPA or higher on undergraduate coursework
- Current and unencumbered RN license
- 1,000 clinical hours of practice as a Registered Nurse
MSN – Psych-Mental Health NP Online Admission Requirements
- Complete online application and pay $40 non-refundable application fee
- If you are an NKU alum or active/veteran military member, your application fee will be waived. Simply submit the online application without payment of the application fee; the fee will be waived when your credentials are verified. No further action is required.
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from both a regionally accredited program and an ACEN, CCNE or CNEA-accredited program
- Students who have earned a BSN degree from a non-US institution will be considered for an exception to the requirement that the BSN come from ACEN, CCNE, or CNEA-accredited program of nursing, where applicable
- Official transcripts of all undergraduate academic work and any graduate work completed
- Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0
- Undergraduate course in statistics with a grade of C or better
- Verification of your current, unencumbered RN license with expiration date from the state in which you are licensed and practice
- 1,000 clinical hours of practice as a Registered Nurse; fill out the verification form here
- A criminal background check (state and federal) is required for admission to the program. Applicants are required to use PreCheck StudentCheck to purchase the background check. Instructions on how to purchase and initiate the background check can be found here.
Official documents may be mailed or emailed to:
NKU Office of Graduate Education302 Lucas Administrative Center
Highland Heights, KY 41099
Have a question? Call us at 800-985-7215.
Note: The Master of Science in Nursing degree program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Licenses are granted by the licensing authority in individual states, and those licensing boards might require an additional exam on laws and regulations specific to that state. Some states may also have other requirements. Out-of-state students who require subsequent licensure by the state of residence (e.g., nursing or education) should check with the state licensure office.
If at any time during your program of study you relocate to another state, restrictions may apply and adversely affect your program progression. Change of state residency may affect student program status. Notify your advisor and concentration coordinator immediately if you plan to relocate.
Courses
Get excited about your online MSN - PMHNP courses
For the MSN – Psych-Mental Health NP online program, students must complete a total of 47 credit hours, which includes eight core courses (24 credit hours), five concentration courses (15 credit hours), five clinicals (5 credit hours) with a total of 750 clinical hours, and a capstone course (3 credit hours). Each course is seven weeks long.
The curriculum for the MSN – Psych-Mental Health NP online program is comprised of 19 courses (47 credit hours), which includes eight core courses (24 credit hours), five concentration courses (15 credit hours), five clinicals (5 credit hours) with a total of 750 clinical hours, and a capstone course (3 credit hours). Each course is seven weeks long. Some students who are not successful with the APEA post-predictor exam during MSN 611 will also need to take a remediation course: MSN 680.
