Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing (RN) and Post Graduate Certificate (PGC) Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

Four Simmons graduate nursing students talking in a hallway

PMHNP Master of Science in Nursing for non-nurses

Transform your career and make a profound impact on mental health with Simmons University's Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program. 

If you hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, this program is for you. You will learn the skills and knowledge to become a compassionate Advanced Practice Registered Nurse. Pursue a meaningful nursing career improving mental healthcare and outcomes in a diverse, global community.

Unsure of which Nursing program you should follow? Compare them all and discover which nursing program is right for you

Why enroll in the Direct Entry PMHNP Program?

A student sits on a bench outside a building on the Simmons University campus
School of Nursing building on the Simmons University campus

The Direct Entry Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) is offered through Simmons' prestigious School of Nursing, based in Boston. You will graduate with the skills and knowledge to provide compassionate and comprehensive mental healthcare.

The Direct Entry PMHNP program offers a comprehensive and rigorous education that includes:

  • Foundational Nursing Education: Begin by acquiring essential nursing skills and becoming eligible for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
  • Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Education: Dive into specialized education focused on psychiatric-mental healthcare, learning to assess, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions across the lifespan.
  • Clinical Excellence: Gain hands-on clinical experience through clinical rotations in diverse psychiatric settings, developing critical thinking, clinical judgment, and therapeutic skills.
  • Leadership and Advocacy: Explore leadership, healthcare policy, and ethics to prepare for roles influencing behavioral healthcare systems and advocate for patient-centered care.
  • Research and Evidence-Based Practice: Engage in research activities and learn to apply evidence-based practices to enhance mental healthcare delivery.

What can you do as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner?

Graduates of the Direct Entry PMHNP program are well-prepared to take on impactful leadership and nursing roles in the mental health field. Career opportunities include:

  • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner: Evaluate, diagnose, and manage the mental health needs of individuals across the lifespan. Provide therapeutic interventions and prescribe medications to support patients with mental health conditions and substance use disorders. Additionally, perform comprehensive physical and psychosocial assessments, deliver emergency psychiatric care, and monitor the effectiveness of treatment plans to ensure optimal patient outcomes.
  • Healthcare Leadership: Assume leadership positions within mental health organizations, shaping policies and practices to improve healthcare delivery.
  • Educator: Teach and mentor the next generation of psychiatric-mental health nurses, nurse practitioners, and healthcare professionals in academic or clinical settings.
  • Researcher: Contribute to advancing psychiatric-mental health nursing through research and evidence-based practice initiatives.
  • Policy Advocate: Advocate for mental health policies promoting access to care, reducing stigma, and addressing public health challenges.

Embark on an exciting and transformative career through the Direct Entry MSN PMHNP program at Simmons. Become a highly qualified and compassionate mental healthcare professional, ready to lead and innovate in the field of psychiatric-mental health advanced practice nursing. 

Program Requirements and Resources

This 91 credit program can be completed in 3 years.

Term 1Term 2Term 3
NURS XXX - Health Assessment Across the Lifespan3IPE 450 - Health Care Systems: Interdisciplinary Perspectives3NURS XXX - Pediatric Nursing3
NURS XXXL - Health Assessment Lab1NURS XXX - Medical-Surgical Nursing: Care of the Adult with Acute, Chronic & Complex Conditions6NURS XXXL - Pediatric Nursing Clinical1
NURS XXX - Foundations of Nursing & Clinical Skills3NURS XXXL - Medical Surgical Nursing Care of Adults Clinical2NURS XXX - Maternal, Newborn & Women’s Health Nursing3
NURS XXXL - Foundations of Nursing & Skills Lab/Clinical1NURS XXX - Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing3NURS XXXL - Maternal, Newborn & Women’s Health Nursing Clinical1
NURS XXX - Pharmacology3NURS XXXL - Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Clinical1NURS XXX - Community & Population Health3
NURS XXX - Nursing Theory and Evidence-Based Clinical Decision Making3  NURS XXXL - Community & Population Health Clinical1
Total credits14Total credits15Total credits12
Term 4Term 5*Term 6***
Begin post-graduate certificate for PMHNP
NURS XXX - Synthesis & Role Transition3NURS 530 - Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan3NURP 426 - Clinical Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan3
NURS 410 - Research Methods3NURS 530L - Advanced Health Assessment Lab**1NURP 540 - Neurobiology & Differential Diagnosis of Mental Disorders2
CHSO 404 - Advanced Pathophysiology3NURS 424 - Advanced Pharmacology3NURP 541 - PMHNP I: Psychotherapy Across the Lifespan2
NURS XXXL - Clinical Practicum2NURS 402 - Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse1NURP 542 - PMHNP II: Diagnosis & Management2
NURS 660 - Evidence-Based Practice: Informatics2NURP 411 - Scholarly Inquiry 2  
Total credits13Total credits10Total credits9

MSN Clinical hours: 714
After Completion of Term 4- eligible to sit for NCLEX
No Part-time Option Terms 1 - 4; Terms 1 - 5 On-Campus only
Transfer online after successful completion of term 5 (PT or FT Options)
*MSN RN conferred after Term 5; MSN Total Credits: 64 
**Validation of Head to Toe included in this course 
***Start Post-Graduate Certificate for PMHNP

Term 7Term 8Term 9
NURP 543 - PMHNP III: Diagnosis & Management3NURP 521 - PMHNP Clinical Decision-Making II5NURP 522 - PMHNP Clinical Decision-Making III 5
NURP 544 - PMHNP IV: SMI & Addictions Medicine2    
NURP 520 - PMHNP Clinical Decision-Making I: Psychotherapy2    
NURP 534P - Immersion and Clinical Qualification Course 1    
Total credits8Total credits5Total credits5

Post-graduate Certificate conferred after Term 9- eligible to sit for PMHNP certification exam
Clinical Decision Making 1 credit=63 clinical hours
PMHNP PGC Total Credits: 27
PMHNP PGC Clinical hours total: 756
Total credits: 91
 

Term 1Term 2Term 3
NURS XXX - Health Assessment Across the Lifespan3IPE 450 - Health Care Systems: Interdisciplinary Perspectives3NURS XXX - Pediatric Nursing3
NURS XXXL - Health Assessment Lab1NURS XXX - Medical Surgical Nursing: Care of the Adult with Acute, Chronic & Complex Conditions6NURS XXXL - Pediatric Nursing Clinical1
NURS XXX - Foundations of Nursing & Clinical Skills3NURS XXXL - Medical Surgical Nursing Care of Adults Clinical2NURS XXX - Maternal, Newborn & Women’s Health Nursing3
NURS XXXL - Foundations of Nursing & Skills Lab/Clinical1NURS XXX - Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing3NURS XXXL - Maternal, Newborn & Women’s Health Nursing Clinical1
NURS XXX - Pharmacology3NURS XXXL - Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Clinical1NURS XXX - Community & Population Health3
NURS XXX - Nursing Theory and Evidence-Based Clinical Decision Making3NURS XXXL - Community & Population Health Clinical1  
Total credits14Total credits15Total credits12
Term 4Term 5*Term 6***
Begin post-graduate certificate for PMHNP
NURS XXX - Synthesis & Role Transition3NURS 530 - Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan3NURP 426 - Clinical Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan3
NURS 410 - Research Methods3NURS 530L - Advanced Health Assessment Lab**1NURP 540 - Neurobiology & Differential Diagnosis of Mental Disorders2
CHSC 404 - Advanced Pathophysiology3NURS 424 - Advanced Pharmacology3  
NURS XXXL - Clinical Practicum2NURP 402 - Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse1  
NURS 660 - Evidence-Based Practice: Informatics


 

2

NURP 411 - Scholarly Inquiry 2  
Total credits13Total credits10Total credits5

MSN Clinical hours: 714
After Completion of Term 4- eligible to sit for NCLEX
No Part-time Option Terms 1 - 4; Terms 1 - 5 On-Campus only
Transfer online after successful completion of term 5 (PT or FT Options)
*MSN RN conferred after Term 5; MSN Total Credits: 64 

Term 7Term 8Term 9
NURP 541 - PMHNP I: Psychotherapy Across the Lifespan2NURP 544 - PMHNP IV: SMI & Addictions Medicine2NURP XXX - PMHNP Clinical Decision-Making II5
NURP 542 - PMHNP II: Diagnosis & Management2NURP XXX - PMHNP Clinical Decision-Making I 2  
NURP 543 - PMHNP III: Diagnosis & Management3NURP 534P - Immersion and Clinical Qualification Course 1  
Total credits7Total credits5Total credits5



 

Term 10
NURP XXX - PMHNP Clinical Decision-Making III5
Total credits5

Post-graduate Certificate conferred after Term 10- eligible to sit for PMHNP certification exam
Clinical Decision Making 1 credit=63 clinical hours
PMHNP PGC Total Credits: 27
PMHNP Clinical hours total: 756
**Validation of Head to Toe included in this course 
***Start Post-graduate Certificate for PMHNP


Nursing Program Highlights

90%

Simmons Graduates have a NCLEX Pass Rate Above 90%

A 90% pass rate is well above the national average for RN candidates, which is in the low 80% range.

850+

Clinical Training Sites

Boston-based students have access to more than 850 clinical training sites, including world-class hospitals like Massachusetts General, Brigham and Women’s, Boston Children’s, VA Boston Healthcare System, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Learn more about clinical training

7

Clinical Rotations

Through the pre-licensure program of study you will complete rotations in medical/surgical nursing, complex care, pediatrics, obstetrics, psychiatric nursing, and community health on your way to earning your MSN and becoming an RN.

>17K

Affiliated Placement Sites

Simmons has over 17,000 affiliated post-licensure clinical placement sites in 48 states.

1492

Clinical Hours

You will complete over 1492 total clinical hours over the course of the Direct Entry FNP and PMHNP program.

Nursing Faculty

The faculty at Simmons University School of Nursing are a dynamic blend of practicing nurses, nurse practitioners, nurse leaders, and nurse researchers, all committed to guiding you through the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare. Their real-world clinical experience, leadership expertise, and innovative research ensure that your education is both grounded in current practice and inspired by future possibilities.

Meet our Nursing Faculty and Staff

 

Spotlight on Nursing Students and Alums

Boston Children's Hospital Main Entrance

School of Nursing Students Train to Work with Children with Developmental Disorders

Simmons School of Nursing students Rachel Takes ’24MSN and Elizabeth Strager ’19 ’21MSN, FNP- C, ’25DNP were recruited into the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities Program (LEND Boston) at Boston Children's Hospital’s Institute for Community Inclusion.


Kimberly Noonan ’18DNP

Kimberly Noonan ’18DNP Selected as 2023 Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing

On October 7, 2023, Kimberly Noonan ’18DNP was inducted as a Fellow within the American Academy of Nursing. A Chief Nurse Practitioner at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Dr. Noonan is committed to supporting Nurse Practitioners and advancing oncology nursing.


Samantha Sochan ’19

Samantha Sochan ’19 Discovers New Career in Non-Traditional Nursing Jobs

Samantha Sochan '19 shares her journey from bedside nursing to nursing educator.