LEAD WITH COMPASSION IN MENTAL HEALTH CARE
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNP) have expert knowledge and skills essential for promoting, supporting, and facilitating optimal mental health through compassionate client-centered care.
Differentiated Student Expected Outcomes
The Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner graduate is prepared to:
- Deliver evidence-based, person-centered psychiatric-mental health care across the lifespan, integrating theory, research, and clinical expertise for individuals, families, and communities.
- Design, implement, and evaluate innovative behavioral health interventions and quality improvement initiatives that address complex mental health and substance use needs.
- Lead and collaborate within interprofessional teams to influence mental health policy, advocate for health equity, and optimize care delivery systems.
- Demonstrate ethical practice, cultural humility, and a commitment to lifelong learning to advance the psychiatric-mental health nursing profession and improve patient outcomes.
Emphasis Information
Fall 2025 (Semester credits: 10)
NURS 6670 – Advanced Evidence‑Based Practice and Research
NURS 6671 – Biostatistics for Evidence‑Based Practice
NURS 6760 – Role of the Nurse Practitioner
NURS 6780 – Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan
Spring 2026 (Semester credits: 11)
NURS 6672 – Advanced Population Health
NURS 6767 – Clinical Diagnostic Reasoning
NURS 6782 – Advanced Pharmacology Across the Lifespan
NURS 6781 – Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan
Summer 2026 (Semester credits: 9)
NURS 6675 – Healthcare Finance and Economics
NURS 6676 – Informatics and Healthcare Technologies
NURS 6677 – Systems‑Based Practice & Leadership
NURS 7160 – Foundations of Psychotherapeutics I
Fall 2026 (Semester credits: 9)
NURS 7161 – Foundations of Psychotherapeutics II
NURS 7424 – Advanced Psychopharmacology
NURS 7425 – Introduction to Mental Health Assessment
Spring 2027 (Semester credits: 12)
NURS 6673 – Quality & Safety
NURS 7292 – Child & Adolescent Mental Health
NURS 7951 – PMHNP Practicum I (180 direct clinical care hours)
NURS 7839 – Diagnosis & Management: Psychiatric Disorders I
Summer 2027 (Semester credits: 9)
NURS 7911 – Doctor of Nursing Project Planning
NURS 7840 – Diagnosis & Management: Psychiatric Disorders II
NURS 7952 – PMHNP Practicum II (120 direct clinical care hours)
NURS 7426 – Psychiatric Care of Older Adults
Fall 2027 (Semester credits: 11)
NURS 7482 – Professional Issues for the NP
NURS 7953 – PMHNP Practicum III (240 direct clinical care hours)
NURS 7841 – Diagnosis & Management: Psychiatric Disorders III
NURS 7912 – Doctor of Nursing Project Implementation
Spring 2028 (Semester credits: 8)
NURS 7913 – Doctor of Nursing Project Evaluation & Dissemination
NURS 7954 – PMHNP Practicum Immersion (360 direct clinical care hours)
Program Total Credits: 79
View the University of Utah Catalog.
Total cost estimate for the Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program:
- Resident: $64,900
- Non-resident: $130,300
- Western Regional Graduate Program: $79,400
This cost estimate covers only tuition and mandatory student fees. Possible program and course fees are not included. Other expenses, such as book, supplies, and travel, are not reflected. Amounts are rounded to the nearest $100 and are based on the 2025-2026 College of Nursing tuition table provided by the Bursar and use the 2025 Program of Study for this specialty track. Possible tuition increases or changes to a student's program of study are not reflected. Tuition and fees are subject to change at any time. The University of Utah only charges resident rates during summer semesters.
Students are encouraged to use the University's Tuition Estimator tool below to get a more specific tuition estimate for each semester. Possible program and course fees are not included. Other expenses, such as books, supplies, and travel are also not reflected. The Cost of Attendance is an estimate of school-related expenses a student can expect for the academic year or semester of enrollment, and general Tuition Schedules are maintained by the University's Bursar's office. The University of Utah maintains comprehensive cost of attendance information in accordance with the Higher Education Act of 1965, section 472.
For additional questions, please reach out to Heather Clarkson at Heather.Clarkson@nurs.utah.edu.
Graduates are prepared to sit for the national certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Upon successful completion of the exam, candidates are eligible to become certified or licensed to practice.
Salt Lake City Veterans Affairs Medical Center (SLC VAMC) and University of Utah College of Nursing (UU CON) were granted by Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA) to offer an innovative 12 month Post-Graduate PMHNP Residency Training. This residency is designed for new PMHNPs with a commitment to serve the Veterans population.
The major goal of this partnership between the UU CON and the SLC VAMC is to create better access to mental health care for veterans. The new PMHNP residents will experience every facet of veteran-centric mental health care at the SLC VAMC, working in close collaboration with experienced psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners, physicians, pharmacists, social workers, psychologists and support staff. Residents receive training via clinical experiences and didactic classroom instruction in this inter-professional environment.
The program prepares new NPs to become confident and competent specialty care providers by providing didactic seminars, Grand Rounds, supervised and independent clinical practice, specialty rotations, leadership training, inter-professional simulations and Tele-mental health training during the 12 month of period. The application deadline is subject to change.
For more information contact: Amy Morton Miller at amy.morton-miller@va.gov
Application Deadlines
Fall Semester
Opens: September 1
Closes: December 1, 11:59PM MT