OU College of Nursing Launches Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program

OKLAHOMA CITY – To celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month and Nurses Month, both of which are celebrated in May nationwide, Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing at the University of Oklahoma is excited to announce it will launch a new Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program this fall, affording baccalaureate prepared registered nurses an opportunity to advance their knowledge in this area and address a critical need for expanded mental health services in Oklahoma.

“There is a shortage of qualified psychiatric professionals prepared to treat persons with mental health and substance use disorders,” stated Dr. Julie Hoff, dean of the College of Nursing. “By creating a pathway for nurses to become psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners, OU College of Nursing will help improve access to timely and effective mental health treatment for Oklahomans.  Overall health cannot exist without mental wellness.  I am so appreciative of our faculty, health care partners, and the OU Health tax exemption funds that developed and will continue to provide ongoing support for this very necessary and important graduate nursing program.”

The College of Nursing is currently accepting applications, with a submission deadline of June 1, 2022, for the Doctor of Nursing Practice in the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program and a post-graduate certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health. The BSN-DNP program is open to applicants with a bachelor of science degree in nursing. Graduates will earn a doctor of nursing practice degree and be eligible to sit for the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Board Certification.

The post-graduate certificate program is open to nurses who hold a master of science degree in nursing and are seeking an additional board certification. All clinical rotations will be completed in Oklahoma and the college will collaborate with mental health providers across the state to secure clinical sites.

The programs can be completed in two to four years, with 640 clinical hours required. Graduates will be able to see patients across the lifespan from pediatric to geriatrics.

“No experience is required, and applicants can enter directly upon completing their BSN degree,” said Dr. Amy Costner-Lark, DNP program director. “Providers are seeing an increased number of mental health issues after the previous two years of COVID-19, and with a limited number of mental health providers in Oklahoma, wait times for new patient appointments are very lengthy. Our program will increase the number of necessary providers in Oklahoma.”  

To learn more or to apply the our Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program, visit nursing.ouhsc.edu/Programs-Academics.

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