BSN to DNP - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner pathway prepares skilled nurse practitioners to provide a full range of primary mental health care services across the lifespan. The curriculum equips graduates to apply for and sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Center Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification exam. At the OU Health Campus, the program emphasizes interprofessional collaboration and the development of competencies in practice, leadership, quality improvement, and safety, skills that lead to improved outcomes for patients, families, providers, and organizations.

Many classes are offered online to accommodate working nurses, with select on-campus learning experiences such as standardized patient visits, clinical skills labs, and objective structured clinical exams. The program offers both a 4-year part-time and a 3-year full-time option, providing flexibility for students balancing work and education. Graduates earn the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, a practice doctorate that prepares clinical scholars for outstanding leadership and innovative, evidence-based, patient- and population-centered care.

• Completion of a bachelor’s degree in nursing from a United States regionally accredited institution.
• Current, unencumbered Registered Nurse license in Oklahoma or compact state by the time of enrollment in the second semester. 
• Minimum Cumulative GPA for 3.0 in all college coursework at the time of application and at the time of enrollment. 
• Resume or CV.
• The most qualified candidates will be invited to an interview.
• Please Note: The LPN-BSN, RN-BSN, MSN, Post-Graduate Certificates, PhD, and DNP programs in the OU College of Nursing are hybrid and/or online or part-time programs. The F-1 visa regulations require in-person courses, and these programs do not meet those requirements. Thus, international students are not accepted for these programs (LPN-BSN, RN-BSN, MSN, Post-Graduate Certificates, PhD, and DNP). International students are only eligible to apply for the ABSN and TBSN pathways as they have in-person requirements.
• All applicants should refer to the professional licensure disclosure information for the programs.

Please use a personal email address when setting up your NursingCAS account. School email addresses may expire before you receive your admission decision, which could disrupt communication. Using a personal email ensures we can always contact you.  

If after reviewing the qualifications for this program you are unsure of whether you meet them, please contact Nursing@ouhsc.edu. We are here to help and support you as you pursue a career in the health sciences.    

Complete the NursingCAS application 

• Undergraduate programs: $60 for the first program; $45 for each additional program 

• Graduate programs: $80 for the first program; $50 for each additional program 

Click here for detailed NursingCAS application instructions