The Psychiatric Mental Health (Across the Lifespan) Nurse Practitioner Post Graduate Certificate is designed to prepare nurses to provide a wide range of mental health services through a bio-psychosocial model of care in community, acute care and telemental-health settings. It includes the study and application of evidenced-based diagnostic and treatment modalities, theories and approaches to practice for patients with common and complex mental health conditions throughout the lifespan.

Educational Outcomes:

• Apply theoretical perspectives, scientific evidence, and visionary thinking to critically analyze and lead complex organizational systems and implement innovative change.
• Use interpersonal, inter-professional and organizational communication and relationship building skills to create and lead highly functioning, reliable and healthy inter professional teams.
• Combine business skills and principles, evidence-based practice, informatics, quality and safety strategies and metrics to lead care systems for improvement of processes and outcomes to improve health outcomes.
• Employ state, federal and global health policy(ies) to advocate for healthcare reform and improve health outcomes for all.
• Model professionalism, integrity, ethical decision making, respect for differing points of view in diverse populations and promoting social justice in the development of the advanced practice role.
• Utilize research for the improvement of nursing practice and the advancement of nursing as an academic discipline.
• Ascertain the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to continuously improve the quality and safety of the health care systems in which they practice through lifelong learning.

Admission Requirements:

Applicants with a Masters in Nursing with Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Recognition:

• Proof of a current unencumbered license to practice as a Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse Midwife, Certified Nurse Specialist, and/or Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.
• Evidence of an earned Master's degree in Nursing from an accredited College or University in the United States or equivalent education at a foreign institution.
• Satisfactory score on TOEFL as defined by the Graduate School for international applicants whose first language is not English or who have not completed a university degree in the U.S.
• Current resume or CV.
• Formal Letter of Intent - the letter should identify the program or NP concentration you are applying to and tell us why you are applying to that specific program/NP concentration. Please include relevant RN or APRN experience (specific to the program/NP concentration you are applying for), and provide the names of all schools/universities that you have attended. Please include future career goals/plans you have after obtaining your degree or NP certification. Be sure that your one-page, business formatted, formal, Letter of Intent is free of typographical, grammar or punctuation errors, as well as misspellings. The content should be organized in a logical manner.

Applicants with a Masters in Nursing without Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Recognition: 

• Proof of a current unencumbered license to practice as a Registered Nurse (RN).
• Evidence of an earned Master's degree in Nursing from an accredited College or University in the United States or equivalent education at a foreign institution.
• Satisfactory score on TOEFL as defined by the Graduate School for international applicants whose first language is not English or who have not completed a university degree in the U.S.
• Current resume or CV.
• Formal Letter of Intent - the letter should identify the program or NP concentration you are applying to and tell us why you are applying to that specific program/NP concentration. Please include relevant RN or APRN experience (specific to the program/NP concentration you are applying for), and provide the names of all schools/universities that you have attended. Please include future career goals/plans you have after obtaining your degree or NP certification. Be sure that your one-page, business formatted, formal, Letter of Intent is free of typographical, grammar or punctuation errors, as well as misspellings. The content should be organized in a logical manner.

Graduate School requirements:

• Applications will not be processed by the graduate school until they are complete. A complete application includes a resume, statement of nursing professional purpose, and official transcripts. You may upload unofficial transcripts to expedite The process; however, your admission will not be finalized until official transcripts are received by the Graduate School.
• Statement of Nursing Professional Purpose: Should include your include your professional goals demonstrating your fit with the specific major/concentration you are applying for. Highlight your unique nursing abilities, experience, anD knowledge. Format includes your complete legal name, 500 words or less, in Microsoft Word, 1-inch margins, 1.5 or double spaced, and 11 point Arial font.
• GRE scores and letters of recommendation are not required.
• Applicants must first meet the Graduate School admission requirements. The Graduate School evaluates your application and transcripts; then, forwards the application to the School of Nursing. There is only one UTEP Graduate application process.
• Upon completion of the application via the Graduate School, it will be reviewed by the concentration program director and the admission recommendation relayed to Graduate School. The applicant will be notified of his or her admission status by the Graduate School and a personalized degree plan will be provided by the College of Nursing, along with an acceptance letter which the applicant must sign and return.
• Admissions are accepted in the Spring and Fall semesters based on program. Unless a particular starting semester is requested by the applicant, all applicants will be expected to start in whichever semester is upcoming.

Degree Plan

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Advanced Practice Core Courses
NURS 5121	Adv Health Assessm. Practicum ( 45 clinical hours)	1
NURS 5220	Advanced Health Assessment	2
NURS 5254	Advanced Practice Nursing Role	2
NURS 5319	Advanced Pathophysiology	3
NURS 5362	Pharmacotherapeutics	3
Concentration in Psychiatric Mental Health
NURS 5122	Adv Clin Psychopharmacology	1
NURS 5219	Neuro Across the Lifespan	2
NURS 5232	Diff Diag Mental Dis Acr Life	2
NURS 5233	Theor Foundation PMH Nsg Ind	2
NURS 5234	Theor Found PMH Nsg Grp & Fam	2
NURS 5128	Telehealth Rural Srv Del PHM	1
NURS 5235	Child & Adol Psy Ment Hlth NP	2
NURS 5238	Child & Adol Psy MH Pract ( 90 clinical hours)	2
NURS 5239	Adlt & OlderAdlt Psy Men Hlt	2
NURS 5330	Adlt & Older Adlt Psy Pract I ( 135 clinical hours)	3
NURS 5123	Diag & Manag of Subs Use Dis	1
NURS 5333	Adlt & Old Adlt Psy Pract II ( 135 clinical hours)	3
NURS 5344	Adv Psy Mental Health Pract I ( 135 clinical hours)	3
NURS 5346	Adv Psy Mental Health Prac II ( 135 clinical hours)	3
Total Hours		40
Total Clinical Hours		675