University of Southern Maine

Adult Psychiatric/Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist (APMH/CNS)

Adult Psychiatric/Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist and Nurse Practitioner (APMH/CNS-NP)

Family Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practioner (FPMH/NP)

The Adult Psychiatric/Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist (APMH/CNS) concentration prepares an advanced practice nurse with skills in therapeutic interventions with individuals, families, and groups. The Adult Psychiatric/Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist & Nurse Practitioner (APMH/CNS-NP) concentration also prepares an advanced practice nurse with skills in therapeutic interventions with individuals, families, and groups and introduces medication management with adult clients. The Family Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (FPMH/NP) concentration prepares an advanced practice nurse with skills in therapeutic interventions and introduces medication management with individuals, families, and groups across the lifespan.

The Adult Psychiatric/Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist and Adult Psychiatric/Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist and Nurse Practioner concentrations are five semesters in length and the Family Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practioner concentration is six semesters in length taking an average of twelve (12) credits per semester. Both full-time and part-time studies are available. A total of 48 credit hours are required for completion of the Adult Psychiatric/Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist and the Adult Psychiatric/Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist and Nurse Practitioner concentrations and 54 credit hours are required for the Family Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner concentration.

The number of required clinical hours (contact hours) is based on national certification examination requirements, not on a credit hour to contact hour basis. The APMH/CNS and APMH/CNS/NP concentrations have a total of 616 clinical hours: 168 hours in clinical semester one, 224 hours in clinical semester two, and 224 hours in clinical semester three. For the FPMH/NP concentration there is an additional 224 hours in clinical semester four.

Graduates who complete the APMH/CNS concentration are eligible to sit for national certification as a clinical nurse specialist in adult psychiatric/mental health. Graduates who complete the APMH/CNS/NP concentration are eligible to sit for national certification as a clinical nurse specialist in adult psychiatric/mental health and as a nurse practitioner in adult psychiatric/mental health. Graduates who complete the FPMH/NP concentration are eligible to sit for national certification as a nurse practitioner in family psychiatric/mental health.

For more information on these concentrations and courses, go to the CONHP area of the USM graduate catalog.

Sample: Full-Time Program Sequence

FALL I

COURSE	CREDITS
NUR 603 Nursing Theory and Knowledge Development	3
NUR 606 Leadership, Health Policy, and Role	3
NUR 671 Foundations of Advanced Practice Mental Health Nursing	2
NUR 672  Biological and Behavioral Components of Mental Health     and Illness	2
NUR 680 Advanced Psychopharmacology	3
Total Credits	13

SPRING I

Summer I

Fall II

Spring II

Total Graduate Program credits:      

48 Adult PMH/Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)

48 Adult PMH/CNS/Nurse Practitioner (NP)
54 Family PMH/Nurse Practitioner (NP)

*Required only for Family Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner students.

**Required to be taken in Spring I semester for Adult Psychiatric/Mental Health     Clinical Nurse Specialist and Adult Psychiatric/Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist and Nurse Practitioner students.

For questions or comments, please contact us.

Last Updated 06-25-2008

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