Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing

The College of Nursing is an integral part of the Medical University of South Carolina which is the only academic Health Science Center in the state. We are widely recognized for providing a supportive learning environment that has a low student to faculty ratio, expert faculty and preceptors as well as highly successful complex clinical settings. Students are encouraged to personalize their program of study in the context of our Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing MSN program.

Program Benefits

This graduate program prepares nurses with the knowledge and skills needed to work effectively in the contemporary health care system. The focus of the program is on evidence-based psychiatric care that is delivered in both psychiatric and primary care settings.

The program is based upon a biopsychosocial approach with an emphasis on the diagnosis, treatment planning, implementation, and evaluation of care of individuals and families.

Graduates of the program are eligible to seek certification in Psychiatric-Mental Health nursing from ANCC, as well as prescriptive authority.

Career Opportunities

Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses have expansive opportunities to practice in a variety of roles such as: Clinician, Psychotherapist, Case Manager/Prescriber, Patient Educator, Consultant/Liaison, Clinical Research Coordinator, and Program Administrator.

Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses may be employed in a wide range of settings including psychiatric hospitals, community mental health centers, general hospitals, primary care offices, visiting nurses associations, long-term care facilities, private practices and courts.

Admission Requirements Post-BSN

• Undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Official GRE scores with a minimum score of 1000
• Undergraduate level statistics course
• Active RN license
• 3 confidential reference forms
• Online application
• 1 page essay
• Resumé

Admission Options

Post BSN
Registered nurses (RN) with a BSN degree are admitted to the Masters Program and graduate with a MSN. This program requires 20 months of full time study.

ANCC Certification
Certified Nurse Practitioners (of any specialty) who are seeking to complete requirements for eligibility for ANCC PMPNP certification  must complete 25% of the Post Master's Certificate Program at MUSC to obtain a certificate. These courses include 320 clinical hours (i.e. prescriptive practice). Alternatively you can take up to a minimum of 3 courses. You will not receive a Post Master's certificate, however, you will receive documentation of completion of the ANCC required courses.

RN-MSN
This option is for registered nurses (RN) with a Diploma in Nursing or an A.D.N. At least 60 semester hours of prerequisite classes must be completed before starting the RN-MSN program. Once admitted to the RN-MSN program, it requires completion of several undergraduate courses before progressing to the MSN coursework. Students graduate with a MSN, bypassing the BSN. This program requires 24 months of full time study.

BSN/MSN
To be admitted to the accelerated BSN/MSN program, students may hold a baccalaureate degree in an area other than nursing and 22 semester hours of designated prerequisite courses, or they may have 60 semester hours of prerequisites and no previous degree. Full time or part time progression into the MSN portion of the program depends on passing state boards and on space availability within the chosen track.

Post-MSN Certificate
For registered nurses (RN) with a MSN degree seeking a second area of specialty - a certificate is awarded, not a second master's degree.

Sample Plans of Study

For more information, please contact:

Jan Grossman, DNSc, RN, CS, FAAN
Associate Professor
College of Nursing
Medical University of South Carolina
99 Jonathan Lucas Street
PO Box 250160
Charleston, SC 29425

Telephone: (843) 792-5645
Email: grossmja@musc.edu

Applications are available at:
http://www.musc.edu/es/apply/