Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate

Admissions

Applicants for the nurse practitioner postgraduate certificate will be considered on a competitive basis. Nurses who are interested in the nurse practitioner postgraduate certificate are encouraged to contact the Capstone College of Nursing (CCN) Coordinator of Graduate Student Services.

Currently, only residents of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia​ are eligible for the Nurse Practitioner certificate.

In addition to the minimum Graduate School admission requirements, to be considered for regular admission an application must:

• Have a Baccalaureate degree in nursing from a school of nursing that is both regionally, and CCNE or CNEA accredited.
• Reside and hold a current unencumbered RN licensure in an approved state.

Final admission is contingent upon drug and background screen results that are deemed acceptable by appropriate University officials.

See the Admission Criteria section of this catalog for more information.

Curricular Requirements

Postgraduate Certificate: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner 

Code and Title		Hours
NUR 591	PMHNP Roles and Issues	3
NUR 593	PMHNP I	3
NUR 594	PMHNP Clinical I	3
NUR 595	PMHNP II	3
NUR 596	PMHNP II Clinical	3
NUR 597	PMHNP III	3
NUR 598	PMHNP Clinical III	3
Total Hours		21

The student's transcripts will be assessed for the following courses.  

Code and Title		Hours
NUR 505	Advanced Health Assessment	3
NUR 521	Advanced Pharmacology	3
NUR 529	Advanced Pathophysiology	3

Transfer Credit

Graduate School information on Transfer Credit. 

Clinical Hours

Clinical hours are completed under the supervision of advanced practice providers specific to each specialty concentration (FNP, PMHNP, or NA)

Graduate Student Clinical Placements

1. The Capstone College of Nursing (CCN) will initiate a Letter of Agreement (LOA) or a Clinical Affiliation Agreement (CAA) for all clinical experiences involving direct or indirect patient care by graduate students.

2. Students will not be permitted to start clinical experiences involving direct or indirect patient care until either a CAA (along with a Letter of Notification [LON]) or LOA has been executed.  (Nurse Practitioner students must have a CAA with LON.  The LOA cannot be used.)

3. Faculty are responsible for sending written notification to the student that he/she is approved to begin the clinical experience.

Time Limits for Degree Completion Requirements

Graduate School information on Time Limits. 

Student Progression

Student progression is monitored and evaluated each semester.  

Additional Academic Requirements

The MSN will be awarded to the student who has met the following requirements:

• GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Good standing at the time of graduation
• Successful completion of the required coursework
• Participate in orientation and on-campus intensive if required by concentration.

Annual Graduate Student Background Checks and Drug Screening

1. Students accepted to the graduate nursing programs are required to have an annual background screen and drug screen.

2. Students accepted to the graduate nursing programs are required to pass a background screen and have a negative drug screen.

3. The College of Nursing must certify to clinical agencies where students practice that each student has had an acceptable background screen and negative drug screen.

4. The background screen and drug testing screen will be conducted by a qualified agency using established methods and procedures. Confidentiality of the student will be protected. All costs associated with screenings are the responsibility of the student.

5. Initial acceptance to graduate nursing courses will be withdrawn for students who have a positive drug screen.

6. A student who has a positive drug screen while taking graduate nursing courses will follow the CCN Substance Abuse Policy/Drug/Alcohol Testing Policy.  Any readmission consideration will be based on the CCN Substance Abuse Policy/Drug/Alcohol Testing Policy.

7. Initial acceptance to graduate nursing courses will be withdrawn for students who have been convicted of or have pending a charge that would not be acceptable for clinical practice.

8. A student whose acceptance to graduate nursing courses is withdrawn or is dismissed from the College of Nursing due to findings from a background screen will be considered for readmission on a case by case basis depending upon the situation.

HEALTH, IMMUNIZATION, AND REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS: POLICY AND PROCEDURE

Once admitted to a clinical graduate program, new students will receive instructions in their admission packets outlining health requirements and other required documents and verifications. In addition, each incoming student must complete a drug and background screening by the Capstone College of Nursing (CCN) specified provider. Those documents will be uploaded by the CCN directly from the website.

Proof of compliance must be submitted prior to removal of initial registration hold and during progression through the program. Failure to comply with updating required documents will result in a registration hold or an administrative block to course access.

Incoming students enrolling in MSN and DNP programs must upload the following into the document management system:

1. Completion of BLS Provider (must be valid and updated prior to expiration as long as you are attending).
2. Completion of program on OSHA Standards.
3. Advanced Practice Certification (if applicable and must be valid or updated as long as attending).
4. Proof of Health Insurance.
5. Graduate Nursing Student Health & Physical Exam Form signed by Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP), DO, or MD.
6. Initial Graduate Nursing Student TB Test and Immunization Form.  New students with a history of TB or a history of a positive TB skin test must submit documentation of a clear chest x-ray completed within the month immediately prior to document submission.
7. Signed HIPAA statement (see Graduate Student Handbook).

All graduate students (e.g., MSN, DNP, EdD, and PhD) must upload the following into the document management system:

1. Current unencumbered RN licensure for state of legal residence.

Annually, students continuing in the MSN and DNP programs must:

1. Complete and upload the Continuing Graduate Nursing Student TB Status Form into the document management system verifying that the student has an up-to-date negative TB skin test.
   1. Continuing students with a history of a positive TB skin test must submit an annual chest x-ray to document a negative standing or an annual Quantiferon laboratory test. No exceptions will be allowed.  
   2. Continuing students with a newly positive TB skin test must provide documentation of clearance to attend clinical learning experiences by an appropriate practitioner prior to enrolling in any clinical course or attending any clinical site.
2. Upload into the document management system the Continuing Graduate Nursing Student Statement of Health Status Form indicating that no change in health status has occurred. If health status has changed, the student uploads an updated Graduate Student Health & Physical Exam Form signed by CRNP, DO, or MD.
3. No later than October 31st of each year, upload into the document management system the Continuing Graduate Nursing Student Annual Influenza Vaccine Form. Exceptions for allergies only. This vaccine cannot be declined.
4. Upload into the document management system a signed HIPAA statement (see Graduate Student Handbook)

Annually, all graduate students, EXCEPT EdD students, must complete a drug and background screening by the CCN specified provider. Those documents will be uploaded by the CCN directly from the provider website.

IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS

Hepatitis B Vaccine

Upon admission, students must upload into the document management system proof of immunization for hepatitis B or a hepatitis B titer that shows adequate antibody protection as noted on the Initial Graduate Nursing Student TB Test and Immunization Form. In the event that a titer is performed, or after the first series of immunizations, antibodies are insufficient to offer immunity a repeat of the complete hepatitis B series is required. Students who have completed the hepatitis B series prior to enrolling in any graduate program must provide documentation to satisfy this requirement. If a student has not already completed the hepatitis B series, adherence to the following information is required. It is highly desirable that the series of 3 injections be completed prior to beginning courses. However, the minimum expectation, and proof of immunization injections for hepatitis B are as follows:

• Injections 1 and 2 -- documented on the Graduate Student Health & Physical Exam form.
• Injection 3 -- documented either on the Graduate Student Health & Physical Exam form or by official documentation from the healthcare provider who administered the vaccine. This documentation must be uploaded into the document management system by the date specified on the letter. FAILURE TO SUBMIT DOCUMENTATION OF THE THIRD INJECTION WILL RESULT IN THE INABILTY TO CONTINUE ATTENDANCE AND/OR PROGRESSION COURSES IN THE COLLEGE OF NURSING.

Hepatitis B injections are available at the UA Student Health Center (corner of University Blvd. and 5th Avenue), most County Health Departments in most states, private healthcare provider offices, and clinics such as the University Medical Center. A plan for all injections should be discussed with the healthcare provider. The usual time period for the 3 injections is designated as 1 month between the first and second injections, and at least two months between the second and third injections.

IT IS THE STUDENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO PLAN A TIME SCHEDULE WITH THE SELECTED HEALTHCARE PROVIDER TO ASSURE THE COMPLETION OF IMMUNIZATIONS TO COINCIDE WITH THE DATES SPECIFIED. Students are responsible for making all arrangements for receipt of and payment for vaccines.

Tetanus Vaccination

TD/Tdap booster or basic series within the past ten years is required, prior to entering graduate programs.

Influenza Vaccination

An influenza vaccine is required annually no later than October 31st, unless contraindicated by allergy or prior reaction. This must be demonstrated by official documentation by a healthcare provider. 

Academic Misconduct Information

Graduate School information on Academic Misconduct. 

Withdrawals and Leave of Absence Information

Please contact the Coordinator of Graduate Student Services for assistance with the Leave of Absence process.

Additional Graduate School information on Withdrawals and Leave of Absence. 

Academic Grievances Information

Graduate School information on Academic Grievances. 

Graduate School Scholastic Requirements

Graduate School information on Scholastic Requirements. 

Graduate School Deadlines Information

Information on Graduate School Deadlines. 

Application for Graduation

Information on the Application for Graduation.