Nursing (Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner), DNP (Online)

Program Description

The Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner program at the LLU School of Nursing prepares registered nurses for a rewarding career of touching patient's lives by supporting their journey to improved mental well-being. The Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (Psych NP) program promotes whole person care, by focusing on the mental, physical, and spiritual health of patients. Students are prepared to promote optimal mental health, prevention, and treatment of psychiatric disorders and health maintenance within a variety of settings across the life span.

"The PMHNP focuses on individuals across the lifespan (infancy through old age), families, and populations across the lifespan at risk for developing and/or having a diagnosis of psychiatric disorders or mental health problems. The PHMNP provides primary mental health care to patients seeking mental health services in a wide range of settings. Primary mental health care provided by the PMHNP involves relationship-based, continuous and comprehensive services, necessary for the promotion of optimal mental health, prevention, and treatment of psychiatric disorders and health maintenance. This includes assessment, diagnosis, and management of mental health and psychiatric disorders across the lifespan." ("Population Focused Nurse Practitioner Competencies")

The Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner BS to DNP program is 3 years and 9 months full-time. Part-time option is also available. 

The program is divided into 4 parts:

1- Core Courses- Most of the DNP Program Core courses and the prerequisite clinical courses require that students participate on-campus for 4 to 8 hours during Seminar Week in the middle of each quarter. Students are also required to be on campus to take all course exams including the midterm and final exams. 

• NGRD 657 – Intermediate Statistics – has four mandatory synchronous class meetings during each quarter and students are required to participate in them either face-to-face or by Zoom. Students must attend take the midterm exam and the final exam on campus during scheduled face-to-face meetings. Additional optional group sessions held both face-to-face and by Zoom are available for students enrolled in NGRD 657.
• NGRD 624 – Advanced Health Assessment – has mandatory synchronous lab meetings every two weeks during the quarter. Students must attend each of these sessions. The faculty coordinate the course exams including the midterm and final exams so that they are scheduled when the student is on campus for a scheduled lab session.

2- Concentration Courses: Pharmacology I & II, and Advanced Pathophysiology meet up to four times a quarter.

3- Clinical Experience: The clinical experience is a combination of clinician hours and DNP Project hours to total at least 1000 hours. Students in the CNS and NP clinical courses will be assigned clinical rotations in the Inland Empire (IE) region of Southern California (Riverside and San Bernardino Counties). The CNS and NP Program faculty members arrange all clinical rotations for students as required by the California Board of Registered Nursing Regulations (Sections 1484, h (11) of Division 14 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations). The CNS and NP clinical courses meet at least four (4) times per quarter face-to-face on campus and all exams are administered on campus. The NP Program skills courses meet weekly during the quarter that the skills course is scheduled. Attendance at each of the assigned labs is mandatory for students enrolled in the skills course.

4- DNP Project: The DNP Project can be done in the workplace allowing students to collect evidence-based research data.

Program Website  |  Catalog

Program Length

3 years and 9 months full-time, 5 years part-time

Possible Careers

Behavioral medical centers, clinics, private practices, jails, schools.

Application Deadlines

There are currently no published application deadlines.

Prerequisites

• Baccalaureate degree in nursing from an accredited program
• GPA of 3.0, both cumulative and in nursing courses
• Current United States RN license before application*
• One year of RN experience in the area of desired clinical concentration is strongly advised for application competitiveness
• Application with personal statement
• Three electronic recommendations (recommenders will receive an email once application is submitted) – preferred: professor, current work supervisor
• Official transcripts for all college credits
• Shadowing highly recommended (4 to 8 hours)
• Interview by faculty members in the School of Nursing

*California RN license required before start of classes

Discipline Accrediting Agency

The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Graduates are prepared for certification by the State of California and the American Nurses Association as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner.

State Accrediting Agency

Loma Linda University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
The California Board of Registered Nursing granted continuing approval in 2010 to the School of Nursing.

Integrating faith and health

Loma Linda University educates and encourages a balanced life by living our values of humility, compassion, justice, integrity, excellence, freedom and self- control. You will be surrounded by faculty who are committed to healthcare innovation and research while engaging your spirituality.

Expected Cost of Attendance

The following estimated cost of attendance is based on full-time attendance for the number of months enrolled per academic year. Estimated amounts may vary based on a number of factors. Students may use these estimates when applying for financial aid.

Required Program Costs

Academic Year 2024-2025

Year of Program Months Enrolled	Year 1 9	Year 2 9	Year 3 9	Year 4 9
Tuition & Fees	$29,258	$32,099	$37,781	$35,961
Books, Materials, Supplies & Equipment Allowance (May or may not be purchased through the school)	$2,515	$1,560	$1,850	$550

Other Educational Costs

Non-required costs that can be funded with scholarships/loans.

Year of Program Months Enrolled	Year 1 9	Year 2 9	Year 3 9	Year 4 9
Living Expense (Food & Housing Allowance) Students will be assigned one of the following Living Expense Budget Options:
On Campus Dorm	$11,835	$11,835	$11,835	$11,835
LLU Owned Rental Property	$18,900	$18,900	$18,900	$18,900
LLU Owned Rental w/ Dependents	$19,800	$19,800	$19,800	$19,800
Undergraduate Dependent w/ Parents	$7,200	$7,200	$7,200	$7,200
Off Campus	$18,900	$18,900	$18,900	$18,900
Transportation Allowance	$3,150	$3,150	$3,150	$3,150
Miscellaneous Personal Expenses	$3,150	$3,150	$3,150	$3,150
Federal Student Loan Fees	$219	$219	$219	$219
Cost of Obtaining Professional License	0	0	0	$2,100
Dependent Care (See Budget Revision Request form)	Available upon Request
Disability-Related Expenses (See Budget Revision Request form)	Available upon Request

Notes

Tuition/Fees is an estimation based on 3 quarters with an average of 10 units (2 classes) per quarter. Living Expenses is calculated for financial aid purposes and is based on 3 quarters (9 months). Actual amounts may vary.

70-75% of LLU Nursing students receive financial aid.

• Estimated amounts are for the academic year specified only. Amounts are based on full-time attendance for the number of months enrolled per academic year. International students need to calculate 12 months of living expenses based on these amounts.
• Amounts are expected to increase each year consistent with inflation in the professional education sector.
• To qualify for financial aid, most students must be enrolled at least half time in an aid eligible program and be taking degree requirements. Half time is 6 units in a quarter for undergraduate programs and 4 units in a quarter for graduate programs.