Nursing (MSN) Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Track

To receive acceptance into the online MSN-PMHNP program, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be a registered nurse with an unencumbered United States RN license in the state where practicum experiences are to be completed. A minimum of 1 year of nursing experience is required, a strong candidate will have a minimum of 2 years of nursing experience.
• Hold a BSN and a be a graduate of an accredited college or university’s nursing program (the College of Nursing will verify accreditation to ensure it meets requirements). Transfer credits are accepted only from regionally accredited institutions.
• An undergraduate statistics course with a grade of C or better is required for admission.
• Applicants who do not have a BSN (BS in Nursing) cannot be accepted into the online MSN programs but should consider the MSN direct entry as a second degree – MIDAS Program.
• A strong applicant will have a 3.0 GPA.

The admission committee considers all information contained in the admission application, including prior grades, test scores and evidence for potential for success in graduate study.

No admission tests (i.e. GRE) are required for applying to this graduate nursing program.

• Free Online Application
  • Get Started on Xavier University’s free online application. You can begin the process in just a few clicks.
• Official Transcript
  • One official transcript directly from all colleges or universities that you have attended for any undergraduate and graduate course work. Applicants must have a degree from a regionally accredited university. Send transcripts to:
    • Xavier University
      ATTN: Admission Processing Center
      3800 Victory Parkway
      Cincinnati, OH 45207-5131
    • For electronic transcripts, send to:
      xuadmit@xavier.edu
• Current Resume and Personal Essay
  • Current résumé or curriculum vitae outlining all professional nursing experience, including facility/organization name & location, position and employment dates.
  • A 3-page goal statement that addresses the following points:
    • Why are you applying to Xavier University?
    • What MSN track are you applying for and why? How do you plan to use the degree and specialty?
    • What experiences have prepared you for graduate study? (or have influenced your desire to pursue graduate studies)
    • Graduate school is challenging and a large time commitment, especially with working, family, other responsibilities. What are your plans and strategies for being successful in your graduate program?
    • We also consider the writing quality of this essay. If writing is a challenge for you, also address strategies to help you in this area.
• 3 Professional References
  • 3 professional recommendations, (Please provide contact information for recommenders in the online application. An electronic form will be sent via email). A strong candidate will provide:
    • At least reference from a direct manager or supervisor who evaluates their clinical work.
    • Two references will be from someone with a masters or doctoral degree 
• Personal Interview
  • A personal or phone interview may be required for the MSN- PMHNP program.

The program’s core classes revolve around three major themes: critical systematic inquiry, professional and personal development, and management of information and resources in a rapidly changing healthcare environment. In these courses, you develop a stronger understanding of the policies, ethics and theoretical foundation of the nursing practice while also diving into more technical aspects like nursing research, health care informatics and epidemiological methodologies.

• NURS 500: Healthcare Ethics for Nursing Leaders – 3 credits
• NURS 501: Theoretical Bases for Nursing Practice – 3 credits
• NURS 502: Nursing Research – 3 credits
• NURS 505: Healthcare Informatics – 3 credits
• NURS 690: Health Care Policy for Nursing Leaders – 2 credits
• NURS 864: Epidemiologic Methods in Health Care – 3 credits

In your family nurse practitioner-specific classes, you explore how to provide quality health services to individuals and families from all backgrounds, including pediatric and adolescent, women’s health, and adult and geriatric care. You also participate in numerous clinical practicums to sharpen your clinical competencies, including providing preventive care, patient diagnosis and treatment, and health maintenance and management of chronic illness to individuals across the lifespan.

• NURS 658 – Advanced Clinical Pharmacology – 3cr.
• NURS 680 – Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan – 3cr.
• NURS 756 – Advanced Health Assessment for RNs – 3cr.
• NURS 532 Leadership and Management for NPs – 2cr.
• NURS 780 PMHNP Core 1 – 3cr.
• NURS 783 PMHNP Clinical Practicum 1 –  1cr.*(150 Clinical Hours)
• NURS 786 Advanced Psychopharmacology and Neurobiology Across the Lifespan – 2cr.
• NURS 784 PMHNP Core 2 – 3cr.
• NURS 785 PMHNP Clinical Practicum 2 – 1cr.*(150 Clinical Hours)
• NURS 793 PMHNP Clinical Practicum 3 – 1cr.*(150 Clinical Hours)
• NURS 782 Role Development & Ethical Issues for the PMHNP – 2cr.
• NURS 788 PMHNP Core 3–  3cr.
• NURS 795 PMHNP Clinical Practicum 4 – 1cr.*(150 Clinical Hours)
• NURS 790 Current Issues and Trends in PMH – 1cr.

• NURS 797: Scholarly Project – 2 credits