Curriculum

UC Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate Program

*Final curriculum is pending final approvals and may be subject to changes. 

SUMMER

COURSE COURSE TITLE and TOPIC UNITS
NRS 415Y PMHNP Clinical Residency: The course provides the opportunity for the student to integrate scientific knowledge and clinical practice to develop diagnostic, clinical decision making, and direct care of individuals, groups, and families across the lifespan. Includes application/ integration of research, consultation, and clinical leadership as appropriate. (Clinical practice plus 2 hours weekly of synchronous content) 4
NRS 322AV Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan: Foundations: This is the first course in a series to prepare the PMHNP student for the prescription of somatic therapies to treat mental disorders in individuals across the lifespan. The course will provide foundational knowledge of major classes of psychotropic medication as well as common neuromodulatory therapies for the purpose of safe prescribing. (Asynchronous) 3
NRS 321AY PMHNP Role Development & Clinical Decision Making: This is the first course in a series which focuses on foundational knowledge and skills for PMHNP role development. It introduces the student to self-reflective practice and principles of psychotherapeutic care. Using in-class simulations, students will learn techniques for establishing and maintaining a therapeutic alliance. (Three to four day weekend immersion) 2
NRS 320V Clinical Reasoning and Psychopathology: Foundational course that presents the science, epidemiology, etiology, and development of mental disorders across the lifespan. The course prepares the PMHNP to appraise mental disorders in the context of social determinants of health. (Asynchronous) 3
TOTAL 12

FALL

COURSE COURSE TITLE and TOPIC UNITS
NRS 415Y PMHNP Clinical Residency: The course provides the opportunity for the student to integrate scientific knowledge and clinical practice to develop diagnostic, clinical decision making, and direct care of individuals, groups, and families across the lifespan. Includes application/ integration of research, consultation, and clinical leadership as appropriate. (Clinical practice plus 2 hours weekly of synchronous content) 5
NRS 323AV Psychotherapeutic Interventions Across the Lifespan I: This is the first course in a series which examines theory, principles, and application of individual, family, and group psychotherapies across the lifespan. This course will address cognitive- behavioral, interpersonal, motivational, dialectical, and psychodynamic approaches to psychotherapeutic intervention. (Asynchronous) 3
NRS 322BV Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan: Application: The course will apply and evaluate evidence-based therapies to individuals and special populations across the lifespan. This course will examine stigma and sociocultural factors that affect individual’s ability to access and engage in health care. Upon completion the trainee will be eligible for the Data 2000 X-wavier license. (Asynchronous) 3
NRS 321BY PMHNP Role Development & Clinical Decision Making: This is the second course in a series which focuses on foundational knowledge and skills for PMHNP role development. It continues the student to self-reflective practice and principles of psychotherapeutic care. Using in-class simulations, students will learn techniques for establishing and maintaining a therapeutic alliance. (Three to four day weekend immersion) 1
TOTAL 12

WINTER

COURSE COURSE TITLE and TOPIC UNITS
NRS 415Y PMHNP Clinical Residency: The course provides the opportunity for the student to integrate scientific knowledge and clinical practice to develop diagnostic, clinical decision making, and direct care of individuals, groups, and families across the lifespan. Includes application/ integration of research, consultation, and clinical leadership as appropriate. (Clinical practice plus 2 hours weekly of synchronous content) 6
NRS 323BV Psychotherapeutic Interventions Across the Lifespan II: This course will address group therapies, family systems, attachment and developmental approaches to psychotherapeutic intervention. It is designed to use clinical case materials as the basis for discussion of assessment, engagement, and evaluation of psychotherapeutic interventions within the context of PMHNP practice. (Asynchronous) 3
NRS 321CY PMHNP Role Development & Clinical Decision Making: Students will focus on assessment and treatment planning for complex cases with multiple comorbidities, including substance use and trauma-related disorders. Students will examine structural barriers and system-level approaches to caring for patients with complex needs. This course supports the student in transition to practice competency as an entry-level PMHNP. 3
TOTAL 12

SPRING

COURSE COURSE TITLE and TOPIC UNITS
NRS 415Y PMHNP Clinical Residency: The course provides the opportunity for the student to integrate scientific knowledge and clinical practice to develop diagnostic, clinical decision making, and direct care of individuals, groups, and families across the lifespan. Includes application/ integration of research, consultation, and clinical leadership as appropriate. (Clinical practice plus 2 hours weekly of synchronous content) 6
NRS 323CV Psychotherapeutic Interventions Across the Lifespan III: This course will address harm reduction, cognitive behavioral, and interpersonal approaches to psychotherapeutic intervention. Students will explore application of each therapy to PMHNP clinical practice, identifying and evaluating specific therapeutic skills for patient engagement, interviewing, treatment planning, referral and/or intervention. (Asynchronous) 3
NRS 322CV Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan: Complex Cases: The course is focused on complex cases in psychopharmacology and will and evaluate use of evidence-based therapies for individuals and special populations across the lifespan. This course will examine stigma and structural barriers that affect individual’s ability to access and engage in health care. (Asynchronous) 3
TOTAL 12