Skip to content
Apply now! Priority deadline January 15

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Where Neuroscience Meets Mental Health Care

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) track within the DNP program prepares you to provide comprehensive and lifespan psychiatric care with advanced pharmacological expertise.

PMHNPs are clinicians who specialize in diagnostic assessment, psychopharmacological treatment, neurological interventions and therapies for psychiatric conditions, grounded in neuroscience and evidence-based practice.

#1 in the nation

trophy icon

Of public schools offering a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, with multiple top-ranked tracks.
U.S. World News Report

Rankings

$2.1M in funding

dollar icon

180 DNP scholarships funded in 2024-25, totaling $2.1 million.

Pre-arranged clinicals

We manage your clinicals, setting us apart from most other DNP programs.

The Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner scope of practice includes:

  • Assess and diagnose psychiatric conditions, and lead treatment planning.
  • Prescribe and manage psychotropic medications across the lifespan.
  • Integrate neuroscience-based approaches to treatment.
  • Provide psychotherapy in settings where feasible.
  • Lead interprofessional teams and advocate for policy change.

Graduates from our PMHNP track practice independently and within larger healthcare teams. They work in a variety of settings and with diverse populations, including:

  • Outpatient settings (community mental health centers, private practice)
  • Inpatient psychiatric units and hospital consultation services
  • Integrated primary care and behavioral health clinics
  • Telehealth platforms for remote medication management
  • Specialized settings (such as correctional facilities, forensic psychiatry, VA hospitals)
  • Substance use treatment centers and addiction services
  • Geriatric and long-term care facilities

The DNP curriculum starts with a shared first-year core, offering a strong foundation in advanced practice and leadership, before transitioning into specialized coursework tailored to each track, allowing students to develop targeted expertise and drive advancements in healthcare.

View the current DNP Psych Mental Health NP curriculum grid

Successful graduates of the PMHNP Program are eligible to sit for the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Across the Lifespan) examination through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

Hear from PMHNP alumni Keondra Rustan and Eric Lao

 

What makes our program unique?

The University of Washington School of Nursing’s Centers for Research Excellence provide a variety of diverse research opportunities for students in an unparalleled multi-disciplinary research environment that ultimately improves health for the wider community.
Hone your skills in the safe and controlled environment of our leading-edge Simulation Center, where you will familiarize yourself with the tools and techniques you need to deliver excellent patient care in a psychologically safe environment.
The UW School of Nursing Office of Clinical Placements collaborates with an expansive network of partners to provide students with pre-arranged clinical placements with some of the country’s best care settings and hospitals. While we cannot guarantee specific placements, we work with the world-class UW Medicine system and countless clinical and community partners. Our unique placement process allows students to focus their full attention on learning, knowing that clinical training and patient care experience are fully integrated into their matriculation plan.

Interested in learning more? Join us for an upcoming online information session, or contact us at asknursing@uw.edu to find out if this program would be a great fit and how to create a quality application.

Alumni spotlight

Noah Weatherton, psychiatric nurse practitioner, shares his perspective on the mental health crisis of older men in the Seattle Times.

Read more