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Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health, DNP

Prepare to meet the growing need for compassionate mental health providers with Seattle University's Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) DNP program. Build the advanced clinical expertise to assess, diagnose and treat mental health and substance use disorders across the lifespan.

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About this Program

Discover Your Path to Advanced Practice

Seattle University's Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program prepares registered nurses to provide advanced psychiatric and mental health care for children, adolescents, adults and older adults. Through a purpose-built curriculum, you'll develop the clinical expertise and leadership skills to assess, diagnose and treat mental health and substance use disorders across community, primary care, hospital and outpatient settings.

Throughout the duration of the program, you'll complete approximately 600 clinical hours in diverse practice settings, building the clinical judgment and confidence to deliver compassionate, evidence-based care. Guided by expert faculty and immersive clinical experiences, you'll graduate prepared to expand access to high-quality mental health services, reduce disparities in care and make a lasting impact on the individuals, families and communities you serve.

Transition to Semester Calendar

Beginning in summer 2027, Seattle University’s graduate programs will shift from a quarter system to a semester calendar. As the transition takes place, the university is committed to minimizing impact on your time to completion and program cost as you progress toward your degree. Learn more about the Graduate Programs Move to Semesters.

No Application Fee

We are committed to removing barriers to graduate education by waiving the application fee for all applicants.

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Program at a Glance

Learn how the PMHNP DNP will contribute to your career goals, explore course requirements and more.

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program prepares graduates to provide comprehensive mental health and addiction treatment care in hospitals, outpatient and community settings. The PMHNP program is a lifespan program, providing education to care for patients with mental health problems from early childhood to old age. The program focus is integration of mental illness and addictions, including preparation to serve diverse populations who may be disproportionately affected by mental health and substance-related problems and/or health care disparities, such as barriers to accessing services.

The PMHNP program of study is for students entering the DNP program with an RN and Advanced Practice Nursing Immersion (APNI) to DNP students who have successfully completed their prelicensure program of study.

DNP graduates will:

  1. Synthesize knowledge from nursing and other disciplines in the provision of evidence-based advanced practice nursing care. 
  2. Utilize information systems technology to improve healthcare access, quality and outcomes.
  3. Demonstrate competence in an advanced nursing practice specialty.
  4. Exercise leadership through scholarship, advocacy, and community engagement to achieve just and equitable healthcare systems that improve health potential and reduce health disparities of vulnerable populations.
  5. Evaluate and influence healthcare systems and health policy at local, state, federal and global levels.
  6. Demonstrate effective communication and interprofessional collaboration in the promotion of healthcare access, quality and outcomes.
  7. Evaluate beliefs, values, and ways of knowing to foster lifelong personal and professional development.
  8. Apply ethical decision-making in complex clinical situations.

What You’ll Learn

Learn about the classes you’ll take as a student here.

Course Catalog

Rankings and Recognition

#1

Nursing School in Washington

SU's College of Nursing and Health Sciences was recently ranked as the #1 Nursing School in Washington (College Factual, 2025).

#64

Nationally Ranked DNP Program

Recognized among the top half of DNP programs nationwide, our Doctor of Nursing Practice reflects a strong reputation for excellence in nursing education (U.S. News & World Report, 2026).

#2

Nurse Practitioner Programs in Washington

Our Doctor of Nursing Practice programs are recognized as the #2 Nurse Practitioner Programs in Washington (RegisteredNursing.org, 2025).

Virtual Information Sessions

Have questions about Seattle University’s Doctor of Nursing Practice programs? Attend a one-hour virtual information session to learn more about the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, meet a knowledgeable admissions representative, and get answers to your questions about our programs, the application process and more.

College of Nursing Student in a Classroom

A Nursing Education Built Around Experience and Excellence

Doctor of Nursing Practice Students

Build Confidence Through Immersive Clinical Experience

Throughout the program, you'll complete approximately 600 clinical hours in diverse practice settings, strengthening your psychiatric assessment, diagnostic and treatment skills while building the confidence to provide compassionate, evidence-based mental health care. Through immersive clinical experiences, you'll develop the clinical judgment needed to care for individuals with mental health and substance use disorders across the lifespan in community, primary care, hospital and outpatient settings.

Nursing student

Practice Advanced Skills in a State-of-the-Art Clinical Performance Lab

Prepare for the realities of advanced nursing practice through immersive, hands-on training in Seattle University’s 20,000-square-foot Clinical Performance Lab. Located just blocks from campus at Swedish Cherry Hill Medical Center, the lab features high-, mid- and low-fidelity manikins, three simulation suites and trained actors who help bring realistic patient scenarios to life.

Through these simulation experiences, you'll develop clinical judgment, refine advanced psychiatric assessment and therapeutic communication skills and build confidence caring for individuals with mental health and substance use disorders in a safe, supportive environment that mirrors real-world health care settings.

Explore the Clinical Performance Lab
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Features and Simulations

To provide safe, hands-on training, the CPL is equipped with several patient simulator models, three simulation suites and more.

A Nursing Student Standing in the Clinical Performance Lab

A Path for Career Changers: Advanced Practice Nursing Immersion to DNP

Seattle University’s Advanced Practice Nursing Immersion (APNI) to DNP pathway is designed for individuals with a bachelor’s degree in another field who are ready to pursue a career in nursing and advanced practice. This four-year pathway combines prelicensure nursing coursework, preparation for the NCLEX-RN exam and doctoral-level education, preparing you to become an advanced registered nurse practitioner in your chosen specialty.

Discover the APNI-DNP Pathway
A group of graduate students in a small group class

Prepare for National PMHNP Certification

Gain the knowledge and clinical preparation needed to pursue Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Graduates of Seattle University’s PMHNP DNP program are eligible to sit for the PMHNP certification exam.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) CCNE Accredited

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program and post-graduate APRN certificate program at Seattle University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Hear From Our Alumni

Jeffrey Kendall

“The exceptional faculty, facilities, and clinical placements at Seattle University have all helped me to develop the skills necessary to effectively serve the mental health needs of my community as a family psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.”

DNP, PMHNP, RN, Class of 2018

Featured Faculty

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Get in Touch

We’re here to help. For information about DNP degrees at Seattle University, contact:

Oz Sener, MEd

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