Curriculum
BSN-DNP Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program of Study (effective Fall 2026)
Year One
Fall Semester
- N604: Principles of Population Health (3)
- N622: Evidence-based Practice Improvement I (3)
- N628: Evidence Acquisition, Appraisal and Synthesis (3)
Total of 9 hours
Spring Semester
- N557: Introduction to Health Care Informatics (3)
- N624: Evidence-Based Practice Improvement II (3)
- N649: Advanced Pathophysiology (3)
Total of 9 hours
Summer Semester
Full Summer
- N630: DNP Scholarly Project Proposal (3)
- N633: DNP Scholarly Project Immersion (1)
Summer I
- N631: Evaluation Methods for Evidence-based Practice Improvement (2)
Total of 7 hours in the summer
Year Two
Fall Semester
- N612: Health and Healthcare Policy (3)
- N613: Nursing Leadership in Complex Systems (3)
- N633: DNP Scholarly Project Immersion (2)
- N648: Advanced Clinical Pharmacology (3)
Total of 11 hours
Spring Semester
- N633: DNP Scholarly Project Immersion (1)
- N634: DNP Scholarly Project Dissemination (1)
- N639: Advanced Health Assessment (3)
- N663: Psychopharmacology in Advanced Practice (3)
- N552: Clinical Decision-Making: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (1)
- N553: Clinical Decision-Making Simulation: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (1)
Total of 9 hours
Summer Mini
- N554: Clinical Intensive: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner I (1) (Clinical Course)
Total of 1 hour
Summer Semester
Full Summer
- N555: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner I (2)
- N556: Clinical Practice: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner I (3) (Clinical Course)
- N559: Clinical Simulation: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner I (1)
Total of 6 hours in the summer
Year Three
Fall Semester
- N564: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner II (3)
- N567: Clinical Practice: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner II (4) (Clinical Course)
- N568: Clinical Simulation: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner II (1)
Total of 8 hours
Winter Mini
- N569: Clinical Intensive: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner II (1) (Clinical Course)
Total of 1 hour
Spring Semester
- N575: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner III (2)
- N576: Clinical Practice: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner III (5) (Clinical Course)
- N673: Practice Issues – Nurse Practitioner (1)
Total of 8 hours
1 Credit hour = 60 Clinical OR Project Hours
Total of 69 hours
Residence and Licensure
Graduate students are required to complete clinical or project immersion hours within the state of their official residence and licensure. If students wish to fulfill these hours in a state other than Tennessee, they must ensure that the University of Tennessee, Knoxville College of Nursing holds state authorization with the Board of Nursing in their state of residence.
Students residing outside of Tennessee who plan to complete clinical or project immersion hours in another state must take any necessary steps to comply with that state’s specific requirements.
Clinical Practicum Details
Clinical rotations offer the student opportunities to practice their clinical skills and be mentored by licensed health care providers. Students will complete a minimum of 600 hours of direct patient care clinical hours as part of the 1000 required hours to confer the DNP degree. Beginning Fall 2024 students will complete a minimum of 840 hours of direct patient care clinical hours.
Identification of clinical sites and preceptors involves a collaboration between the student and CON faculty and staff. Students are encouraged to identify potential clinical sites and preceptors. Concentration Coordinators have ultimate approval of all clinical placements. Students desiring to complete clinical rotations outside the state of Tennessee must be familiar with their state Board of Nursing requirements for graduate clinical placements. Questions should be directed to the assistant dean of graduate programs.
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