Embrace and shape the future of psychiatric care with the #1 mental health nursing master’s program in the country.
Step outside traditional models of psychiatric-mental health treatment and embrace novel forms of mental health care with Duke University School of Nursing’s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner MSN program.
The United States has long faced an epidemic of mental illness, which has only been exacerbated by COVID-19. Addressing this critical issue requires skilled and compassionate mental health experts. Our psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner program prepares you to meet this demand, equipping you with the requisite knowledge, skills and attitude to safely and competently deliver mental health care across both the lifespan and continuum of care.
Through our innovative hybrid education model, we leverage both synchronous and asynchronous learning activities galvanized by high-quality practicum experiences to ensure you are ready for independent clinical practice on day one. Our program is distinguished by high access to seasoned clinicians and educators who are intrinsically motivated in your success. Each year, we establish a trauma-informed academic environment where learning is active, bidirectional and experiential. We operate from the premise that every moment is rich and sacred with learning potential. In this program, there is no wasted time or effort.
While not required, we recommend obtaining your ANCC PMH nurse generalist certification prior to applying to our psychiatric nurse practitioner program.
#1
Best Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Programs
Focusing on developing the expertise and innovative skills necessary to provide comprehensive, integrated, family-centered psychiatric mental health advanced practice nursing for patients of all ages, equipping you for future practice in community-based, rural and urban health care settings.
Psychiatric-Mental Health NP Post-Graduate Certificate
For students who already have a master’s from an ACEN- or CCNE-accredited nursing school or in another approved discipline, we also offer a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post-Graduate Certificate. This program allows you to build on your expertise with specialized skills and knowledge, advancing your career potential.
Psychiatric-Mental Health NP Program Highlights
One out of every five U.S. adults experience mental illness each year. We’ve designed our psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner program with the recognition that addressing such a prevalence of mental illness requires a balance of psychopharmacological and psychotherapeutic skills to make meaningful change. To prepare you for success in this challenging field, our program offers:
Distanced-based learning:
We’re committed to providing you with an accessible, relevant psychiatric-mental health learning experience. Hybrid-based courses, with both synchronous and asynchronous strategies, make it easier to balance your studies with personal and professional commitments. Additionally, on-campus intensives provide opportunities to connect with faculty and peers and engage in valuable hands-on training.
Nationwide clinical network:
In Duke University School of Nursing, distance-based learning doesn’t mean sacrificing experiential learning. With more than 2,000 clinical partnerships around the world, we’ll help you find the one closest to you that matches your academic and professional goals.
Nationally respected:
When you join our program, you’ll be part of the #1 psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner program according to U.S. News & World Report. Thanks to our rigorous coursework and expert faculty, our mental health nursing students consistently outperform their peers, both on exams and on the job.
What Can You Do With a Psychiatric-Mental Health NP MSN?
The demand for psychiatric-mental health nursing professionals continues to rise, fueled by the need for innovative treatment methods such as telemental health, integrative care and assertive community treatment. Duke’s psychiatric-mental health NP program equips you with extensive clinical experience in these modern approaches to understanding and treating mental illnesses.
When you graduate from our psychiatric-mental health NP program, you will have developed a new lens for evaluating, treating and caring for others. You’ll also be prepared to advance health equity and social justice through recognizing and addressing systemic, unfair and avoidable differences between population segments.
Psychiatric-mental health NP graduates are prepared to pursue careers in a wide variety of settings, including:
- Emergency psychiatry
- Inpatient psychiatry
- Consultation liaison psychiatry
- Partial hospitalization
- Outpatient mental health
- Residential treatment
- Dual diagnosis and substance treatment
- Community mental health
- Assertive community treatment
- The federal health system
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects job opportunities for advanced practice registered nurses to grow up to 38% by 2032, making it one of the fastest-growing career fields in the country. While exact figures vary depending on location, experience, practice specialty and other factors, the BLS reports a median annual salary of $129,480 for APRNs, with the highest 10% earning more than $211,820
Program Director
Sean Convoy
DNP, PMHNP-BC
Dr. Sean Convoy is a 23-year veteran of the United States Navy. Upon military retirement in 2014, he now pursues academic, clinical practice, public speaking and writing interests. He is an associate professor at Duke University, directing its Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program. He is considered an expert in advanced practice psychiatric-mental health nursing, cognitive therapy, mental illness prevention and caregiver stress.
Learn more about Sean Convoy: Scholars@Duke
Meet Our MSN Faculty
Our internationally renowned AGACNP faculty foster a supportive learning environment that prioritizes your academic and professional success. They bring their real-world experience as nurse practitioners into the classroom, equipping you with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in your field.
The Duke Difference
Earn your Duke nursing degree or certificate while you continue to work.
Discover our unwavering focus on creating innovative, nurse-led models of care.
Learn from experts in distance-based and hybrid education for over 20 years.
Learn & practice at one of the most advanced health systems in the world.
Our faculty are leaders in their field, with real world clinical experience.
We have exceptional students, learning alongside talented & dedicated classmates.
MSN Admissions
The MSN program employs a holistic admissions strategy. We consider each candidate’s unique life experiences alongside their academic performance, grades and test scores. This ensures that our nurse practitioner students represent the diversity of patients you will care for in your career.
If you need additional assistance, contact our admissions team by email or phone: 877-415-3853.
We offer DROP-iN Chat for virtual Q+A Sessions along with PROGRAM INFORMATION SESSIONS for application help.
Student Testimonials
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I witnessed patients forced to leave treatment prematurely due to financial difficulties and observed cultural conflicts in healthcare. This experience fueled my belief in fair and culturally competent healthcare for all. As an international student in the U.S., I realized similar challenges exist here.
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Duke University School of Nursing was my first option when I decided to pursue my PhD in Nursing, mostly because of the prestige of the school. I was initially skeptical about applying because I felt I wasn’t good enough to gain admission into such a prestigious school, but my initial conversations with some of the professors in the school changed my mind. The availability of the funding also provided an added incentive especially for an international student.
Financial Aid and Scholarships for MSN Students
As part of our mission to meet the needs of nurse practitioners nationwide, Duke School of Nursing offers a variety of financial aid options for MSN students. These include a merit-based scholarship and federal loan opportunities to fund your MSN degree.
Learn More About Financial Aid & Scholarships