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March 1, 2011
From: Bobby Lowery, Chair Psych CNS/NP Task Force
To: Dr. Rose Allen, Chair Graduate Curriculum Committee (GCC)
Cc: Psych CNS/NP Task Force Members (Dr. Mary Ann Rose, Dr. Lou Everett, Dr. Martha
Engelke, Wanda Lancaster, Bobby Lowery, Frank Moore, Michelle Skipper,)
Subject: Executive Summary FPMHNP Curriculum Proposal
Dear Dr. Allen,
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide an executive summary of new course
proposals for the family psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (FPMHNP) concentration.
The Chair and faculty of the Department of Graduate Nursing Science have determined that there
is a need for a FPMNHNP concentration and supporting courses which have been developed by
the FPMHNP task force. Dean Brown has stated approval of resources to hire additional faculty
to support the new concentration and courses. The proposed courses and curriculum are
recommended with unanimous support by the FPMHNP task force members and the College of
Nursing (CON) Graduate Faculty Organization (GFO).
Diminishing resources supporting community mental health centers (CMHC) has created
a disparity in access to mental health services and qualified mental health clinicians.
Furthermore, reimbursement policies have mandated that Nurse Practitioners shall be educated
and credentialed by 2015 in their population focus in psychiatric mental health to be eligible for
reimbursement for mental health services.
A market needs analysis was conducted by the CON, revealing a need for clinicians with
family psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (FPMHNP) education and credentials. These
findings are supported by weekly emails from employers seeking appropriately qualified
FPMHNPs to meet market needs. Moreover, adult, family and pediatric NPs currently practicing
in mental health settings as well as nurses considering the FSMHNP role frequently inquire to
the availability of this academic program of study.
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Survey results were presented to the CON GFO in the fall of 2010, resulting in a task
force to develop and implement a FPMHNP concentration. Preliminary curriculum work was
presented to the CON GFO in the spring of 2010 with favorable support to continue further
develop and implement a FPMHNP concentration with appropriate curriculum. Consultation
with national recognized content experts, certifying bodies and accreditation agencies have
guided appropriate curriculum development with content experts within the College of Nursing,
ECU. Finally the GFO unanimously voted to establish the FPMHNP concentration and
approved the proposed curriculum and courses on 2/24/11 to be presented to the university GCC.
The proposed courses and curriculum have been developed in consultation with
nationally recognized expert, Dr. Patricia Cunningham, DNS, PMHNP/CNS-BC, FNP-BC, ANP.
Course proposals and syllabi have been modified based on editorial recommendations by the
College of Nursing Graduate Curriculum Committee during our 1/27/11 meeting. The CON
GCC approved the attached course proposals with their recommended edits. We request review
by the CON GCC with request to be placed on the Graduate Faculty Organization (GFO)
meeting on 2/24/11.
The proposed curriculum offers both the MSN and the post-master’s option. The
proposed curriculum calls for eight new courses and eight existing MSN courses. The course
numbers for the eight new courses have been approved by the Office of the Registrar (N6630,
N6631, N6632, N6633, N6634, N6635, N6636 and N6637). The Office of the Registrar has
entered the eight new classes into Banner with a “Reserved” status, pending approval from the
GCC and GSAB. The proposed curriculum incorporates eight MSN courses already approved as
part of the MSN core curriculum (N6001, N6002, N6991, N6992, and N6993) and courses
meeting certification requirements for the “three P’s” (Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing
Practice [N6610], Clinical pharmacology for advanced nursing practice [N6611], and Human
physiology and pathophysiology for advanced nursing practice [N6050] ).
Students completing the MSN degree will meet core requirements for the MSN as well as
specialty competencies specific to the FPMHNP population focus, requiring a minimum of 40
semester hours and 550 clinical hours. Post-master’s students, having already earned a MSN,
will be required to complete only the courses required to meet the national certification
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requirements of the FPMHNP; requiring 19-28 semester hours and 550 clinical hours.
Applicants are admitted for either full-time or part-time study in the fall semester. Students
completing the proposed curriculum will meet eligibility requirements for national certification
as a FPMHNP.
The curriculum includes core courses in advanced practice roles, research,
pathophysiology and pharmacotherapeutics across the life span. The specialty area focuses on
psychiatric mental health diagnostic reasoning, psychopharmacology, individual, group and
family psychotherapies and policy, ethical and legal frameworks applied to the primary mental
health care of underserved populations. Curricular emphasis on cultural competence and
sensitivity challenges students' assumptions and value judgments, and promotes critical analysis
of how racial and cultural biases in psychiatric diagnoses have led to disparities in care.
All of the specialty area courses contain both seminar and clinical practicum components.
Graduates are eligible to seek the appropriate American Nurses' Credentialing Center
certifications in FPMHNP. Full-time students who begin during fall semester can complete the
program in 4 semesters. Part-time students may complete the program in 6 to 8 semesters, plus
one intervening summer term.
Clinical sites are selected to meet course objectives and individual student learning needs.
Clinical experiences may include providing psychiatric assessment and crisis intervention in a
primary mental health facility, providing intensive intervention in a facility for severely and
persistently mentally ill clients, providing individual, family and group therapy in mental health
centers, treating medically ill clients with psychosocial needs, providing intervention care in an
inpatient setting, practicing in private nurse-managed practices and providing assessment and
intervention to psychiatric home health agencies. Students receive intensive individual and group
supervision relative to clinical experiences. Clinical experiences, research experiences, and
elective courses are arranged to meet the student's learning goals.
Respectfully Submitted 3/18/11
Bobby Lowery
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Bobby Lowery
Chair FPMHNP Task Force