Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Programs in Tennessee - TN

If you are interested in a rewarding and challenging job and would like to advance your nursing education beyond your current training, a psychiatric nurse practitioner program may be right for you.

In addition to traditional campus-based programs in Tennessee, there are opportunities to pursue a degree online. Because mental health is a highly specialized field, it is most helpful to have established a career in nursing from the beginning. Typically, students have earned both associate’s and bachelor’s degrees of science in nursing.

Once a nursing degree is earned, you are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam, which must be successfully completed before applying for licensure from the Tennessee Board of Nursing.

The next step is to enroll in an accredited mental nurse practitioner program. This involves working toward a Master of Science in Nursing with a mental health nurse practitioner specialization. Coursework delves deeper into nursing courses and includes significant emphasis on psychiatry. Didactic studies are coupled with clinical training to provide a well-rounded education.

After graduating with an MSN, the application and examination process begins. This includes providing proof of required clinical hours and official transcripts. Following successful licensure, Tennessee’s psychiatric nurse practitioner program graduates may seek employment at some of the state’s finest medical facilities. Included among these are Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Memorial Hospital, Jackson-Madison County General Hospital and Nashville's Baptist Hospital.