Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post-Graduate Certificate Program Now Open

(October 21, 2024) — Georgetown University School of Nursing is now offering master’s and doctorally prepared nurse practitioners at MedStar Health training to receive a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner post-graduate certificate (PMHNP-PGC).

The certificate addresses individual, family and population needs for mental health promotion and prevention. Instruction offers online and synchronous learning with two required on-campus intensives. The curriculum emphasizes collaborative and holistic, trauma-informed care that is grounded in the principles of resilience and healing. 

Nurses in the program will:

• Develop PMHNP lifespan clinical competencies across the care continuum;
• Participate with other Georgetown University students and faculty in interdisciplinary discussions addressing complex problems impacting human health; 
• Develop structural competencies to promote social justice and reduce inequalities in mental health care; and
• Advocate for policies that improve mental health care access, quality and equity by collaborating with professional organizations and congressional members in Washington, D.C.

“The vision for the program is to support the development of competent PMHNPs that will provide patient-focused, equitable, mental health care,” says the program’s director Karan Kverno, PhD, PMHNP-BC, PMHCNS-BC, FAANP, FAAN. “The vision also includes preparing graduates to support patients, families, and communities in addressing social and structural perpetuating risk factors, and to connect those with needs to community resources that help sustain recovery and support resilience.”