MSN PROGRAM

Family Systems Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing

MSN Majors

Increased Need for Psychiatric Nurses
In addition to the shortage of advanced practice psychiatric nurses, healthcare systems are challenged to address the needs of an increasing elderly population; stressed military families; families impacted by the economy, loss of employment, home foreclosure, and other stressors; and a population facing an increase in reported rates of domestic and youth violence.

Fill a Critical Gap in Service
Put your passion to help children, youth, adults, and the elderly to use by pursuing your MSN in Family Systems Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing. This blended program prepares graduates to serve as psychiatric nurse practitioners and/or clinical nurse specialists. The curriculum will prepare you to address more efficiently the often unmet psychiatric mental health and substance use/abuse needs of people of all ages—persons at risk because of their vulnerabilities related to disparate care, natural and man-made disasters, and political or economic factors.

Pursue Diverse Career Options
The work of an advanced practice psychiatric nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist is dynamic in scope, ranging from prevention and health promotion to early detection and assessment to integration and culturally appropriate, client-centered intervention. Similarly, they can practice in a multitude of environments, including community mental health clinics; hospitals systems; private physician offices; prison systems; military bases and Veteran’s Affairs Hospitals; treatment facilities; and psychiatric mental health community centers, among others.

Serve the Family in All Its Forms
Because different families face different issues, this program views family systems in the post-modern world as not necessarily defined by blood relationships or legal definitions but more clearly by those who choose to live together in a kinship relationship. Graduates will be able to more effectively treat a wider variety of patients from a range of families, including military families, blended families, single-parent families, families of choice, migrant and immigrant families, and foster families.

Flexible Course Schedule
The Family Systems Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing major, as part of the MSN program, requires 45 credit hours of coursework and 720 hours of clinicals. The coursework is usually completed within four semesters.

Learn More: Jane Suresky, DNP, PMHCNS BC, 216.368.6338, mjs5@case.edu

Fall Semester I

NURS 405 Inquiry I Theoretical Foundations
3
NURS 453 Physiological Foundations of Advanced Practice
4
NURS 474A Advanced Psychopathology Across the Age Span (Ages 0-17)
2
NURS 475 General Systems Theory Foundations for Practice
2
NURS 476 Advanced Practice Seminar Blended Role
1
 
Semester Total
12

Spring Semester I

NURS 459 Integrated Assessment for Advanced Practice
3
NURS 430 Pharmacology and Therapeutics for Advanced Practice
3
NURS 465 Psychopharmacology
2
NURS 474 B Advanced Psychopathology Across the Age Span (18-65+)
2
NURS 480 A Family Systems A: Theoretical Foundations
2
NURS 480 B Family Systems B: Integration and Application
1
 
Semester Total
13

Summer Semester I

NURS 425 Inquiry II the Research Process
3
NURS 482 A Individual and Group Modalities for Family Systems Practice
3
NURS 482 B Practicum and Supervision: Individual and Group
2
 
Semester Total
8

Fall Semester II

NURS 502 Inquiry III Evidence Based Practice
2
NURS 503 Inquiry Practicum
1
NURS 484 Modalities for Family Systems Practice: Vulnerable Families
3
NURS 463 Theory for Practice: Supervision, Consultation and Education
3
NURS 466 Practicum and Supervision: Role of Family Systems Integration
3
 
Semester Total
12
 
Program Total
45
NUND 507 Management in Advanced Practice (elective)
3

Overall Total Hours: 48

The Advanced Practice Core courses are co-requisites or pre-requisites for the clinical nursing courses. Clinical nursing courses must be taken in the semester and sequence listed above. Clinical course availability is based upon enrollment.