PLU offers two advanced practice specialty areas:
FNP
A Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) provides comprehensive, family-focused primary healthcare to patients of all ages, across the entire lifespan. The core scope of practice for an FNP includes:
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Advanced Assessment & Diagnosis: Managing direct patient care using advanced clinical assessment and diagnostic reasoning.
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Holistic Care: Incorporating health promotion and disease prevention interventions into everyday healthcare delivery.
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Lifespan Treatment: Caring for the health needs of the entire family unit, from pediatrics to geriatrics.
Family Nurse Practitioners have full independent practice and prescribing authority in Washington State. Completing the PLU FNP certificate program qualifies graduates to sit for national certification examinations, making them eligible for Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) licensure under Washington State law.
PMHNP
A Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) provides a wide range of psychiatric care to individuals and families across the lifespan. The primary clinical responsibilities of a PMHNP include:
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Evaluation & Diagnosis: Assessing, diagnosing, treating, and evaluating acute and chronic psychiatric disorders, including depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and substance abuse.
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Therapeutic Interventions: Providing individual, group, and family psychotherapy, as well as managing a therapeutic milieu to support positive patient outcomes.
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Medical Management: Conducting physical exams, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, counseling on preventive health, and writing prescriptions.
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Coping Support: Helping patients manage situational mental health problems such as loss, grief, adjustment issues, and the psychological impact of co-occurring physical health conditions.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners hold independent practice and prescribing authority in Washington State. The PLU PMHNP curriculum prepares students to pass the national certification examinations required for Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) licensure in Washington.
You can complete a Gap Analysis Request (along with copies of your transcripts and syllabi) and work with the FNP or PMHNP program lead to determine which courses from your master’s degree can be applied to the NP certificate programs and from there develop an individualized program of study.
Program Curriculum & Schedule
The NP certificate programs are offered in a hybrid format, with components of each course delivered both in-person and online. Some components of each course delivered online, either synchronously or asynchronously. Classes are held throughout the year.
Below are a sample schedules for the fall 2026 start term.
Degree Requirements
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Program Length: 28 months
Total Credit Hours: 44
Year One
| Fall (7 credits) | Spring (6 credits) | Summer (5 credits) |
|---|---|---|
| GNUR 710 Advanced Patho (3) | GNUR 713 Physical Assessment (3) | GNUR 721: Family Nurse Practitioner I Didactic (2) |
| GNUR 711 Advanced Pharm (3) | GNUR 720 Primary Care Procedures (3) | GNUR 731: Family Nurse Practitioner I Seminar/Clinical (3) (120 clinical hours) |
| GNUR 712 Advanced Pharm Discussion (1) |
Year Two
| Fall (5 credits) | Spring (5 credits) | Summer (6 credits) |
|---|---|---|
| GNUR 722 Family Nurse Practitioner II Didactic (2) | GNUR 723 Family Nurse Practitioner III Didactic (2) | GNUR 715 Psych for Primary Care (2) |
| GNUR 732 Family Nurse Practitioner II Seminar/Clinical (3) (120 clinical hours) | GNUR 733 Family Nurse Practitioner III Seminar/Clinical (3) (120 clinical hours) | GNUR 724 Family Nurse Practitioner IV Didactic (1) |
| GNUR 734 Family Nurse Practitioner IV Seminar/Clinical (3) (120 clinical hours) |
Year Three
| Fall (4 credits) | Spring (6 credits) |
|---|---|
| GNUR 735 FNP5 Seminar/Clinical Hours (4) (120 hours) | GNUR 736 FNP Capstone Seminar/Clinical Hours (6) (150 hours) |
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
Program Length: 28 Months
Total Credit Hours: 48
Year One
| Fall (7 credits) | Spring (7 credits) | Summer (5 credits) |
|---|---|---|
| GNUR 710 Advanced Patho (3) | GNUR 713 Advanced Physical Assessment (3) | GNUR 741 Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner I Didactic (2) |
| GNUR 711 Advanced Pharm (3) | GNUR 740 Psychopharmacology (3) | GNUR 751 Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner I Seminar/Clinical (3) (120 clinical hours) |
| GNUR 712 Advanced Pharm Discussion (1) |
Year Two
| Fall (7 credits) | Spring (5 credits) | Summer (6credits) |
|---|---|---|
| GNUR 742 PMH2 Didactic (2) | GNUR 743 PMH3 Didactic (2) | GNUR 716 Primary Care for Psych (2) |
| GNUR 752 PMH2 Seminar/Clinical Hours (3) (120 hours) | GNUR 753 PMH3 Seminar/Clinical Hours (3) (120 hours) | GNUR 744 Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner IV Didactic (1) |
| GNUR 717 Management of Substance Abuse and Addiction (2) | GNUR 754 Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner IV Seminar/Clinical (3) (120 clinical hours) | |
Year Three
| Fall (6 credits) | Spring (6 credits) |
|---|---|
| GNUR 718 Management of Complex Trauma (2) | GNUR 756 PMH Capstone Seminar/Clinical Hours (6) (150 hours) |
| GNUR 755 PMH5 Seminar/Clinical Hours (4) (120 hours) |
"PLU provides a wide variety of opportunities in healthcare settings, and the experience, knowledge, and tools to be competitive and successful within the healthcare fields." Adrian, '25
Clinical Rotations
The clinical experience is a core foundation in our NP certificate programs and PLU faculty set up your preceptorships for you.
Clinical placement requirements:
- Year 1: 120 clinical hours
- Year 2: 360 clinical hours
- Year 3: 270 clinical hours
Course Descriptions
On-campus courses are primarily held on Thursdays. Portions of each class are offered online (either synchronously or asynchronously).
GNUR 710 : Advanced Pathophysiology (3)
Focuses on normal physiologic and pathologic mechanisms of disease for the advanced practice student. It provides primary components of the foundation for clinical assessment, decision making, and management of patients across the lifespan.
GNUR 711 : Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics (3)
Prepares the advanced practice student for prescriptive authority and focuses on the pharmacokinetic basis for and pharmacotherapeutic management of simple and complex disease processes. Includes ethical, legal, and procedural aspects of prescriptive authority.
GNUR 712 : Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics Discussion (1)
Discussion on pharmacology topics specific to population focus. Co-requisite: GNUR 711. (1 seminar)
GNUR 713 : Advanced Physical Assessment (3)
Development and performance of the skills needed for advanced health assessment of individuals, families, or communities through the lifespan. Provides knowledge to complete a comprehensive history, physical, and mental health exam leading to the development of a differential diagnosis. Incorporates assessing wellness, screening, and chief complaint. (3; 1 didactic, 2 lab)
GNUR 716 : Primary Care Essentials for PMHNPs (2)
Provides the PMHNP student knowledge and skills to assist in the primary care management of co-morbid medical conditions commonly occurring in patients with psychiatric-mental health disorders. (2)
GNUR 717 : Management of Substance Abuse & Addiction (2)
Provides an integrated approach to the neurobiology, assessment, diagnosis, and clinical management of substance-related and addictive disorders across the lifespan.
GNUR 718 : Management of Complex Trauma (2)
Focus on the principles and inter-professional practices of Trauma-Informed Care. Includes an overview of the major theories of trauma assessment and treatment, including care for the patient and self-care for the practitioner. Evidence-based psychotherapies will be emphasized and students will learn about the use of medications as adjuncts for psychiatric symptoms that are often comorbid with trauma.
GNUR 720 : Primary Care Procedures & Diagnostics (3)
Provides the family nurse practitioner student with a range of office-based skills; including, the ability to understand, manage, and perform common primary care procedures. (3; 1 didactic, 2 lab)
GNUR 721 : FNP I Didactic (2)
Application of theory, research, and diagnostic reasoning related to health care conditions and the management of individuals with common episodic and/or stable chronic conditions across the lifespan with a focus on wellness, including topics specific to women and children.
GNUR 722 : FNP II Didactic (2)
Application of theory, research, and diagnostic reasoning related to health care conditions and the management of individuals with complex chronic conditions across the lifespan.
GNUR 723 : FNP III Didactic (2)
Application of theory, research, and diagnostic reasoning related to health care conditions and the management of individuals with multiple complex chronic conditions across the lifespan.
GNUR 724 : FNP IV Didactic (1)
Application of theory, research, and diagnostic reasoning related to health care conditions and the management of individuals with complex comorbid patients across the lifespan.
GNUR 731 : FNP I Seminar/Clinical (3)
Discussion of FNP 1 course concepts and real-life scenarios. Includes demonstration of clinical concepts; including, assessment, differential diagnosis, and documentation. Clinical practice preceptorship to develop physical and mental health exam, differential diagnosis, diagnostic reasoning, and plan of care for individuals with common conditions. (3; 1 seminar, 2 clinical) (120 hours)
GNUR 732 : FNP II Seminar/Clinical (3)
Discussion of FNP 2 course concepts and real-life scenarios. Includes demonstration of clinical concepts; including, assessment, differential diagnosis, and documentation. Clinical practice preceptorship to develop physical and mental health exam, differential diagnosis, diagnostic reasoning, and plan of care for individuals with multiple chronic conditions. (3; 1 seminar, 2 clinical) (120 hours)
GNUR 733 : FNP III Seminar/Clinical (3)
Discussion of FNP 3 course concepts and real-life scenarios. Includes demonstration of clinical concepts; including, assessment, differential diagnosis, and documentation. Clinical practice preceptorship to develop physical and mental health exam, differential diagnosis, diagnostic reasoning, and plan of care for individuals with multiple complex chronic conditions. (3; 1 seminar, 2 clinical) (120 hours)
GNUR 734 : FNP IV Seminar/Clinical (3)
Discussion of FNP core concepts and real-life scenarios. Includes demonstration of clinical concepts; including, assessment, differential diagnosis, and documentation. Clinical practice preceptorship to demonstrate independent physical and mental health exam, differential diagnosis, diagnostic reasoning and plan of care for individuals. (3; 1 seminar, 2 clinical) (120 hours)
GNUR 735 : FNP V Seminar/Clinical (3)
Discussion of advanced FNP core concepts and real-life scenarios. Includes demonstration of clinical concepts; including, assessment, differential diagnosis, and documentation. Clinical practice preceptorship to demonstrate effective independent physical and mental health exam, differential diagnosis, diagnostic reasoning, and plan of care for individuals. (4; 2 seminar, 2 clinical) (120 hours)
GNUR 736 : FNP Capstone Seminar/Clinical (4)
Discussion of advanced FNP core concepts and real-life scenarios. Includes demonstration of clinical concepts; including, assessment, differential diagnosis, and documentation. Clinical practice preceptorship to demonstrate effective independent physical and mental health exam, differential diagnosis, diagnostic reasoning, and plan of care for individuals. (4; 2 seminar, 2 clinical) (120 hours)
GNUR 740 : Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan (3)
Focuses on the principles of psychiatric pharmacotherapy across the lifespan, biological mechanisms of action of psychotropic drugs, and the role of the advanced practice psychiatric nurse prescriber. The neurobiological underpinnings of symptom etiology and treatment will form the basis of clinical decision-making in all phases of psychopharmacological treatment for child/adolescent, adult, and geriatric populations.
GNUR 741 : PMHNP I Didactic (2)
An integrated approach to the assessment, diagnosis, and clinical management of psychopathology across the lifespan is covered in this course. An in-depth exploration of the neurobiological underpinnings of mental health problems and psychiatric disorders will serve as the framework of the course.
GNUR 742 : PMHNP II Didactic (2)
Provides an integrated approach to the assessment, diagnosis, and clinical management of complex psychopathology across the lifespan.
GNUR 743 : PMHNP III Didactic (2)
Provides an integrated approach to the assessment, diagnosis, and clinical management of complex psychopathology across the lifespan.
GNUR 744 : PMHNP IV Didactic (1)
Examines methods and major conceptual frameworks of individual, group, and family psychotherapy. An overview of the major schools of family and personality theory, psychological development, and derived individual psychotherapy treatment modalities, to better understand the dynamics of the patient and the therapeutic relationship with children, adolescents, adults, elders, families, and groups.
GNUR 751 : PMHNP I Seminar/Clinical (3)
Discussion of PMHNP 1 course concepts with real-life scenarios. Includes demonstration of clinical concepts; including, assessment, differential diagnosis, and documentation. Clinical practice preceptorship to develop mental health exam, differential diagnosis, diagnostic reasoning, and plan of care for individuals with common mental health conditions. (3; 1 seminar, 2 clinical) (120 hours)
GNUR 752 : PMHNP II Seminar/Clinical (3)
Discussion of PMHNP 2 course concepts with real-life scenarios. Includes demonstration of clinical concepts; including, assessment, differential diagnosis, and documentation. Clinical practice preceptorship to develop mental health exam, differential diagnosis, diagnostic reasoning, and plan of care for individuals with complex mental health conditions. (3; 1 seminar, 2 clinical) (120 hours)
GNUR 753 : PMHNP III Seminar/Clinical (3)
Discussion of PMHNP 3 course concepts with real-life scenarios. Includes demonstration of clinical concepts; including, assessment, differential diagnosis, and documentation. Clinical practice preceptorship to develop mental health exam, differential diagnosis, diagnostic reasoning, and plan of care for individuals with complex mental health conditions. (3; 1 seminar, 2 clinical) (120 hours)
GNUR 754 : PMHNP IV Seminar/Clinical (3)
Discussion of PMHNP 4 course concepts with real-life scenarios. Includes demonstration of clinical concepts; including, assessment, differential diagnosis, and documentation. Clinical practice preceptorship to develop mental health exam, differential diagnosis, diagnostic reasoning, and plan of care for individuals with complex mental health conditions. (3; 1 seminar, 2 clinical) (120 hours)
GNUR 755 : PMHNP V Seminar/Clinical (4)
Discussion of advanced PMHNP core concepts and real-life scenarios. Includes demonstration of clinical concepts; including, assessment, differential diagnosis, and documentation. Clinical practice preceptorship to demonstrate independent mental health exam, differential diagnosis, diagnostic reasoning, and plan of care for individuals. (4; 2 seminar, 2 clinical) (120 hours)
GNUR 756 : PMHNP Capstone Seminar/Clinical (6)
In this culminating clinical course, students will demonstrate increased competency and accountability in the provision of comprehensive psychiatric-mental health care. Students will gain expertise by working with an identified population of choice and implementing selected psychotherapeutic and pharmacological interventions. Students will develop an individual learning plan to address any gaps in the attainment of required Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner competencies. Professional practice issues including contract negotiation and requirements for certification and licensure are included. Culminating clinical practice preceptorship to demonstrate independent, competent, appropriate care of individuals across the lifespan. (6; 2 seminar, 4 clinical) (150 hours)