Geropsychiatric and Mental Health Nursing is offered as a one-year certificate program available to individuals with an undergraduate degree in nursing.
Studies focus on pathology, psychopharmacology and behavioral management strategies. Students become familiar with the social and cultural issues involved in geriatric and mental health care. The curriculum also includes education in the pathophysiology of mental conditions in the elderly population.
Graduates of this certificate program are eligible to apply to a master's program in nursing where students may elect to specialize as an adult psychiatric mental health nurse or as an adult/gerontological nurse practitioner. Credits earned in the geropsychiatric nursing certificate program may be applied toward the master's degree so long as a minimum grade of a "B" is obtained in each certificate course.