Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, DNP

PMHNP Program Overview

Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) are one of the fastest-growing non-physician specialties in health care. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects job growth of 45% for all nurse practitioners until 2029. Upon program completion, our graduates are eligible to sit for certification for the American Nurse Credentialing Center.

Our board certification scores consistently exceed national benchmarks, and our graduates are highly regarded for employment opportunities in numerous settings and populations. The PMHNP DNP program at MUSC gives you the opportunity to find your niche in this fascinating and rewarding specialty.

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Role

As a PMHNP, you will assess, diagnose, and treat the mental health needs of patients. Treating mental health conditions can involve numerous interventions – giving PMHNPs the option to truly specialize in their field.

• Work specifically with children and adolescents, only adults or both.
• Provide only psychotherapeutic services or both medication management and psychotherapy.

You will often be seen as an educator – advancing recognition of mental health as a fundamental component of an individual’s well-being and assisting in health care reform and policy development. A specialized focus on relationship-building makes this a unique and rewarding specialty.

Track Highlights

• You will learn a holistic, integrated approach to treating and managing mental health conditions.
• Our curriculum offers specialized training in psychiatric medication management as well as psychotherapy training opportunities in modalities including trauma focused therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy, and dialect behavioral therapy.
• We offer an optional two-semester long certificate program in psychodynamic psychotherapy. Selected students will attend remote bimonthly meetings with PMHNP faculty and a masters prepared therapist for didactic, case presentation and supervision.
• Integrated curriculum with an interprofessional learning environment that enables you to learn about a variety of different disciplines and specialty areas such as telemedicine, primary care, school based care, substance use disorders and neuropsychiatric disorders.
• Three education courses are available for a total of 9 credits may be added to your plan of study. Completion of these courses provides qualification for the Certified Nurse Educator Exam.

PMHNP Clinical Experience

• PMHNP students are required to complete clinical hours at approved sites.
• We work with you to help find clinical placements whether you live in South Carolina or out of state.
• Current students are receiving exciting clinical opportunities with current placements specializing in areas such as Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, Telehealth, school-based care, Trauma Resilience and recovery, Substance use treatment centers, and the chance to work with unique populations.
• A portion of your clinical time may be spent conducting psychotherapy with a PMHNP, Psychologist, or Licensed Counselor.
• While it is ultimately up to the student to find a clinical placement, we have a large network of providers and are happy to assist, when possible, in finding placement.

Meet Your Lead Faculty, Dr. Hannah Robidoux

Hannah Robidoux
DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Lead Faculty
robidouh@musc.edu

Dr. Hannah Robidoux is an Assistant Professor in the College of Nursing's Doctor of Nursing Practice Program, with a robust background in psychiatric nursing. Her educational journey began with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of South Carolina, followed by a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Doctor of Nursing Practice specializing as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) from the Medical University of South Carolina.

Her clinical career started in hospital settings, initially in Cardiac/Med-Surg before transitioning to psychiatry, working at a psychiatric residential treatment facility focusing on pediatric and adolescent mental health. After completing her doctorate, Dr. Robidoux embarked on a 1-year fellowship at the Medical University of South Carolina's College of Nursing partnered with the Center for Telehealth, focusing on advancing behavioral health through telehealth. She is certified as a PMHNP across the lifespan by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and currently practices at MUSC’s Next Steps clinic in North Charleston, SC, where she provides outpatient telehealth services to pediatric and adolescent populations.

Dr. Robidoux is actively involved in scholarship and has published on topics such as early detection and intervention of infant mental health, advancing behavioral health, telemental health and the impact of digital technology on children. She has presented her work at both local and national levels. She is a member of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association and Neuroscience Education Institute. Her dedication to advancing behavioral health through telehealth and her advocacy for pediatric and adolescent mental health are reflected in both her clinical practice and scholarly pursuits.

Given her strong ties to MUSC and her dedication to mentoring future nurse practitioners, Dr. Robidoux joined the College of Nursing as a Clinical Instructor in 2022. In her current role as an Assistant Professor, she continues to inspire and mentor the next generation of nurse practitioners, fostering a collaborative environment aimed at improving mental health outcomes for all.