OVERVIEW
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
The MSN Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner degree program is a BSN to MSN degree for registered nurses (RN) wishing to become advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) with the Psychiatric Mental Health Practitioner (PMHNP) population focus.
The program will prepare graduates to assess individuals, diagnose diseases, prescribe medications, devise treatment plans for mental needs of the patient, as well as provide therapy, and prescribe medications for patients with mental health disorders or substance abuse problems. PMHNP's may also provide physical and psychological assessments, emergency psychiatric care, and treatment effectiveness evaluations. Additionally, upon successful program completion, graduates will be qualified to sit for the PMHNP national certification examination and apply for licensure in the state of their choice.
Clinical Placement Process Overview
All information needed to successfully complete the Placement Approval Process for your Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Clinical Internships is provided within this site.
You must be actively engaged with your assigned Placement Coordinator at CLPSPMHNP@wgu.edu one year prior to starting Clinical Internship I. If not, your placement and graduation will be delayed.
In Preparation of your Field Experience Hours you will:
- Network with peers, co-workers, and personal providers to identify potential preceptors.
- Attend the Clinical Information Session
- Complete the Clinical Information Session Knowledge Check
- Submit the PMHNP Student Clinical Profile
- Schedule an Intro Call with your Placement Coordinator
- Submit Placement Details for your Clinical Internships
- Complete compliance and site-specific requirements
- Obtain official clearance from Placement Coordinator before engaging in hours
Field Experience Requirements are completed through the Student Facing Field Experience Page, which is accessed through your Student Portal in the Student Support Tab or within your Degree Plan. Utilize this link to learn more about the Student Facing Field Experience Page.
To avoid delaying your degree progression, stay in close contact with your Placement Coordinator.
You will need ample time to network and identify potential preceptors, as well as gather and upload compliance records, which can take time and may require updated immunizations. If establishing an Affiliation Agreement with your selected clinical site or renewing an expiring agreement is required, the process can take up to 6 months.
Any delay in starting these steps will impact your degree progression, especially with this being your final term, resulting in a delay in your expected graduation date.
Provide a high-level overview of the Clinical Internship Placement Process. (Who, what, when, where, why, how) Including:
- Preceptor Requirements
- Site Requirements
- Compliance Requirements
- Resources
Within 48 hours of attending the Clinical Information Session, you will access and complete the Clinical Information Session Knowledge Check within your Field Experience Page.
The Knowledge Check demonstrates your understanding of the information covered in the session and your next steps toward Clinical Internship Placement.
Complete the Student Clinical Profile within your Field Experience Page. Completion and submission of this application initiates the placement process for the clinical portion of your program.
Please complete the form in its entirety including uploading your resume. Incomplete profiles will not be considered for clinical placement. Clinical profiles must be received at least one year (365 days) prior to your first Clinical Internship. Late return of the profile may cause a delay in your placement.
Placement Coordinators are assinged one year prior to the scheduled Clinical Internship 1 start date.
You will book your intro call from your Field Experience page. This requirement will remain locked until you are one year prior to your scheduled clinical internship 1 start date.
In the Intro Call, your Placement Coordinator will discuss the placement process and review all requirements of your Clinical Internship Placement.
Who is the Placement Cooordinator?
- The student’s guide to understanding the placement requirements of the Clinical Internship.
- Facilitator of information necessary for a student to identify an Affiliated Clinical Site and appropriate Preceptor.
- The primary point of contact for all communication and documentation required for your Clinical Internship Placement.
- Confirms student's completion of all site-specific compliance requirements (e.g. immunizations, background checks, all onboarding.) *Note that it is ultimately the student's responsibility to make sure that any onboarding with the site is completed.
- Provides the official Clearance Confirmation Emails advising a student is fully cleared to begin their Clinical Internship.
For full details please review WGU Standard Compliance Requirements.
Immunization compliance is stringently required for all Nurse Practitioner students at WGU. Compliance is required even if you are an employee at your selected Clinical Site and regardless of the policies at your Clinical Site.
Employment status and placement are not interrelated.
• Nurse Practitioner (NP) is board certified as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner or a Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist (with prescriptive authority and national certification. Follow state board of nursing requirements: CNS Independent Prescribing Map | NCSBN).
• Medical Doctor (MD) is board-certified in Psychiatry.
• Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) is board-certified in Psychiatry.
• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), or Psychologist **counseling hours only**(counseling hours are considered specialty hours.
More About Preceptors here.
You will work with preceptors in clinics in your local community, as available, to train in the provision of mental health care. To do so, you will need to be in Clinical Sites that allow you access to patients across the lifespan, with sufficient experience in treating the wide variety of conditions and the full spectrum of complexity found in mental health care. Appropriate clinical sites include outpatient and inpatient mental health care clinics, substance abuse treatment centers, and day treatment clinics.
You must secure placement in a minimum of 2 quality mental health care clinical sites. Outpatient psychiatric and behavioral health clinics are preferred. All other clinical placements must be specifically approved by program leadership.
More About Clinical Sites here.
Utilize the links within your Field Experience Page to be taken to the submission forms for each Internship Placement. If you will be working with more than 1 Preceptor within a single Internship, ensure you submit an additional Placement Details Form for each additional Preceptor.
On the Documents & Forms Tab of this website you will find links to required placement documents, compliance documents, and information regarding potential onboarding.
Documents must be complete and signed. Incomplete or incorrect documents will delay your placement and could impact your planned graduation date.
Click here for more information about the Nursing Review and confirmation emails.
Note: You cannot engage in hours prior to receiving the Clearance Confirmation Email from Clinical Learning and Placement Support.
The Course Instructor is a WGU employee who will:
- Act as the student's primary resource for oversight of the learning objectives related to the Clinical Internship, including monitoring and evaluating the learning experience.
- Collaborate with both Preceptor and Student to determine student learning needs and learning opportunities ensuring appropriate activities are logged for Clinical Internship hours.
- Review and approve the students' time log for verification of the number and appropriateness of accrued hours.
Note: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner placements will require an Affiliation Agreement with the Clinical Site. Your Placement Coordinator will assist with establishing an Affiliation Agreement as needed.
If a new Affiliation Agreement is required:
Note: This is a legal contract negotiation process and can take up to 6 months to fully execute. Plan accordingly to avoid delaying your degree progression.
The WGU Outreach Team will work with the Clinical Site Contract Administrator to negotiate an Affiliation Agreement. The negotiation of these agreements takes time and can go back and forth several times before they are signed by both WGU and the Clinical Site.
PMHNP Clinical Internship Preceptors
Students must engage a minimum of 2 Preceptors at two different Psychiatric Care sites for Clinical Internships throughout the program. Preceptors must have an active, unencumbered license, have earned national certification in their specialty area by a recognized credentialing agency, and have a minimum of two years of current experience in their current credentialing.
Appropriate Preceptors:
- Board-certified Psychiatrist
- Board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Board -certified Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) in Psychiatry
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), or Psychologist **counseling hours only**(these hours will be considered speciality hours)
Family members or close family or personal friends are NOT allowed to serve as preceptors for the students in the Psyciatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Track.
Students must identify their own Preceptor
- As this is a volunteer (unpaid) position, we do not have a list of Preceptors for students to choose from.
- Working with a self-Identified preceptor ensures that you:
- Have a preceptor who is personally invested in your academic success.
- Have a preceptor who will be available at a time and geographic location most suitable to your needs within each Internship.
Below are talking points to provide confidence in expressing the Clinical Preceptorship clearly and professionally when networking to secure a Preceptor. Students should find their own style, but use the following information as basic content.
The Preceptor Role
- Have earned national certification in their specialty area by a recognized credentialing agency and have a minimum of two years of current experience in their specialty area in their current credentialing.
- Hold an unencumbered license in the state where the organization is located or hold a multistate license in another state which allows them to practice in that state.
- Orient me to the setting and provide information, contacts, and resources for completing my clinical internship.
- Facilitate experiences that immerse me in the provider role.
- Complete a brief online training module as well as work with my Course Instructors.
- Verify my hours and provide a mid-term and end of term evaluation of my progress.
- Receive no monetary compensation from WGU.
All clinical hours must be completed working with a preceptor.
Student Talking Points
Why: The WGU PMHNP program is preparing me to become a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner through required clinical internship experiences. These experiences, obtained during the clinical internship courses, provide me with an opportunity to apply what I have learned during my psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner specialty courses in a real-world setting.
What: These experiences are precepted learning opportunities that will help me develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the role of an Advanced Practice Nurse by delivering care to individuals across the lifespan.
When: I am required to complete a minimum of 650 direct patient care clinical hours distributed across 3 clinical internship courses.
- Clinical Internship I - minimum of 215 hrs.
- Clinical Internship II - minimum of 215 hrs.
- Clinical Internship III - minimum of 220 hrs.
How: The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program prepares graduates to assess individuals, diagnose diseases, prescribe medications, and devise treatment plans for mental and behavioral health conditions across the lifespan.
Overview of Clinical Internships
Expectation of Clinical Hours
Full-Time: To complete the three internship courses in one 6-month term, you will need to follow the standard pace of the program and dedicate four 10-hour days or five 8-hour days per week until you reach 650 total direct patient care hours. Limit is 10 hours a day, no more than 40 hours in a week.
Part-Time: If you choose to complete your clinical hours on a part-time basis, then you will spend two 10-hour days or three 8-hour days per week in precepted clinical practice until you reach the required 650 direct patient care clinical hours. It’s important to note that a part-time schedule will increase the length of your program by one additional 6-month term. Limit is 10 hours a day, no more than 40 hours in a week.
If you have questions about course content please reach out to your Program Mentor.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Internship I
Note: Heavier Supervisory role due to students first time in clinical practice.
This role requires 215 hrs. in this clinical internship.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Clinical Internship I prepares the graduate nursing student to perform the role of an advanced practice nurse with the essential competencies and skills necessary to deliver primary care to individuals, families, and groups across the lifespan. In the precepted clinical setting, the student will combine competencies developed in preparatory advanced practice coursework to deliver consumer-centered healthcare. Therefore, the graduate will conduct advanced health assessments and utilize the competencies of advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health promotion for individuals and populations across the life span to build self-efficacy in individuals and groups, to determine correct diagnoses, and to establish plans of care that include consumer and population preferences.
Course Competencies: D348 | PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSE PRACTITIONER CLINICAL INTERNSHIP I (215 HOURS)
Competency 1
Assessing Individuals, Families, and Populations for Mental and Behavioral Health Conditions Across the Lifespan and Care Settings
The learner gathers patient mental health data in the care of individuals, families, and populations across the lifespan and care settings as a novice.
Competency 2
Diagnosing Acute and Chronic Mental and Behavioral Health Disorders for Individuals, Families, and Populations Across the Lifespan and Care Settings
The learner synthesizes subjective and objective data from individuals, families, and populations across the lifespan in order to provide accurate mental health diagnoses in a range of care settings as a novice.
Competency 3
Creating Evidence-Based Individual-, Family-, and Population-Centered Mental and Behavioral Health Plans in a Range of Care Settings
The learner creates evidence-based individual-, family-, and population-centered mental health plans, including guidelines, clinical expertise, consumer preferences and values, organizational context, and resource limitations in a range of care settings as a novice.
Competency 4
Evaluating Individual-, Family-, and Population-Centered Mental and Behavioral Health Plans and Modification of Health Plans in a Range of Care Settings
The learner evaluates the effectiveness of individual-, family-, and population-centered mental health plans in order to modify the plan, offer additional mental health education, or refer patients to other providers to improve quality outcomes in a range of settings as a novice.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Internship II
Note: Moderate Supervisory role with active coaching that pushes student beyond the comfort zone in order to provide growth opportunities.
This role requires 215 hrs. in this clinical internship.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Clinical Internship II prepares the graduate nursing student to perform the role of an advanced practice nurse with the essential competencies and skills necessary to deliver primary care to individuals, families, and groups across the lifespan. In the precepted clinical setting, the student will combine competencies developed in preparatory advanced practice coursework to deliver consumer-centered healthcare. Therefore, the graduate will conduct advanced health assessments and utilize the competencies of advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health promotion for individuals and populations across the life span to build self-efficacy in individuals and groups, to determine correct diagnoses, and to establish plans of care that include consumer and population preferences.
Course Competencies: D349 | PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSE PRACTITIONER CLINICAL INTERNSHIP II (215 HOURS)
Competency 1
Assessing Individuals, Families, and Populations for Mental and Behavioral Health Conditions Across the Lifespan and Care Settings
The learner gathers patient mental health data in the care of individuals, families, and populations across the lifespan and care settings as an advanced beginner.
Competency 2
Diagnosing Acute and Chronic Mental and Behavioral Health Disorders for Individuals, Families, and Populations Across the Lifespan and Care Settings
The learner synthesizes subjective and objective data from individuals, families, and populations across the lifespan in order to provide accurate mental health diagnoses in a range of care settings as an advanced beginner.
Competency 3
Creating Evidence-Based Individual-, Family-, and Population-Centered Mental and Behavioral Health Plans in a Range of Care Settings
The learner creates evidence-based individual-, family-, and population-centered mental health plans, including guidelines, clinical expertise, consumer preferences and values, organizational context, and resource limitations in a range of care settings as an advanced beginner.
Competency 4
Evaluating Individual-, Family-, and Population-Centered Mental and Behavioral Health Plans and Modification of Health Plans in a Range of Care Settings
The learner evaluates the effectiveness of individual-, family-, and population-centered mental health plans in order to modify the plan, offer additional mental health education, or refer patients to other providers to improve quality outcomes in a range of settings as an advanced beginner.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Internship III
Note: Light Supervisory role with continued coaching that pushes students beyond comfort as they move towards expert practice.
This role requires 220 hrs. in this clinical internship.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Clinical Internship III prepares the graduate nursing student to perform the role of an advanced practice nurse with the essential competencies and skills necessary to deliver primary care to individuals, families, and groups across the lifespan. In the precepted clinical setting, the student will combine competencies developed in preparatory advanced practice coursework to deliver consumer-centered healthcare. Therefore, the graduate will conduct advanced health assessments and utilize the competencies of advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health promotion for individuals and populations across the life span to build self-efficacy in individuals and groups, to determine correct diagnoses, and to establish plans of care that include consumer and population preferences.
Course Competencies: D350 | PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSE PRACTITIONER CLINICAL INTERNSHIP III (220 HOURS)
Competency 1
Assessing Individuals, Families, and Populations for Mental and Behavioral Health Conditions Across the Lifespan and Care Settings
The learner gathers patient mental health data in the care of individuals, families, and populations across the lifespan and care settings as a competent provider.
Competency 2
Diagnosing Acute and Chronic Mental and Behavioral Health Disorders for Individuals, Families, and Populations Across the Lifespan and Care Settings
The learner synthesizes subjective and objective data from individuals, families, and populations across the lifespan in order to provide accurate mental health diagnoses in a range of care settings as a competent provider.
Competency 3
Creating Evidence-Based Individual-, Family-, and Population-Centered Mental and Behavioral Health Plans in a Range of Care Settings
The learner creates evidence-based individual-, family-, and population-centered mental health plans, including guidelines, clinical expertise, consumer preferences and values, organizational context, and resource limitations in a range of care settings as a competent provider.
Competency 4
Evaluating Individual-, Family-, and Population-Centered Mental and Behavioral Health Plans and Modification of Health Plans in a Range of Care Settings
The learner evaluates the effectiveness of individual-, family-, and population-centered mental health plans in order to modify the plan, offer additional mental health education, or refer patients to other providers to improve quality outcomes in a range of settings as a competent provider.
Telehealth and Specialty Hours
Telehealth Hours
- WGU allows a maximum of 75% of total hours from telehealth care visits during the entirety of the clinical internships.
- PMHNP students must be licensed in the state(s) where their preceptor’s telehealth clients are receiving care.
- Must be delivered synchronously whether the student is physically present with the preceptor or joining a session remotely after the preceptor starts the visit.
- The student cannot begin the session without the preceptor.
- The student cannot be physically present with the patient before the preceptor joins remotely.
Specialty Hours
A maximum of 65 hours is allowed for the entire program, not 65 hours per specialty or course, but 65 hours total for the program. Some examples of specialty placements include individual and group therapy psychotherapy. Counseling hours with a Licensensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), or Psychologist.
Note that specialty placements do not count towards the minimum number of required placements.
Quality Placements - students are required to find a minimum of two quality placement locations and a preceptor at each site.
- Students must have lifespan experience during clinicals (pediatrics through geriatrics).
- Clinical sites must provide sufficient experience in treating the wide variety of conditions and the full spectrum of complexity found in mental health care.
- Sites can be inpatient or outpatient in mental health care clinics, substance abuse treatment centers, and day treatment clinics.
WGU Affiliated Clinical Sites & Affiliation Agreements
A WGU affiliated clinical site is a health facility that has or is willing to enter into an Educational Affiliation Agreement with WGU.
You must secure placement a minimum of 2 quality, Clinical Sites. Due to availability and other factors, WGU may not be able to accommodate clinical placements in all areas. As a result, travel to surrounding areas may be necessary.
You will work with preceptors in psychiatric, behavioral health, or substance abuse clinics in inpatient or outpatient settings in your local community, as available, to train in the provision of mental healthcare. To do so, you will need to be in Clinical Sites that allow you access to patients across the lifespan, with sufficient experiences in treating the wide variety of mental health conditions and the full spectrum of complexity found in psychiatric care.
Your Placement Coordinator will work with you to identify or establish Affiliation Agreements with Clinical Sites in your area.
NOTE: This is a legal contract negotiation process and can take 6 months or more to fully execute. Plan accordingly to avoid delaying your degree progression. The WGU Contract Outreach Team will work with the Clinical Site Contract Administrator to negotiate an Affiliation Agreement. The negotiation of these agreements take time as they go back and forth several times before they are signed by both WGU and the Clinical Site.
Once the agreement is complete, the WGU Contract Outreach Team will notify the Placement Coordinator if there are any additional site-specific requirements or onboarding. Note that it is ultimately the student's responsibility to make sure that any onboarding with the site is completed. Students will be notified by their Placement Coordinator of any additional site-specific requirements once the agreement has been fully executed and approved for student placement. These requirements might include additional site-specific onboarding, orientation, or compliance-related items such as a Drug Screen or Physical Exam.
Depending on the Agreement that WGU has with your Clinical Site, there may be additional requirements for you to complete. Your Placement Coordinator will guide you through the steps required for placement at your chosen Clinical Site. Every site has different requirements, and requirements often change.
3rd Party on-boarding:
- ACEMAPP
- Castlebranch
- My Clinical Exchange
- San Diego Consortium
Site-Specific Documents and Forms:
- Confidentiality Agreements
- Criminal History Reports
- Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approvals
- Site Orientation and Badges
Compliance Requirements
Do not send any personal health records to WGU. We cannot accept, view, or store personal health information in accordance with HIPAA regulations. For compliance questions, students should email clpscompliance@wgu.edu with “ PMHNP Compliance Questions” in the subject line of the email.
NOTE: there is a $50 student-incurred fee for a 36-month subscription plus $15 each for the required OSHA and HIPPA trainings.
The COVID-19 vaccine, although not required by WGU for the PMHNP Program, may be required by your placement site.
Documentation of immunity to communicable diseases and screening for tuberculosis is stringently required for all PMHNP students at WGU. Even if a student is seeking placement with their employer, a fully compliant ADB account is required, as employment status and placement are not interrelated.
Placement requirements vary from site to site. The Clinical Learning and Placement Support Team ensure students meet site-specific compliance and documentation requirements at the selected site.
Compliance Steps
- Step 1
- Step 2
- Step 3
- Step 4
- Step 5
- Step 6
- Site-Specific Steps
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Acceptable Document Descriptions
1. Create or Update your Complio/American Databank Account.
You will complete these requirements by either updating an existing account you previously created upon enrollment or by creating a new account.
2. Order the "Nurse Practitioner Compliance Package".
Utilize the shopping cart in the top right of your Complio account to:
- Place an Order
- Select Program - Nurse Practitioner
- Select Your State of Residence
- Click on Load Packages
- Purchase the Nurse Practitioner Bundle
Utilize this link for access to step by step instructions: Ordering your Nurse Practitioner Immunization Tracking Package.
3. Upload proof of vaccination or proof of immunity (positive antibody titer) as well as a negative tuberculosis test.
- MMR
- TDAP
- Varicella
- Influenza
- Hepatitis B
Titer results for the above pathogens must be positive. A negative result will require additional boosters doses. Verification of immunity to communicable diseases may include documentation of vaccinations and/or serologic evidence of immunity via IgG antibody titer screenings.
- Tuberculosis
Verification of immunity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis requires negative skin tests, blood test, or chest x-ray.
Use this form as a reference on what is needed to complete each compliance item: Compliance Requirements Information Pages (ADB) - PMHNP.
Immunization records must have:
- Patient full name
- Date of test or vaccine
- Test results
- Facility or physician office where completed
We cannot accept handwritten immunization records/cards.
A declination form is not appropriate unless there is a documented medical limitation to a vaccine. In order to decline a compliance item, you will need to submit an Exception Request within American DataBank/Complio providing documentation of necessity with proof from your Physician. It will be reviewed by the WGU Compliance Team and if the exception is approved you may have a final declination form to fill out.
4. Proof of CPR and Health Insurance.
- CPR card BLS through AHA - front & back required
- Proof of Health Insurance - front & back required
5. HIPAA Training - WGU can only accept Training through American DataBank.
Purchase HIPAA ONLY Package
- HIPAA Training is included in the Nurse Practitioner Bundle
- Training modules must be completed within the American DataBank (1 HIPAA module)
- Once purchased, you will receive your training materials via email within1 - 3 business days from ADB. Please keep an eye out for those!
- You must complete the training within 90 days of purchase(no refunds will be issued if it expires)
- Please visit this link for more information about HIPAA training
- Upon completion of the training, you must upload your Certificate of Achievement to the HIPAA Category in your Complio account. If you are unable to find your Certificate of Achievement you can access the link below for step by step instructions. Accessing your Certificate of Achievement
6. OSHA Training - WGU can only accept Training through American DataBank.
- OSHA Training is included in the Nurse Practitioner Bundle
- Training modules must be completed within the American DataBank (13 OSHA modules)
- Once purchased, you will receive your training materials via email within1 - 3 business days from ADB. Please keep an eye out for those!
- You must complete the training within 90 days of purchase(no refunds will be issued if it expires)
- Please visit this link for more information about OSHA training
- Upon completion of the training, you must upload your Certificate of Achievement to the OSHA Category in your Complio account. If you are unable to find your Certificate of Achievement you can access the link below for step by step instructions. Accessing your Certificate of Achievement
ONLY complete the items below if advised to do so by your WGU Placement Coordinator.
Add-on Compliance Packages have an additional fee associated.
Background Check
Please renew before it expires. It must be current throughout your entire program. Your site may require you to renew your background check sooner than two years (some sites may require a background check to be within six months, one year, etc.).
(Additional Fee)
Please note you may have completed this upon admission to WGU. Your background check expires after two years and must be current throughout your entire PMHNP program. There may also be a site-specific requirement of an additional background check. You will be notified, by your Placement Coordinator, if your placement requires an additional or updated background check.
Physical Exam
Site-Specific. Only needed if advised to do so by your Placement Coordinator.
(Additional Fee)
The WGU Physical Exam Form must be completed by a licensed M.D., N.P., C.N.M., or P.A. Once you have completed your physical examination, you will upload the signed form into the Miscellaneous Sub-Category within your American Data Bank account.
10 Panel Drug Screening
Site-Specific. Only needed if advised by your Placement Coordinator. (Additional Fee)
To order a drug screening within your ADB/Complio compliance account, please complete the following steps:
- Log into your Complio account at wgucompliance.com
- Select Place Order in the top right of your Complio account next to the shopping cart icon
- Select Program from the drop-down menu
- Select Location/State from the drop-down menu
- Click the Load Packages button
- From the Screening Section – Select Drug Screening 10 Panel
After you purchase the drug screening package, you will receive an email with materials and directions guiding you to complete the screening at a testing center nearest you. Your drug screen voucher expires 30 days from purchase. Some clinical sites require drug screening to be completed within a certain time frame in relation to your start date. I.e 30 days from your start date.
WGU cannot accept a drug screening from any other source besides our affiliate.
NOTE: Your drug screening sample can take up to 3 days to process, so please plan accordingly. The results will automatically post to your Complio account. However, please email clpscompliance@wgu.edu when you have completed the screening so we can update your compliance status.
Download PMHNP Compliance FAQ
Compliance requirements align with site contractual/legal expectations and practices that have become standard in the healthcare industry and are required to meet the legal liability for your internships within a healthcare setting. The compliance requirements help to reduce communicable diseases in the healthcare setting, ultimately keeping you, patients, and healthcare workers safe during your internships.
Yes, you will need to complete the compliance requirements. You are not considered an employee during your clinical internship, even if you are employed at the same site. Your employment status and your PMHNP Internship are not interconnected.
To submit your compliance documentation, you will need to order an immunization-tracking package within your American DataBank account. The website address is wgucompliance.com.
Yes, the immunization-tracking subscription is $50 for a 36 month subscription. There may be fees associated with the purchase of additional site-specific compliance items (i.e., drug screening, updated background check if necessary, etc.) Please check the American DataBank website for these specific costs.
Standard compliance must be completed in order to pass D117. Students must remain compliant throughout their program. Students must be complaint and complete any site specific requiremetns prior to receiving a clearance email from the Clinical Learning and Placement Support Team. You must be cleared by the Clinical Learning and Placemetnt Support Team before you can begin your first and all subsequent internships.
No, please do not send any personal health records to your Placement Coordinator, as WGU cannot accept or store personal health information in accordance with HIPAA regulations. All compliance documentation must be submitted to your account within the American DataBank.
You can obtain the documentation for your RN license from your state-specific Board of Nursing website or Nursys online service. Nursys’ website address is nursys.com. To submit proof of your current nursing license, you can upload a screen capture or picture.
The background check that you completed upon admission to WGU is valid for two years. If your background check is more than two years old, you will need to purchase a new one in order to meet your compliance requirements. There may also be the request of a site-specific background check. If an additional background check is required, you will be notified by your Placement Coordinator.
You will need to order a drug screening through the American DataBank. Once the order is complete, you will receive an email with details on where to go to provide your sample to complete this requirement.
The physical form was included in your “Compliance Requirements Needed” email, but it can also be found in the Documents and Forms section. You will upload your completed physical exam form to the Miscellaneous Sub-Category within your American DataBank account.
Your employer may not require an up-to-date TB screening for your employment; however, your employment status and your internship for the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program are not interconnected. Therefore, to complete the compliance requirements, you will need to show proof of a current TB screening.
Unfortunately, WGU cannot assist you with logging into your compliance account with the American DataBank. To reset your password or to obtain your login credentials, please contact the American DataBank helpline is (800) 200-0853.
If you need assistance within the American Databank - Complio Account, please check the video links below for frequently asked questions or contact ADB Customer Service at (800) 200-0853.
Review for Approval & Confirmation Email
Clinical Sites and Preceptors are approved for their ability to provide students with clinical experiences consistent with the course, certification requirements, and the mission of the school. You cannot engage in any Clinical Internship hours prior to receiving a Clearance Confirmation email from Clinical Learning and Placement Support Team.
Once you have:
- Identified Clinical Internship Preceptors and Clinical Sites
- Confirmed Preceptor Approval
- Completed Compliance Requirements and any additional Site-Specific Requirements
Your records will be reviewed, in full, for Final Placement Approval. Some Clinical Sites require the WGU Placement Coordinators to send all of your documents to them for Clinical Site review or require additional onboarding through a 3rd party vendor, which can add to the amount of time it takes to review your placement.
Review times will vary depending on the requirements and time-frame of your Clinical Site.
Clearance confirmation email will come from CLPSPMHNP@wgu.edu. The email is sent to the student and Program Mentor. The subject line says "Clearance Confirmation Email with your start date." You will receive a separate Clearance Confirmation email for each of the three internships.
Student Facing Field Experience Page
You will access and complete the placement requirements within the student facing Field Experience Page. You can access the page within your Student Portal within the Student Support Tab under "Field Experience" or within your Degree Plan by clicking the Field Experience Button in the top right corner.
On the Field Experience Page, you can access key information regarding your Internships including:
- Health Field Experience Start Date,
- Current Placement Progress notes from your Placement Coordinator
- A Field Experience Toolbox with links to key resources
- Contact information for your Placement Coordinator and Program Mentor
- Deadline Dates & Status of all Field Experience Requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions regarding WGU’s PMHNP Clinical Internship, Sites and Preceptors
The WGU PMHNP program culminates with three clinical internship courses that together consist of 650 precepted direct patient care clinical hours. You will work with preceptors in clinics in your local community, as available, to train in the provision of behavioral health. To do so, you will need to be in clinical sites that allow you access to patients across the lifespan, with sufficient experiences in treating the wide variety of conditions and the full spectrum of complexity found in behavioral health.
The instructional cost of the multi-day clinical intensive workshop is included in your tuition. However, students are responsible for paying the travel, lodging, food, and other associated costs to attend and participate in the workshop as well as their clinical rotations.
Yes. Students will work with the Clinical Learning and Placement Support Team to submit potential clinical sites and preceptors for approval. WGU will evaluate the appropriateness of each clinical site and preceptor and provide approval as appropriate.
No, you can only complete clinical hours within the states where WGU’s PMHNP program is currently offered and where you possess a current unencumbered RN license. WGU’s PMHNP program is currently only offered in the following states.
Yes, the WGU PMHNP program prepares you to take the PMHNP national certification exam of your choice from the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) or the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Certification Program.
The number of clinical sites that you need is based on how well each site prepares you to meet the core WGU PMHNP competencies. Collectively, the clinical sites must provide you with access to patients across the lifespan, with sufficient experiences in treating the wide variety of conditions and full-spectrum of complexity found in behavioral health. In order to provide you with a more robust practice experience, you will need a minimum of 2 different preceptors located in 2 separate sites. With no more than 2 sites and preceptors per internship.
Any clinical hours at your current place of employment must not be part of your regular employment responsibilities or schedule. While your current place of employment may be approved as a clinical site, your preceptor may not be your direct supervisor.
Who is Involved? Placement Connections
Student
Students play an active role in identifying their Clinical Sites and Preceptors and ensuring all information is submitted in a timely manner to the Clinical Learning and Placement Support team.
Placement Coordinator
The primary point of contact for all communication and documentation required for placement.
Program Mentor
Assists the student with construction and keeping their individualized plan as well as directing students to appropriate resources.
Compliance Coordinator
The primary point of contact related to student compliance items (immunizations, background check, drug screens, etc .)
Outreach Coordinator
WGU Clinical Learning and Placement Support Team related to Affiliation Agreements with partnering Clinical Sites.
Documents and Forms:
Clinical Internship Documents:
Explanation of Clinical Internships
PMHNP Clinical Information Session PPT
PMHNP Clinical Information Session Video Recording - Coming Soon
Depending on the Agreement that WGU has with your Clinical Site, there may be additional requirements for you to complete. Your Placement Coordinator will guide you through the steps required for placement at your chosen Clinical Site. Every site has different requirements, and requirements often change. Please note that many of these requirements or 3rd party sites have additional student fees associated with them.
3rd Party on-boarding:
- ACEMAPP
- Castlebranch
- My Clinical Exchange
- San Diego Consortium
Site-Specific Documents and Forms:
- Confidentiality Agreements
- Criminal History Reports
- Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approvals
- Site Orientation and Badges
Have questions? Send an email to:
CLPSPMHNP@wgu.edu
