Best PhD program for a PMHNP

[vinsmuffin]

Hi Everyone,

I am currently in my PMHNP program graduating in May 2018, and am doing my search for a PhD program that would be a good fit for me.

I am willing to relocate to find the best fit. I don't want a major city as Manhattan, Seattle or SF, but a smaller city as Philly or Baltimore would be great for me an family. Hence would love to look into John Hopkins or UPenn, I know I am being ambitious here, but I have learned to dream big to achieve what I have so far achieved.

I would like to find a program with nurse scientist/research focus, I know there are a few programs that are educator focus, that is really not my interest, even though I understand I would have educator skills through the process (but not the primary focus for me). I understand the importance of having the in person contact with your cohort and professors, hence I have almost ruled out online programs except MUSC and UT Denton, which I have heard good reviews about.

I will continue to look for programs with faculty with mental health focus specifically child and adolescent mental health (Johns Hopkins post doc fellowship in child and adolescent mental health research hence looks great for that).

I am sure other PhD holders on this forum have done their fair share of research on best programs available. Hence if you have any gems you could to share, I would highly appreciate it.

Thanks in advance and I highly appreciate everyone in this forum taking time to help each other in this wonderful journey of caring that we are all in!

Regards

[llg, PhD, RN]

I assume you want your research to be in your PMHNP area of interest. If that is correct, you should start your search by looking at the schools where the best research in that field is done -- regardless of the prestige of that particular school. If you want to become a big-time PMHNP researcher, then you need to hook up with the leading researchers in that field. As long as it is a respectable school, that hook-up is more important than the prestige of the university as a whole.

You can attend the greatest university in the world ... but if there is no one there who has expertise in the field you want to study, then what good is their overall reputation?