After the Air Force I graduated from Nicholls State University in Louisiana as an RN, I then joined the Navy Nurse Corps. In my 20yr career I have worked in-patient psychiatry, post-surgical, oncology (three different settings), home infusions, and a private physicians office. While in NP school, I worked as an in-patient staff nurse at Harris County Psychiatric Center. My special interests are in adolescents, eating disorders, and PTSD (esp veterans).
I provide education on treatment options and prescribe medications as needed. I recommend therapy for most of my patients.
I do not push medications but recommend them when they are appropriate. When times are hard and money is tight many people stop visits and medications. In doing so their mental health suffers and this trickles down affecting all aspects of their lives - they begin having problems with family, at work, and socially. My hope is that people recognize the consequences of doing so and put their mental health as top priority.
