Amanda Upton
Saint Joseph,IL
Summary
ANCC board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner bringing experience in psychiatric assessment, medication management, patient education, and care coordination. Delivers individualized, patient-centered support by identifying urgent concerns, documenting care plans, and partnering with providers, therapists, and social workers to improve safety, understanding, and follow-through.
Overview
1
1
Certification
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Outpatient Registered Nurse
Carle Family Medicine
09.2024 - Current
- Provided nursing support in community family medicine setting, promoting whole-person care across physical health, access barriers, and psychosocial needs.
- Assessed patients, identified complications, and coordinated treatment with critical care team members.
- Used critical thinking to evaluate clinical situations quickly and accurately.
- Worked with physicians, nurses, therapists, social workers, and other healthcare professionals to build individualized treatment plans.
- Educated patients and families on healthcare needs, conditions, and options to empower informed decision-making.
- Explained medications, follow-up visits, and home care instructions to ensure patient understanding and compliance.
- Documented assessments, care plans, and visit notes to maintain accurate patient records and facilitate continuity of care.
- Answered patient calls, identified urgent concerns, and routed high-priority issues to providers.
- Supported patient rights, values, and beliefs through respectful advocacy.
Registered Nurse, Medical Operations Supervisor
CSL Plasma
Champaign, IL
04.2022 - 09.2024
- Assessed needs, recognized changes in condition, stabilized patients, and determined next steps, strengthening rapid clinical judgment in urgent or high-stress situations.
- Administered medications and treatments, monitored responses, and communicated findings to the healthcare team, building a foundation in medication safety and treatment evaluation.
- Evaluated treatment goals and resources, connected patients with appropriate providers, and identified barriers to treatment follow-through, enhancing care coordination.
- Advocated for patient preferences and identified limitations, fostering a patient-centered approach to shared decision-making and effective treatment planning.
- Trained nurses in care standards and safety protocols, audited charts, and ensured accurate documentation while reinforcing leadership and regulatory compliance.
Health Care Technician
Carle Foundation Hospital
Urbana, IL
12.2020 - 03.2022
- Responded quickly to emergencies and provided critical medical care to help stabilize patients.
- Monitored patient condition, took vital signs, supported daily care, and reported changes to the multidisciplinary team for timely coordination.
- Kept detailed patient care records to support continuity and accuracy in treatment.
- Built strong rapport and offered emotional and physical support to hospitalized patients, strengthening therapeutic communication and sensitivity to patient and family distress.
- Gave emotional support to patients and families during treatment, creating a compassionate care environment.
- Helped patients with daily living activities to improve comfort and independence during recovery.
- Worked with healthcare professionals to deliver comprehensive care for each patient.
Support Teacher
Next Generation Preschool
Champaign, IL
11.2017 - 01.2020
- Provided individualized educational, behavioral, and emotional support for children with varied learning and developmental needs while building patience and adaptable communication.
- Delivered personalized educational, behavioral, and emotional support to students.
- Facilitated physical, emotional, and social growth for 20 children through structured activities in a safe environment.
- Guided children through age-appropriate activities and smooth daily transitions to enhance learning experiences.
- Supported lead teachers by coordinating daily preschool classroom routines and activities to ensure effective learning.
Home Health Aide
New Connections
Champaign, IL
03.2017 - 11.2017
- Enhanced patient outlook and daily living through compassionate support and individualized care.
- Helped manage medication schedules, nutrition, and mobility needs, building experience with adherence support and community-based care planning.
- Established trusting relationships with older adults through home visits, enhancing understanding of how environment, independence, and social support influence health.
- Recorded daily client conditions, treatments provided, and progress, ensuring accurate communication of care plans.
Certified Nursing Assistant
Villa
Champaign, IL
08.2016 - 03.2017
- Assisted patients with activities of daily living, including bathing, grooming, and dressing.
- Provided individualized care, documented observations, and reported condition changes, supporting assessment, safety, dignity, and patient-centered care.
- Documented patient care, condition progress, and issues for thorough medical staff review.
- Facilitated clear communication of resident needs to nurses and family members.
- Acted swiftly in emergency situations, ensuring timely care during sudden illness or injury.
Certified Nursing Assistant
Piatt County Nursing Home
Monticello, IL
02.2016 - 08.2016
- Facilitated activities of daily living, personal hygiene, medication management, feeding, and ambulation to enhance patient comfort and well-being.
- Assisted patients with safe ambulation using proper techniques and equipment in clinical settings. using proper equipment and safe technique.
- Collected health and medication details, checked vital signs, and supported daily care needs with careful attention to older adults.
- Reported unusual symptoms and condition changes promptly to the charge nurse.
- Responded swiftly in emergency situations to deliver critical assistance during sudden illness or injury, ensuring patient safety. during emergency situations involving sudden illness or injury.
- Recorded patient care, condition changes, progress, and concerns accurately to support effective medical staff review and decision-making.
- Built positive working relationships with patients, caregivers, and healthcare teams to support care plan goals.
Education
Master of Science in Nursing - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Indiana Wesleyan University
Marion, IN09-2026
Bachelor of Science in Nursing -
Indiana Wesleyan University
Marion, IN08-2023
Associate Degree in Nursing -
Parkland College
Champaign, IL12-2021
Skills
- Medication administration
- Clinical documentation
- Care coordination
- Mental health assessment
- Crisis intervention
- Patient education
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Emergency response
- Therapeutic communication
Certification
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Board Certified (PMHNP-BC), American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), Registered Nurse | State of Illinois
SUPERVISED PSYCHIATRIC CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
- PMHNP Student | Indiana Wesleyan University
- Completed supervised clinical experiences with adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients, primarily in outpatient psychiatry with additional inpatient exposure.
- Conducted comprehensive psychiatric assessments and developed individualized treatment plans for diverse patient populations under preceptor supervision.
- Assisted with prescribing and managing psychotropic medications, monitoring patient progress and side effects under preceptor supervision.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to deliver evidence-based mental health care and support patient outcomes.
- Educated patients and families about mental health conditions, treatment options, and coping strategies.
- Assisted with crisis interventions to stabilize patients experiencing acute psychiatric episodes.
- Maintained accurate, confidential clinical documentation in accordance with healthcare regulations.
Timeline
Outpatient Registered Nurse
Carle Family Medicine
09.2024 - Current
Registered Nurse, Medical Operations Supervisor
CSL Plasma
04.2022 - 09.2024
Health Care Technician
Carle Foundation Hospital
12.2020 - 03.2022
Support Teacher
Next Generation Preschool
11.2017 - 01.2020
Home Health Aide
New Connections
03.2017 - 11.2017
Certified Nursing Assistant
Villa
08.2016 - 03.2017
Certified Nursing Assistant
Piatt County Nursing Home
02.2016 - 08.2016
Master of Science in Nursing - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Indiana Wesleyan University
Bachelor of Science in Nursing -
Indiana Wesleyan University
Associate Degree in Nursing -
Parkland College