Christy Cotner DNP, FNPc, PMHNP-BC

I am involved in live and online review courses for psychiatric nurse practitioners, collaborating with numerous large universities and organizations. With a passion for teaching about mental health, I emphasize the critical role that nurse practitioners play in the psychiatric team, ensuring they are equipped with the knowledge and skills to be integral members of the mental health care community.

• Provide care for patient in an outpatient intensive program and partial hospitalization program
• Furnished client-centered treatments by referring to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and listening to clients' symptoms and concerns.
• Coordinated and conducted hundreds of individual, group and family counseling sessions to identify potential solutions to decrease emotional turmoil.
• Analyzed explanations for psychiatric illnesses by screening clients for physical illnesses, neurological trauma, developmental issues and genetic factors.

• Monitored clients and conducted physical assessments to detect harmful and unusual behaviors, reporting observations to assigned physician.
• Utilized supportive therapy, CBT, brief therapy and interpersonal therapy to lead clients into healing and self-actualization.
• Furnished client-centered treatments by referring to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and listening to clients' symptoms and concerns.
• Analyzed explanations for psychiatric illnesses by screening clients for physical illnesses, neurological trauma, developmental issues and genetic factors.
• Administered medication and treatments to patients to observe and record responses.
• Monitored all primary care needs for patients to coordinate access to appropriate providers, including immunizations, vision, hearing and dental care.

• Developed PMHN program from ground up, laying out framework and defining roles.
• Provided ongoing direction and leadership for program operations.
• Scheduled and supervised staff meetings to discuss new ideas and update participants on program details and milestones.
• Collaborated with various teams to uncover issues, identify applicable solutions and offer guidance.
• Maintained and updated project related documents.
• Improved success of program by making proactive adjustments to operations.
• Orchestrated smooth and efficient program development by collaborating cross-functionally across departments.

• Prescribed appropriate pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment modalities to support health and comfort of patients.
• Educated patients on treatment options, medical needs and non-medical options for treatments and therapy.
• Performed patient physicals and compared and contrasted results with established medical records to provide proper diagnosis and facilitate appropriate treatment.
• Coordinated with physicians, specialists and other medical staff to develop treatment plans for chronic conditions.

• Provided immediate and constructive feedback to students individually and as group.
• Implemented instructional presentations to communicate coursework goals.
• Provide clinical instruction to 8 FNP students in clinical settings.
• Instructed and coached students to help overcome academic issues and personal challenges.
• Evaluated students' competencies through written assignments and examinations.
• Delivered individualized instruction on observation, assessment, decision-making and patient health teaching.

• Revived a struggling family practice program with 8 students to over 200 in little over a years time
• Grew faculty for the program
• Received CCNE accreditation for 10 years
• Lifted national certification rate from 45% to 94%
• Trained new and existing employees in the best strategies.
• Developed simulation program specifically for the FNP program.
• Developed clinical skills days for FNP students
• Assistant professor: Courses: acute care, chronic care, women's health and mental health.
• Development of curriculum in both didactic and clinical setting across the lifespan Family Nurse Practitioner/ psychiatric nurse practitioner.
• Furthered program goals by maintaining cooperative working relationships with area agencies.
• Maintained solid support network through cooperative and productive working relationships with public healthcare- related agencies and organizations.
• Presented health education talks at training workshops and conferences across United States and abroad.
• Maintained and updated all project related documents.

• NICU RN charge nurse: assessing and caring for preterm infants from 22 weeks and up in the NICU.
• Care manager for the indigent population from ICU to med-surf.
• Developed successful ER case management program and served as lead case manager and facility trainer.

• NICU transport nurse.
• High risk delivery nurse for premature infants.
• NICU Charge nurse.