Crystal Rain McDaniel, PMHNP-BC
Aurora,CO
Summary
Knowledgeable Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with solid foundation in psychiatric care and mental health treatment. Proven history of delivering compassionate and comprehensive mental health services to diverse patient populations. Strong understanding of mental health disorders and effective treatment strategies. Consistently developing strong therapeutic relationships with patients and families through therapeutic communication and active listening.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Advanced Practice Provider Instructor Fellow
Colorado University, Anschutz
Aurora, CO
11.2025 - Current
- Conduct comprehensive psychiatric evaluations to accurately diagnose mental health conditions and inform appropriate treatment decisions.
- Prescribe medications in accordance with established protocols and monitor patient responses effectively.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to enhance patient care and ensure continuity of services.
- Educate patients and families on mental health conditions, treatment options, and coping strategies.
- Implement evidence-based practices to improve patient outcomes and optimize therapeutic interventions.
- Mentor junior staff in clinical procedures, fostering professional development and knowledge sharing.
- Maintained comprehensive, accurate, and timely electronic health records to support ongoing assessment and treatment planning efforts.
- Developed strong therapeutic alliances with patients through active listening skills and empathic understanding of their personal experiences.
- Strengthened relationships with patients' families by providing ongoing support, education, and guidance throughout the treatment process.
Registered Nurse, Inpatient Psychiatric Unit
Dell Children's Medical Center
Austin, TX
01.2022 - Current
- Collaborated with physicians, social workers, and other departments to review the patient's level of care needs.
- Performed bio-psychosocial assessments according to standards of nursing practice and developed a nursing plan of care for patients.
- Advocated for patients by communicating care preferences to practitioners, verifying interventions met treatment goals, and identifying insurance coverage limitations.
- Applied de-escalation and limit-setting techniques to promote patient care and safety.
- Educated parents on the psychiatric inpatient process, unit policies, patient care, medications, and planning after stay.
- Contributed substantially to successful department JCAHO accreditation by consistently operating to the highest standards of care.
- Trained and mentored new nursing staff on best practices in psychiatric care and safety protocols.
Registered Nurse, Residential Treatment Center
Meridell Achievement Center
Austin , TX
02.2021 - 09.2022
- Administered medications and treatment to patients and monitored responses while working with healthcare teams to adjust care plans.
- Facilitated therapeutic communication, conflict resolution, and crisis intervention by redirecting negative behaviors and helping patients regain or improve coping abilities.
- Quickly responded to situations impacting the safety and security of the unit, actualizing crisis prevention interventions to control and de-escalate situations.
Teaching Assistant
University Of Texas, School Of Nursing
Austin, Texas
08.2020 - 12.2021
- Created lesson plans and course content to facilitate classroom discussions and student-centered learning.
- Kept students on-task with proactive behavior modification and positive reinforcement strategies.
- Networked with other educators to promote awareness of advanced and effective teaching practices.
- Delivered personalized educational, behavioral, and emotional support to individual students to enable positive learning outcomes.
Research Assistant
University Of Texas, School Of Nursing
Austin, Texas
08.2018 - 07.2019
- Collected data through nighttime observations on agitation in individuals with Alzheimer's disease and Restless Leg Syndrome behaviors.
- Entered and saved data using Research Electronic Data Capture with high accuracy and precision.
- Communicated with nursing home facility staff, residents, and residents' family members in a respectful and conducive manner.
Direct Support Professional
Community Options Inc.
Austin, Texas
06.2018 - 07.2019
- Assisted individuals with disabilities with self-care and daily tasks.
- Administered medications and completed appropriate documentation.
- Updated patient files with current information about vitals, behaviors, and other data relevant to treatment planning.
- Assisted in improving problem-solving skills, emotional expression, and communication skills.
Mathematics Teacher
Bastrop Independent School District
Cedar Creek, TX
08.2016 - 05.2018
- Developed and implemented engaging lesson plans aligned with state standards.
- Diversified teaching techniques and learning tools help students with differing ability levels and varied learning modalities.
- Engaged parents and guardians in their children's learning process, leading to more supportive home study environments.
Education
Postgraduate - PMHNP Certification
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX2025
Master of Science - Nursing
The University Of Texas At Austin
Austin, TX12-2021
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
The University Of Texas At Austin
Austin, TX05-2014
Skills
- Psychiatric evaluation
- Medication management
- Clinical documentation
- Suicide risk assessment
- Trauma-informed mental health assessment and care
- De-escalation techniques
- Trust-Based Relational Intervention
Certification
- Licensed Registered Nurse (RN) , July 2020 - October 2025
- Basic Life Support (BLS) - American Heart Association, December 2026
- Nonviolent Crisis Intervention with Advanced Physical Skill - Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI), February 2026
Timeline
Advanced Practice Provider Instructor Fellow
Colorado University, Anschutz
11.2025 - Current
Registered Nurse, Inpatient Psychiatric Unit
Dell Children's Medical Center
01.2022 - Current
Registered Nurse, Residential Treatment Center
Meridell Achievement Center
02.2021 - 09.2022
Teaching Assistant
University Of Texas, School Of Nursing
08.2020 - 12.2021
Research Assistant
University Of Texas, School Of Nursing
08.2018 - 07.2019
Direct Support Professional
Community Options Inc.
06.2018 - 07.2019
Mathematics Teacher
Bastrop Independent School District
08.2016 - 05.2018
Master of Science - Nursing
The University Of Texas At Austin
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
The University Of Texas At Austin
Postgraduate - PMHNP Certification
Texas A&M University