Divya Cecilia Dsouza
Clinical Nurse Specialist,Psychiatry
Doha
Summary
With 16 years of experience in Postgraduate Mental Health Nursing, I have worked in various roles within the clinical, administrative, academic, and research sectors. My focus is on providing compassionate care and support to individuals on their recovery journey. Currently, I serve as a Clinical Nurse Specialist with a strong interest in Sleep and Mental Health, Physical Health in Mental Health, and Women's Mental Health. I actively contribute to quality improvement efforts by developing and implementing Clinical Practice Guidelines/Protocols and Policies. My approach combines empathy with expertise to make a positive impact on the lives of those under my care. I am excited to continue my contributions to the field of mental health.
Overview
2025
2025
years of professional experience
4024
4024
years of post-secondary education
5
5
Certifications
Work History
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Hamad Medical Corporation
3 2023 - Current
- Company Overview: Mental Health Services
- Conduct holistic assessments with patient, family, and interdisciplinary input, providing targeted support across Female, Male 5, Male 4 North, and Women Wellness units
- Active participant in MDT Neuromodulation meetings and in training nurses on advanced care techniques
- Lead CNS-led clinics offering health coaching and CBT-I for sleep, promoting overall mental and physical wellness
- Esteemed speaker at the Person-Centered Care Forum 2023 and Mental Health Research Symposium 2024, presenting on person-centered physical health improvements and CBT-I, with impactful audience engagement
- Published Research work
- Nelson D, Haddad PM, Nazarene A, Varghese S, Badanapurkar A, Dsouza DC
- Satisfaction on COVID-19 psychoeducation among patients with Severe Mental Illness of community mental health services, Qatar
- J Glob Health Sci
- 2023 Jan;4(2): e14
- Https://doi.org/10.35500/jghs.2022.4.e14
- Ongoing Research Work: 1.MRC-01-24-535 approved 'Exploring the Prevalence and Relationship Between Sleep Myths, and Attitudes Towards Sleep, Sleep Disturbances, and Pharmacological Interventions in Patient Care among the nurses of Mental Health Services, Qatar'
- Mental Health Services
Clinical Nurse Specialist Intern
Hamad Medical Corporation
03.2020 - 03.2023
- Company Overview: Mental Health Services
- Conduct holistic assessments and deliver specialized care across multiple units, focusing on health promotion, disease prevention, and patient advocacy
- Develop and implement guidelines (e.g., smoking cessation, therapeutic engagement, aggression minimization) to improve clinical practice and patient outcomes
- Lead quality initiatives, such as audits on nursing documentation and competency development, ensuring evidence-based practices and curriculum improvements
- Active member and chair in key committees, contributing to strategic planning in mental health services and continuity of care
- Facilitate therapeutic groups, lead research initiatives, and mentor staff through clinics (e.g., CBT-I, sleep hygiene), journal clubs, and clinical supervision
- Mental Health Services
Head Nurse
Hamad Medical Corporation
11.2017 - 02.2020
- Company Overview: Mental Health Services
- Supports the integration of clinical, human, and financial resources to enhance and complete the decision-making processes
- Supports the Nursing team in delivering high-quality care to the patients
- Ensures up-to-date educational qualifications and skills of the nursing staff
- Consult with multidisciplinary team members to deliver high-quality care to the patients
- Ensure that nurses are supported to develop in a safe environment where there is adequate supervision and support
- Regulate and monitor the JCI standards in the units
- Lead Family Involvement in inpatient care and therapeutic group QI projects
- Ensured the therapeutic milieu of the ward and introduced various diversional and therapeutic activities such as art therapy, gardening, movie days, etc
- Mental Health Services
Nurse Educator
Hamad Medical Corporation
10.2016 - 10.2017
- Company Overview: Mental Health Services
- I Worked as an Acting Nurse educator, to support educational activities in the Psychiatric Department of Hamad Medical Corporation
- Delivered quality education in clinical and classroom settings like Mental status examination, Health improvement profile, the foundation of contemporary mental health care, working with families impacted by mental illness, Suicide Nursing care, new staff welcome program & facilitating therapeutic groups
- Encourage and support staff in developing clinical teaching rounds, case clubs, and journal clubs
- Ensuring the staff are up to date with their practice and competent to perform mental health care
- Worked closely with the nursing education team during the launch of Lippincott competencies
- Developed a project plan for Building a therapeutic group program for inpatient units
- Participated in quality initiative programs such as HIP, smoking cessation, and therapeutic groups
- Mental Health Services
Charge Nurse
Hamad Medical Corporation
05.2015 - 10.2016
- Company Overview: Mental Health Services
- Promoted as a charge nurse under Forensic Psychiatry Unit
- I also worked as a shift coordinator to support house nursing supervisory activities in the department
- Assessing, monitoring, and caring for patients
- Communicating with upper management regarding Nurse performance, staff issues, and changes to treatment protocols
- Performing administrative tasks, such as creating staff schedules and ordering supplies
- Organizing training seminars and courses to educate new staff or introduce new procedures and protocols
- Evaluating staff performance and providing corrective measures if necessary
- Providing clinical and administrative supervision
- Mental Health Services
Staff Nurse
Hamad Medical Corporation
12.2012 - 09.2015
- Company Overview: Mental Health Services
- Worked as a staff nurse in Male Psychiatry Unit 2 and Female Psychiatry Unit
- Performed duties of a shift in charge
- Deliver high-quality patient care through comprehensive assessment, planning, and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams
- Ensure adherence to nursing standards and policies
- Engage in clinical supervision, lead in-service education, and pursue ongoing learning
- Conduct a journal club, and provide orientation and fieldwork support for new staff, nursing students, and students from other disciplines
- Take on In-Charge shifts as needed, delegate and supervise junior nurses, ensuring safe practice within scope
- Actively participate in reflective practice and uphold accountability for clinical decisions
- Maintain a professional portfolio, setting and achieving development goals to support personal and team growth
- Mental Health Services
Nursing Lecturer
Zulekha Nursing College
09.2011 - 10.2012
- Preparing curriculum for Psychiatric Nursing and Advanced nursing subjects
- Involved in clinical nursing supervision and teaching Mental health nursing skills to nursing students
- Participating and guiding nursing students in the formulation of the research proposal, conducting research studies, and writing a thesis
- Supervising clinical instructors and guiding them in the preparation of instructional materials/ curriculum
Clinical Instructor
Masood College of Nursing
10.2007 - 03.2009
- Preparing instructional materials for Psychiatric Nursing and Advanced nursing subjects
- Involved in clinical nursing supervision and Imparting Mental health nursing skills to nursing students
- Participating and guiding nursing students in the formulation of the research proposal, conducting research studies, and writing a thesis
- Supervising clinical instructors and guiding them in the preparation of instructional materials
- Planning, and developing materials for mental health education and disseminating the education in the community
Education
Master of Science - Mental Health Nursing
K. Pandyarajah Ballal College of Nursing
Mangalore, KarnatakaBachelor of Science - Nursing
Unity College of Nursing
Mangalore, KarnatakaPost Graduation Diploma - Counselling and Psychotherapy
Kuvempu University
Skills
Leadership and Management
JCI Hospital Standards
Staff development
Patient education strategies
Guidelines/Protocols/Policy Development
Patient confidentiality
Staff education and training
Shared governance
Quality improvement initiatives
Leadership and management
Patient care planning
Team recruitment
Nursing assignment
Mental health care
Certification
Clinical Health Coach, 03/01/22, Iowa Chronic Care Consortium
References
- Ms. Deborah Nelson, Executive Director of Nursing/Line Manager, 0097455247155, dnelson.nelson486@gmail.com
- Ms. Zandie le Fleming Hodgson, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Hamad Medical Corporation, 0097450502140, ZHodgson@hamad.qa
Licensingandregistrations
- Registered Nurse (Division1), Nursing and Midwifery Board, Australian Health Practitioner Regulatory Agency, NMW0002871346
- Registered Nurse, New Zealand Nursing Council, 347206
- Clinical Nurse Specialist-Psychiatry, Qatar Council for Health Care Practitioner (QCHP), 14662
- Registered Nurse/ Midwife, The Karnataka State Nursing Council, 8022, Inactive
- MSN in Psychiatry Nursing, The Karnataka State Nursing Council, 3109, Inactive
Timeline
Clinical Nurse Specialist Intern
Hamad Medical Corporation
03.2020 - 03.2023
Head Nurse
Hamad Medical Corporation
11.2017 - 02.2020
Nurse Educator
Hamad Medical Corporation
10.2016 - 10.2017
Charge Nurse
Hamad Medical Corporation
05.2015 - 10.2016
Staff Nurse
Hamad Medical Corporation
12.2012 - 09.2015
Nursing Lecturer
Zulekha Nursing College
09.2011 - 10.2012
Clinical Instructor
Masood College of Nursing
10.2007 - 03.2009
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Unity College of Nursing
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Hamad Medical Corporation
3 2023 - Current
Master of Science - Mental Health Nursing
K. Pandyarajah Ballal College of Nursing
Post Graduation Diploma - Counselling and Psychotherapy
Kuvempu University