Erica Castro, MS, RN, PMHNP-BC
Sacramento,CA
Summary
Compassionate, innovative Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse practitioner who excels at complex medication management, psychotherapy and holistic, patient-centered care. Demonstrated excellent leadership and teaching skills with a passion for providing patient-centered, recovery-oriented care.
Overview
2026
2026
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Telecare Corporation
02.2020 - Current
- Established a medication management service in a startup program
- Providing high quality care to a high acuity population in a community-based program with a caseload of more that 120 patients
- Managing highly complex medication regimens
- Facilitating clinical case conferences for prescribers
- Creating and presenting educational lectures for field staff
- Precepting three nurse practitioner students and mentoring new nurse practitioners
- Working with leadership to improve program workflow and outcomes
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Acacia Counseling And Wellness
06.2019 - 02.2020
- Independently developed a psychiatry service as the first and only prescriber at the Davis location
- Provided culturally competent medication services to members of a diverse university community
- Supported clients with implementing non-medical interventions for symptom management such as sleep hygiene and general wellness practices
- Utilized telepsychiatry to provide high-quality care to clients across the state
- Contributed to development of company-wide policies and procedures for medication services
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Stars Behavioral Health Group
08.2018 - 02.2020
- Independently providing holistic, strengths-based medication management services for transitional age youth in an FPS
- Demonstrated ability to provide culturally competent care to meet the unique needs of the TAY population
- Assessing, diagnosing and managing complex medication regimens for a high-acuity panel of more than 80 youth
- Working collaboratively with team members from other disciplines in a fast-paced environment
- Precepting a Nurse Practitioner student in addition to clinical responsibilities
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
San Francisco VA Healthcare System
09.2018 - 06.2019
- Provided longitudinal medication management services to the veteran population in a community-based outpatient clinic
- Triaged and provided crisis assessment to walk-in patients presenting with urgent needs
- Engaged in motivational interviewing and providing trauma-informed, patient-centered care
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Resident
San Francisco VA Healthcare System
2017 - 06.2018
- Opioid Treatment Program: assessed and treated patients with Opioid Use Disorder as well as complex medical and psychiatric comorbidities by managing methadone, suboxone, vivitrol regimens along with general psychotropic medications, worked as a member of an interdisciplinary team, utilized motivational interviewing to assist with identifying patient's goals and values and helped them to utilize their strengths to achieve them, provided teaching to staff about opioid replacement treatment
- Psychiatric Emergency Service: efficiently and thoroughly assessed and managed patients presenting with psychiatric emergencies, working under pressure and managing multiple rapidly evolving priorities
- Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit: provided intensive medication management and brief psychotherapy to patients on an inpatient psychiatric unit, provided individualized treatment and discharge planning to facilitate a smooth transition to lower level of care, consulted with other specialties and advocated for patients to ensure that their needs were met
- General Outpatient Service: provided longitudinal medication management and monitoring for patients seeking care for various psychiatric complaints including depression, mood disorders and psychosis, engaged in motivational interviewing as well as CBT and DBT-informed therapy
Nurse Practitioner Student
Kaiser Redwood City
01.2016 - 01.2017
- Performed intake assessments and psychiatric evaluation for patients presenting to IOP with a variety of mental health conditions
- Provided medication management under preceptor supervision and make adjustments as necessary
Registered Nurse
San Francisco VA Medical Center
2015 - 2017
- Provided strengths-based care in accordance with the harm-reduction model
- Safely dispensed methadone and buprenorphine while monitoring for side effects and effectiveness; created a welcoming and patient-centered environment at an opiate treatment clinic
- Thoroughly assessed and performed crisis care and care coordination for patients presenting to the ER with psychiatric emergencies
- Administered medications and provided care in accordance with patient's goals and values, cared for patients with multiple complex medical and psychiatric comorbidities, completed thorough documentation and advocated for patient's needs on an in-patient psychiatric unit
Nurse Practitioner Student
UCSF Psychiatric Consult Service
09.2016 - 12.2016
- Performed patient-centered assessment and treatment on a consult-liasone service with medically complex patients presenting with psychiatric complaints in the ER and on medical floors under the supervision of an attending physician
- Thoroughly and efficiently assessed safety, symptoms and self-care abilities
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary team members to formulate treatment plans and provide comprehensive care to patients
Health Aid
Mount Hermon Association
2015 - 2015
- Worked independently to manage daily operations of summer camp health clinic
- Provided first aid and detailed documentation of patient visits
- Communicated with other nurses and departments throughout campus to ensure that patient needs were met
- Demonstrated leadership by taking initiative to improve clinic operations and patient experience and by training and providing on-going support to new nurses and health staff
Hospice Volunteer
Harbor Light Hospice
2012 - 2014
- Visited hospice patients and provided companionship and meaningful activities
Behavioral Health Specialist
Timberline Knolls
2011 - 2014
- Supervised 35 residents in a residential setting
- Established therapeutic relationships and assisted residents with emotion regulation and distress tolerance
- Responded calmly and effectively to crisis situations
- Facilitated groups while managing disruptions
- Demonstrated leadership by training new staff, overseeing daily schedule, delegating shift responsibilities and coordinating communication between team members
Care Manager
Sunrise Senior Living
2008 - 2010
- Assisted dementia patients with activities of daily living while managing challenging behaviors
- Facilitated engaging and meaningful group activities for residents with varied levels of functioning
Education
Master of Science - Master's Entry Nursing Program, Psychiatric Track
University Of California
San Francisco2017
B.A - Psychology, Spanish
Wheaton College
Wheaton, IL2011
Skills
- Experienced with assessment and management of psychiatric emergencies and suicide risk assessment
- Adept at complex psychotropic medication management
- Skilled at CBT and DBT- informed supportive therapy
- Skilled at managing opioid treatment modalities including methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone
- Intermediate proficiency in Spanish
- Competent at delivering patient-centered, trauma-informed care
- Demonstrated leadership abilities
- Adept at treatment and discharge planning
- Experienced with dual diagnosis treatment
- Proficient at motivational interviewing
- Dedicated preceptor and mentor to student and new graduate nurse practitioners
Certification
- Registered Nurse in California since 2015
- ANCC Certified in Psychiatric and Mental Health
- Current BLS
- Medication Assisted Treatment waiver for opioid use disorder
Presentations
- Clozaril: a Guide for Field Staff at Telecare ARISE. Presentation at all-staff meeting October 2, 2021.
- Lithium: a Guide for Field Staff at Telecare ARISE. Presentation at all-staff meeting May 7, 2021.
- Opioid Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution (OEND) Prescribing Patterns at San Francisco VA Health Care System (SFVAHCS). Poster presentation at the American Psychiatric Nurses Association Annual Conference 2018, Columbus, Ohio, October 24th, 2018.
- Opioid Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution (OEND) Prescribing Patterns at San Francisco VA Health Care System (SFVAHCS). Poster presentation at University of California San Francisco Addictions Poster Session, San Francisco, CA, May 1, 2018.
Timeline
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Telecare Corporation
02.2020 - Current
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Acacia Counseling And Wellness
06.2019 - 02.2020
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
San Francisco VA Healthcare System
09.2018 - 06.2019
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Stars Behavioral Health Group
08.2018 - 02.2020
Nurse Practitioner Student
UCSF Psychiatric Consult Service
09.2016 - 12.2016
Nurse Practitioner Student
Kaiser Redwood City
01.2016 - 01.2017
Master of Science - Master's Entry Nursing Program, Psychiatric Track
University Of California
B.A - Psychology, Spanish
Wheaton College
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Resident
San Francisco VA Healthcare System
2017 - 06.2018
Registered Nurse
San Francisco VA Medical Center
2015 - 2017
Health Aid
Mount Hermon Association
2015 - 2015
Hospice Volunteer
Harbor Light Hospice
2012 - 2014
Behavioral Health Specialist
Timberline Knolls
2011 - 2014
Care Manager
Sunrise Senior Living
2008 - 2010
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