Kathryn Gorham/ KPG Solutions LLC

Inpatient Psychiatry – Child, Adolescent, Adult & Geriatric Services
Vermilion Behavioral Health Systems – Lafayette, Louisiana

As a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), I provide comprehensive psychiatric care to children, adolescents, adults, and geriatric patients in an acute inpatient behavioral health setting. I evaluate, diagnose, and manage a wide range of psychiatric and substance use disorders while collaborating with a multidisciplinary treatment team to promote patient stabilization, safety, and recovery.

• Perform comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, including mental status examinations, psychosocial assessments, and suicide/homicide risk assessments.
• Diagnose psychiatric disorders utilizing DSM-5-TR criteria.
• Develop individualized treatment plans based on patient presentation and clinical needs.
• Initiate, adjust, and monitor psychotropic medications while assessing efficacy, adverse effects, and medication adherence.
• Manage patients experiencing acute psychiatric crises, including psychosis, mania, severe depression, suicidal ideation, aggression, and substance intoxication or withdrawal.
• Conduct daily follow-up evaluations to assess symptom progression, medication response, and readiness for discharge.
• Provide medication education and psychoeducation to patients and families regarding diagnoses, treatment options, relapse prevention, and recovery.
• Collaborate with psychiatrists, nursing staff, therapists, social workers, case managers, and other healthcare professionals to coordinate comprehensive inpatient care.
• Participate in interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, treatment planning, and discharge planning to ensure continuity of care.
• Evaluate patients for involuntary commitment criteria and determine appropriate levels of psychiatric care.
• Order, review, and interpret laboratory studies, diagnostic tests, and medical evaluations pertinent to psychiatric treatment.
• Manage co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders, including alcohol, opioid, stimulant, cannabis, and sedative use disorders.
• Document accurate, timely, and compliant psychiatric evaluations, progress notes, admission histories and physicals, discharge summaries, and medication management notes in the electronic medical record.
• Ensure compliance with Joint Commission standards, CMS regulations, Louisiana state regulations, and evidence-based psychiatric practice guidelines.
• Provide trauma-informed, culturally competent, patient-centered care while maintaining patient safety and therapeutic rapport.

• Children and Adolescents (ages 5–17)
• Adults (18 years and older)
• Geriatric patients
• Patients with acute psychiatric disorders, substance use disorders, and dual diagnoses

• Major Depressive Disorder
• Bipolar I and II Disorders
• Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders
• Schizoaffective Disorder
• Anxiety Disorders
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Personality Disorders
• Alcohol and Substance Use Disorders
• Delirium and Neurocognitive Disorders
• Suicidal and Homicidal Ideation
• Behavioral disturbances requiring acute psychiatric stabilization

• Psychiatric Assessment
• Diagnostic Evaluation (DSM-5-TR)
• Psychopharmacology
• Crisis Intervention
• Suicide Risk Assessment
• Medication Management
• Inpatient Psychiatry
• Substance Use Disorder Treatment
• Dual Diagnosis Management
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration
• Discharge Planning
• Evidence-Based Practice
• Electronic Medical Record Documentation
• Patient and Family Education
• Trauma-Informed Care

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
The Sanctuary – Iowa, Louisiana

As a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) in the Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), I provide comprehensive psychiatric assessment, medication management, and ongoing treatment for adults with acute and chronic mental health and co-occurring substance use disorders. I collaborate with an interdisciplinary treatment team to deliver evidence-based, patient-centered care that promotes symptom stabilization, recovery, and improved functioning while allowing patients to remain in their home and community environments.

• Conduct comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, including psychiatric history, mental status examinations, and suicide/homicide risk assessments.
• Diagnose mental health and substance use disorders using DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria.
• Develop individualized, evidence-based treatment plans in collaboration with patients, families, therapists, and the multidisciplinary treatment team.
• Initiate, prescribe, adjust, and monitor psychotropic medications for a wide range of psychiatric conditions.
• Provide medication management and monitor therapeutic response, side effects, and medication adherence.
• Evaluate and manage patients with co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders.
• Perform ongoing psychiatric follow-up assessments to monitor clinical progress and modify treatment plans as needed.
• Provide psychoeducation regarding psychiatric diagnoses, medications, coping strategies, relapse prevention, and recovery-oriented care.
• Collaborate closely with therapists, counselors, case managers, nursing staff, and primary care providers to coordinate comprehensive treatment.
• Assess patients for changes in acuity and determine when a higher or lower level of care is clinically indicated.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and compliant documentation in the electronic medical record, including psychiatric evaluations, medication management notes, and treatment plan updates.
• Participate in multidisciplinary treatment team meetings, case consultations, and discharge planning to ensure continuity of care.
• Ensure compliance with state regulations, evidence-based psychiatric practice guidelines, and organizational quality standards.

• Male
• Adults
• Individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders

• Major Depressive Disorder
• Bipolar Disorders
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Panic Disorder
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders
• Substance Use Disorders
• Mood Disorders
• Personality Disorders

• Psychiatric Assessment
• Psychopharmacology
• Medication Management
• DSM-5-TR Diagnostic Evaluation
• Crisis Assessment
• Suicide Risk Assessment
• Substance Use Disorder Treatment
• Intensive Outpatient Psychiatry
• Evidence-Based Practice
• Motivational Interviewing
• Trauma-Informed Care
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration
• Patient and Family Education
• Relapse Prevention
• Electronic Medical Record Documentation

• The charge and telemetry nurse provides clinical leadership and nursing expertise in the management of patients requiring continuous cardiac monitoring. This dual-role nurse serves as both a front-line caregiver and unit leader, ensuring quality care, team coordination, and efficient unit operations during their shift. The nurse monitors patients with acute or chronic cardiac conditions and is proficient in telemetry interpretation and response. As a charge, the nurse facilitates patient flow, supports staff, and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to maintain optimal patient outcomes and staff performance.

• Lead group meetings in Intensive Outpatient Therapy. As an outpatient therapy group leader, I provided structured, evidence-based group counseling and support for men in sober living. My role focuses on fostering recovery, accountability, emotional growth, and life-skills development within a safe and therapeutic environment. I serve as a clinical guide, mentor, and facilitator who helps clients strengthen their sobriety, build resilience, and transition toward independent, healthy living.

• The role of a charge and telemetry nurse involves providing clinical leadership and nursing expertise in the management of patients requiring continuous cardiac monitoring. This dual role nurse serves as both a front line caregiver and unit leader, ensuring quality care, team coordination, and efficient unit operations during their shift. The nurse monitors patients with acute or chronic cardiac conditions and is proficient in telemetry interpretation and response. As a charge, the nurse facilitates patient flow, supports staff, and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to maintain optimal patient outcomes and staff performance.