Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
References
Timeline
Generic

LOVELLA SIM-PARCASIO

Mental Health Counselor RN
Cerritos,CA

Summary

Seasoned Mental Health Counselor with extensive experience in crisis intervention and mental health assessment, particularly at the Department of Mental Health (DMH LA County). Demonstrated expertise in psychiatric crisis response, complemented by strong active listening and team collaboration skills. Successfully enhanced patient outcomes through targeted mental health education and establishing therapeutic rapport. Career focus includes leveraging these competencies to further advance community mental health initiatives.

Overview

28
28
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Mental Health Counselor

Department of Mental Health (DMH LA County)
Long Beach, CA
07.2009 - Current
  • Provides psychiatric crisis response team partnered with the Long Beach Police Department in reply to urgent requests to evaluate the mental status of the persons who appear dangerous to themselves or others, or who appear to be gravely disabled due to mental illness.
  • Participates in the evaluation and screening process, making observation and recommendation as to the need for follow up services or acute hospitalization
  • Conducts initial interviews and ongoing assessments of the client's presenting problems, including mental status, level of functioning, developmental status, social and employment skills, co-occurring substance abuse problems, and mental and physical health.
  • Obtains the client's social and medical history, and integrates the assessment of physical health problems that impact the client's mental illness.
  • Assesses the client's suicidal or homicidal tendencies, potential for violence towards self or others, and grave disability; makes independent judgment with respect to the client's need for involuntary treatment, and when appropriate, signs the application for immediate 72-hour detention at a hospital facility.
  • Provides mental health referrals and resources, and assists in mental health linkage.
  • Developed therapeutic relationships with clients and their families to ensure effective communication.
  • Maintained detailed records of client progress in accordance with HIPAA regulations.
  • Assist Long Beach Police department in educating the Police Academy and the Field Training Officers about mental health which includes:

SB29 training for LBPD Field Training Officers (FTOs): Our team provides 8 hours of POST-approved training, consisting of mental health training and de-escalation techniques. The following topics are discussed:

  • Stigma related to mental illness and how to reduce stigma
  • Indicators of mental illness, intellectual disabilities, and developmental disabilities
  • Mental health resources
  • De-escalation techniques

Our team also teaches a 15-hour academy course: Learning Domain 37, People with Disabilities, which consists of the following:

  • Disability laws: Americans with Disabilities Act, Peace officer interactions with people with disabilities
  • Intellectual/developmental disabilities
  • Physical disabilities and the laws protecting people with disabilities.
  • Mental Illness/resources and referrals
  • Lanter-Petris-Short Act

Actively participates in Long Beach City community meetings.

Psych Clinical Instructor

Cerritos College
Norwalk, CA
09.2009 - 01.2010
  • Part-time nursing instructor responsible for clinical teaching in psychiatric nursing
  • Mentor student cohorts during psychiatric rotation
  • Provide direct supervision and teaching to student in clinical areas

Infection Control Practitioner/ Nurse Educator

College Hospital Cerritos (Acute Psychiatric Facility)
Cerritos, CA
02.1997 - 09.2009
  • Responsible for providing surveillance throughout the hospital in order to identify, investigate, and record data concerning Nosocomial infections; is directly responsible for initiating Infection Control Measures as directed; and is accountable for Infection Control in-services and education throughout the hospital
  • Effectively proctors all newly hired licensed RNs/LVNs and LPTs
  • Regularly plans, arranges and supervises orientation of newly hired CNAs and Mental Health Workers
  • Proctors all newly hired or newly promoted Nursing Management Staff
  • Regularly plans, arranges for and presents specific classes for newly hired staff according to assessment of their educational needs indicated by the Employee Survey
  • Effectively assist with medical clearances and evaluations for admissions of walk-in patients
  • Evaluates in-patients for a hold if they are requesting for Against Medical Advice (AMA)
  • LPS designated

Psychiatric Out Patient RN part Time

Urgent Care Nursing Resource
La Mirada, California
07.2003 - 09.2004

Assistant House Supervisor

College Hospital Cerritos (Acute Psychiatric Facility)
11.1999 - 01.2004
  • Manages and coordinates the activities of nursing personnel for a given shift with responsibility for outcome throughout the facility
  • Performs a variety of functions for assigned shift including the interpretation of department policy and procedures for nursing staff; participates in the identification and investigation of problems, preparation of reports, and implementation of the improvement of nursing care; provides for staff training and evaluates personnel performance
  • LPS designation, evaluates patients for psych hospitalization

Staff RN Per Diem (Crisis Resolution Unit)

UCLA Harbor Medical Center
Torrance, California
07.2000 - 11.2002

Staff RN

College Hospital Cerritos (Acute Psychiatric Facility)
02.1997 - 11.1999
  • Provides direct medical and programmatic nursing care applicable to unit assigned (Youth Services =children 3-12 and adolescents ages 13-17; Adult General/ ICU/ EICU = patients ages 18+; Geriatric =patients, ages 62+) utilizing the nursing process and participating in patient and family teaching and discharge planning
  • Assumes responsibility for completing assigned duties and supervision of non-licensed nursing staff, LVN’s and LPT’s
  • Works cooperatively with patient care personnel to maintain standards of professional nursing practice in the clinical setting

Staff RN Part Time (Geropsyche Unit)

Los Alamitos Medical Center
Los Alamitos, California
07.1998 - 09.1999

Home Health Nurse RN/ Supervisor Part Time

Home Care Link
Cerritos, California
08.1997 - 08.1998

Charge Nurse

Pacific Palms Sub Acute Hospital
Norwalk, California
11.1996 - 01.1997

Education

Associate Degree - Nursing

Cerritos College
Norwalk, California
05.1996

Skills

  • Crisis intervention
  • Mental health assessment
  • Psychiatric evaluation
  • Mental health education
  • Therapeutic rapport
  • Active listening
  • Team collaboration
  • Cultural competence
  • Crisis management
  • Patient advocacy
  • Mental health evaluations
  • Safety and risk assessments
  • Suicide prevention
  • Case documentation

Certification

  • LPS Designation (LA County)
  • CPR (American Heart Association)

References

Available upon request.

Timeline

Psych Clinical Instructor

Cerritos College
09.2009 - 01.2010

Mental Health Counselor

Department of Mental Health (DMH LA County)
07.2009 - Current

Psychiatric Out Patient RN part Time

Urgent Care Nursing Resource
07.2003 - 09.2004

Staff RN Per Diem (Crisis Resolution Unit)

UCLA Harbor Medical Center
07.2000 - 11.2002

Assistant House Supervisor

College Hospital Cerritos (Acute Psychiatric Facility)
11.1999 - 01.2004

Staff RN Part Time (Geropsyche Unit)

Los Alamitos Medical Center
07.1998 - 09.1999

Home Health Nurse RN/ Supervisor Part Time

Home Care Link
08.1997 - 08.1998

Infection Control Practitioner/ Nurse Educator

College Hospital Cerritos (Acute Psychiatric Facility)
02.1997 - 09.2009

Staff RN

College Hospital Cerritos (Acute Psychiatric Facility)
02.1997 - 11.1999

Charge Nurse

Pacific Palms Sub Acute Hospital
11.1996 - 01.1997
  • LPS Designation (LA County)
  • CPR (American Heart Association)

Associate Degree - Nursing

Cerritos College
LOVELLA SIM-PARCASIOMental Health Counselor RN