Lucy Onsarigo
Painesville,Ohio
Summary
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with clinical experience delivering evidence-based psychiatric care to adults and older adults in gerontology and behavioral health settings. Provides psychiatric assessment, psychopharmacology management, and individualized treatment planning for complex medical and psychiatric conditions. Delivers care for veterans with dementia, cognitive impairment, and behavioral symptoms in long-term care and post-acute environments.
Holds a Certificate in Gerontology, providing additional specialized knowledge in aging, dementia care, and the unique behavioral health needs of older adults. Skilled in psychiatric assessment, psychopharmacology, individualized treatment planning, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Committed to providing evidence-based psychiatric care that improves quality of life, promotes behavioral stability, and supports the overall well-being of elderly patients in long-term care and post-acute settings.
Overview
1
1
Certification
4
4
years of professional experience
Work History
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Windsor Laurelwood Behavioral Health
09.2025 - Current
- Provide comprehensive psychiatric care in inpatient and outpatient settings for children, adolescents, adults, and geriatric patients.
- Perform complete psychiatric evaluations, psychiatric histories, mental status examinations, DSM-5 diagnostic assessments, and differential diagnoses.
- Treat schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, OCD, ADHD, personality disorders, dementia, delirium, and neurocognitive disorders.
- Evaluated and managed patients with co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders, facilitating comprehensive treatment plans for alcohol, opioid, stimulant, benzodiazepine, cannabis, and polysubstance use disorders.
- Assess withdrawal symptoms, relapse risk, recovery readiness, and coordinate addiction treatment and medication-assisted treatment when appropriate.
- Initiate, adjust, and monitor psychotropic medications while evaluating therapeutic response, side effects, laboratory findings, and medication adherence.
- Conducted risk assessments for suicide, homicide, violence, and self-harm, implementing individualized safety interventions to ensure patient well-being.
- Stabilize psychiatric emergencies including psychosis, mania, severe depression, agitation, aggression, behavioral disturbances, and withdrawal syndromes.
- Collaborated with psychiatrists, therapists, addiction counselors, nurses, social workers, pharmacists, and case managers to coordinate holistic patient care and treatment strategies.
- Educate patients and families regarding diagnoses, medications, relapse prevention, coping strategies, and discharge planning.
- Maintain accurate documentation compliant with Joint Commission, CMS, state regulations, and organizational standards.
Adjunct Professor of Nursing
Bryant & Stratton College
05.2024 - Current
- Taught psychiatric and medical-surgical nursing to practical nursing students through classroom, laboratory, simulation, and clinical instruction, enhancing clinical skills and knowledge application.
- Developed examinations and evaluated clinical competency while mentoring students, fostering evidence-based nursing practice and supporting student success.
- Collaborated with faculty to ensure curriculum quality and compliance with state nursing education standards, contributing to program accreditation and student readiness.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Sunrise Vista Behavioral Health
09.2024 - 09.2025
- Conducted psychiatric evaluations, managed medications, and facilitated follow-up visits for acute and chronic psychiatric illnesses to ensure comprehensive patient care.
- Developed individualized treatment plans, participated in interdisciplinary rounds, and provided crisis intervention.
- Educated patients and families on treatment options, medication adherence, and continuity of care to empower informed decision-making.
- Delivered tailored care to address individual patient needs and enhance overall treatment effectiveness.
Registered Nurse
Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Cleveland, OH
07.2022 - 07.2025
- Supported nursing care for elderly veterans with dementia, Alzheimer's disease, cognitive impairment, and coexisting medical and psychiatric conditions.
- Monitored behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, including agitation, aggression, anxiety, depression, confusion, and sleep disturbances.
- Worked with psychiatrists, physicians, nursing staff, social workers, and interdisciplinary teams to support individualized treatment plans for geriatric patients.
- Observed patient responses to prescribed psychiatric medications, identified possible adverse effects, and reported clinical changes to prescribing providers.
- Assisted with management of challenging dementia-related behaviors through individualized care approaches and appropriate behavioral interventions.
- Completed ongoing assessments of cognitive functioning, behavioral changes, patient safety, and overall clinical status.
- Promoted patient-centered care while protecting dignity, safety, and quality of life for elderly veterans with complex healthcare needs.
- Reported significant changes in mental status, behavior, and clinical condition to interdisciplinary treatment team.
Education
Master of Science in Nursing - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Walden University
01-2024
Bachelor of Science in Nursing -
University of Texas at Arlington
05-2021
Associate of Science in Nursing -
Ranger College
12-2019
Licensed Vocational Nursing -
Ranger College
08-2017
Skills
- Psychiatric evaluation and assessment
- Psychopharmacology and medication management
- Dual diagnosis expertise
- Addiction psychiatry and substance use disorders
- Crisis stabilization techniques
- Suicide risk assessment strategies
- Inpatient and outpatient psychiatry
- Child, adolescent, adult, and geriatric psychiatry
- Trauma-informed care practices
- Recovery-oriented care principles
- Interdisciplinary collaboration skills
- Patient and family education
- EHR documentation proficiency
Certification
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner – Board Certified (PMHNP-BC), ANCC
- Gerontological Nursing Certification (GERO-BC), ANCC
- APRN-CNP, Ohio
- Registered Nurse, Ohio
Credentials
- MSN
- PMHNP-BC
- GERO-BC
Timeline
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Windsor Laurelwood Behavioral Health
09.2025 - Current
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Sunrise Vista Behavioral Health
09.2024 - 09.2025
Adjunct Professor of Nursing
Bryant & Stratton College
05.2024 - Current
Registered Nurse
Veterans Affairs Medical Center
07.2022 - 07.2025
Master of Science in Nursing - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Walden University
Bachelor of Science in Nursing -
University of Texas at Arlington
Associate of Science in Nursing -
Ranger College
Licensed Vocational Nursing -
Ranger College