Matthew J. Smith
Nashville,TN
Summary
Experienced with psychological assessments, therapeutic interventions, and patient care. Utilizes evidence-based practices to support mental health treatment and improve patient outcomes. Knowledge of cognitive-behavioral techniques and patient-centered therapy approaches.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Psychiatric Registered Nurse
Centerstone
Nashville, TN
08.2025 - Current
- Managed all medical needs of patients and staff to ensure optimal health outcomes in a fast-paced outpatient psychiatric environment.
- Responded promptly to medical emergencies in clinic by assessing situations and activating emergency services as needed.
- Collaborated with therapists to provide timely medical assessments for patients exhibiting emergent symptoms.
- Executed medical procedures, including administration of psychotropic medication injections, to ensure patient care and treatment adherence.
- Initiated and managed clinic prescription prior authorization network and liaised with insurance companies to ensure prescription delivery to patient clientele.
- Facilitated communication with pharmacists to troubleshoot medication issues, supporting safe delivery and administration practices.
- Managed psychiatric, somatic, and medical concerns of patients through telephonic and in-person triage processes.
- Collected and evaluated lab data to support psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners in determining effective treatment strategies.
- Executed detailed psychological assessments to assess clients' mental health conditions and determine appropriate treatment strategies.
- Assessed client needs and implemented targeted therapeutic interventions to achieve specific goals.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to coordinate comprehensive care plans for clients.
- Maintained accurate documentation of client progress in compliance with ethical guidelines.
- Facilitated group therapy sessions, promoting peer support and collective coping strategies.
- Provided crisis intervention support, ensuring immediate safety and connecting clients with resources.
- Mentored nursing students on clinical best practices and effective therapeutic techniques.
- Collected information about individuals or clients using interviews, observational techniques, and other assessment methods.
- Assisted clients with gaining insights, establishing clear goals and planning strategies to reach personal targets.
- Compiled detailed client histories using intake forms, interviews and assessments to build complete picture for determining optimal therapeutic approaches.
- Referred clients to other specialists, institutions or support services as necessary.
- Leverages excellent oral and written communication skills to interact professionally with staff and clients.
- Identified indications of mental deficiency, abnormal behavior, or maladjustment through direct observation.
- Helped clients obtain outside specialist services by coordinating referrals and advising on options.
- Offered perspective on effectiveness of treatments concerning conditions such as depression and anxiety.
- Aided general practitioners and specialists with handling complex cases by consulting on psychological diagnoses and treatments.
- Critically analyzed and interpreted reports related to opioid addiction, self-harm and psychosis across many healthcare domains.
- Analyzed treatment outcomes to refine therapeutic approaches and enhance client engagement.
- Employed diverse psychometric tools to evaluate patients' cognitive abilities, emotional functioning, and personality traits.
- Improved patient outcomes by implementing evidence-based therapeutic interventions in individual and group sessions.
- Promoted client autonomy by teaching adaptive coping skills and stress management techniques through psychotherapy sessions.
- Enhanced client engagement with culturally sensitive approaches to address diverse psychological needs.
- Maintained accurate and to-code recordkeeping by inputting and updating patient information using [Software].
- Provided case management services for clients with complex needs, ensuring timely access to resources and continuity of care.
- Provided consultation services within a multidisciplinary team, offering psychological expertise towards the betterment of overall client care.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to provide comprehensive care for clients, improving overall treatment success rates.
- Assisted licensed practitioners in diagnosis and treatment of chemical dependencies and psychiatric conditions such as [Type], [Type] and [Type].
- Evaluated the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions by regularly reviewing client progress notes and adjusting treatment plans accordingly.
- Contributed to the development of treatment plans for clients, resulting in more effective therapy sessions and better progress tracking.
- Developed crisis intervention strategies for high-risk clients, reducing incidences of self-harm or harm towards others.
- Facilitated psychoeducational groups focused on topics such as anger management, stress reduction, and social skills development for diverse patient populations.
- Performed intake by conducting interviews to establish key information as well as assessing patients' apparent mental state.
- Remained energetic and demonstrated passion for helping clients by applying active listening.
- Cultivated and maintained relationships in culturally-diverse communities.
Mental Health Registered Nurse
Adoration Home Health & Hospice
Nashville, TN
05.2023 - 08.2025
- Provide mental health assessments for patients in the home setting, work with social worker to provide appropriate interventions, resources, and referrals as appropriate.
- Provide appropriate assessment of potential psychiatric emergencies and referral to hospital or mobile crisis for follow up if indicated.
- Communicate patients' mental health condition to primary care physician.
- Develop and implement personalized care plans, charting of vitals, visit notes, and admission assessments.
- Provide concurrent medical assessments, administer medications and treatments in a home setting, communicate changes in patient condition with patient's caregivers and primary provider.
- Assessed and monitored patient mental health conditions to ensure effective care plans.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive treatment strategies for patients.
- Provided crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques in high-pressure situations.
- Educated patients and families on mental health resources and coping strategies.
- Implemented evidence-based practices to improve patient outcomes and satisfaction.
- Advocated for patient needs within healthcare settings to promote holistic care approaches.
RN2 Clinic Nurse
Vanderbilt University Medical Center OHO Primary Care Clinic
Nashville, TN
12.2023 - 04.2025
- Assist providers with procedures, prepare patients to see providers, answer patient messages and route concerns to providers using EMR message portal.
- Provided direct patient care, including administering medications, monitoring vital signs, and assisting with daily activities.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary healthcare team to develop and implement individualized care plans for patients.
- Assessed patient conditions and communicated changes to physicians, ensuring timely interventions.
- Managed multiple patients simultaneously in a fast-paced environment while maintaining attention to detail.
- Educated patients and their families on disease management, treatment options, and medication administration.
- Documented accurate and detailed records of patient assessments, interventions, and outcomes in electronic medical records (EMR).
- Responded quickly to emergency situations by initiating appropriate interventions to stabilize patients' conditions.
RN- Dialysis
US Renal Dialysis Clinic
Gallatin, TN
08.2023 - 12.2023
- Provided outpatient nursing care to patients with kidney failure needing dialysis treatment.
- Assessed patients before, during and after dialysis treatment.
- Accessed ports, catheters, and grafts for dialysis treatments.
- Gave medications as needed and monitored patient progress during dialysis treatment.
- Responded to emergent situations and reported changes in patient condition to physician.
RN- corrections
DeBerry Special Needs Facility – TN Department of Correction
Nashville, TN
03.2023 - 08.2023
- Administration of Medications to Inmates in Maximum Security Prison facility in Psychiatric Unit and Skilled Care Unit including management of narcotics. Assessed medication needs of patients and administered PRN medications based upon assessment and nursing judgement.
- Responded to Emergency situations helping to medicate and restrain Inmates that were a threat to themselves, other patients or staff.
- Carried out Doctors Orders such as but not limited to; Tracking of I&O, Phlebotomy Procedures, Restraint Applications, Medication Holds, Stat Medications and many more.
- Counseled and redirected Inmates utilizing de-escalation techniques to avoid escalation of behaviors.
- Charted and documented on Inmates' behavior, medications, nursing assessments and Observations while communicating findings to Staff Doctors, Social Workers, Patient Care Associates as well as other nurses.
Psychiatric Staff Nurse
Psychiatric Staff Nurse – Various Overnight and Day Shifts
Burlington, VT
09.2021 - 03.2023
- Quickly trained and was brought up to speed to immediately join Psychiatric units in crisis due to low staffing levels, to help hospitals in transition maintain safe patient care for patients and staff during COVID Pandemic during travel assignments.
- Conducts Admissions for new patients, coordinates transfer of patients to and from Medical ER, Med-Surg Units as well as off the street, while managing patient assessment, logging of and safekeeping of patient property and patient medication reconciliation.
- Worked with Geriatric, Child/Adolescent, and adult detox, dual diagnosis, and various psychiatric mood, behavioral, schizophrenic, bipolar, psychotic, and forensic patients in a variety of travel settings.
- Administration of Medications to all patients on various multi-bed units up to 29 patients on a Lock Psychiatric Unit, including management of narcotics. Assessed medication needs of patients and administered PRN medications based upon assessment and nursing judgement.
- Responded to Emergency situations helping to medicate and restrain psychiatric inpatients that were a threat to themselves, other patients or staff.
- Carried out Doctors Orders such as but not limited to; Tracking of I&O, Phlebotomy Procedures, Restraint Applications, Medication Holds, Stat Medications and many more.
- Counseled and redirected patients utilizing de-escalation techniques to ward off violent and psychotic behavior.
- Charted and documented on patient's behavior, medications, nursing assessments and Observations while communicating findings to Staff Doctors, Social Workers, Patient Care Associates as well as other nurses.
- Acted as Charge Nurse, coordinating staff assignments and breaktimes, managing patient suicide and safety watches, reviewing and generating unit documentation, checklists and reports to Nursing Administration while simultaneously being responsible for an Emergency Room Adjunct Psychiatric unit.
Psychiatric Staff Nurse – Overnight Shift
St. Thomas Behavioral Hospital
Nashville, TN
03.2021 - 06.2021
- Acted as Charge Nurse, coordinating staff assignments and breaktimes, managing patient suicide and safety watches, reviewing and generating unit documentation, checklists and reports to Nursing Administration while simultaneously being responsible for a 18-bed Psychiatric unit during the 12 Hour shift in a stand-alone facility with no supervision in a startup facility.
- Conducts Admissions for new patients, coordinates transfer of patients Medical ER, Med-Surg Units as well as off the street, while managing patient assessment, logging of and safekeeping of patient property and patient medication reconciliation.
- Administration of Medications to all patients on a 18 Bed Lock Psychiatric Unit, including management of narcotics. Assessed medication needs of patients and administered PRN medications based upon assessment and nursing judgement.
- Responded to Emergency situations helping to medicate and restrain psychiatric inpatients that were a threat to themselves, other patients or staff.
- Carried out Doctors Orders such as but not limited to; Tracking of I&O, Phlebotomy Procedures, Restraint Applications, Medication Holds, Stat Medications and many more.
- Counseled and redirected patients utilizing de-escalation techniques to ward off violent and psychotic behavior.
- Charted and documented on patient's behavior, medications, nursing assessments and Observations while communicating findings to Staff Doctors, Social Workers, Patient Care Associates as well as other nurses.
Psychiatric Staff Nurse – Overnight Shift
Tri-Star Hospital Parthenon Pavillion
Nashville, TN
03.2020 - 03.2021
- Acted as Charge Nurse, coordinating staff assignments and breaktimes, managing patient suicide and safety watches, reviewing and generating unit documentation, checklists and reports to Nursing Administration while simultaneously being responsible for a 16-bed Psychiatric unit during the 12 Hour shift.
- Conducts Admissions for new patients, coordinates transfer of patients from Medical ER and Med-Surg Units while managing patient assessment, logging of and safekeeping of patient property and patient medication reconciliation.
- Administration of Medications to all patients on a 16 Bed Lock Psychiatric Unit, including management of narcotics. Assessed medication needs of patients and administered PRN medications based upon assessment and nursing judgement.
- Responded to ‘Dr. Able' Emergency situations on other units, helping to medicate and restrain psychiatric inpatients that were a threat to themselves, other patients or staff.
- Carried out Doctors Orders such as but not limited to; Tracking of I&O, Phlebotomy Procedures, Restraint Applications, Medication Holds, Stat Medications and many more.
- Counseled and redirected patients utilizing de-escalation techniques to ward off violent and psychotic behavior.
- Charted and documented on patient's behavior, medications, nursing assessments and Observations while communicating findings to Staff Doctors, Social Workers, Patient Care Associates as well as other nurses.
Psychiatric Staff Nurse – Overnight Shift
South Oaks Hospital
Massapequa, NY
12.2019 - 02.2020
- Acted as Charge Nurse, coordinating staff assignments and breaktimes, managing patient suicide and safety watches, reviewing and generating unit documentation, checklists and reports to Nursing Administration while simultaneously being responsible for a 18-bed Adolescent/Child Psychiatric unit during the 12 Hour shift.
- Conducted Admissions for new patients, Medical ER and Med-Surg Units while managing patient assessment, logging of and safekeeping of patient property and patient medication reconciliation.
- Administration of Medications to all patients on a 18 Bed Lock Psychiatric Unit, including management of narcotics. Assessed medication needs of patients and administered PRN medications based upon assessment and nursing judgement.
- Helped to medicate and restrain psychiatric inpatients that were a threat to themselves, other patients or staff.
- Counseled and redirected patients utilizing de-escalation techniques to ward off violent and psychotic behavior.
- Charted and documented on patient's behavior, medications, nursing assessments and Observations while communicating findings to Staff Doctors, Social Workers, Patient Care Associates as well as other nurses.
Psychiatric Staff Nurse – Overnight Shift
Elmhurst Hospital
Queens, NY
01.2019 - 11.2019
- Acted as Charge Nurse, coordinating staff assignments and breaktimes, managing patient suicide and safety watches, reviewing and generating unit documentation, checklists and reports to Nursing Administration while simultaneously being responsible for a 24-bed Psychiatric unit during the 12 Hour shift.
- Conducts Admissions for new patients, coordinates transfer of patients from CPEP, Medical ER and Med-Surg Units while managing patient assessment, logging of and safekeeping of patient property and patient medication reconciliation.
- Administration of Medications to all patients on a 24 Bed Lock Psychiatric Unit, including management of narcotics. Assessed medication needs of patients and administered PRN medications based upon assessment and nursing judgement.
- Responded to ‘Code White' Emergency situations on other units, helping to medicate and restrain psychiatric inpatients that were a threat to themselves, other patients or staff.
- Carried out Doctors Orders such as but not limited to; Tracking of I&O, Phlebotomy Procedures, Restraint Applications, Medication Holds, Stat Medications and many more.
- Counseled and redirected patients utilizing de-escalation techniques to ward off violent and psychotic behavior.
- Charted and documented on patient's behavior, medications, nursing assessments and Observations while communicating findings to Staff Doctors, Social Workers, Patient Care Associates as well as other nurses.
U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman, Petty Officer 3rd Class
Camp Pendleton U.S. Marine Corps Base Naval Hospital
01.2012 - 01.2015
- Routinely performed phlebotomy procedures and administered intravenous medications on Sailors, Marines, and military dependent patients.
- Frequently assisted Naval Doctors and Nurses with medical procedures directly under their supervision.
- Trained in proper restraint procedure for emotionally disturbed Marines suffering psychotic episodes and on suicide watch.
- Awarded Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for initiation and management of platelet donation program during Hospital Corps School in San Antonio, TX; resulting in 500 Sailors donating 141 whole blood and platelet units over a six-week period.
Education
Master of Science - Clinical Psychology
Pepperdine University
Malibu, CA12-2026
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Touro College of Nursing
Brooklyn, NY07-2018
Skills
- Mental health assessment
- Hands-on patient support
- Healthcare documentation practices
- Comprehensive patient evaluations
- Medication management
- Crisis management
- Suicide prevention
- De-escalation techniques
- Safety planning
- Self-care promotion
- Individual counseling
- Client education
- Empathy development
- Discharge planning
- Group therapy facilitation
- Psychoeducation delivery
- Treatment Planning
- Multidisciplinary collaboration
- Service coordination
- Protocol compliance
- Group therapy coordination
- Substance abuse treatment
- Cultural history
- Therapeutic communication
- Nursing care
- Care team collaboration
- Care plan adjustment
- Psychopharmacology
- Nonviolent crisis intervention (NVCI)
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Attention to detail
- Problem-solving abilities
- Multitasking
- Compassionate and caring
- Basic life support
- Reliability
- Excellent communication
- Critical thinking
- Strong clinical judgment
- Active listening
- Effective communication
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Decision-making
- Patient and family advocacy
- Patient care assessment
- Patient education
- Certified in CPR/AED
- Electronic health records
- Clear patient communication
- Task prioritization
- Patient condition monitoring
- Accurate documentation
- Interpersonal communication
Accomplishments
- Documented and resolved [Issue] which led to [Results].
- Supervised team of [Number] staff members.
- Achieved [Result] through effectively helping with [Task].
- Collaborated with team of [Number] in the development of [Project name].
- Achieved [Result] by completing [Task] with accuracy and efficiency.
Certification
- Registered Nurse License - State of Tennessee #244269
- BLS Certified – Expiry date December 2025
Awards and Acknowledgments
2025 Daisy Award Nominee, VUMC Primary Care OHO, 2012 - Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (NAM), 2012 & 2013 - Presidential Service Medal – Awarded by then President Obama, 2011 – 2018 “10 Gallon Club” – New York Blood Center Frequent Platelet Donor, 2017 – NY Post Interview, June 18th, 2017, Article by Vicki Salemi entitled “Why Veterans Make Amazing Medical Professionals”
Timeline
Psychiatric Registered Nurse
Centerstone
08.2025 - Current
RN2 Clinic Nurse
Vanderbilt University Medical Center OHO Primary Care Clinic
12.2023 - 04.2025
RN- Dialysis
US Renal Dialysis Clinic
08.2023 - 12.2023
Mental Health Registered Nurse
Adoration Home Health & Hospice
05.2023 - 08.2025
RN- corrections
DeBerry Special Needs Facility – TN Department of Correction
03.2023 - 08.2023
Psychiatric Staff Nurse
Psychiatric Staff Nurse – Various Overnight and Day Shifts
09.2021 - 03.2023
Psychiatric Staff Nurse – Overnight Shift
St. Thomas Behavioral Hospital
03.2021 - 06.2021
Psychiatric Staff Nurse – Overnight Shift
Tri-Star Hospital Parthenon Pavillion
03.2020 - 03.2021
Psychiatric Staff Nurse – Overnight Shift
South Oaks Hospital
12.2019 - 02.2020
Psychiatric Staff Nurse – Overnight Shift
Elmhurst Hospital
01.2019 - 11.2019
U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman, Petty Officer 3rd Class
Camp Pendleton U.S. Marine Corps Base Naval Hospital
01.2012 - 01.2015
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Touro College of Nursing
Master of Science - Clinical Psychology
Pepperdine University