MERLINDA JEAN-LOUIS
Port Orange,FL
Summary
Compassionate Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner with experience in assessing, diagnosing, and treating acute and chronic psychiatric disorders in an inpatient setting, seeking to join your well-established and growing company. Certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center in Psychiatric Mental Health. Possess excellent verbal communication and interpersonal skills. Motivated to excel and dedicated to delivering high-quality, patient-centered, culturally competent care following state guidelines for Nurse Practitioners.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Vital Core Health Strategies
Daytona Beach, FL
11.2023 - Current
- Provide diagnostic and psychiatric evaluations including psychopharmacological treatments for a wide range of psychiatric diagnoses in an inpatient setting.
- Provide education for patients regarding psychopharmacological interventions to improve medication compliance and treatment adherence.
- Electronic (eprescribe) prescription of all medications.
- Conduct regular follow-ups to monitor efficacy and potential side effects of medications prescribed.
- Provide crisis intervention as needed.
- Attend/participate in weekly multidisciplinary team meetings and treatment planning for patients receiving and being considered for mental health treatment.
- Participate in a psychiatric on-call schedule.
- Collaborate with the overseeing physician, develop and comply with APRN protocols approved by the Nurse Practice Act.
- Collaborate with other professionals, such as psychiatrists, therapists, social workers, medical staff, and nurses, to ensure comprehensive patient care.
PRN Registered Nurse, Inpatient Psychiatric Unit
Broward Health
Fort Lauderdale, FL
10.2023 - Current
- Provide general care and treatment to adult and geriatric patients in psychiatric crisis voluntary and involuntary status.
- Conduct thorough patient assessments to identify changes in condition, promptly notifying physicians and initiating appropriate interventions when necessary.
- Changes in a patient’s physiological, behavioral, and medical status are recognized, reported, and documented as they occur.
- Utilize critical thinking skills to prioritize nursing interventions based on patients' acuity levels and individual needs.
- Administer medications PO/IM safely according to established guidelines while closely monitoring for side effects or adverse reactions requiring intervention.
- Maintain physical safety requirements for patients and staff to ensure a safe working environment.
Registered Nurse
Henderson Behavioral Health
Fort Lauderdale, FL
11.2022 - 05.2024
- Provided psychiatric nursing services under the direction of the Medical Director and Director of Nursing
- Performed initial assessments of new arrivals and work with physicians to plan, implement, and evaluate plan of care
- Provided crisis stabilization to adult patients' voluntary and involuntary status in mental crisis
- Implemented de-escalation techniques to help patients manage their emotions and behavior
- Utilization of the nursing process as charge nurse and medication nurse
- Administered psychotropic medications PO/IM while ensuring correct dosage, frequency, and accuracy to facilitate recovery from mental illness
- Coordinated with the multidisciplinary team to keep all informed of current departmental activities, plans, and developments through both oral and written reports
- Assessed and coordinated patient's discharge planning needs with discharge planner, case manager, staff, BSO, physicians, and their families
- Delivered care with respect to the individual’s spiritual and cultural needs
Substance Abuse/MH Registered Nurse
Banyan Treatment Center
Boca Raton, FL
05.2017 - 10.2022
- Provided psychiatric evaluations and assessments of individuals in need of mental health and substance abuse treatment
- Completed special assessments for patients on suicide precautions, detoxification/withdrawals, and monitored patients
- Administered scheduled medications and as-needed medications according to the patients subjective and objective results
- Evaluated effectiveness of medications administered
- Ensured doctors orders were effectively carried out, including testing, medical procedures, consultations, and stat orders
- Recognized and provided therapeutic intervention to alleviate patient self-destruction behaviors or changes in mental status
Education
Master of Science - Nursing- APRN
Nova Southeastern University
Miramar, FL08.2023
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
University of North Florida
Jacksonville, FLAssociate of Science - Nursing
Mercy Hospital College of Nursing
Miami, FLSkills
- Evidence-Based care
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Customer Service
- EMR
- Microsoft Office
- Flexible and Adaptable
- Organized
Interships
Student PMHNP, Compass Health Systems Jan 2022 — Aug 2022 Miami, FL
- Telehealth visits
- Adolescent, Adult, and Geriatric Population
- Utilized screening tools to detect potential mental illness
- Performed a comprehensive and problem-focused psychiatric examination
- Demonstrated critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning skills in clinical decision-making
- Analyze and interpret history, including presenting symptoms, physical and psychiatric assessments, and diagnostic information to develop appropriate differential diagnoses
- Demonstrated Pharmacotherapeutic Skills
- Assess and provide education to patients and/ or caregivers based on the patient’s ongoing and changing health needs
- Maintained confidentiality while communicating data, plans, and results in a manner that preserves the dignity and privacy of the patient and provides a legal record of care
- Advocated for the patient to ensure health needs were met
Student PMHNP, Assurance of Hope Institute Aug 2022 — Apr 2023 Plantation, FL
- Office and Telehealth visits
- Analyzed and interpreted history, including presenting symptoms, physical and psychiatric assessments, and diagnostic information to develop appropriate differential diagnoses.
- Advocated for the patient to ensure health needs were met
Certification
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner- BC
- Multistate RN License (MS-RN)
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI)
Timeline
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Vital Core Health Strategies
11.2023 - Current
PRN Registered Nurse, Inpatient Psychiatric Unit
Broward Health
10.2023 - Current
Registered Nurse
Henderson Behavioral Health
11.2022 - 05.2024
Substance Abuse/MH Registered Nurse
Banyan Treatment Center
05.2017 - 10.2022
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
University of North Florida
Master of Science - Nursing- APRN
Nova Southeastern University
Associate of Science - Nursing
Mercy Hospital College of Nursing