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
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
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
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
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
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner- BC
- Multistate RN License (MS-RN)
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI)
Master of Science - Nursing- APRN
Nova Southeastern University
Associate of Science - Nursing
Mercy Hospital College of Nursing
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