Michelle Houghton
Keokuk,IA
Summary
Highly skilled and enthusiastic professional with more than 27 years of experience in mental health nursing. Before gaining my PMHNP, I was employed at various levels of mental health care settings including county home (PMI/PMR/RCF), community, acute care psychiatric hospital, director of Nursing over a 57-bed licensed senior nursing home, and direct oversite of 35 staff for 10 years. Currently employed full-time on an outpatient basis as a board-certified PMHNP treating those age 18 and older. History of being a Crisis Prevention and Intervention Instructor. History in assisting with policy development and updates as needed. Active in staff education, development, training, and evaluations. Active in Quality Improvement and Development Projects and crisis planning. Resourceful PMHNP that is committed to providing excellent care to patients.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Great River Medical Center
1225 Sth Gear Ave West Des Moines, Iowa
05.2021 - Current
- Conducted thorough psychiatric evaluations to accurately diagnose mental health conditions and inform appropriate treatment decisions.
- Cross-trained in the inpatient and outpatient settings with current practice primarily outpatient.
- Most recently, mental health consulting with the nursing home within our organization in collaboration with the hospitalist NP and or physician.
- Cross-trained in the inpatient and outpatient settings with current practice primarily outpatient.
- Supportive psychotherapy sessions for individuals, couples, families, or groups to address emotional challenges and promote overall well-being.
- Conducted thorough psychiatric evaluations to accurately diagnose mental health conditions and inform appropriate treatment decisions
- Maintained comprehensive, accurate, and timely electronic health records to support ongoing assessment and treatment planning efforts.
- Utilized telehealth technologies as necessary to provide remote consultations while ensuring adequate patient monitoring during periods of distance-based care.
- Streamlined medication management processes by regularly reviewing prescriptions for effectiveness, potential interactions, and side effects.
- Mentored nursing students and new hires, fostering a supportive learning environment that encouraged professional growth.
- Implemented culturally sensitive care approaches when working with diverse patient populations to ensure equitable access to quality mental healthcare services.
- Provided crisis intervention services as needed to stabilize patients experiencing acute distress or at risk for harm to themselves or others.
- Coordinated care transitions by establishing discharge plans in collaboration with other professionals involved in the patient's treatment journey.
- Promoted mental health awareness within the community by organizing and participating in educational events and outreach programs.
- Provided direct quality care to patients by monitoring, recording, and evaluating psychiatric conditions.
- Coordinated with medical and paramedical professionals to provide appropriate input and effectively formulate and implement treatment plans for patients.
- Monitored vital signs, nutritional intake, and signs and symptoms of complications to report deviations to the supervisor.
Director of Nursing
Southeast Iowa Behavioral Healthcare Center
Keokuk, Iowa
01.2014 - 05.2021
- Oversite of the physical and mental healthcare of 50 residents
- Collaborated with staff, management and external groups to coordinate patient care
- Collaborated with Psychiatric and Medical physician on a routine basis
- Completed face-to-face intakes for referrals along with thorough chart reviews prior to admissions
- Used Electronic Health Records: documentation, building forms for staff usage, trainings, super-user
- Established new policies and updated existing policies to improve standard of care for patients
- Established and monitored infection control programs to provide safe, sanitary environment to prevent transmission of disease and infection
- Prepared and reviewed infection control surveillance reports to identify trends and develop effective actions to control and prevent infections
- Developed positive employee relations, incentives and recognition programs to promote teamwork and mutual respect
- Evaluated work performance of 35-45 nursing personnel to determine wage increases and implement discipline.
Admissions Coordinator
Southeast Iowa Behavioral Healthcare Center
Keokuk, Iowa
01.2011 - 01.2014
- Analyzed demographic data to determine optimal targets, communication through weekly emails for bed availability, face-to face meetings, and managed social media platform
- Liaison between referring facility and treatment team during the entire admission process
- Intake / admission screen.
Psychiatric Nurse
Keokuk Area Hospital
Keokuk, Iowa
01.2005 - 01.2011
- Administered medication and treatments to patients to observe and record responses
- Monitored vital signs, nutritional intake and signs and symptoms of complications to report deviations to supervisor
- Responded to numerous volatile situations and violent outbreaks to restore safety and security of patients and staff
- Performed patient assessments to monitor expected response to medications, altering treatment plans as needed
- Provided direct quality care to patients by monitoring, recording and evaluating psychiatric conditions
- Explained useful coping methods to relieve depression and anxiety, including de-escalation techniques
- Conducted therapy for mentally ill patients in group and individual settings
- Oversaw care of suicidal patients and acted swiftly to reduce risk of harm to themselves or others
- Administered different therapies and medications in line with physician orders and treatment plan.
Lab Manager
James F. Holsinger, M.D.
Keokuk, Iowa
01.2003 - 01.2011
- Maintained a CLIA moderately waived lab site
- Venipuncture and capillary blood sample collection
- Urinalysis collection with microscopy set-up
- Kept laboratory in compliance with all applicable guidelines and laws
- Managed operational documents and produced daily and monthly reports detailing activities
- Collected production samples regularly and performed detailed quality inspections
- Completed detailed controls and proficiency testing according to CLIA and machine-specific regulations.
- Established and maintained quality control standards, contributing to accurate test results and reliable data collection.
Intensive Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner
ResCare Inc.
Keokuk, Iowa
01.1997 - 01.2003
- Nurse for a PMI/PMI/RCF county home (100-bed facility)
- Medication Management
- Behavioral health management and documentation
- Nurse supervisor role
- Organized and facilitated group discussions
- Assisting residents in establishing goals, developing a plan, and working to achieve those goals
- Continuous monitoring and evaluation of those goals
- WRAP and Crisis Prevention Planning.
Education
Master of Science - Nursing/Nurse Practitioner Mental Health
Walden University
Minneapolis, MN05.2021
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Walden University
Minneapolis, MN05.2019
Associate of Applied Science - Nursing
Southeastern Community College
Keokuk, IA05.1997
Skills
- Acute Care Mental Health Nursing
- Treatment Planning
- Long-Term Care
- Quality Management/ Improvement
- Patient Care and Medication Management
- Patient education and counseling
- Drug Utilization Review/Gradual Dose Reductions
- Inpatient psychiatric care
- Suicide Risk Assessment
- Multidisciplinary Collaboration
- Medication Management
- Psychiatric evaluation
- Outpatient mental health services
- Clinical Documentation
- Psychotherapy Techniques
- Geriatric Mental Health
- Community mental health resources
- Patient Education
- Medication monitoring
- Prescription writing
- Results interpretation
- Team Development
- Mental health counseling
- Bipolar Disorder Treatment
- Anxiety Disorder Treatment
- Psychotic Disorder Treatment
- Sleep Disorder Treatment
- Depressive Disorder Treatment
- High-Risk Medication Management
- Complex comorbidities collaboration with a multi-disciplinary team
- Development Disorder Treatment
Certification
- Crisis Prevention and Intervention Instructor (CPI)
- Board Certified in Mental Health Nursing 2017- Current
- Infection Control / Preventionist
- Intensive Psychiatric Rehabilitation Certification
Accomplishments
- Infection Control Training and Antibiotic Stewardship
- Adjunct teaching for local community college for mental health rotation
Affiliations
- Iowa Council of Nurse Leaders
- Rotary International
- NAMI Iowa
Timeline
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Great River Medical Center
05.2021 - Current
Director of Nursing
Southeast Iowa Behavioral Healthcare Center
01.2014 - 05.2021
Admissions Coordinator
Southeast Iowa Behavioral Healthcare Center
01.2011 - 01.2014
Psychiatric Nurse
Keokuk Area Hospital
01.2005 - 01.2011
Lab Manager
James F. Holsinger, M.D.
01.2003 - 01.2011
Intensive Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner
ResCare Inc.
01.1997 - 01.2003
Master of Science - Nursing/Nurse Practitioner Mental Health
Walden University
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Walden University
Associate of Applied Science - Nursing
Southeastern Community College