Myra Tilson
CHAPEL HILL,NC
Summary
Experienced Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, (PMHNP), also board certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner with bilingual skills in Spanish, seeks position as PMHNP. Comfortable managing psychiatric medication for patients with multiple psychiatric and medical co-morbidities and with those who are duly diagnosed. The management of complex psychiatric patients is supported by a strong background in general medicine, gained over several years working as an FNP caring for a diverse group of patients with multiple, chronic and acute medical illnesses. Skillful in the provision of individual psychotherapy utilizing a mix of evidenced based therapies. Alternatively, also provide brief, supportive therapy as needed in the context of medication management.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Lighthouse Mental Health Services
10.2022 - 04.2025
- Provided pharmacological management including close monitoring to psychiatric patients whose cases were often complex and sometimes required multiple medications for treatment of comorbidities and/or serious mental illness (SMI).
- Consistently utilized and implemented evidence-based interventions tailored to individual patient needs.
- Conducted thorough psychiatric assessments, with careful consideration given to possible differential diagnoses.
- Provided psychotherapy drawing heavily upon CBT, DBT, mindfulness practices and psychodynamic concepts to help patients develop and utilize new coping skills and ways of relating to others outside of therapy and to facilitate in the patient a greater self-understanding.
- Conducted risk assessments for suicidal or self-harming behaviors among patients, implementing appropriate safety measures when necessary.
- Promoted adherence to treatment through consistent follow-ups and adjustments to medications as necessary.
- Educated patients and families on mental health conditions, coping strategies, and community resources for support.
- Coordinated with community agencies to provide patients with comprehensive support services such as housing assistance, vocational training, and substance abuse treatment.
Family Nurse Practitioner
Proyecto Salud
03.2017 - 01.2020
- Handled effectively, a large panel of patients, the majority of whom had poorly controlled chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, among others, and the negative effects on organ systems associated with long term uncontrolled disease.
- Cultivated professional relationships with various specialist and primary care physicians in the community with whom I could consult as needed.
- Referred patients appropriately when indicated.
- Responsible for implementing the women's health program in this practice including, but not limited to performing routine gynecological exams, utilizing current practice guidelines in the screening for breast and cervical cancer. Managed abnormal mammogram and pap smear results according to practice guidelines and standard of care.
- Educated patients, most of whom spoke Spanish only, on their illnesses, medications, nutrition and healthy lifestyle modifications. Connected patients with additional services in the community.
- Effectively managed medical emergencies, utilizing such skills as EKG interpretation and rapid patient assessment to facilitating prompt engagement with EMS and advanced life support , as indicated.
- Diagnosed and treated a variety of non-emergent, acute illnesses and injuries along with appropriate follow up care.
- Participated in collaborative mental health project with the Department of Psychiatry at Georgetown University School of Medicine a psychiatric resident evaluated a select group of clinic patients diagnosed with MDD. Responsibilities included conducting follow up visits with participants and managing antidepressive medication as advised by the visiting psychiatrist.
- Independently provided management of antidepressant medications for patients not associated with project described above, who either had a history of depression and or anxiety or whose positive screen for these conditions was supported by subjective and objective data gained through the ensuing interview. Referred patients for psychotherapy as indicated to clinical social worker in our practice with whom I worked closely or, in cases of SMI, to a Spanish speaking psychiatrist in the community with whom I sometimes consulted.
Family Nurse Practitioner
Care For Your Health Inc.
01.2016 - 03.2017
- Provided comprehensive primary care in the basement of a low-income housing project. Utilizing a "micropractice" model, functioned independently as the sole employee of clinic, fulfilling all the various roles and associated tasks essential to the running of a full-service medical practice (e.g., roles of medical provider, med-tech, office administrator/receptionist, phlebotomist/ lab technician, etc).
- Communicated regularly with and sought guidance as needed from physician supervisor who was the brainchild of this project and author of the grant which funded it.
- Transported, moved in, assembled and arranged all medical and other equipment necessary for a fully functioning medical clinic. Responsible for equipment maintenance and for trouble-shooting any equipment malfunction that might arise. Drew upon past skills working with high-tech, medical devices as a critical care and ED nurse.
- Bilingual skills in Spanish used regularly within the predominantly Central American neighborhood where clinic was based.
Family Nurse Practitioner
Community Clinics Incorporated
01.2014 - 01.2015
- Provided community based primary healthcare to a medically underserved urban population in a busy Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC).
- Large patient panel requiring skillfulness in the assessment of diverse patient groups of all ages including newborns to the elderly. Performed well baby exams, child and adolescent physicals and effectively managed acute and chronic pediatric and adult illnesses. Received much valued (unofficial) mentoring by one pediatricians thus expanding my skill-set, especially in the management of acute illness in the 1st year of life.
- Collaborated with in-house psychiatrist and clinical social worker as needed in the medical care of patients living with mental illness.
- Responsible for the management of after hour emergent and urgent problems across several clinic locations when working scheduled on-call duty,
- Participated in collaborative study between the FQHC and a community mental health clinic which ultimately culminated in a partnership between the two agencies. Responsibilities included the collection of data pertaining to utilization of emergency department services by our shared patients and the assessment of patients living with serious mental illness which were conducted in various therapeutic residential settings.
Education
Master of Science - Advanced Nursing Practice (PMHNP Post-masters)
Regis College
Weston, MA08-2022
Master of Science - Advanced Nursing Practice (FNP)
The University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA05-1998
Bachelor of Arts - English Literature
The College of William And Mary
Williamsburg, VA05-1985
Skills
- Conduct thorough psychiatric assessments of complex patients
- Medication management for psychiatric patients with multiple psychiatric and medical co-morbidities
- Psychotherapy for individuals and couples utilizing evidenced based therapies
- Medication management and psychotherapy for duly diagnosed patients in outpatient as well as inpatient settings
- Experienced in working with those living with serious mental illness and those who need may need support though a life challenges, recognizing that while psychiatric medication is essential in the management of some psychiatric illnesses, it may not be necessary or appropriate in others
- Skillful in the process of psychiatric diagnosis Careful consideration given to differential psychiatric diagnoses as well as possible medical etiologies of the presenting symptom/s Strong knowledge base and work experience in general medicine drawn upon in the ordering of labs and other diagnostic studies to rule out common medical causes
Timeline
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Lighthouse Mental Health Services
10.2022 - 04.2025
Family Nurse Practitioner
Proyecto Salud
03.2017 - 01.2020
Family Nurse Practitioner
Care For Your Health Inc.
01.2016 - 03.2017
Family Nurse Practitioner
Community Clinics Incorporated
01.2014 - 01.2015
Master of Science - Advanced Nursing Practice (PMHNP Post-masters)
Regis College
Master of Science - Advanced Nursing Practice (FNP)
The University of Virginia
Bachelor of Arts - English Literature
The College of William And Mary
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