Sarah Rodriguez MSN, RN, PMHNP-BC

Knowledgeable Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with solid foundation in psychiatric care and mental health treatment. Proven history of delivering compassionate and comprehensive mental health services to diverse patient populations. Demonstrated expertise in patient assessment and individualized care planning.

Spring 2023- Physical Assessment

75 total clinical hours (50 precepted; 25 campus residency)

- Completed 25 hours for campus residency on appropriate physical assessment techniques with completion of a physical skills test on each of the body systems.

- Completed 50 precepted hours at UPMC Passavant with hospital based nurse practitioners who rounded on 2 medical surgical units within the hospital.

Spring 2024- Psych/MH Clinical I

150 clinical hours (125 precepted; 25 campus intensive)

- Completed 25 hours for campus residency covering mental status examinations, clinical management, biopsychosocial case formulations, motivational interviewing, differential diagnoses of anxiety, bipolar, and depressive disorders, psychiatric emergencies, screening tools and applications, trauma informed care, and collaborative care.

- Completed 125 precepted hours at New Directions in Washington PA.  At New Directions I was exposed to the newest upcoming treatments for mental health.  Along with nutritional counseling, therapy, psychiatry, and medication management, New Directions integrates TMS, Spravato, and IV ketamine therapy to address patients who have had an inadequate response to pharmacotherapy or are acutely ill.

Summer 2024- Psych/MH Clinical II

150 clinical hours

-Completed 150 clinical hours at Allegheny County Jail (ACJ) in Pittsburgh, PA.  At ACJ I was exposed to a unique but vulnerable patient population.  Jails and prisons have become the largest mental health providers throughout the country and it is important to provide adequate mental health care to everyone in the community even if they are incarcerated.  During this clinical, I became comfortable interacting with this patient population subset.  I learned how to advocate effectively by utilizing the chain of command to improve patient satisfaction.  I engaged with the patients through assessments and with their input, collaboratively developed a plan of care that patients felt confident in.  I became comfortable documenting with TechCare.

Fall 2024- Psych/MH Clinical III

225 clinical hours

- Completed 225 clinical hours at Allegheny County Jail (ACJ) in PIttsburgh, PA.  During my second clinical rotation at ACJ I became more comfortable in completing a full psychiatric assessment without help from my preceptor.  I gained confidence in working with serious mental illness including acutely psychotic and actively suicidal patients.  Bipolar Disorder, personality disorder, schizophrenia, insomnia, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders are just a few of the diagnoses that I have become comfortable assessing and prescribing appropriate medications for.  Initiating long acting injectable and forced medication over objection were interesting learning experiences on when to escalate the plan of care for acutely dangerous patients.