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Helping you stay informed and confident in your practice, whether you’re navigating the challenges of starting out in the field as a new psychiatric nurse practitioner or looking for more insights to enhance patient care, the Stress Free Psych NP Blog offers practical advice, expert tips, and a supportive community dedicated to your professional growth and success.
Stress Less Treating Mental Disorders: 3 Tools I Recommend
Around my house, I’m known for two things: My lack of talent for cooking.And my ability to reduce stress treating mental disorders. While I won’t pretend I’ve got a lasagna recipe worth sharing, I do have some resources that I do stand behind—especially if you’re a...
Tardive Dyskinesia vs EPS: Why It Matters for PMHNPs
Ever prescribed an antipsychotic and worried about movement disorders? Or inherited a patient on Cogentin and thought, “Is this really the best approach?” Like many mental health providers, you’ve probably seen extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) or tardive dyskinesia (TD)...
Bipolar vs Major Depressive Disorder: Key Clinical Differences
Which of the following clinical presentations most strongly suggests Bipolar disorder rather than Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)? A. Hypersomnia and increased appetite during depressive episodesB. Multiple past antidepressant trials with inadequate responseC. Brief...
Psych NP Medication Mistakes I Made Early in My Career
You know those moments early in your career that make you cringe a little when you look back? If you’re a new grad psych NP—or even an RN—you’ve probably had a few moments like that too. When I started as a psych NP, I made several mistakes that I now view as valuable...
Systemic Failures in Mental Health Care: A Psych NP’s Story
Have you ever had that one patient who changed how you practice forever? For me, it was John (not his real name). His story still haunts me—not just because of what happened to him, but because it exposed systemic failures in mental health care that I could no longer...
Why St. John’s Wort and SSRIs Don’t Mix
When treating older adults who are often taking multiple medications, it’s essential for psych NPs to consider the full medication picture—including over-the-counter (OTC) supplements. A recent clinical case of a 68-year-old male patient on sertraline (Zoloft) for...
Claire’s depth of knowledge and personal experiences have made her an invaluable resource for our listeners. She consistently delivers practical, actionable advice that empowers mental health providers to overcome the challenges of the profession.
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