by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Dec 4, 2025 | Prescribing tips for treating mental disorders
When prescribing psychotropic medications, lifestyle factors often make or break the safety and effectiveness of treatment. As PMHNPs, our clinical decisions can’t stop at the medication alone—we have to consider what else patients are doing in their day-to-day lives...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Dec 2, 2025 | Best practices, Prescribing tips for treating mental disorders
Prescribing the “right” psychotropic medication isn’t about guessing or relying on trial-and-error—it’s about building a strong clinical foundation. When PMHNPs prescribe psychotropic medications using a structured, step-by-step approach, they move from haphazard care...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Nov 27, 2025 | Prescribing tips for treating mental disorders
Psychiatrist Dr. Roger McIntyre from the University of Toronto once called quetiapine (Seroquel) the “salt & pepper of psychiatry.” When it comes to Seroquel prescribing tips, many providers use this medication by sprinkling low doses here and there to adjust the...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Nov 6, 2025 | Prescribing tips for treating mental disorders
“All I know is that I know nothing.” — Socrates We’re not diving into philosophy here, but Socrates had a point. In clinical practice, especially as a PMHNP, it often feels like the more we learn, the more we realize we still need to review. This is especially true...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Oct 28, 2025 | Prescribing tips for treating mental disorders
Common Challenges with SSRIs Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are among the most commonly prescribed antidepressants in mental health care. Despite their widespread use, patients often struggle with SSRI side effects, especially early in treatment. One...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Oct 16, 2025 | Prescribing tips for treating mental disorders
One of my favorite things to share as a psych NP is a good prescribing tip. Most prescribing content out there tends to be either too basic, pulled straight from textbooks, or not particularly useful for real-world clinical practice. That’s why I’m excited to pass...