by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Apr 16, 2026 | Prescribing tips for treating mental disorders
Your patient calls you and says: “The Prozac was working great for my depression, but now I’m having trouble sleeping, feeling restless, and my thoughts are racing. Should I stop taking it?” What’s your next move as a psych NP? A. Discontinue Prozac...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Apr 14, 2026 | Clinical support resources, Prescribing tips for treating mental disorders
As a psych NP, knowing the ins and outs of medications is critical—especially when it comes to SSRI steady state, a concept that often flies under the radar. While SSRIs are among the most frequently prescribed psychotropic medications, they’re not all...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Apr 7, 2026 | Prescribing tips for treating mental disorders
Depression is one of the most common chief complaints patients present to us with. As a PMHNP, I remember the early days of practice—feeling overwhelmed by how much there was to consider when treating depression. There’s no one-size-fits-all treatment, and with...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Mar 26, 2026 | Prescribing tips for treating mental disorders
One of the most common challenges psych nurse practitioners face is deprescribing—knowing when and how to safely reduce or discontinue medications. Implementing effective deprescribing tips is essential to optimize patient medication management and improve outcomes....
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Mar 10, 2026 | Prescribing tips for treating mental disorders
Every week, I set aside time to read about diagnosing and treating mental disorders so I can keep improving. This week’s topic? Folate and its role in depression. If you’ve ever had a patient present for a psych eval and rattle off the handful of supplements they...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Mar 5, 2026 | Prescribing tips for treating mental disorders
Let me ask you something… Are you like me? You know—where you’ve memorized countless facts about mental disorders, but sometimes find yourself prescribing on autopilot? That occasional moment of hesitation where you wonder if you’re really making the best medication...