by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Sep 4, 2025 | Prescribing tips for treating mental disorders
Your patient is taking Prozac and Lithium—what worries you most? A. They smoke cigarettes 2 PPD B. They are on oral contraceptives C. They are on long-term, high-dose ibuprofen D. They drink 5 beers per week Did you get it right? Why Smoking Isn’t the Biggest Issue...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Sep 2, 2025 | Diagnosis/Assessment tips for treating mental disorders
In school as an NP student and later in clinical practice, I learned that prescribing benztropine (Cogentin) for extrapyramidal side effects was appropriate. What I didn’t realize was that there are times when prescribing benztropine—or any anticholinergic—can...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Aug 28, 2025 | Thoughts and Reflections
As mental health providers, we often advocate for balance, rest, therapy, and sometimes medication. But too often, we neglect taking the advice we give to our patients which can contribute to provider burnout. Prescriber mental health deserves just as much attention...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Aug 26, 2025 | Best practices
As PMHNPs, our medication choices shape how patients experience the world. Understanding neurotransmission rules isn’t just theoretical—it can improve safety, reduce side effects, and lead to better outcomes. Neurotransmitters are the chemical messengers that...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Aug 21, 2025 | Clinical support resources, Transition into Practice Tips & Resources
If you’re anything like me, one of the most frustrating parts of being a PMHNP is documentation. Psychiatric charting templates can make all the difference. Charting can quickly become the bane of your existence when you’re juggling back-to-back patients,...