by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Feb 3, 2026 | Career Advice
As a psychiatric nurse practitioner, one of the most stressful parts of the job can be the fear of missing something important. A new provider in our Mental Disorders Crash Course community recently shared how she often worries she’s not doing enough. She’s in...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Jan 29, 2026 | Career Advice
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...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Jan 27, 2026 | Prescribing tips for treating mental disorders
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)...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Jan 22, 2026 | Diagnosis/Assessment tips for treating mental disorders
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...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Jan 13, 2026 | Prescribing tips for treating mental disorders
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...