by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Oct 7, 2025 | Best practices
Let’s be real—no one wants to get sued. As a nurse practitioner, the fear of liability can pop up when it comes to prescribing, documentation, or unexpected outcomes. But the good news is: you can take steps to minimize malpractice risk and practice with more peace of...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Sep 9, 2025 | Transition into Practice Tips & Resources
Several years ago, I received my very own office for the first time. I had a desk, a computer, a big comfy swiveling chair, and privacy—a real office with a door. It felt surreal. This was my first job as a new nurse practitioner. A New Chapter Begins The first few...
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,...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Aug 12, 2025 | Diagnosis/Assessment tips for treating mental disorders
What’s one of the most misdiagnosed conditions in mental health? Despite being relatively rare, schizoaffective disorder diagnosis shows up surprisingly often on psychiatric charts—and it’s often incorrect. According to the DSM-5-TR, the lifetime prevalence of...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Jul 31, 2025 | Career Advice
When Psychiatry Gets Complicated Back to basics in psychiatry is often the most helpful mindset when clinical cases become complicated. Patients aren’t always straightforward, and even seasoned PMHNPs can be thrown off track by unexpected presentations. You...