Trail Blazers
Meaghan Wilson,
Fellow
What was your path to mental healthcare?
My career began as a pediatric med-surg nurse, and I first began caring for psychiatric patients on that unit. I had a strong interest in psychiatric patients and would often volunteer to take those assignments. I noticed that my coworkers and I often felt ill-prepared to care for these patients. I was in a BSN residency program at that time. Together with a coworker from my unit and a nursing colleague on an adult cardiology unit, we did a literature review and found across the world med-surg nurses were caring for patients with co-morbid mental illness and also felt inadequate in their abilities to provide appropriate nursing care to these patients. We presented our poster at the AACN BSN Residency conference in 2013. This sparked my initial interest and passion in mental healthcare.
How will this scholarship help you?
I am a novice in my field and I am passionate about strengthening my knowledge base so I can provide patients with evidence-based care. This scholarship will allow me to be able to attend a premier educational opportunity. I had wanted to attend last year, but was unable due to financial hardship. This scholarship will remove barriers to my attendance.
What are your academic and/or career goals?
I am currently about halfway through a 2 year PMHNP Fellowship at Baptist Medical Center in Jacksonville, Florida. My immediate goal is to continue learning as much as I can from this experience and to successfully complete the fellowship. After I graduate in April 2024 my goal is to obtain an inpatient PMHNP position as I truly enjoy working with patients with acute psychiatric needs
What does “exceptional patient care” mean to you?
Exceptional patient care occurs when patients and providers are in alignment. They need to be able to collaborate to identify treatment goals, to develop a treatment plan, and the ability to pivot as needs change or new ones arise. This requires rapport and good communication between provider and patient, with other providers on the treatment team, and with collateral contacts. Patients should feel empowered that their concerns are being heard and are being addressed in an appropriate manner.
In order for me to provide exceptional care, I must remain current on evidence based care. The patient is relying on me to be the expert and to be able to translate the research into practical help (i.e. medication, therapy, lifestyle changes, etc... ) for them. I look to Psych Congress Elevate for guidance, expertise, and education so that I better my knowledge and practice.