Emerging Voices
Amy Talley,
Nurse Practitioner
What was your path to mental healthcare?
I have been an acute care nurse practitioner for 16 years. During my career both inpatient and clinic setting, I have witnessed countless times the gaps in our country's healthcare system. Treating mental illness effectively requires time, follow up, and resources. We cannot just "give a pill" and hope the patient improves. Unfortunately because of healthcare system restraints and limited mental healthcare providers in psychiatry this happens. We, as healthcare providers, understand the significance and the benefit of effective mental healthcare. For this reason, I have chosen to further my career with a post master's psych mental health NP certificate to help fill an enormous gap in the mental health aspect of healthcare.
How will this scholarship help you?
I would feel both honored and privileged to be granted this scholarship. I am currently working as a hospitalist NP while attending school, and as most adult learners I have a family as well. As healthcare providers in the healthcare system especially over the past couple of years, there is tremendous stress. This scholarship would alleviate the burden of school debt once I graduate and begin my career in psychiatric medicine. My hope would be that a scholarship would also increase my career options once I graduate by minimizing the pressure of loan repayment.
I would also be very excited to be a part of the Elevate Congress panel. I am excited about networking opportunities and sharing my experiences with others that have similar goals.
What are your academic and/or career goals?
I have numerous career goals and I am very excited to see the paths that my career will take once I graduate. I have done some Per Diem work with a company called Landmark Healthcare through Optum. They provide in home medical care. This company provides a service to the sickest United Healthcare patients with the goal of keeping them out of the hospital. They provide behavioral services to the elderly and to patients with multiple medical problems. Most of these patients, due to age, mobility, or socioeconomic issues are unable to regularly go to the doctor. This company provides Behavioral Health to these patients. At this point in time, this is the role that I want to pursue.
I am also committed to train/teach upcoming PMHNP students as well as take an active role in the profession.
What does “exceptional patient care” mean to you?
Exceptional care simply means providing the most effective, evidence based medicine to every patient, every time. Exceptional care in mental health requires empathy, understanding and patience.