Nursing News

Gaming vignettes support teaching gender-affirming care

Mary Cunningham — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 14:31:27 +0000

Gaming vignettes support teaching gender-affirming care Mary Cunningham Wed, 10/05/2022 - 10:31

In This Story

A teaching intervention by Andrea Landis and Bethany Cieslowski in the School of Nursing suggests that experiential learning opportunities are fundamental to learning about gender-affirming care.

Sample of gaming vignette. Image courtesy of Kognito.

LGBTQ2+ people face notable health disparities and nurses can help improve care and access by providing inclusive, non-judgmental, gender-affirming care. Nursing, medicine, and public health programs, including ��AV, are adopting gender-affirming care as part of the curriculum. As defined by the World Health Organization, gender-affirming health care attends to transgender individuals' hormonal, surgical, medical, mental, and social health needs while respectfully affirming their gender identity.

A new teaching intervention from Assistant Professor Andrea Landis and VR Simulation Coordinator Bethany Cieslowski in the College of Health and Human Services suggests that experiential learning opportunities are fundamental to learning key concepts of gender-affirming care. Additionally, repeated practice in a safe environment helped students better understand proficient gender-affirming care. Landis and Cieslowski used gaming vignettes to teach nursing students about gender-affirming care.

"The call for action to improve care for LGBTQ2+ people requires nurse educators to introduce curriculum that integrates the barriers to care with the effects of bias and discrimination in the patient/clinician relationship,” said Landis. “Using gaming vignettes and simulations can be a great way to introduce students to gender-affirming care and help them approach scenarios from the point of the patient."

The results found that including gender-affirming care in the curriculum increases inclusive practices and the visibility of LGBTQ2+ people; this affirms previous studies’ findings. In a post-teaching intervention survey, students stated that visuals from gaming vignettes were helpful in understanding the concept of gender-affirming care and providing it. Students left the lesson better understanding the importance of pronoun and name use and respecting the patient.

The short simulation vignettes covered using chosen name and pronouns during care, the effects of bias and discrimination in the patient/clinician relationship, and the role of electronic health records in gender-affirming care.

“The simulations demonstrated how these practices contribute to a trust relationship if established at the start of patient care visits,” said Cieslowski. “The scenarios highlighted barriers to care for LGBTQ2+ patients and exemplified action steps a health care professional could take to partner with the patient.”

An Innovative Teaching Modality to Promote Proficient Gender-Affirming Care was published in August 2022 in Clinical Simulation in Nursing.

Gaming image courtesy of Kognito.

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Scafide Discusses Alternate Light Source Research on NBC Nightly News

Mary Cunningham — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 14:08:26 +0000

Scafide Discusses Alternate Light Source Research on NBC Nightly News Mary Cunningham Fri, 08/12/2022 - 10:08

In This Story

Katherine Scafide, PhD, RN, FAAN

Dr. Katherine Scafide, associate professor of Nursing, spoke to NBC Nightly News about her research on Alternate Light Sources (ALS). The research helps identify hard-to-see bruising in darker skin tones, where it may otherwise be difficult or impossible to detect.

"By relying just on our eyes to see a bruise, unfortunately, we are creating a disparity in how we are able to detect injuries across diverse populations that can lead to differences in legal outcomes," said Scafide.

Watch the NBC Nightly News segment here or below.

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Alternate Light Source

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program Supports Student’s Goal of More Compassionate Care

Mary Cunningham — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 21:00:45 +0000

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program Supports Student’s Goal of More Compassionate Care Mary Cunningham Tue, 07/12/2022 - 17:00

Future psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner Hiba Masood works in the Population Health Center's behavioral health center.

Future psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner Hiba Masood intends to use the power of education to fight substance use disorder misinformation.

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) student Hiba Masood found her true calling to enter the field of psychiatry amidst the pandemic. With the advent of COVID-19 came a rise in psychiatric illness and the incidence of fatal overdoses. Unfortunately, this also coincided with a shortage of health care providers. Thus, Hiba returned to Mason to become a PMHNP and increase access to compassionate behavioral health care.

“Patient care can be considered an art that requires a scientific foundation and authenticity. Evidence-based practice is required to provide appropriate care, though it takes the unique experiences of practitioners to provide more individualized care,” she said. “Substance use disorder needs support, non-judgmental care, and compassion.”

As an alumna of Mason’s Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program, Hiba knew that Mason was the best place to further her education in order to gain additional skills to help those with substance use disorder. Mason’s Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification prepares graduates to perform a variety of mental health services including medication management. PMHNP’s perform a variety of roles including but not limited to conducting assessments, prescribing medication, and providing psychotherapy

Hands-on learning experiences are an essential part of the program. Hiba recently assisted in launching the Population Health Center’s behavioral health clinic. Alongside her cohort, Hiba learned the theory and practice of advanced practice psychiatric nursing in a variety of practice settings within the health care delivery system. Under the guidance of licensed preceptors, students working toward their PMHNP certification meet patients during their initial evaluation and follow them through their treatment journey. (Read more about the Population Health Center’s behavioral health clinic.)

“We are doing so much more than writing papers and trying to pass exams,” said Hiba. “One of the greatest experiences during this program is the ability to apply education into practice ensuring we are utilizing evidence based and individualized patient care.”

Mason’s instructors are a part of what makes the College special and why Hiba chose to continue her education here. She spotlights Dr. Melanie Yousefi, who has supported her throughout the PMHNP program in both the instructional and clinical settings.

“The faculty are remarkable, very caring, and supportive,” she said. “They have so much experience and education that they share with us, ensuring we are prepared to support our community.”

Removing the Stigma of Substance Use Disorder

Hiba is a strong advocate for shedding light on the realities of substance use disorder as a disease rather than a behavior that requires punishment or isolation. She has seen first-hand how the negative perceptions of substance use disorder have dissuaded people from seeking health care. Hiba wants to educate those whose perceptions have been skewed by misinformation.

“When people feel judged they hide away and go through such a dangerous disease process alone,” said Hiba. “With education and compassion, we can remove that stigma, so those who need help are more encouraged to come forward to get the support they need without societal judgment or fear of criminalization.”

Those who suffer from substance use disorder often experience comorbidities including other psychiatric and medical disorders that can go untreated due to stigmatization. Hiba describes how the societally imposed shame associated with substance use disorder causes those who need compassion and support to combat this illness without help.

“People with substance use disorders are human, just like you and me and should be treated with dignity and respect. Substance use disorder is a chronic disease that necessitates holistic care similar to other diseases like diabetes or hypertension. Those battling with substance use disorder deserve the right to receive care like anyone else and live their best life,” Hiba said.

Hiba also notes the importance of utilizing medically appropriate language when referring to substance use disorders as a piece of de-stigmatization. There is a growing movement among health professionals to avoid perpetuating the negative attitudes associated with terms such as drug user and addict. Using vocabulary such as “a person with a substance use disorder” removes the blame from individuals and reframes substance use as a disorder.

No Such Thing as One Size Fits All

Before starting the PMHNP certification process, Hiba worked in cardiology as a Registered Nurse (RN), in an inner-city hospital. She worked closely with the homeless population and incarcerated individuals, where the prevalence of substance use disorder and cooccurring illnesses are statistically higher. In her career as a RN and FNP, Hiba has always made it a priority to meet her patients’ individualized needs and ensure the patient’s support system is prepared to help them outside of her care. She has interned at various inpatient and outpatient facilities, including the College’s Population Health Center behavioral health clinic.

After completing her time at the behavioral health clinic and earning the title of PMHNP, Hiba is committed to putting her education into practice as well as her compassionate nature.

Providing medication-assisted treatment is one of the ways she plans to assist in the interdisciplinary care necessary for substance use disorder treatment. Hiba also plans on working with the adolescent population, supporting them through a vulnerable developmental time frame.

If you or someone you know is suffering from substance use disorder Mason’s Student Support and Advocacy Center offers resources.

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population health center

Multidisciplinary Mason Research Team Receives Nearly $1 Million Department of Justice Grant

Mary Cunningham — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 16:56:23 +0000

Multidisciplinary Mason Research Team Receives Nearly $1 Million Department of Justice Grant Mary Cunningham Tue, 07/05/2022 - 12:56

In This Story

Katherine Scafide, PhD, RN, FAAN

Janusz Wojtusiak, PhD

David Lattanzi

Researchers in the College of Health and Human Services and College of Computing and Engineering seek to develop a new, quantitative approach to analyzing the age of bruises

Researchers in Mason's College of Health and Human Services and Volgenau School of Engineering received a $988,559 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, for a three-year study pairing forensic bruise analysis with machine learning.

Dr. Katherine Scafide, RN

School of Nursing Associate Professor Katherine Scafide, Director of the Machine Learning and Inference Laboratory Janusz Wojtusiak, and Associate Professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering David Lattanzi are continuing their work on forensic bruise analysis on diverse skin tones with this new grant.

Law enforcement and legal professionals often rely on the accuracy and interpretation of injury documentation to inform their decisions; however, current bruise assessments provide little reliable data that can be used.

“Image analysis using deep learning, a sub-domain of machine learning, has demonstrated significant benefits in accuracy and reliability within health care; yet few studies have applied these techniques to the forensic analysis of injuries,” said Scafide, the principal investigator. “Our new study seeks to use deep learning to help improve our understanding of how bruises appear over time on diverse skin tones. The results will have broad implications for forensic clinical practice, criminal justice response, and future research.”

Dr. Janusz Wojtusiak

The team will develop a new, quantitative approach to identify the age of a bruise using deep learning models while determining its reliability and accuracy. Additionally, the team will develop a secure, searchable platform to store digital bruise images providing a comprehensive look at the healing process across diverse skin tones. The platform will integrate deep learning modeling and support future research and collaboration within the forensic science community.

“There is great potential for machine learning to support and improve forensic nursing techniques and reporting. Machine learning helps solve complex problems, and in forensic nursing, it can aid in the understanding of bruise tones over time,” said Wojtusiak.

Lattanzi brings his expertise using deep machine learning and image analysis to track damage to civil infrastructure to the research team. "It's exciting to take what we've learned and apply it in a way that deepens the societal impact of our work," said Lattanzi.

Dr. David Lattanzi, PE

This research directly builds off a 2019 Summer Impact Grant that the research team received from the Mason Provost Office.

“This new grant from the Justice Department exemplifies how we were able to turn a multidisciplinary and collaborative research-learning experience for undergraduates into a federally-funded and impactful research project that can benefit the health and well-being of vulnerable populations,” said Scafide.

"This collaboration started because a former doctoral student of mine met Kat and recognized that she and I might have a promising collaboration," said Lattanzi. "This project really speaks to the critical role graduate students play in advancing research by making connections that faculty don't always see."

Topics

Collaborative for Health Equity

TTIP

Tech Talent Investment Program

College of Health and Human Services and ServiceSource Establish a Center on Aging with a Focus on Healthy Aging and Workforce Development

Mary Cunningham — Wed, 18 May 2022 20:55:33 +0000

College of Health and Human Services and ServiceSource Establish a Center on Aging with a Focus on Healthy Aging and Workforce Development Mary Cunningham Wed, 05/18/2022 - 16:55

In This Story

Dr. Cathy Tompkins

Healthy aging is more important than ever in the U.S. as everyone in the Baby Boomer generation nears retirement age.

Post-doctoral student Hyun Kang, Associate Dean of Faculty and Staff Affairs and Professor Cathy Tompkins, Assistant Professor Michelle Hand, and Chair of the Department of Social Work Emily Ihara at the opening of the Wellness Center for Older Adults.

College of Health and Human Services and ServiceSource, Inc. (SSI) have established a Northern Virginia Center on Aging, which will be recognized as a satellite center with the Virginia Center on Aging (VCoA). The center will provide services, programs, and activities for older adults and workforce development and continuing education for health care professionals who support older adults. Faculty and students will be actively involved and are excited for this new opportunity.

The Center on Aging will expand the VCoA’s mission of being an interdisciplinary study, research, information, and resource facility for the Commonwealth of Virginia utilizing the full capabilities of faculty, staff, libraries, laboratories, and clinics for the benefit of older Virginians and the expansion of knowledge pertaining to older adults and aging in general. VCoA is a statewide agency created by the Virginia General Assembly.

“Healthy aging is now more important than ever as our over-65 and over-85 populations continue to grow in the coming decades,” said Associate Dean of Faculty and Staff Affairs and Professor Cathy Tompkins. “This collaborative program will help prepare the current and future geriatric workforce to optimize opportunities to maintain and improve physical and mental health, independence, and quality of life throughout a person’s life.”

By 2030, every person in the Baby Boomer generation will be 65 or older. With this generation being larger than generations before it, more resources are necessary to support the population.

The new center will provide workforce training to students across the College’s departments through practicums, internships, and other experiential learning opportunities on how to effectively work with older adults. Additionally, the Center will partner with other community organizations to provide continuing education and training for frontline workers and licensed professionals. College faculty will have opportunities to evaluate current interventions implemented by SSI staff and community partners.

The Northern Virginia Center on Aging will be housed at the new Wellness Center for Older Adults (WCOA), which is less than four miles from Mason’s campus.

The College is home to the Department of Social Work and leads research and workforce development initiatives focused on healthy aging. Other departments actively involved in the new Northern Virginia Center on Aging include the School of Nursing and the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies.

SSI’s mission is to facilitate services, resources, and partnerships to support people with disabilities and it offers a wide range of services to serve the community, including operating the WCOA.

Other WCOA community partners supporting the Center include AARP Virginia, The Alzheimer’s Association American Health Care Professionals, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, INOVA Community Health, Insight Memory Care Center, Northern Virginia Community College, Shenandoah University, the Shepherd’s Center, and the Parkinson Social Network.

About Mason

��AV, Virginia’s largest public research university, enrolls 39,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason has grown rapidly over the last half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility. In 2022, Mason celebrates 50 years as an independent institution. Learn more at http://www.gmu.edu.

About the College of Health and Human Services

The College of Health and Human Services prepares students to become leaders and to shape the public's health through academic excellence, research of consequence, community outreach, and interprofessional clinical practice. The College enrolls more than 1,900 undergraduate and 1,300 graduate students in its nationally-recognized offerings, including 6 undergraduate degrees, 13 graduate degrees, and 6 certificate programs. The college is transitioning to a college of public health in the near future. For more information, visit https://chhs.gmu.edu/.

Topics

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies

Nutrition News

College of Health and Human Services Receives $2.6 Million Grant as Part of AmeriCorps and CDC Partnership

Mary Cunningham — Mon, 16 May 2022 19:24:32 +0000

College of Health and Human Services Receives $2.6 Million Grant as Part of AmeriCorps and CDC Partnership Mary Cunningham Mon, 05/16/2022 - 15:24

In This Story

Rebecca Sutter, DNP, APRN, BC-FNP

Janusz Wojtusiak, PhD

Rebecca Sutter, Director of Mason and Partner Clinics

The grant is part of the first-of-its-kind Public Health AmeriCorps, which will meet public health needs of local communities and help rebuild the nation’s public health sector

The College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) has been awarded $2.6 million over three years as part of the new Public Health AmeriCorps program, an interagency agreement between AmeriCorps and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

The College’s project is led by Rebecca Sutter, Director of the Mason and Partner (MAP) Clinics and recently-promoted professor of Nursing, and Janusz Wojtusiak, Director of the Center for Discovery Science and Health Informatics and associate professor of Health Administration and Policy. With the grant funding, the College aims to increase community-based connections and improve patient referrals to both health and social determinants of health needs through the use of data analytics and community-based relationships.

“Mason is uniquely positioned to lead the way at this intersection between the CDC and AmeriCorps because of our expertise in health informatics, dedication to health equity, and long-standing relationships in our local communities,” said Sutter. “These AmeriCorps volunteers will be our next public health leaders, and we are excited to prepare them to use data to guide public health strategy and create stronger connections to underserved Northern Virginia families.”

Janusz Wojtusiak, Director of the Center for Discovery Science and Health Informatics

The project, "Mason Data and Technology Driven Public Health AmeriCorps Training Program," will receive $2,662,000 over three years.

Under the grant, Mason will train 30 AmeriCorps members to strengthen health connections to the community and learn how to use data analytics to improve care communication, care coordination, triage, and patient surveillance across two communities in Northern Virginia. AmeriCorps members will increase referrals to health and social services for under/uninsured community members.

This community-based training program is critical to building the public health workforce and serving underserved communities that are strained for support. With dedicated training, future leaders can become confident and comfortable with the variety of ways to support people in their health and wellness journeys. The training program also will help address broader public health needs that have been exacerbated by the pandemic, including mental health.

“Public Health AmeriCorps is a first of its kind response to the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and social determinants of health. These new AmeriCorps members will add capacity to strained public health systems and build a career pathway for future public health leaders from underserved communities,” said Michael D. Smith, AmeriCorps CEO.

Public Health AmeriCorps will include a 400-million-dollar investment, over five years, to many organizations, including CHHS, from the American Rescue Plan Act workforce funding that will enable the recruitment, training, and development of a new generation of public health leaders who are ready to respond to the public health needs of the nation by providing public health service in communities.

Topics

Healthcare Workforce Development

Workforce Development

workforce training

Honoring Mason Nurses Awardees Announced

Mary Cunningham — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 20:24:45 +0000

Honoring Mason Nurses Awardees Announced Mary Cunningham Mon, 04/04/2022 - 16:24

The CHHS School of Nursing is proud to announce three award winners to be recognized at its Honoring Mason Nurses: Past, Present, and Future event:

Outstanding Nurse Champion Award: Ashley Frese, BSN '04, MSN '12
Outstanding Nurse Innovation Award: Anna Norwood, MSN '18

Outstanding Public Health Nurse Award: Kadija Conteh-Barrat, BSN '09, DNP '15

“On behalf of the School of Nursing, we are so proud to honor these three outstanding nurses for their contribution to the DC-area and the world. Their perseverance and determination to excel in their practice has improved the quality of care and lives of patients,” said Cheryl Oetjen, interim Director of the School of Nursing.

The April 28 event, hosted at Fairfax Country Club, recognizes the achievements and impact of Mason School of Nursing graduates, including Frese, Norwood, and Conteh-Barrat, for all they do to support the health and well-being of Northern Virginia residents and beyond.

The College welcomes all alumni, students, and friends of the School of Nursing to attend this event. We hope you will join us to honor these nurses and all Mason nurses. Tickets are now available here for Honoring Mason Nurses.

The College put out a call for colleagues, fellow alumni, friends, or family to nominate an outstanding Mason nurse. Once nominations were collected the Honoring Mason Nurses executive committee, comprised of School of Nursing alumna and faculty, reviewed each nomination by predetermined criteria to determine a winner. Learn more about the awardees below.

Outstanding Nurse Champion Award: Ashley Frese, BSN '04, MSN '12

The Outstanding Nurse Champion Award recognizes the exceptional courage and passion of a frontline nurse who breaks through barriers to advocate for patients, families, and their team while working on the frontlines of the health care industry.

Ashley Frese serves on the frontline as the director of the Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Critical Care Fellowship at Inova’s Fairfax Medical Campus (IFMC), as well as the APP Director for the Medical-Surgical Intensive Care Unit. She has been a critical care nurse practitioner with the Medical Critical Care Services at IFMC for 10 years. Her areas of interest include hemorrhagic and distributive shock, with a focus on methodologies of massive volume resuscitation. Frese loves to teach and is the chair of the Education Committee for Critical Care at IFMC, and has been an adjunct faculty member at Mason since 2015.

“She is a voice for advanced practice nurses, bedside nurses, and, above all, for our patients. Whether it be staying past her shift to ensure a plan of care is instituted correctly, taking time to educate a peer or staff nurse, or speaking on the behalf of nursing to administration, she is always tirelessly advocating for nursing and patients,” said one of the multiple people to nominated Freese.

Frese graduated from the ��AV/George Washington University Collaborative Nurse Practitioner program and will graduate with her Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2023.

Outstanding Nurse Innovation Award: Anna Norwood, MSN '18

The Outstanding Nurse Innovation Award recognizes a nurse who demonstrates innovation in creating a better workplace, patient care, device, or business opportunity to enhance the health and wellbeing of their community.

Anna C. Norwood, MSN, RN, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Nurse Practitioner and the founder and owner of Kinetic Medical Group, a physical medicine and rehabilitation group which serves over 15 skilled nursing facilities, long term care facilities and assisted living facilities in Virginia and Maryland. After graduation, Norwood worked in skilled nursing facilities where she developed a love for high-quality geriatric care. Seeing gaps in care, she started Kinetic Medical Group to improve orthopedic and pain management care at the facilities where she serves. She is a recognized expert and a successful nurse entrepreneur who has created an innovative medical group.

“There is no doubt that Anna is the best candidate to receive the Outstanding Nurse Innovation Award as she truly demonstrates medical knowledge and compassion as a nurse and entrepreneurship by starting her own practice, and surpasses co-workers by taking additional time to educate staff and share current research in her field with other health care professionals,” said one of many people who nominated Frese for the innovation award. “I hope that you will consider celebrating this leader in the field of nursing, Anna Norwood, who is a true entrepreneur, healthcare hero, and inspiration to myself and so many others.”

Norwood has advanced certifications in orthopedics, including advanced training in nerve blocks and intra-articular injections. She is a specialist in a range of conditions that impact physical function including musculoskeletal conditions, neurologic conditions, and end-of-life pain management. She is licensed to provide Suboxone treatment and has a passion for treatment of addiction. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Virginia Commonwealth University and her Master of Science in Nursing from Mason with a Nurse Practitioner concentration.

Outstanding Public Health Nurse Award: Kadija Conteh-Barrat, BSN '09, DNP '15

The Outstanding Public Health Nurse Award recognizes a nurse who makes outstanding contributions to the field of public health, including social justice, health equity, and the delivery of public health care and services.

Kadija Conteh-Barrat is the founder and CEO of Manak Community Health Organization (MaCHO), founded in 2020 to advance health equity and drive better health outcomes in the most underserved communities in Sierra Leone. Conteh-Barrat’s work to help those in crisis and to increase access to quality health care in Sierra Leone was inspired by her life-changing experiences during Sierra Leone's civil war and as a refugee in Guinea.

“Kadija's medical missions and community clinic are helping to address health care needs in Sierra Leone, advance health equity, decrease mortality, and improve health outcomes in these hard-to-reach communities,” said one of her nominators.

In March 2022, Conteh-Barrat completed her second medical mission in Sierra Leone and established a health clinic in the Yurika community, serving 84 villages. She has partnered with US non-profits and the local health district to ensure sustainability, increase capacity, expand care in isolated communities, and provide lifesaving medications, ongoing chronic disease management, and maternal childcare.

Conteh-Barrat is working toward a postgraduate certificate in Psychiatric and Mental Health at Mason and is an adjunct faculty member in the College of Health and Human Services. In 2021, she was recognized as an Emerging Leader in Healthcare by United Health Group.

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First-of-its-Kind Interprofessional Behavioral Health Clinic Opens at the Population Health Center

John Brandon Cantrell — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 12:47:58 +0000

First-of-its-Kind Interprofessional Behavioral Health Clinic Opens at the Population Health Center John Brandon C… Wed, 03/30/2022 - 08:47

PMHNP students treat patients supervised by licensed practitioners at the only teaching clinic in the country for psychiatric medication management service that is affordable for all.

More than 50% of Americans will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). In a given year, 20% will experience a mental illness. The ongoing pandemic has increased this by at least 10% percent, according to a CDC survey. Now nearly two years in, more people are seeking mental health support, however, finding a psychiatrist who is accepting new patients can be difficult and not always affordable.

Patients at Mason’s Center for Psychological Services (CPS) now have a new option— the Population Health Center’s behavioral health clinical services. Assistant Professor of Nursing Melanie Yousefi and the School of Nursing saw a need they could fill in the community plus a great way to train new psychiatric nurse practitioners and created this new program.

The College of Health and Human Services is sponsoring this new clinic which is the first-of-its-kind interprofessional clinic where Clinical Psychology doctoral students and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) students are delivering services in collaboration with each other and licensed faculty.

Training the Next Generation of Mental Health Professionals

With referrals from clinical psychology and counseling students at CPS, PMHNP students in the behavioral health clinic treat patients supervised by licensed practitioners on the College faculty. It is the only clinic in the country for psychiatric medication management service that is affordable for all and serves as an experiential learning environment for students.

“The clinic is providing hands-on psychological education for our PMHNP students,” said Yousefi, who is a certified PMHNP. “Most students can’t get this clinical experience anywhere else in the area until after they are certified. Because the clinic is part of an academic setting, there is more flexibility and our students get more real-world experience with real patients while still learning from the support of faculty members. They are able to receive feedback in real time to improve their practice and help the patient.”

PMHNP are licensed to diagnose mental health issues and to prescribe medicine as part of the treatment plan. All student clinical care is provided under direct supervision of Mason faculty who are experienced, practicing PMHNPs. Working with patients and PMHNPs, students learn by doing.

“I have had the experience of meeting clients from their initial evaluation, building rapport with them, and collaborating with them in such an important aspect of their health and overall wellbeing. It brings me great joy to join clients in attaining their mental health goals,” said Hiba Masood, a certified nurse practitioner and Mason PMHNP student. "I am honored to collaborate with the interprofessional team at the Center for Psychological Services, learning and growing with them and our mutual clients."

Students working in the clinic are experienced, licensed registered nurses enrolled in their clinical practicum and in the process of becoming a PMHNP and completing either their doctoral degree or post-master’s graduate certificate (if they are already an advanced practice nurse). Prior to their time at the Population Health Center, as with all Mason PMHNP students beginning their clinical practicum, nursing graduate students have already completed a wide range of mental health coursework including diagnostic training, psychotherapy, advanced pharmacotherapeutics, advanced physical health assessments, and psychopharmacology.

“Being a part of the teaching program with PHC has given me valuable clinical experience and helped to build my confidence and skills in providing quality care for clients," said Masood.

Interprofessional Collaboration for Well-Rounded Care and Education

“Mental health and physical health often coincide, and we are able to collaborate with CPS to provide the broad spectrum of mental health services to provide the best care for our patients,” said Yousefi. CPS provides evidence-based therapy and testing for clients of all ages in the community on a sliding scale, but it needed additional help with medication and pharmacology. Since fall 2021, CPS and the behavioral health clinic have worked together to provide complete patient mental health care.

CPS is a training clinic for doctoral students in clinical psychology that serves the Northern Virginia community on a sliding scale pay structure. Under the direction of Dr. Robyn Mehlenbeck, CPS has helped organizations and community members receive top-notch, evidence-based mental health care. CPS patients come from community referrals, including CPS’s emotional support phone line and Mason’s student services. However, the Center cannot provide medication or medication management, which is where the behavioral health clinic steps into patient care.

Behavioral health clinic patients, who are all referred from CPS, can see a PMHNP and receive prescriptions if needed. Previously, patients would have to go to outside community partners for this, and there was never any guarantee there were openings. Additionally, the two Mason clinics hold interprofessional meetings to discuss the best treatment for each patient. Students in both clinics are learning the scope of practice as students before they become licensed practitioners.

“This collaboration helps our students understand the complete process of psychopharmacology and psychotherapy treatment,” said Yousefi. “And the patient is receiving an overall wellness plan.” Mason is the only provider combining these two types of clinics and services to patients of any income.

Like CPS, Mason’s behavioral health clinic is a sliding scale model, which means the cost is income-based and affordable for those who have limited resources. No other training clinic in the country has a sliding scale for psychiatric medication management service, that Mason is aware of.

“It is wonderful to have the behavioral health services clinic as an on-campus partner,” said Mehlenbeck. “My trainee’s client started meds with Melanie’s team and reported he feels so much better. Accessible medication management is almost impossible to obtain, and yet, was exactly what this client needed. Working as an interprofessional team provides the best care to patients, the best training to our students and making this care accessible for our community is key.”

Next Steps for Growing the Clinic

“Melanie’s vision for this clinic is trailblazing for the College and the community. Two great teams are coming together to make health visible,” said interim Director of the School of Nursing Cheryl Oetjen. “We are grateful for the College’s support of this initiative, which has made it a reality.”

The behavioral health team is currently staffed to manage a limited caseload and hopes to be able to expand with additional funding. For every patient, only two students can assist one licensed practitioner so there are a limited number of appointments available. Since it is a training clinic, each visit takes twice as long as a standard doctor’s visit so that the students have time to understand what they are learning.

“Having more clinicians would allow for more availability to oversee care and student training, which in turn would allow for more referrals,” said Oetjen of the future of the clinic. When the clinic can support additional patients, Yousefi hopes to develop a referral process from the Mason and Partner (MAP) clinics too.

To further prepare students to serve in the clinic, Yousefi and Oetjen aim to work with the College’s Virtual Reality and Simulation Lab to do additional training with students before they start seeing patients in person. Mason will continue to prepare excellent mental health nurse practitioners to follow their passion for helping others.

“I enjoy being a great asset to the community,” said Masood. “It has been a privilege to be a part of launching this vital program for our community."

Topics

Psychiatric Mental Health

Nurse Practitioner

In the George

population health center

The Washington Post-American Nurses Association and The Washingtonian Magazine Recognize Mason Nursing Excellence in Local Awards

John Brandon Cantrell — Mon, 10 May 2021 15:32:49 +0000

The Washington Post-American Nurses Association and The Washingtonian Magazine Recognize Mason Nursing Excellence in Local Awards John Brandon C… Mon, 05/10/2021 - 11:32

In This Story

Caroline Sutter, DNP

Martha (Marti) Y. Kubik, PhD, RN, FAAN

Local Nursing Awards Recognize Mason Alumni.

As we continue to celebrate National Nurses Month, the American Nurses Association has dedicated the week of May 10 to May 14 as a time to recognize and celebrate the dedication, commitment, and contributions nurses provide to their patients, colleagues, and communities.

Caroline Sutter, Mason alumna, professor, and co-director of the Mason and Partners (MAP) Clinics, was named one of the 2021 Star Nurses from the Washington Post and American Nurses Association (ANA).

At ��AV, the School of Nursing prepares nurses to become leaders in their field through extensive practical and academic training. Mason Nursing excellence has been recognized through two local awards.

This year, three Mason alumni (including one faculty member) were selected as 2021 Star Nurses finalists by the Washington Post, in partnership with the American Nurses Association.

With over one hundred nominees, the Washington Post and American Nurses Association (ANA) selected the top candidates who represent the “epitome of skill, professionalism, and care” as they work in the frontlines to provide care in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia Metropolitan area. Of the 2021 Star Nurses, six nurses will be named as Nightingale Award winners on May 26.

Among the nurses selected is two-time Mason alumna, Caroline Sutter (MSN ’01, DNP ‘12), who is also the co-director of the Mason and Partners (MAP) Clinics and associate professor in the School of Nursing.

“I am humbled by this recognition and have loved every minute of my nursing career,” Sutter said. “I am proud to be a Mason nurse, where we encourage innovative thinking and allow ideas to blossom into initiatives that make a difference. I am particularly proud of the work we do at the Mason and Partner Clinics to improve the health of the most vulnerable in our communities and to offer hands-on learning opportunities that prepare our students to thrive in the health care workforce.”

Along with Sutter, Mason alumnus Kenneth Daniel (BSN ’00) and alumna Donna Thomas (MSN ’17) were selected as 2021 finalists.

“We’ve always known that Mason nurses are special and that they bring passion, competency, and resilience to their careers,” said Marti Kubik, director and professor of the School of Nursing. “I particularly want to congratulate Carrie Sutter for the well-deserved honor and to thank her for her tireless work in the community.”

In addition to the Mason nurses selected as the 2021 Star Nurses, eight Mason alumni were featured in the Washingtonian’s 50 Exceptional Nurses list to honor nurses who “go above and beyond every day for their patients and colleagues.” In this recognition, Mason alumni represented 16% of nurses on the list.

Laila S. Bailey, BSN ’85, MSN ‘10; Meghan K. Bozzelli, BSN ’07; Christine M. Chaney, BSN ’02; Susan E. (Sue) Frank, BSN ’78, MSN ’96; Lauren J. Keane, BSN ’11; Kimberly A. Miller, MSN ’15; Myra B. (Connie) Wisnaes, BSN ’93; and Michelle J. Vassallo, MHA ’15 were among those who received the Exceptional Nurses honor.

“It’s wonderful to see our faculty and alumni recognized in the community through initiatives like the Washington Post/ANA Star Nurses and Washingtonian Magazine Excellence in Nursing Award,” Kubik said. “Thank you to all nurses – we appreciate your many contributions.”

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