A Dually Certified Nurse Practitioner Role in a Housing First Location

Abstract

This article sets forth the innovative model of a dually certified primary care/psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PC/PMHNP) and elucidates Peplau's nursing roles (rather than her entire theory) as a foundational component of the treatment in people with complex conditions. The case example presented here describes the care of a person with substance use disorder and complex mental and physical disease processes by a PC/PMHNP in a clinic situated within a permanent supported housing community. Rooted in Peplau's Theory of Interpersonal Relations, the PC/PMHNP is a key interdisciplinary team member in transforming needed treatment solutions for this challenging population