The role of the dually certified primary care/psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner in treating high-needs/high-cost patients.

National nursing organizations have called for nurses to provide leadership in care solutions for high-cost/high-needs vulnerable populations. In response to this call, important modifications are emerging in Doctor of Nursing Practice programs, including an increasing number of nurses pursuing dual certification in primary care and psychiatric mental health or primary care nurse practitioners returning for a postgraduate certificate in psychiatric mental health. This innovative role warrants examination, particularly because it relates to high-needs/high-cost patients such as those with serious mental illness (SMI).

Development of a Medication Management Program in Permanent Supportive Housing.

We describe a nurse-led project that aimed to assist a permanent supportive housing facility for chronically homeless individuals to improve medication adherence by refining a medication management program. Client and staff engagement through needs assessment, feedback, and evaluation formed the foundation for a sustainable medication management program.