Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Brittany Long, psychiatric nurse practitioner at CHI, has been in practice since the fall of 2018.
The Chamber's April Employee of the Month hails from CHI St. Alexius Health Carrington. Brittany Long joined CHI as a psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner in the fall of 2018 and has since helped patients navigate and stabilize all sorts of psychiatric conditions.
It is a service that means everything to the patients that suffer from conditions like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, ADHD and obsessive-compulsive disorders- and it is close home. Patients no longer have to be referred out to Bismarck or Fargo to receive care. In fact, Brittany sees patients at both the Foster County Medical Center clinic in Carrington and the New Rockford Family Clinic.
In submitting Brittany's nomination, an anonymous patient said, "I never dreamed we would have psychiatric services available here in New Rockford. Brittany has a kind and warm demeanor, which is greatly appreciated. She does a great job listening without judgment and shares in the humor that makes life worthwhile. What a wonderful asset Brittany is to our community."
For Brittany, her interest in psychiatric medicine began while she was working as a registered nurse for Wells County Public Health. Much of her work involved outreach as she helped people who had very little resources learn how to address their own needs. However, all the empowerment in the world can't make up for the large resource gaps that exist in rural North Dakota, she says.
In 2016, Brittany began pursuing her Master's Degree at the University of North Dakota all the while still working at public health and raising a family. Then in an effort to make the most of her Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners degree, Brittany reached out to CHI St. Alexius Carrington with a proposition. What resulted was a partnership that provided patients with a new and convenient service and allowed Brittany to develop her practice and stay close to home.
The partnerships don't end there. During each visit, Brittany sees her patients as partners in health. She says, "It is my job to help them manage their mental illness and be part of their own treatment."
The process begins with an assessment, which includes many standard questions she asks of every patient. However, Brittany recognizes that people often feel vulnerable at this time. "It's normal to be nervous," she says.
When it comes to the diagnosis, Brittany relies on two things to make her decision: 1) her training and knowledge of psychiatric disorders and 2) accurate information about the patient. Sometimes diagnoses can develop over time as she gains more understanding about the patient's symptoms and/or response to medications.
At this point, much of Brittany's work focuses on medication management, and often she is witness to patients who have improved their quality of life. Over time, a treatment plan is developed that includes medication and possibly additional therapy. While she is a great listener, Brittany doesn't offer the same kind of "talk therapy" that psychologists and therapists can offer. Instead the two approaches complement each other, giving patients the best chance at managing their mental health.
Brittany Long is accepting new patients. To request a referral, you should contact your primary health care provider. Appointments are available both in-person and now virtually as well.
Have you experienced great customer service from an employee of a local business? If so, please consider nominating that person for this award. Nominations are also accepted via email to [email protected]. One person receives the award each month.
