Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Fellowship Program (Child and Adolescent Psychiatry)

The Vanderbilt Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Fellowship is a 12-month (January to December) postgraduate program focused on the field of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. The PMHNP will be exposed to a variety of experiences within Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, including outpatient services, inpatient services, consult liaison services, the Vanderbilt Center of Excellence consulting for youth in states custody, and structured didactics focused on expanding the fellow’s knowledge base across disciplines in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.  There will be an emphasis on outpatient care.  The PMHNP Fellow works in collaboration with a multidisciplinary health care team at Vanderbilt Behavioral Health including psychiatrists, therapists, social workers, and other NPs, to provide diagnostic assessment and medication management for children and teens with psychiatric conditions including depression, anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, Autism, and other mental health conditions.  

Catherine Shull

Catherine Shull, PMHNP, M.Ed.
Professional Staff  Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
PMHNP Fellowship Clinical Coordinator
Center of Excellence for Children in State Custody (COE)
Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
c.t.shull@vumc.org 

For additional information regarding the VUMC AP Fellowship Program, including application criteria and overview, please visit our website: https://www.vumc.org/nursing-oap/vumc-advanced-practice-fellowship  

Ideal candidate

Master's or Doctoral degree in nursing 

National Board Certification as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

 TN License/Certificate of Fitness to Prescribe, eligible for NPI and DEA 

Interest in working with children, adolescents, and families

 

Applications for 2025 cohort will open Summer 2024

  • The CAP PMHNP Fellowship consists of 3 separate rotations:

    • January – April: Inpatient Treatment Team at Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital (VPH)
    • May – August: Consult Liaison Service at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital (VCH)
    • September – December: Outpatient Services at Vanderbilt Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic (CAPOC)

    Other clinical components:

    • One day a week continuity clinic at CAPOC to build outpatient case load
    • Time at the Vanderbilt Center of Excellence serving in the role of consultant for youth in states custody

    Other Clinical opportunities based on interest:

    • Observing ECT/TMS Clinic at VPH
    • Observing in other divisions at Vanderbilt Behavioral Health – this could include the Addictions Clinic, Early Psychosis Program, Eating Disorders Clinic, Adolescent Partial Hospitalization Program, PAS (Psychiatric Assessment Service), and the VBH School Based Program

  • Seminar Series: twice a month lectures on CAP related topics.  Past year’s topics have included:

    Safety Assessment and Planning
    Managing Trauma Related Behaviors
    Working with Families in High Conflict Situations
    Pediatric Anxiety Triad
    ERP for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
    Working with Academically Gifted Patients
    ADHD and Differential Diagnoses
    Epilepsy and Co-Morbid Psychiatric Disorders
    Tics and Co-Morbid Psychiatric Disorders
    Concussion
    Eating Disorders
    Treatment Resistant Depression
    Pediatric Catatonia
    Psychosis
    Functional Pain and Systems of Care
    ASD Interventions
    Working with LGBTQ+ Youth

    Other didactic components:

    Psychiatry Grand Rounds
    APRN Grand Rounds
    Department MM&Is
    Case Studies
    Journal Club
    Center of Excellence Lunch and Learns
    LEAP! Mentorship Program
    Fellowship QI Project