About Me
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I am an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Board Certified and licensed by the State of Colorado to diagnose, treat, and medicate psychiatric-mental health conditions. I am a graduate of Yale University and have extensive experience in psychiatric-mental health inpatient, outpatient, and homecare settings.
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>> APRNs have a Master's degree in Nursing, are Board Certified by the national organization that validates credentials and administers a standardized examination, and then licensed by the State and the DEA. I am dually trained as a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) and a Nurse Practitioner (NP), and earned additional Certification as a Master Psychopharmacologist from the Neuroscience Education Institute.
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>> As a nurse, my practice is informed by specific, unique theory. This is how nursing theorist Virginia Henderson (1897-1996), defined it: "The unique function of the nurse is to assist the individual, sick or well, in the performance of those activities contributing to health or its recovery...that (s)he would perform unaided if (s)he had the necessary strength, will or knowledge."
>>I am also inspired by the words of Mark Mercurio, Director of Biomedical Ethics at the Yale School of Medicine: "Be an advocate, a safety net, the human face and heart and brain of an increasingly complex system."
>>Psychiatric clinicians have varied training, licenses, and roles. My role as an APRN overlaps with that of a Psychiatric Social Worker (LCSW), Certified Addictions Counselor (CAC), Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Psychologist (PhD or PsyD), and Psychiatrist (MD). All of us are trained to do psychotherapy. Only Psychiatrists and APRNs can prescribe. Only Psychologists can do neuro/psychological testing. All of us practice according to the unique theory of our respective Disciplines, governed by State and Federal laws.
>> I am a nurse, not a doctor. I am pleased to be addressed as "Nurse" or "Nurse Waskiewicz" or just plain "Cheryl".
>> Waskiewicz is pronounced "Waa-ska-wits". I use "Adult ADD Treatment Pro" for my email and website addresses because it is easier to remember and spell than "Waskiewicz".