Beyond Your Prescription: Responsible Medication Management at Lavender
By Elizabeth Corvino, MSN, PMHNP-BC
As a nurse practitioner (NP) at Lavender, I often get asked questions about medication. Many of you are understandably curious about medication and how it will help or affect your healing process. Taking medication is a big decision and it’s perfectly normal to be unsure whether it’s the right choice for you.
At Lavender, we like taking a complementary approach to prescription medication. We believe in the power of combining medication management with talk therapy, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution—every journey to better mental health is unique. In this blog post, I’ll share our perspective on how we work with clients to explore medication as an option while keeping responsible prescribing a top priority.
Quality Client Care: The Lavender Difference
Understanding Your Needs
One of the things I love most about working at Lavender is our commitment to quality client care. Our initial medication and talk therapy appointment with you is longer than most practices offer. This allows us NPs enough time to get a thorough understanding of your needs, what’s important to you, where you are currently, and where you would like to be.
For new clients, the initial appointment typically lasts for an hour and includes discussions on your medical and psychiatric history. If medications are recommended, the risks and benefits of taking medication will be discussed. For existing clients, medication management follow-ups typically range between 20-60 minutes and occur at least once a month. During follow-up appointments, you and your NP will have an open and honest discussion about how effective your symptoms are managed through medication, how you feel since you last spoke with your NP, and what impact the medication has on your daily life. Whether you're a longtime client or just starting your journey with us, your NP will take the time to get to know you. We understand that medication decisions are important, and we’re here to create a treatment plan that feels comfortable for you.
Kindhearted Nurse Practitioners
Everyone’s journey is unique, and our NPs are no different. Our board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioners come from a variety of backgrounds and bring a wealth of experience to support you in the best way possible. I’m proud to say that my colleagues are highly qualified, empathetic, and just as focused on providing client-centered care as I am. We go through multiple rounds of training on an ongoing basis to make sure that we create kind, convenient, and transparent journeys for our clients every step of the way.
And speaking of learning and growing, I’m thrilled to share that Lavender earned its ANCC accreditation as of earlier this year, but what exactly does this mean for you? In a nutshell, it means that you’re getting high-quality care from your NPs. But behind the scenes, your psych NPs receive continuous training from other experts in the field, have the latest resources available to properly diagnose and treat specific conditions like anxiety, ADHD, and depression, and are evaluated on their learnings for effectiveness. To quote one of my colleagues mentioned in the article, Deidre McHugh, “This is a testament of our commitment to creating and providing high quality, scientifically rigorous education for our Psych NPs here at Lavender.”
Policies for Medication Management
Besides training, Lavender also has strong policies in place that NPs use to prescribe medication responsibly and appropriately. These policies include assessments that the client and nurse practitioner use to determine the effectiveness of the medication, how often follow-ups will occur, discussions about the potential risks and side effects of the medication, and how the client will be monitored for potential side effects.
Lavender’s Pledge for Responsible ADHD Care
Recently, there’s been a growing concern about stimulant misuse, particularly for ADHD treatment. As a Lavender NP, we’re committed to practicing responsible prescribing. In fact, my fellow NPs and I signed an ADHD Care Pledge when we joined Lavender. The pledge covers many aspects of prescribing stimulants to our patients in an appropriate manner. This means thoroughly evaluating patients before considering stimulants, staying up-to-date on healthcare trends, educating clients and their families on the risks of stimulant use, and identifying practices related to misuse, abuse, or overprescribing. We also closely collaborate with interdisciplinary colleagues to address any concerns about prescribing stimulants and explore alternative options when possible to make sure you’re getting the best care from us.
Medication and Talk Therapy
We believe talk therapy is a powerful partner to medication. Together, they create a well-rounded system for your mental health. Talk therapy provides the long-term knowledge and skills that can help you manage your symptoms, and medication can give you an extra boost in the right direction. But remember, this is your journey, and you get to decide whether incorporating medication is right for you. As your Lavender NP, your well-being is our priority. We’re here to listen, answer your questions, and support you on your journey to bettering your mental health, with or without medication.
All content and information on this website are for informational purposes only. None of the material is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This information does not create any client-provider relationship. Please consult with your mental health care provider before making any health care decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition.