Integrating Psychiatric Care for Patients

Brandy Cloud, a recent graduate of the West Virginia University School of Nursing’s Post-MSN Certificate Program for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, is now set to expand her impact with the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS).

With her new certification, she plans to integrate psychiatric care into traditional medical settings within USPHS. Cloud aims to provide both medical and psychiatric care for immigrants as part of the ICE Health Service Corps. In the future, Cloud intends to open a private practice where she can offer comprehensive care to her local community as both a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP).

Cloud's journey into nursing has been fueled by her passion for mental health and a deep commitment to helping others. As an active-duty officer in USPHS, she has dedicated her career to serving underserved communities, leading programs in infectious disease prevention, and responding to national crises like hurricane relief efforts and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I have always had a passion for substance use and mental health treatment,” Cloud said. “I desired to have more opportunities to integrate psychiatric care into more traditional medical care. I believe that our patients deserve to be cared for as a whole person and that there is a need for more holistic care that addresses both the physical and psychiatric aspects of a person’s health.”

Cloud continued, “When I was stationed with the Indian Health Service, I had the opportunity to work on Behavioral Health Integration into the primary care, pediatric, and women’s health clinics and I saw the impact that was made when people had the opportunity to receive all of their health care where they felt comfortable and cared for. I decided that in order to best care for my patients, I needed to have the knowledge and skills to care for them as a whole person. I believe that a person’s psychological health impacts their physical health and vice versa.”

Prior to the program, Cloud completed her bachelor’s in biology in 2004 from the University of Texas, Arlington. She then completed a dual master’s of science in Substance Abuse and Clinical Counseling and Rehabilitation Studies at East Carolina University in 2007. After a few years, Cloud decided to get her second degree as an RN in 2012 and her MSN-FNP in 2013 from Vanderbilt University. Later, in 2018, Cloud completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

“I had a great experience with the faculty at WVU,” Cloud said of the PMHNP program. “The faculty were very engaged and helpful. They solicited feedback and listened to that feedback openly. They were willing to help and provide guidance when I had questions. They also had clear and fair expectations that were laid out from the beginning in each course. I felt like the faculty were invested in my success and the success of my classmates as well. They found opportunities to enhance learning with case studies and opportunities for us to work together even at a distance.”