1. Home
  2. Colleges
  3. College of Nursing
  4. Faculty & Staff
Melanie Baker DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC

Melanie Baker DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC

Assistant Professor
Community/Mental Health Nursing

Education

  • DNP, Family Psychiatry Specialty, University of South Alabama, 2014
  • MSN, Family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, University of South Alabama, 2013
  • BSN, Nursing, University of South Alabama, 2011
  • ASN, Nursing, Charity School of Nursing, DCC, 1998
  • AS, Computer Information Technology, Delgado Community College, 1988

Research Interests

  • Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children, Adolescents, and Adults
  • Suicide Prevention for Children, Adolescents, and Adults in Outpatient Mental Health Settings
  • Complementary and Alternative Adjuncts for Adults with Neurocognitive Disorders, Mood Disorders, and Aggressive Behaviors
  • Pharmacogenetics in Psychiatric Treatment

Publications

  • Pressley, T. R., Varnado, M. B., Lauerer, J., & McMillan, J. P. (2018). Effectiveness of Digital Behavioral Parent Training in Pediatric Patients with Externalizing. The Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing. doi: In Review

  • Williams, K., & Varnado, M. (2015). Child and adolescent psychiatric medications in Marini I. & Stebnicki, M. (Eds.) The Professional Counselor’s Desk Reference (2nd ed). New York: Springer.

  • Varnado, M., Williams, K., & Dahmes, R.A. (2014). Behavioral parent training effect on disruptive behavior disorders in children and adolescents. Journal of Psychology and Clinical Psychiatry 1(6): 00039. DOI: 10.15406/jpcpy.2014.01.00039.

  • 10/2015 – 11/2015 Expert/Textbook Content Reviewer, John Wiley & Sons; reviewed text: Yearwood: Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health for determination of publishing updated edition.

Teaching

Doctoral Courses Taught

  • NU 600 DNP Project Planning and Development
  • CMN 604 Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner DNP PP&D
  • NU 612 Clinical Prevention and Population Health
  • CMN 617 Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner DNP Residency I
  • CMN 618 Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner DNP Residency II
  • CMN 619 Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner DNP Residency III
See More

Honors and Awards

  • Gail Sands Scholarship in Nursing, Recipient, University of South Alabama, College of Nursing, 2011-12

Certifications and Affiliations

  • American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) – Certification – Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner – PMHNP-BC
  • Honor Society of Nursing Sigma Theta Tau International
  • Golden Key International Honor Society
  • Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society
  • American Psychiatric Nurses Association
  • American Nurses Association
  • Louisiana Association of Nurse Practitioners
See More

Professional/Community Service

  • 1/2017 – present Editor, Psychological and Behavioral Science International Journal
  • 8/2017 – present Subject Matter Expert – Content and Assessment creation for DSM and NCLEX style questions for Pearson’s MyLab – Advanced Pharmacology
  • 8/2017 – present PMHNP Volunteer Consultant, A1 Best Care Group Homes
  • 8/2017 – 5/2018 Preceptor – 360 hours (two students) Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Students – University of South Alabama.
  • 8/2017 – 5/2018 Preceptor - 420 hours (two students) Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Students – Nicholls State University
  • 7/2017 – 3/2018 Subject Matter Expert -PEDR3 – Pearson Pathophysiology
  • 8/2017 – 2/2018 Subject Matter Expert – NURS 5302 – Leadership for Quality, Safety, and Health Policy for Elsevier
  • 1/2018 – 5/2018 Preceptor – 500 hours Prescriptive Authority Requirement for Family Nurse Practitioner certified in Adult Psychiatry – Louisiana State Board of Nursing
  • 2/2015 – 8/2017 Subject Matter Expert – Reviewer, SPCP01 – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam Questions, Springer Publications, LearningMate Solutions, Inc.
  • 9/1/16 – present Volunteer Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner - New Orleans, LA – for outpatient mental health clinic providing comprehensive psychiatric assessment, treatment, and management of clients in Health Professional Shortage Area.
  • 2/2016 –6/2016 Preceptor – 120 hours (two students) Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Students from Nicholl’s State University.
  • 10/16 – 12/16 Preceptor – 180 hours (three students) Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Students from University of South Alabama College of Nursing.
  • 3/2015 – 9/2015 Participant, CCNE Criteria Development and Coordination for Survey