Doreen R., BSN, RN, PMH-BC, GERO-BC

Psychiatric-Mental Health & Gerontological Nursing Expert Witness

NEA Certified Expert Witness — National Expert Academy, certified August 2026

Board-certified psychiatric-mental health registered nurse (PMH-BC) and board-certified
gerontological registered nurse (GERO-BC) with 18 years of progressive experience spanning
geriatric psychiatry, acute adult inpatient behavioral health, substance use detoxification,
correctional health, home health care, and long-term nursing home care. Skilled in crisis
intervention, de-escalation, and evidence-based withdrawal management (CIWA/COWS).

Specialties: Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing, Geriatric / Gerontological
Nursing, Substance Use & Detoxification, Nursing Home & Long-Term Care, Correctional Health,
Home Health Care, Crisis Intervention

Specialty focus: Inpatient behavioral health and senior behavioral units,
dementia-related behavioral disturbance, suicide and self-harm risk assessment, de-escalation and
restraint practices, alcohol and opioid withdrawal management (CIWA-Ar, COWS), psychotropic
medication administration and monitoring, fall risk and functional decline, correctional intake
and chronic disease management, charge nurse staffing and supervision, medical cost projections
and Medicare set-asides

Location: Massachusetts

Licensure: Registered Nurse, Massachusetts

Education: Bachelor of Science in Nursing, summa cum laude (2017); Bachelor of
Arts in Psychology & Criminal Justice, summa cum laude (2005)

Certifications: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing — Board Certified
(PMH-BC), ANCC; Gerontological Nurse — Board Certified (GERO-BC), ANCC; Certified Legal Nurse
Consultant (CLNC); Medical Cost Projections (FIGS MCP-C); Medicare Set-Asides (FIGS MSA-C); Basic
Life Support, AHA

Professional affiliations: American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants;
American Psychiatric Nurses Association; American Nurses Association; Sigma Theta Tau
International Honor Society of Nursing

Relevant Experience

Registered Nurse, Skilled Nursing / Long-Term Care Facility (current) —
Long-term care and rehabilitation residents with complex medical and psychiatric needs: assessment
and individualized care planning, medication, treatment and IV therapy administration, supervision
and delegation to LPNs and CNAs, emergency response, infection prevention, fall-risk and behavioral
monitoring, and compliance with CMS, state and facility standards.

Registered Nurse, County Correctional Facility (current) — Intake
assessments, chronic disease management and acute episodic care for incarcerated patients with
substance use disorders, co-occurring mental health conditions and medical comorbidities; medical
and behavioral emergency response with custody staff; documentation to correctional, state and
federal standards.

Registered Nurse, Home Health Care (current) — Skilled nursing and case
management for home-based medical, surgical and behavioral health patients: head-to-toe assessment,
wound care, medication reconciliation, IV therapy, and caregiver education to reduce avoidable
rehospitalization.

Charge Nurse, Adult Psychiatric Unit, Academic Medical Center (current) —
Acute psychiatric, behavioral and co-occurring substance use admissions; unit operations, staff
assignments, admissions, discharges and transfers; de-escalation and crisis intervention for acute
agitation, self-harm risk and suicidal ideation; psychotropic and emergency PRN medication
administration and monitoring; trauma-informed care and staff mentoring.

Registered Nurse, Detoxification Units (2018–2026, multiple facilities)
— Admission assessment and management of alcohol, opioid, benzodiazepine and polysubstance
withdrawal using CIWA and COWS protocols; medication titration and escalation; response to seizures,
delirium tremens, overdose and acute psychiatric decompensation; discharge planning with physicians,
counselors and recovery coaches.

Charge Nurse, Senior Behavioral Unit, Community Hospital (2020–2025)
— Geriatric patients with acute psychiatric, behavioral and cognitive conditions including
dementia-related behavioral disturbance; charge nurse 2021–2025 managing staffing,
assignments and admissions; interdisciplinary rounds with psychiatry, geriatrics, social work and
therapy; family education on safety planning and transitions of care; practice improvement and
mentoring.

Registered Nurse, Geriatric & Adult Psychiatric Units (2018–2025,
multiple hospitals) — Cognitive screening, fall-risk and behavioral monitoring, mental status
examinations and ongoing risk evaluation; psychotropic and medical medication management attentive
to geriatric sensitivity and polypharmacy risk; family support through diagnosis, treatment planning
and long-term care placement.

Behavioral Health Progressive Experience (2008–2017) — Crisis team
triage clinician (2011–2017): real-time risk assessment, de-escalation, referral routing and
clinical point of contact for police, emergency departments, schools and community providers.
Community case worker (2010–2011): caseload of clients with severe and persistent mental
illness, risk and crisis management planning, cross-system care coordination. Residential educator,
group home (2008–2010): individualized treatment plans, daily-living and medication
self-management skills.

Committee involvement: Unit Council (policy improvement and development);
Workplace Violence Committee (support staff safety); Human Rights Committee (clients with
intellectual and developmental disabilities).

Honors: Elected class president, nursing cohort (2017); inductee, Sigma Theta
Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (2017).

Retain This Expert

Full credentials, curriculum vitae and availability for this expert are provided on request
through Med Legal Pro.

Doreen R., BSN, RN, PMH-BC, GERO-BC