Denise Were Pinardi, BSN, RN
The Patient Nurse
Facilitator-Advocate-Educator
P.O. Box191, Montague, MA. 01351
Phone: 413-367-0039

Psychiatric Nursing Career History:

1996-2005 Psychiatric Mental Health Medication Clinic Nurse Manager: Tri-County Youth Programs (Northeast Center for Youth and Families), Easthampton, MA.
Coordinated team medication reviews emphasized an integrative system whereby the client was helped to develop the tools to monitor themselves and their medications effectively. Passive compliance was replaced by an active goal of informed partnership. Clients worked with the psychiatrist, therapist and medical staff as knowledgeable and participating consumers. Medication management was considered an executive life skill. The client was respected and supported in the development of skill as a knowledgeable and participating consumer.

1983-1995 Coordinator of Health Systems: Northampton Center for Children and Families (Cutchins’ Center), Northampton, MA.
Residential care for children and adolescents featured a small stable staff on a single campus. This is where the idea of a Partnership Bases Medication Program began with an emphasis on the education of the team, parent, staff and child. All were encouraged to participate in medication decisions and the management of symptoms.

1974-1978 Hospital Diversion Project Nurse: Northampton Center for Children and Families, Northampton, MA
Member of a team who coordinated the Massachusetts State initiative for the diversion of children and adolescents from psychiatric inpatient settings to community based residential programs in Western Massachusetts. For the first time, children were able to access psychiatric, medical, and school support in a residential placement with in the community. Psychiatrists and nurses moved away from the hospital’s medical model. Medication and its management began to be incorporated into the treatment planning for these community based children and adolescents.

Initiatives and National Presentations:

Medication Management as a Life Skill and Partnership,
American Association of Children’s Residential Centers (AACRC), Boston, MA., October 2004 Denise Pinardi- presenter

The Child As Partner in the Management of Medications: self-monitoring as a life skill, Residential Treatment for Children and Youth, Journal of AACRC.Authors: Denise Pinardi and Margaret Ricks

Medication Program for Adolescents in Residential Care,
American Psychiatric Nurse Convention, Chicago, Ill., October 1993
Denise Pinardi, presenter

Medication Program for the Adolescent in Residential Care”, Rehabilitation for Children, Youth and Adults with Psychiatric Disorders, Tampa, Fla., January 1993 Denise Pinardi, presenter
(A forum for providers, consumer-providers and consumers. The issue of
retention and supports for college age students with mental health issues was one focus of this conference. A wonderful experience.)

Roger’s Order: Informed consent and the Courts
Rogers Orders: the court, the medication clinic and the child,
Juvenile Court Presentation, Judge Collins, Judge Miranda, DSS Legal Attorney Andrew Rome, GAL Representative Lisa D’Errico, Psychiatrist Dr. Ann Armantano and Denise Pinardi RN, BC, Holyoke Community College, June 2004 (I was invited to join this forum because of my work with DSS Legal to developed an affidavit format for my agency Psychiatrists. This format was accepted as a model with in the state of Massachusetts)

Client Advocacy and Public Testimony

Testimony, Legislative Joint Committee on Health Care: Residential Reform, Nursing Model for the Safe Management of Medications, September, 1995

Initiated Legislation, House Bill 2121, Designed to initiate discussion about safe management of medications in residential care, sponsored by Representative Steven Kulik, January, 1999

Testimony, Legislative Committee on Health Care, House Bill 2121, October 1999


Human Science Education as a Life Skill

Human Science: Simulation of Life, Massachusetts Association of 766 Approved Private School (MAAPS): Fifteenth Annual Special Education In service Conference, Boston, MA., May 1993
Denise Pinardi- presenter

Doing Science-Teacher to Teacher and Human Science: Simulation of Life, Massachusetts Association for Science Teachers, Boston, MA., November 1994:
Denise Pinardi- presenter
(I was honored to be one of the first nurses to present in this forum)


Teaching Modules:

Medication Administration: Serious Business: 1.) teaching client to know and to check meds before consuming them. Don’t Rush: Don’t Make a Mistake/ Review of the 5 Rights before taking the medication. The child is the last safety check. Educate them so they care and are watchful, 2.) teaching the child to know what each medication is used for, laboratory blood levels and the criteria for knowing whether the medication is making a positive difference. Along with how to communicate with your psychiatrist/doctor. What the client’s role is.

A Partnership: Medication Management as a Life Skill: Looks at the child’s ability to work in partnership with Helping Experts, the stages a child is helped through toward self monitoring, symptom identification and medication management becoming a life skill and the child a knowledgeable consumer.

“Piss Off”: A quick guide to Enuresis/Review of primary and secondary enuresis, factors contributing to, optional nursing/treatment plans and including the child, therapist and community in that plan.

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS): A psychiatric crisis/ Definition, assessment, importance of lab values, treatment, overview

The Adolescent in Sickness and in Health: Educating about health as a life skill and the healing of a damaged body/ Guide to helping the child develop more adaptive skills at dealing with and expressing trauma, grief, shame, and guilt while allowing the body to heal and to rest.

“Safe is, as Safe does”: A Guide to Bloodborne Pathogens and Universal Precautions/ OSHA Training Module.

“A Special Good bye” -A little book for foster care kids.

Professional Licenses:

1964-present Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing
1999-2005 American Nurses Credentialing Center,
Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse
2003-Inactive State of Conn. Department of Public Health/RN
1962- Inactive Virgin Islands Board of Registration in Nursing
1961- Inactive New York State Board of Registration in Nursing

Education:
1957-1961 Alfred University School of Nursing. Special interest in
rural health and psychiatry. President of Alfred University
Nursing Class
1995-1996 Health Assessment and Statistics, Elms College

Professional Affiliations
American Psychiatric Nurse Association