Meredith Dunn’s career in nursing didn't begin with a lifelong, burning desire for the profession. Instead, it evolved from a subtle observation made on a busy medical-surgical floor: the profound, undeniable impact of simply connecting with another human being. This realization led her down a purposeful path that culminated in her enrollment in the George Washington University School of Nursing’s MSN: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program, where she is currently a student slated to graduate in December 2025.
Her story is a powerful reminder that sometimes, the most revolutionary change begins with a pivot toward what truly feels right—a shift from obligation to calling.
The Winding Path to Psychiatric Care
Dunn’s formal nursing education began with an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) from Allegany College of Maryland in 2018. She admits that, initially, she felt an external pressure to follow the prescribed path of finishing the program and becoming a nurse, but struggled to find genuine fulfillment during clinical rotations. Her true passion became clear through her experience on a busy med-surg floor. It was challenging, and offered a glimpse into her true passion: connecting with patients and their families, listening to their stories, and offering deep empathy. While this might have seemed excessive given the fast-paced environment, for Dunn, it was the only place where she felt truly engaged.
Then came the psychiatric rotation, and everything clicked.
“I realized I had found the part of nursing where I could make a meaningful impact in a way that aligned with who I am,” Dunn explains. She enjoyed helping people beyond physical care, focusing instead on supporting their mental and emotional well-being. This discovery propelled her to complete her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) through Western Governors University while working, and ultimately led her to GW’s PMHNP program in January 2023.
Working as a psychiatric nurse only solidified this passion. She knew she wanted to do more, learn more, and provide comprehensive care that exceeded the limits of her registered nurse role. Pursuing the PMHNP path was a natural, purposeful next step—one that allows her to deepen her knowledge and expand her scope to provide prescriptive, advanced-level psychiatric care.
Holistic Thinking and the Value of the Advanced Degree
The benefits of earning an advanced degree in PMHNP are vast, but for Dunn, the most meaningful aspect so far has been gaining the ability to help people find better ways of living their daily lives—ways that, often, have been within them all along. “That ability to unlock a patient's potential and facilitate fundamental life changes is incredibly powerful,” she says.
Upon graduation, the degree will grant her a wide range of job opportunities, as she will be qualified to serve as a psychiatric care provider with prescriptive authority. The options are compelling and diverse: inpatient units, outpatient programs, private practice, the VA, correctional facilities, and research settings, to name just a few. This breadth of choice reflects the critical national demand for mental health specialists.
Beyond the expanded scope of practice, the PMHNP program has profoundly enhanced the way Dunn approaches patient care. It has helped her better understand the full scope of psychiatric practice and envision how she can contribute to integrative, holistic approaches. Her focus extends beyond medication management to supporting mental health while actively promoting physical well-being and necessary lifestyle changes that empower people to thrive. She is learning not just to treat symptoms, but to see and heal the whole person.
Juggling Demands and the Non-Negotiable Art of Self-Care
The road to advanced practice nursing is rarely smooth, and Dunn identifies her primary challenge as the relentless struggle to maintain work/school/life balance, particularly once the demands of clinical rotations began. Juggling intense coursework, hundreds of clinical hours, job responsibilities, and home life is a recipe for burnout, and she acknowledges that the pressure pushed her to her limits at times.
To navigate these difficult moments, Dunn had to make intentional changes to protect her own mental well-being—a crucial lesson for any PMHNP student. Establishing routines, setting firm boundaries, and prioritizing both physical and mental self-care became essential survival tools.
She is also quick to acknowledge her support system, recognizing that such a journey is rarely completed in isolation. “My partner, family, friends, and coworkers have all been incredibly encouraging throughout this journey, and I couldn’t have done it without them,” she shares. This network of support underscores the necessity of community when pursuing a demanding calling.
This focus on personal preservation has evolved into her personal philosophy, “you can’t pour from an empty cup.” While she admits there are times she doesn't feel like filling her own cup, the lesson she imparts is simple but profound: “learn how to show up for yourself, and do it even when you don’t feel like it.” This dynamic, ongoing commitment to self-care is what keeps her balanced and motivated, even when the demands of the program threaten to overwhelm her.
Revolutionizing Care: A Vision for Whole-Family Wellness
Dunn believes that revolutionizing healthcare doesn’t require a single breakthrough; instead, it starts with how providers consistently show up for patients: with empathy, honesty, and the unwavering belief that mental health deserves the same care and attention as physical health.
One of her core goals is to help normalize mental health care and actively work to reduce the stigma surrounding it. She wants patients to feel that prioritizing their mental well-being is not just acceptable—it is absolutely essential. This means treating the whole person, meeting them where they are, and helping them feel truly seen and validated.
Her passion leads her into several crucial, often underserved subspecialties:
- Women’s Mental Health: This remains an area that is under-discussed and underserved. Dunn recognizes that major life transitions—such as motherhood, infertility, pregnancy loss, and even the decision not to have children—are accompanied by immense emotional complexity. Yet, many women face these experiences without adequate support or validation. She is dedicated to changing that landscape.
- Adolescent Mental Health: This was the first population she worked with, and she holds a deep connection to it. She notes that effective care often requires full-family involvement, but families face significant barriers: financial strain, lack of resources, limited awareness, and systemic obstacles.
These barriers fuel her long-term dream: to open a comprehensive mental health practice that offers care for the entire family. She envisions a collaborative space where professionals across various disciplines—therapy, psychiatry, and more—can come together. This dream practice would offer individual sessions, support groups for both women and men, and integrated family support. In a true testament to her holistic and realistic vision, she would even love to include a childcare or recreational space where children can play and be supervised while their caregivers attend sessions.
While this vision might seem idealistic, Dunn maintains that reimagining what care can look like is precisely how the field moves forward. Even now, as a student, she embodies this vision in every patient interaction. She listens closely, advocates for whole-person care, and keeps pushing toward a future where mental health support is not a luxury, but a fundamental necessity for everyone.