Shelby McFarland, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner in Vancouver, WA

MSN | ARNP | PMHNP-BC

I am a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner dedicated to providing compassionate, evidence-based care for individuals with mental health disorders. My goal is to create a safe, nonjudgmental space where my patients feel heard, respected, and empowered throughout their recovery journey.

Before becoming a PMHNP, I spent 11 years as a registered nurse, caring for patients in medical-surgical/telemetry, Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU), and drug and alcohol detox/rehabilitation settings. I also served as a clinical professor at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I had the privilege of mentoring and educating future nurses.

For six years, I worked as a travel nurse in major cities across the United States, caring for patients and families from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and clinical backgrounds. Those experiences broadened my perspective and strengthened my commitment to providing individualized, culturally sensitive care while meeting each patient where they are.

Mental health has always been my passion. Throughout my nursing career, I witnessed the profound impact that untreated mental illness can have on individuals and families, particularly when it contributes to substance use disorders. Those experiences inspired me to return to school to earn my Master of Science in Nursing and become a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Today, I am passionate about helping patients navigate their mental health recovery with empathy, collaboration, and evidence-based treatment. I believe in partnering with each individual to develop personalized treatment plans that foster healing, resilience, and long-term wellness.