About K. Robinson

Before becoming a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, I worked for over a decade in international health as a consultant for the World Health Organization and at non-profit organizations that worked to eliminate neglected tropical diseases in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. I loved that work, but all the travel exacerbated chronic health issues I had at the time.

 

In addition, my struggles with those health issues and chronic pain had me feeling shuffled through the conventional medical system, sent from provider to provider, not feeling heard, and not getting better. Those experiences led me to go back to school to become a nurse and then (medical) nurse practitioner, so that I could provide the personal, empathetic, and holistic care I found lacking.

 

And then in my very first rotation as a medical nurse practitioner, I immediately realized I connected much more with patients seeking care for mental health than physical health. Those patients reminded me of my own loved ones, some of the best people in my life, who struggled with their mental health and finding providers who offered affordable, quality care. I connected with the experience of having physical health issues affecting my own mental health. And I also saw patients, even those experiencing mental health crises, waiting months to get an appointment with a psychiatric specialist. I decided to become a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner to help ease this gap in access to mental health care and to provide the type of care that I wish my loved ones had been able to find sooner. I now love what I do, and feel honored that my patients trust me with their care.

 

When I’m not working, I like to bike, hike, dance, surf, read, see live music, travel (especially to Brazil), and do what I think we don’t get enough time to do anymore – just spend time with family and friends.