Elizabeth Francis

Integrity-driven, doctorally prepared psychiatric nurse practitioner with a strong clinical background in emergency medicine and mental health, providing exceptional care to patients across the lifespan with varying acuity levels. Dynamic history of leadership with a significant record of contributions to quality improvement.

I graduated in May 2019 Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. I was elected by my peers to serve as the President of my nursing class for the 2.5 year duration of my undergraduate program at Cox College. I was also selected by my nursing professors to be a student ambassador to represent the college, coordinate with alumni, and help recruit new students. I worked my first 4 years after graduation as an ER nurse full-time and in various inpatient and outpatient mental health settings per diem, caring for patients across the lifespan.

I graduated in May 2024 with both my Masters (Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner specialty) and Doctorate degrees in nursing from Duke University. Duke has been ranked the #1 PMHNP program in the nation for 5 consecutive years. 

I am a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner currently practicing at an outpatient, NP-owned private psychiatric clinic in Kansas. In addition to my clinical work, I provide contract-based telepsychiatry services for two organizations during evenings and weekends. I also serve as adjunct faculty in Duke University’s psychiatric-mental health graduate nursing program, and actively precept PMHNP students in my clinical setting. I am a board member of the Kansas chapter of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA), have presented  posters at national conferences, and have published in multiple peer-reviewed nursing and medical journals. 

I currently work as a board certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner assessing, diagnosing, prescribing medicine, and incorporating psychotherapy into (almost) all appointments. I see patients across the lifespan ages 5-75, and specialize in depression, anxiety, OCD, eating disorders, trauma, bipolar spectrum, ADHD, and substance misuse. I also operate a small private practice where I see a limited number of patients on a pro-bono basis that are not insured and cannot afford the out of pocket cash pay rates for mental health services. My private practice serves as an accessible option for underserved communities, where mental health providers are scarce and community mental health programs are often burdened with extended waitlists.

A personal research interest of mine focuses on understanding how psychoplastogens— drugs such as psilocybin and ketamine that stimulate the neurotrophic cascade leading to neuroplasticity— can be used to treat mood disorders. I’m passionate about integrating psychotherapy into medication management appointments, policy improvement in healthcare, implementing innovative metabolic and nutritional interventions for mental health conditions, genetic and environmental influences that contribute to the development and progression of neuropsychiatric illnesses, and abolishing the stigma around mental health disorders.