Kelly Houfek,
APRN-NP, MSN, PMHNP-BC, FNP-BC
Kelly is thrilled to have joined the team at Great Plains, where she can help provide truly holistic psychiatric care. Treatment of mental illness is so much more than medication alone. Physical health, good nutrition, spirituality, sleep hygiene, social support, and a strong sense of purpose all contribute to wellness. Kelly is passionate about listening without judgement, meeting patients where they are, working together to develop recovery goals, and diminishing the stigma associated with mental illness.
As a psychiatric nurse practitioner, Kelly sees patients of all backgrounds and past diagnoses. She is especially passionate about working with the LGBTQ+ population. Treatment begins with a psychiatric evaluation. This evaluation is the starting point to develop your treatment plan, which may involve medication management, health education and supportive and problem-focused psychotherapy, as needed. In addition, Kelly welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with other experts in the community, if the need arises, in order to best facilitate recovery.
Background:
Kelly received her Bachelor of Nursing degree from The University of Nebraska Medical Center and worked on an inpatient cardiac unit, then in a hospital-based infusion center. This nursing background provided essential experience in aiding patients with acute, chronic, and life-limiting illnesses, as well as honing expert assessment skills.
After returning to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Kelly earned a dual certification as both a Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. She then worked in a Federally-Qualified Health Center, providing primary care to people of all ages and backgrounds. While working in primary care, Kelly recognized the all-too-common gap between mental and physical healthcare and the need for more targeted psychiatric services. Since then, she has devoted her time solely to psychiatric care while also remaining a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner.