We’re Shela West, PMHNP-BC, and Jessica Raber, DNP, MSN, RN—two psychiatric nurses with over 40 years of combined experience in mental health care.
How It Started
Our story started more than a decade ago, working side by side on a busy psychiatric inpatient unit. Those years shaped us—not only as clinicians, but also as colleagues who learned the importance of teamwork, resilience, and compassion in the face of some of the toughest challenges in nursing.
The Career Growth Timeline
Shela advanced through her BSN, MSN, and APRN certification to become a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
Jessica pursued her MSN and went on to earn her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).
Our separate journeys gave us unique perspectives, but our passion for psychiatric nursing and for teaching others never left us.
Our Mission
Now, we’re back together again, this time as PMHNPs and business partners, united by one mission:
👉 to mentor, educate, and empower the next generation of psychiatric professionals.
What We Bring to the Field
Through Psych Nurse Initiative, PLLC, we’ve created a platform where education meets mentorship, and where real-world psych nursing is shared openly and honestly. Between us, you’ll find:
Clinical expertise gained across inpatient and outpatient settings
Educational experience rooted in evidence-based practice
A passion for mentorship that comes from knowing how valuable guidance is in this field
Welcome to Psych Nurse Initiative. You belong here.
Welcome to Psych Nurse Initiative. You belong here.
Our Impact
We believe that strong, confident, and well-prepared mental health professionals can change lives—not just for patients, but for families and communities. And we’re here to help make that happen.
Our Impact
We believe that strong, confident, and well-prepared mental health professionals can change lives—not just for patients, but for families and communities. And we’re here to help make that happen.
How We Support You
Whether through webinars, courses, podcasts, or videos, our goal is to break down complex psychiatric concepts, share lessons we’ve learned firsthand, and build a supportive community where future psych nurses and NPs can thrive.
So, from our very first days working the floor together, to reuniting as PMHNPs, to building this initiative you could say we’ve come full circle. And now, we’re here to walk alongside you.
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