News

In 1968, when Gary L. Allan, DNP, CNP, PMHNP-BC, LMFT was 10 years old, he nearly died after being struck by a car.

“I was hospitalized for 2½ months and had to undergo rehabilitation,” he said. “It was during that time I encountered nurses who were compassionate, genuinely caring and knowledgeable. I was supported and encouraged by the nursing staff.

“It was while I was hospitalized that I was cared for by a male student nurse. At the time I thought it was unthinkable that a man could be a nurse. However, I discovered that ability to provide nursing care to me was of a different quality as he could relate to me as a male who was sick and injured. That experience stayed with me.

“I graduated from high school in 1976 and went to college to study to be a minister. I sensed a vocation or call to be a nurse. This is what I saw myself doing and continue to do for the past 45 years. It is rewarding to be able to use my gifts to serve others.”

In 1980 when Allan finished his associate degree in nursing at Southwestern Michigan College, “I wanted to be a nurse, perhaps to go on for further study in the field. I didn’t know that this would eventually lead me to go on to finish a doctorate in nursing practice.”

From New York to Florida and Elkhart

Allan grew up in western New York. When he was 16, his family relocated to Bradenton, Fla. In New York, he went to Clarence High School, finishing his junior and senior years at Manatee High School in Bradenton.

“My wife was from Elkhart,” Allan said. “We moved to live near her family in Elkhart and that is where I am from. I went to SMC because it was close to home and, as a young father, it offered the most direct route to becoming a Registered Nurse.

Rigorous scholastic standards

“I chose SMC because it had much to offer. In hindsight, it was an excellent choice because it had rigorous scholastic standards. It provided a great background for someone like myself.

“Before I came to SMC, I became a nurse assistant. At the time they still had ‘orderlies,’ which I did part-time in Elkhart while attending nursing school fulltime. It was a great choice.

“Before the NCLEX-RN, there was what we called ‘state boards.’ My scores on the state nursing examination were among the highest  in my state. This says much about the excellent education I received at SMC.”

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Allan built extensively on his “excellent foundation” SMC provided. “I went on to finish advanced education, including a BS from Indiana Wesleyan University (1985), an MSN from the University of South Alabama (2005) and a DNP from Valparaiso University (2012).

As a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) since 2009, Allan provides care similar to a psychiatrist.

“In New Mexico we have autonomous practice whereby we can have a private practice or work in an established clinic,” the Rio Rancho resident said. “In addition to being a PMHNP, I also hold two master’s degrees in counseling and marriage and family therapy. I spent several years in graduate school learning to be a psychotherapist, which has enhanced my psychiatric nursing practice.

“So as part of my practice I diagnose and treat mental illnesses that range from moderate to severe. I provide medication management but as part of this management I also provide psychotherapeutic interventions that include supportive psychotherapy, psychoeducation and other interventions that often include case management and emergency interventions. The goal is to provide the most compassionate expert care for my patients. I stress use of evidence-based practice to promote the best outcomes.

“Because of my vocation,” he said, “I have chosen to work only for not-for-profit organizations, preferably that operate without concern for whether or not a patient can pay.

“I am independent in my provision of psychiatric care in my current setting. There are other psychiatric providers, including psychiatrists and other PMHNPs in my organization.

His organization is a FQHC

“The organization is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). I want to be able to treat anyone regardless of their ability to pay. Most severe psychiatric patients are not able to work and many have profound disabilities related to mental illness.

“My goal is to help them to be optimally functional and, if able, to provide the best care I can to ensure full recovery.

“When I was completing my doctorate my doctoral project was in the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in adults. Many of my patients have ADHD. It is rewarding to see people optimize their ability to function in school, work and at home with proper treatment.”

Is his specialty very much in demand?

“This is definitely the case,” Allan said, “with demand for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners. Drivers include the number of psychiatrists has decreased. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that employment of nurse practitioners in general is expected to grow exponentially and even more for PMHNPs as the number of qualified psychiatrists decreases.

“There are severe shortages in rural counties and critical shortages. There are expectations that there may be deficits of several thousands of PMHNPs by 3037.”

Four seasons of mild weather

Allan moved to New Mexico in 2015, working at the same clinic the entire time.

“I came here because there were shortages in psychiatric providers in New Mexico,” Allan said. “We also came because it is known as the ‘Land of Enchantment.’ The weather here is mild for all four seasons. The scenery is breathtaking. There is so much cultural diversity, including art, culinary excellence and science opportunities. The history is fascinating (Dowagiac’s David Cargo served as governor 1967-71). I enjoy going ‘off road’ in the desert and in the mountains.”

Allan commuted about 20 miles to and from SMC.

“I loved the ride to campus,” he said. “I appreciated the excellent learning I received when I was at SMC which, to this day, is the foundation of what I do and all my subsequent education.

“It seems like in order to become a nurse one had to ‘eat, drink and sleep nursing.’ It was demanding at the time, but also exciting. I love to learn and SMC did not disappoint with opportunities. Instructors were deeply appreciated. They were excellent mentors and examples of what it meant to be a nurse. I am proud I went to SMC. I am so glad SMC expanded (nursing facilities in 2019). It needed to because SMC has so much to offer.”

Overcoming psychiatry bias

“Shortly after I graduated I had a close family member develop severe mental illness,” Allan said. “When I went to SMC I had a bias against psychiatry. The family illness changed all that. I had to learn. Additionally, when I graduated approximately 3 percent of nurses were male. That  often limited the specializations we could take. Usually men were placed in areas that required physical strength including orthopedics, critical care and, of course, psychiatry.

“I did not anticipate going into psychiatry but was ‘convinced’ to go into the field due to shortages and recruiters who had several open positions. It was shortly after starting to work in psychiatry that I discovered that I had natural abilities to communicate with others, to understand people with mental illness, often unique ways of communicating and the use of empathy in treatment.

“I later finished a bachelor's degree, then completed two additional mental health master’s degrees. I discovered that I loved mental health and felt as though I thrived in it. I can’t imagine doing anything different.”

Of his prior nursing career, Allan said, “I worked for a few years in orthopedics and then started to work in psychiatric nursing in 1983. I have been working in psychiatry since that time and plan on continuing to work for several more years. I love what I do.”

A family full of nurses

He and his wife have been married for 48 years.

“My wife became a nurse as well as her sister, who also graduated from SMC,” Allan said. “I have three adult children. My daughter is a nurse. My son is a Family Nurse Practitioner and also graduated with his doctorate in nursing practice from Rush University. My youngest daughter works in investing. I have eight grandchildren. We enjoy being together as much as possible. So far I have two granddaughters who want to become nurses and, who knows? Maybe others will follow this path.”