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Portrait of Holly Brezynski

Honor Society® member

Holly Brezynski

Peritoneal Dialysis Registered Nurse at Fresenius Group: Tacoma, Washington 

  • University of Washington
  • psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner
  • Class of 2022
  • University Place, Washington

Member since June 2021

About

I work hard to meet the standards of academic excellence and to best serve my community as a nurse. My past work has allowed me to engage extensively in partnership with families. My strengths lie in direct patient education, advocacy, and case management. I am passionate about reversing the stigma associated with seeking mental healthcare and serving those who need more equitable access to mental health care.

To date, I have completed clinical hours at SCORE jail in Des Moines and with underserved mental health populations around the South Sound. My current two-quarter rotation for summer and fall has allowed me to work with vulnerable patients in adult family homes and adult residential treatment facilities. One of my sites is a traveling bus that brings healthcare to our patients at their facilities. I love working with teams that remove barriers to healthcare for vulnerable patients. Moving from SCORE jail to my current settings has given me insights into the inequity of mental health care and the great need for improved access in our underserved populations. I plan to continue to be active in my support for the right to universal health care to grant and sustain access to necessary mental health care.

For my final capstone project, I am excited to use my experience to partner with the Health Care Authority & DSHS Aging and Long Term Support Administration to address healthcare transitions for those needing Dementia Care.

Education

  • University of Washington

    psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner

    2019 – 2022

  • University of Washington

    bachelor of science in nursing

    2016 – 2017

  • Highline College

    registered nursing

    2014 – 2015

  • Bates Technical College

    Licensed Practical Nursing

    2013 – 2014

  • Tacoma Community College

    pre-nursing

    2009 – 2014

Honors and awards

  • phi theta kappa honor society

    2021: 3.96 GPA Doctorate of Nursing Psychiatric Mental Health Track

  • scholarship

    2015: Legacy Scholarship Recipient - Tacoma General Hospital School of Nursing Alumnae Endowment Committee

  • scholarship

    2014: Bates Technical College Foundation Scholarship

  • scholarship

    2015: September - Highline Foundation Scholarship - Waiver for Quarterly Tuition

  • president's list

    2015: November - Highline College Presidents List - honor issuerJack Berminham, Ph.D, President - Distinction achieved by earning a GPA of 4.00 while carrying an academic load of at least twelve credits.

  • scholarship

    2015: December - Highline Foundation Scholarship - Waiver for Quarterly Tuition

  • president's list

    2016: February - Highline College Presidents List - Jack Bermingham, Ph.D., President - Distinction achieved by earning a 4.00 while carrying an academic load of at least twelve credits.

  • scholarship

    2016: March - Highline Foundation Scholarship - Waiver for Quarterly Tuition

  • scholarship

    2015: Soroptimist Scholarship - Highline College Foundation Scholarship Award

  • scholarship

    2021: University of Washington Tuition Scholarship Scholarship Award for Summer, Autumn, and Winter Quarter

  • scholarship

    2015: Sugar Tigard Scholarship -Highline College Foundation Scholarship Award

  • scholarship

    2015: Dunn Family Nursing Scholarship -Highline College Foundation Scholarship Award

  • scholarship

    2016: Promise of Nursing for Washington Scholarship - Foundation of the National Student Nurses Association

  • deans list

    2016: December - University of Washington Autumn 2016 Deans List

  • deans list

    2017: March: University of Washington Winter 2017 Deans List

  • faculty honors

    2017: June - Faculty honors are awarded at graduation to undergraduate students earning their first baccalaureate degree whose GPA is in the upper 10 percent of their program.

  • scholarship

    2021: Warren and Gayle Johnson Scholarship Fund

  • scholarship

    2013: Bates Technical College Foundation Scholarship

Goals and interests

Career goal

I plan to support my community by working as a doctorate-level psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner at a collaborative outpatient practice that supports adults living with complex mental health needs: chronic mental illness, trauma, multiple mental health diagnoses, and substance use disorders. Helping individuals with complex needs reach the health and stability they want to regain their independence improves safety for the individual, their families, our communities and reduces the strain on the healthcare system.

Graduate school interests

I fulfilled my interests by taking elective graduate-level coursework:
IECMH 537: Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health - Development and Psychopathology: Parents and Infants – 09/2019 -12/2019
// IECMH 555: Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health - Relationship-Based Mental Health Assessment of Young Children – 01/2020-03/2020 //
IECMH 548 Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health – Frameworks in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health – 03/2020- 06/2020
// MED 569: Addiction Medicine - 09/2020 – 12/2020
// NURS 499D/599G: Geriatric Healthcare – Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Lecture Series 01/2021 – 03/2021
// SOC 572 06/2021- 08/2021 – Understanding Addiction, Pharmacology of Drugs, and Treatment Methods

Outside the classroom

Gardening
Cooking
Crochet
Hiking

Experience

  • Peritoneal Dialysis Registered Nurse

    Fresenius Group: Tacoma, Washington 

    Nov 2018 – Sep 2020

  • Charge Nurse

    Rehabilitation Unit, Avamere Heritage Rehabilitation, Tacoma, Washington 

    Sep 2017 – Mar 2018

  • Staff Registered Nurse

    New Care Concepts Inc., Seattle, Washington 

    Sep 2014 – Nov 2018

  • certified nursing assistant

    Prestige Care, Inc.: Olympic Alzheimer’s Residence, Gig Harbor, Washington

    Dec 2013 – Jun 2014

  • certified nursing assistant

    Family Resource, Seattle, Washington

    Sep 2013 – Sep 2014

Volunteering

  • Community Clean-up Organizer: Organized removal of serval dumpster’s worth of trash and invasive underbrush. Received HOA funding to remove dangerous trees along local community trails leading to our elementary school.

    Bristonwood HOA

    Jan 2020 – Jun 2020

  • Bates Technical College, Tacoma, WA: Responsible for collecting cheek swab samples and applications for the National Marrow Donor Program

    National Marrow Donor Program

    Mar 2014

  • Community Mothers Group Organizer, Tacoma. WA: Organized and assisted with community events to support connections among new mothers.

    meetup.com

    Jan 2009 – Dec 2012

  • Taught computer classes, recorded memoirs, and assisted facility activity director with events and outings for the elderly.

    Daystar Retirement Center, West Seattle, WA. Director Gail Makee

    Sep 2002 – Jun 2006

  • Reading group for the elderly: Read stories out loud for those in attendance at the weekly reading circle.

    Vashon Retirement Center, Vashon Island WA

    Jun 2000 – Jun 2001

Languages

  • English (US) Advanced

Additional information