Brittany Palladino, ABSN ’16, MSN ’22, DNP ‘23
Accomplished triple-time alumna Brittany Palladino, ABSN ’16, MSN ’22, DNP ’23, recently started a new job as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) at HealthRIGHT360 in San Francisco, an organization that has helped underserved populations since the 1960s. As a community mental health specialist, Palladino works primarily with at-risk patients, frequently those with co-occurring substance use disorder and mental illness, and she collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to deliver holistic, trauma-informed care.
“The most rewarding part of my work is being able to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people who are often marginalized in society,” shared Palladino. “Supporting patients as they work toward stability, recovery and improved mental health is incredibly fulfilling.”
Initially, Palladino was drawn to nursing because she wanted to make a meaningful impact during some of the most vulnerable moments in people’s lives. Her commitment to the profession deepened as she watched her mother navigate chronic illnesses and spend a significant amount of time in the hospital.
“That experience gave me a personal understanding of the importance of compassionate, patient-centered care,” recalled Palladino.
After earning her Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) degree in 2016, Palladino completed a new graduate residency at Boca Raton Regional Hospital in the Orthopedic Medical-Surgical Unit. In February 2020— just before the COVID-19 pandemic began—she applied to the college’s PMHNP program, which she started in May 2020 while continuing to work with COVID patients.
In 2021, Palladino briefly functioned as a pandemic relief nurse on a medical-surgical unit in rural Arizona. After returning to South Florida, she began working in residential substance use and mental health treatment, while serving as an adjunct nursing instructor for pre-licensure registered nurse students at Palm Beach State College.
During graduate school, Palladino also worked as a teaching assistant and research assistant. After completing her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree in 2022, she applied to post-graduate PMHNP fellowships and was accepted into the Primary Care Provider Fellowship at the University of California, Davis, where she began the program in October 2024. Palladino credits the many College of Nursing mentors who helped her prepare for such a prestigious fellowship.
“FAU’s College of Nursing takes a holistic approach to training, and that philosophy has carried through every step of my professional journey,” stated Palladino. “Throughout each of my degree programs, I was encouraged by faculty and mentors to view patients as whole people rather than focusing solely on psychiatric symptoms. That perspective helped prepare me for the interdisciplinary and patient-centered approach that was emphasized during my fellowship at UC Davis Health.”
Palladino completed her doctoral project at Florida Atlantic in 2023, which focused on suicide risk assessment and safety planning among individuals with substance use disorders.
“That work has been particularly valuable in informing my current clinical practice, as many of the individuals I work with present with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders,” noted Palladino.
Looking ahead, Palladino hopes to continue to expand access to high-quality mental health care for underserved and marginalized communities.
“Many individuals facing homelessness, substance use disorders and serious mental illness struggle to access consistent care,” expressed Palladino. “My goal is to help develop integrated, trauma-informed models of treatment that meet patients where they are, as well as address both their mental health and social needs. Through clinical work, mentorship and advocacy, I hope to contribute to a health care system that is more compassionate, accessible and equitable.”