Elizabeth Vaughan, MSN, RN, CPNP-PC, PMHS

My entire nursing career has always been in pediatrics, and I plan to never change. As a registered nurse, I worked at Duke Health in the Pediatric ICUs and stepdown and general pediatric units. I also spent several years working in pediatric bone marrow transplant before moving to the clinic while completing my nurse practitioner degree at Duke. As a pediatric mental health nurse practitioner, I love getting to learn about my patients and their families outside of the clinic walls - their likes, dislikes, goals and struggles. I enjoy working collaboratively with other members of the team to provide care for the whole patient, not just in isolation. Over the years, it has been my biggest joy watching my patients finish elementary and middle school, graduate high school, and move on to college or work and thrive. I am my patients’ fiercest advocate (next to their families, of course) and love partnering with them as we navigate their mental health journey. Together, we work to find the right combination of medications and therapy at the lowest effective doses, while preserving the qualities that make them the amazing individuals they are. Mental health challenges are increasingly common among children and teenagers, and it is an honor to support them and their families along the way. When I am not in the clinic, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I love to travel, am a huge Duke basketball fan and love Legos.