Victoria Soltis-Jarrett, PhD, PMHCNS/NP-BC, FAANP, FAAN

Victoria Soltis-Jarrett, PhD, PMHNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN is the Carol Morde Ross Distinguished Professor of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing and is board certified by the ANCC as a Family Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Dr. Soltis-Jarrett has practiced psychiatric nursing for over 35 years and continues to focus her clinical practice (as a PMHNP), teaching (emancipatory pedagogy) and scholarship on rural mental health care, integrating behavioral health into primary, acute, and long-term care settings, participatory research, and community engagement. She actively practices as a NP (Durham, NC) and provides psychiatric-mental health consultation-liaison with a variety of agencies and organizations.

Since 2005, Dr. Soltis-Jarrett has built a program of scholarship, education and training which culminated in her role as the Ross Distinguished Professor of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing (2015). She has been successful in obtaining over 14 million dollars from various funding sources (Federal, State and Private Foundations) to create and transform curriculum, provide ongoing tuition assistance for NP students and to expand community outreach and engagement to improve the health and well-being of North Carolina communities. This is best exemplified in her strong partnerships with organizations, health care leaders and employers who seek out to hire our NP graduates. She is a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP) and a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN).

The Carolina Program of Nursing Excellence in Whole Health Care was established in 2015 to focus on the notion that there is no health without mental health and to increase access for Whole Health Care in rural and underserved populations in North Carolina. To meet these critical needs, this HRSA funded initiative supports, and mentors’ NP students seeking additional education and training in behavioral health integration and substance use disorders (PEER NC: NP-BHI/PC-4E) as well as to assist new NP Graduates to transition into rural and/or underserved primary care practices to provide clinically competent and culturally sensitive whole health care (Carolina NP Residency Program: Behavioral Health Integration in Rural Primary Care using the TANDEM3-PC Model (NPR:BHI-Rural PC/TANDEM3-PC). This robust and sustainable program endeavors to promote all NPs to work to the highest level of their scope of practice. For more information about this program, see the Carolina Nursing Excellence in Whole Health Care Website: https://bhi.web.unc.edu

AHEC-SON FACULTY

Dr. Soltis-Jarrett has practiced psychiatric nursing for over 35 years and continues to focus her clinical practice (as a PMHNP), teaching (emancipatory pedagogy) and scholarship on rural mental health care, integrating behavioral health into primary, acute, and long-term care settings, participatory research, and community engagement. She actively practices as a NP (Durham, NC) and provides psychiatric-mental health consultation-liaison with a variety of agencies and organizations. 

Specialization/Research Areas: Available for presentations: I am happy to talk about any of the topics listed above, and can develop more specialized programs within any of these categories: 

• Advanced Psychopharmacology for Primary Care NPs 
• Anxiety Disorders: Understanding the signs and symptoms  

• Assessment & Treatment of Insomnia 
• Assessment of Suicidal and Homicidal Ideation in Rural Primary Care 
• Assessment of Common Behavioral Health Problems 
• Borderline Personality Disorder: Understanding the connection between attachment and trauma 
• Common Adverse Effects & Interactions with Psychiatric Medications 

• Differentiating depression, delirium, and dementia in adults 
• Diagnosing Anxiety Disorders 
• Diagnosing Mood Disorders 
• Diagnosing Psychosis & Schizophrenia 
• Factitious Disorder (Munchausen) and Munchausen by proxy 

• History of Mental Health Care 
• Implementing Behavioral Health Integration: Screening Tools, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment 
• Introduction to Behavioral Health Integration 
• Introduction to Neurobiology & Psychiatric Disorders 
• Introduction to Psychopharmacology 

• The Mental Status Exam: The foundation of holistic assessment 
• Mood Disorders: Signs and Symptoms 
• Personality Disorders 
• Predictors of Violence in Patients and Families: What every nurse should know 
• Psychopharmacology for Inpatient Nurses 

• Psychopharmacology of Depression and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents 
• Schizophrenia: What it is and what it is not 
• Substance Use Disorders: Alcohol, Prescription Medication Misuse and Opioids 
• Whole Health Care is essential to nursing practice 

Previously Taught AHEC SON Topics, if applicable: 

• Advanced Psychopharmacology for Primary Care NPs 
• Anxiety Disorders: Understanding the signs and symptoms  
• Assessment & Treatment of Insomnia 
• Assessment of Suicidal and Homicidal Ideation in Rural Primary Care 
• Assessment of Common Behavioral Health Problems 

• Behavioral Health Update for Non-Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses 
• Borderline Personality Disorder: Understanding the connection between attachment and trauma 
• Common Adverse Effects & Interactions with Psychiatric Medications 
• Differentiating depression, delirium, and dementia in adults 
• Diagnosing Anxiety Disorders 

• Diagnosing Mood Disorders 
• Diagnosing Psychosis & Schizophrenia 
• Factitious Disorder (Munchausen) and Munchausen by proxy 
• History of Mental Health Care 
• Implementing Behavioral Health Integration: Screening Tools, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment 

• Introduction to Behavioral Health Integration 
• Introduction to Neurobiology & Psychiatric Disorders 
• Introduction to Psychopharmacology 
• The Mental Status Exam: The foundation of holistic assessment 
• Mood Disorders: Signs and Symptoms 

• Personality Disorders 
• Predictors of Violence in Patients and Families: What every nurse should know 
• Psychopharmacology for Inpatient Nurses 
• Psychopharmacology of Depression and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents 
• Psychopharmacology Update 

• Schizophrenia: What it is and what it is not 
• Substance Use Disorders: Alcohol, Prescription Medication Misuse and Opioids 
• Whole Health Care is essential to nursing practice 

Book Chapters

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (2017). Strategies for Health Promotion in Individuals Experiencing Bipolar Symptoms and Illness, In E. Yearwood and V. Hines-Martin, Handbook of Global Mental Health Nursing: Evidence, Practice and Empowerment, Routledge: London.

Soltis-Jarrett, V., Boyd, MA. (2012). Somatoform and Related Disorders. In M.A. Boyd, (Ed), Psychiatric nursing contemporary practice, 481-504.  Philadelphia: Wolters, Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Soltis-Jarrett, V. & Boyd, MA. (2010). In W. Austin & MA Boyd (Ed), Somatoform and Related Disorders, Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing for Canadian Practice, 2nd Edition, Adapted for Canadian practice. Philadelphia: Wolters, Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (2010). Personality Disorders, In J. Rhodes, (Ed), Clinical consult to psychiatric mental health for primary care providers, 193-196. New York: Springer Publishing Company,

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (2010). Somatoform Disorders, In J. Rhodes, (Ed), Clinical consult to psychiatric mental health for primary care providers, 137-141. New York: Springer.

Refereed Papers/Articles

Soltis-Jarrett V. (2020). Integrating behavioral health and substance use models for advanced PMHN practice in primary care: Progress made in the 21st century. Archives of psychiatric nursing, 34(5), 363–369. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2020.07.026

Elrefaay, S., & Soltis-Jarrett, V. (2020). Suicide Prevention Education for Psychiatric Inpatient Nurses in Egypt. Journal of psychosocial nursing and mental health services, 58(5), 32–38. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20200305-02 (Visiting International Scholar).

Tyndall, L., Muse, A., Soltis-Jarrett, V., & Stroh, A. (2020). A path to a paradigm shift: North Carolina’s journey to whole person care,” prepared through the work of the Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation’s Center of Excellence for Integrated Care, and funding from the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust. https://coeintegratedcare.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/A-Path-to-A-Paradigm-Shift-Jan-2021.pdf

Shell, L., Newton, M., Soltis-Jarrett, V., Ragaisis, K., and Shea, J. (2019). Quality Improvement and Models of Behavioral Healthcare Integration: Position Paper #2 From the International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses, Archives of Psychiatric Nursing.

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (2019). The TANDEM3-PC: The Foundation for an Innovative, Integrated Behavioral Health NP-led Model of Practice in Rural Primary Care, Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 33, 2-10, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2018.08.007

Soltis-Jarrett, V., Shea, J., Ragaisis, K., Shell, L & Newton, M. (2017). Integrated Behavioral Healthcare: Assumptions, Definition and Roles: Position Paper from the International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses, Archives in Psychiatric Nursing, 31, 433–439.

Behavioral Healthcare Integration: Principles and Application – A White Paper & Framework for Nursing, International Society for Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses, (2017), retrieved from: http://www.ispn-psych.org/docs/BehavioralHCsummary1707.pdf

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (2016). Patient-centered homes and integrated behavioral health care: Re-claiming the role of ‘consultant’ for Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 37(6), 387-91.

Mrha, E., Schaaf-Dickens, R., Soltis-Jarrett, V.; Hill, E., Field, G. (2014). Behavioral Health Access Plan for the Uninsured (BHAP) Narrative Summary, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Rural Health and Community Care, funded by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), State Health Access Plan (SHAP) Grants, grant number H2PHS16504.

Wortham, D., Horne, C., May, K., Soltis-Jarrett, V., & Williams, S. A. (2012). Creating a Sustainable Role for the Clinical Nurse Specialist: The North Carolina Statewide Practice Survey, Clinical Nurse Specialist, 26 E15-E15.

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (2012).  Mental health reform: the path of least résistance is no longer an option, Issues Ment Health Nursing, 33(10), 639-40.

Scharf, MR, Soltis-Jarrett, V (2012).  Division Calls for Participation in Change, Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, 25, (4), 235–236.

Delaney KR, Soltis-Jarrett V, Horton-Deutsch S. (2011). The international society of psychiatric nursing’s involvement with advanced practice RN model work. Archives Psychiatric Nursing, (6), 488-9.

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (2011). His-story or Her-story: Deconstruction of the concepts of somatization towards a new approach in advanced nursing practice care, Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 2011 Oct;47(4):183-93.

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (2011). Psych NP-NC: a benchmark graduate nurse practitioner program for meeting the mental health needs in North Carolina, NC Med J. Jul-Aug; 72(4), 293-5.

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (2004).  Interactionality: Willfully extending the boundaries of participatory research in psychiatric-mental health nursing, Advances in Nursing Science, 27(4), 316-329.

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (1997). The Facilitator in participatory action research: Les raisons d’ etre, Advances in Nursing Science, 20(2), 45-54.

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (1996). A clinical specialist in mental health nursing, In B. O’Brien (Ed.) Take stars for money: Nursing adventures in private practice.  Canberra: The Royal College of Nursing-Australia.

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (1996). Mental health assessment of individuals with dementia and their careers, In B. Read, RDNS Multidisciplinary Dementia Care Course-A Positive Approach by Distance Education. Adelaide: RDNS.

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (1995). Characteristics of a good measure: Reliability and validity, In T. Koch (Ed). Issues and methods in nursing research.  Flinders University of South Australia: Distance Education Centre.

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (1995). A psychiatric-mental health clinical specialist in rural South Australia: A consultant to the aged care assessment team, Holistic Nursing Practice, 9(5), 30-36.

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (Ed.) (1994). Theoretical approaches to ageing.  Flinders University of South Australia: Distance Education Centre.

Non-Refereed Articles

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (2012). We Are The Change That We Seek: Moving toward the Affordable Care Act as an APRN in PMHN, Connections Newsletter, International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses, 15 (3), 1-2.

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (2012).  Health Care in 2012: Are you up for the challenge? Connections             Newsletter, International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses, 15 (1), 1-2.

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (2008). NCNA NP Newsletter. Can Nurse Practitioners and Clinical Nurse Specialists in Psychiatric Mental Health take action to be part of the SWIFT CHANGE needed in North Carolina? NCNA NP News, 17 (4) 8-9.

White Paper (Policy)

The Program on Public Life, Center for the Study of the American South, UNC-Chapel Hill (2007). The State of Mental Health in North Carolina.  Carolina Context. (November).

Refereed unpublished oral presentations and/or abstracts

Soltis-Jarrett, V., Shell, L., Shea, J., Ragaisis, K., & Newton, M. (2015). Integration of Behavioral and Primary Care White Paper, ISPN Annual Conference, Seattle, WA (March 2015).

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (2014).  Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners in North Carolina:  Interprofessional Education, Practice and Integration of Care, Connecting Two Worlds: The Journey to Wellness – Integrating Physical and Behavioral Health Care, NC NAMI Annual Conference, Raleigh, NC (October 2014)

Esposito, N., Falquero, D., Krupnick, S., Purcell, M., Soltis-Jarrett, V. (2014). Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL): An Innovative Experiential Approach to Health Professional Development and PMHNP Education, ISPN Annual Conference, Greenville, SC (March 2014).

Horton-Deutsch, S., Love, R., Soltis-Jarrett, V., Thomas, D., Umberger, W. (2013).  Dancing With the Changes: Advocating for and Transitioning Our Advanced Practice, ISPN Annual Conference, San Antonio, Texas (April 2013) 

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (2012). A Tale of Two Roles: How to Transition an Educational Program from PMH-CNS to PMH-NP, National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) 38^th Annual Conference in Charleston, South Carolina (April 2012)

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (2011).  The Psychopharmacology of Fibromyalgia: A Review and Discussion of the Literature. ISPN Fourth Annual Psychopharmacology Conference in Tucson, Arizona (March 2011).

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (2011).  Do You Help Mothers, Too: An Alternative View of Munchausen’s Syndrome by Proxy (MSBP). ISPN 13th Annual Conference in Tucson, Arizona (March 2011).

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (2010). The Psychopharmacology of Borderline Personality Disorder: Can We Glue the Shattered Mirror Back Together? ISPN Third Annual Psychopharmacology Conference in St Louis, MO (April, 2010). 

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (2010). Gluing Together a Shattered Mirror: The Psychopharmacology of Borderline Personality Disorder, International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses Twelfth Annual Conference in St Louis, MO (April 2010).

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (2009). Fact or fiction:  Understanding Factitious Disorders, the Munchausen’s Syndromes and Malingering as Diagnoses, International Society of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses Eleventh Annual Conference in Greenville, South Carolina (April 2009).

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (2009). The psychopharmacology of somatoform disorders, International Society for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses Second Annual Psychopharmacology Institute in Greenville, South Carolina (April 2009).

Soltis-Jarrett, V. and Hayes, P. (2008). Providing Rural Mental Health Services: An Alternative Educational Approach, Poster session presented at the National AHEC Organization Conference, Denver, Colorado (June 2008).

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (2008). Management of Somatization: Practical Strategies for the APRN in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing, International Society of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses Tenth Annual Conference in Louisville, Kentucky (April 2008).

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (2007). His-story or Her-Story:  Uncovering the history of Hysteria and the Concept of Somatization, International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses Ninth Annual Conference in Montreal, CANADA (April 2007).

Soltis-Jarrett, V, Mazzocco, G., and Hayes, P. (2006). Meeting the need for graduate nursing education in a rural area: A collaborative model. Poster session presented at the National AHEC Organization Conference, Omaha, NE (June). 

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (2006). Assessing and Managing Medically Unexplained Physical Symptoms in Women:  Providing HOPE, An innovative protocol & treatment program, International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses Eighth Annual Conference, The Science of Creative Practice, Denver, Colorado (April 5-8, 2006).

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (1999). Real women don’t complain: One example of adrocentricism in psychiatric-mental health practice, Tenth Annual Critical & Feminist Perspectives in Nursing Conference Proceedings. Williamsburg, VA.

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (1996). The role of a facilitator in participatory action research, Seventh Annual Critical & Feminist Perspectives in Nursing Conference Proceedings Pgh, PA.

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (1995). The politics of somatization: Who benefits and why? Sixth Annual Critical & Feminist Perspectives in Nursing Conference Proceedings. Portland, Maine.

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (1995). Autonomy and excellence in practice: A mental health perspective, Independence and Autonomy. The task of establishing a role for private practice nurses in Australia Conference Proceedings. Adelaide: Nurses in Private Practice, Inc. 

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (1994). Mental health in nursing our ageing communities: Planning now for the future, New Frontiers. Darwin, Northern Territory: Royal College of Nursing-Australia Conference Proceedings.

Invited presentations

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (March, 2011).  Model for Meeting the Mental Health Needs of NC, Workforce Workgroup Meeting, NC Institute of Medicine, Morrisville, NC.

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (May, 2010). The history of mental health care: Sumer to the 21st century, (Key Note Speaker) First Annual Psychiatric Nursing Symposium, Psychiatric nurses: Bridging Chasms in Knowledge, Attitude and Practice.” Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre, Princess Margaret Hospital, Nassau, Bahamas.

Soltis-Jarrett, V.  (October, 2009). Mental Health Assessment for School Nurses, Families Schools + Nurses = Partners in Educational Outcomes, 26th Annual School Nurse Conference, Chapel Hill, NC.

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (November, 2008). Nurse Run Clinics in the USA.  A comparison with Singapore at the Institute of Mental Health. Invited Lecture, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore.

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (November, 2008). Developing interpersonal relationships with patients. Presentation at the Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (April, 2008). His-Story or Her-story:  The History of Hysteria. Presentation at the Annual Sigma Theta Tau Day at Barton College, Wilson, NC.

Soltis-Jarrett, V., Beeber, L., Kowlowitz, V., Alexander, R., Raphael-Grimm, T., Piven, M., Moore, K., & Mazzocco, G. (February, 2008). Psych NPs: Meeting the Needs of the Underserved in North Carolina, Health Resources and Services Administration, Bureau of Health Professions (BHPr) All Programs Meeting, Washington, DC.

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (November, 2007). Updates in Psychopharmacology. NCNA Council of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses in Advanced Practice Retreat, Winston-Salem, NC.

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (1998). Munchausen’s by Proxy: Do you help mothers too?  Staff development continuing education program, Highpoint Family Services, High Point, NC

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (1998). Psychosocioculture Assessment. Invited lecturer to undergraduate nursing students. Winston-Salem State University, School of Nursing.

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (April, 1996). Aged Care Assessment:  Focus on Mental Health, A Multidisciplinary Dementia Care Course- A positive approach by distance education, Royal District Nursing Services Annual Conference, Adelaide, Australia.

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (October, 1995). Health promotion in South Australia. Invited presenter to the   Nurse Practitioner Program at University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing.

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (1995). Aged Care Assessment in a rural community. Invited speaker to Riverland, South Australia and Mount Gambier, South Australia workshop on Aged Care Assessment in SA.

Soltis-Jarrett, V. (1994). Growing through Grief and Loss. Adelaide and Mount Gambier, South Australia communities through Private Palliative Care Annual Conference.

Other products of scholarship

“Enhancing Adherence: Increasing Competence, Cooperation and Customized Solutions to Schizophrenia Management”, The Annenberg Center, collaborating with International Society of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses. (2013-2014)

Responsible for the submission of competitive grant proposal,  chose and worked with ISPN members and The Annenberg Center to design, develop and deliver this activity, including management of grant funds, all logistics as well as the design and implementation of educational outcomes ($300,000.00). Presented to health care providers nationally.

Website: http://www.annenberg.net/ce/5133ispn/landing.php?pid=5133ispn

Behavioral Health Access Plan For the Uninsured (BHAP) Narrative Summary (2014).  NC Office of Rural Health and Community Care

Website:  http://www.ncdhhs.gov/orhcc/BHAP_summary_Feb2014.pdf

HRSA Training Grants:  Total Awarded (2006-present)- $15 Million.