About

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DR. MELISSA DECAPUA, DNP, PMHNP

Nurse Practitioner, Writer, User Researcher

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Those closest to me call me “Mav,” short for Maverick.

By day, I work at Microsoft as a design researcher on their Research & Insight team, analyzing human behavior and conducting user research (#dreamjob). By night, I advocate for nurses on through lobbying efforts and, of course, blogging.

I’m a psychiatric nurse practitioner,

I started my career as a psychiatric nurse practitioner (PMHNP), graduating from Vanderbilt University and completing a doctorate in nursing practice (DNP). As a clinician, I worked on a consultation-liaison psychiatry team focusing on the treatment of psychosomatic conditions.

And a user researcher at Microsoft too.

With the passage of the Affordable Care Act and the explosion in healthcare technology startups, I began consulting. Today I sit on the medical advisory board for Health Innovation Northwest, a Seattle-based non-profit. It was through these experiences I discovered the field of user research and started working at Microsoft.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section][vc_section full_width=”stretch_row” css=”.vc_custom_1523748845208{margin-top: -40px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;}”][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Education

doctor of nursing practice with a certificate in human-centered design

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Human-Centered Design

University of Washington

2016-2017
4.0 GPA
13 Credit Hours[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]

Doctor of Nursing Practice

DeSales University

2013-2015
4.0 GPA
39 Credit Hours[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]

Master of Science in Nursing
Psychiatry

Vanderbilt University

2011-2012
3.86 GPA
40 Credit Hours[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1523815855308{margin-top: 32px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]

Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Minor in Psychology

Xavier University

2007-2011
3.76 GPA
199 credit hours (combined)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]

Bachelor of Arts in Photography

Xavier University

2007-2011
3.76 GPA
199 credit hours (combined)

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Experience

Psychiatric nurse practitioner and user researcher

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User Researcher

Microsoft

Seattle, WA
2016-PRESENT[/creatink_timeline_content][creatink_timeline_content icon=”et-light-bulb” color=”#28b8d8″]

Consulting & Freelance

Various Startups & Non-Profits

Seattle, WA
2015-PRESENT[/creatink_timeline_content][creatink_timeline_content icon=”et-light-bulb” color=”#28b8d8″]

Program Developer

DeSales University

Center Valley, PA
2014-2016[/creatink_timeline_content][creatink_timeline_content icon=”et-light-bulb” color=”#28b8d8″]

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Lehigh Valley Health Network
The RedCo Group

Allentown, PA
2012-2014[/creatink_timeline_content][creatink_timeline_content icon=”et-bar-graph” color=”#3fbfae”]

Nurse Practitioner Intern

Centerstone

Nashville, TN
2011-2012[/creatink_timeline_content][creatink_timeline_content icon=”et-feather” color=”#e45050″]

Mental Health Specialist

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital

Cincinnati, OH
2010-2011[/creatink_timeline_content][/creatink_timeline][vc_btn title=”View Complete CV on LinkedIn” style=”custom” custom_background=”#00b5c9″ custom_text=”#ffffff” shape=”square” align=”center” i_type=”monosocial” i_icon_monosocial=”vc-mono vc-mono-linkedin” add_icon=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fmelissadecapua%2F||target:%20_blank|” css=”.vc_custom_1523815760685{margin-top: 44px !important;}”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/12″][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section][vc_section full_width=”stretch_row” css=”.vc_custom_1523749364862{background-color: #ffffff !important;}”][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Certifications & Licensures

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner & Registered Nurse

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PMHNP

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

American Nurses Credentialing Center[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]

ARNP

Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner

Washington State Board of Nursing[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]

RN

Registered Nurse

Washington State Board of Nursing[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section][vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Professional Organizations

Technology & Healthcare

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AANP

American Association of Nurse Practitioners

2013-Present[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]

HINW

Health Innovation Northwest
Board member

2015-Present[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]

PSNPA

Puget Sound Nurse Practitioner Association

2015 – Present[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section][vc_section full_width=”stretch_row” css=”.vc_custom_1523753706063{background-color: #ffffff !important;}”][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Volunteerism

Clinical care and community service

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Scholarship Review

Seattle Central College

2017 – Present[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]

Homeless Shelters

Various around Seattle, WA

2014 – Present[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]

Behavior Modification

Regional Intervention Program

2011 – 2012[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1523815737361{margin-top: 32px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]

Art Therapist

Drake Rehabilitation Center

2007-2011[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]

Nursing Student

Interfaith Community Engagement

January 2010[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]

Breakfast Club Coordinator

Indianapolis, IN
2005-2007

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Awards & Scholarships

Recently awarded Health Innovator of the Year in Seattle

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Health Innovator of the Year

Health Innovation North West

2016[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_column_text]

Advanced Nurse Traineeship

Vanderbilt University

2012[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_column_text]

Nursing Faculty Award

Xavier University School of Nursing

2011[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_column_text]

McAuley Art Award

Xavier University Department of Art

2007[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section]