Susan Kinman
Outpatient LPN for Adult Mental Health, Osage Hills, Women’s Justice Team, and Women in Recovery
What motivated you to become a mental health nurse?
I was motivated by a desire to make a difference in the lives of others, as well as a desire to better understand mental health and its effects on a person.
What do you find most rewarding about your work as a mental health nurse?
My most treasured moments at work are the moments that clients begin to trust simply because they feel seen and heard. Not all clients are interested or motivated to care for their health. For me, it is magical to witness those who begin to over time simply because they know that someone cares for them, advocates for them and educates them on what they don’t understand.
Why did you choose FCS?
I chose FCS for its mission, client-centered care, and being able to help some of our most vulnerable populations. I have a personal history and lived experience of issues that many of our clients’ face. Being able to share that creates credibility and is ultimately a full-circle experience for me.
How do you see the field of mental health nursing evolving in the future?
When I started working with FCS almost two years ago, we were newly entering the realm of CCBHC. The nursing piece was new for all of the programs that I serve. It was unknown exactly what my role would look like. It has been fun and rewarding to be able to pioneer this role. Over time, the significance of the nursing piece became more obvious. Often, we don’t know what we are missing until we have it. I see mental health nursing evolving in a way that expands to the point of bringing more nurses into the agency to have the bandwidth to be able to touch a greater number of lives of our clients than we are currently able to.
