Rachel Eshom
Monaca
Summary
Registered Nurse with 16 years of acute psychiatric experience, specializing in crisis stabilization, behavioral assessment, and management of high‑acuity mental‑health conditions. Skilled in de‑escalation, trauma‑informed care, and rapid clinical decision‑making in fast‑paced environments. Experienced in caring for older adults with dementia, providing nuanced cognitive and behavioral assessments, managing challenging behaviors, and promoting safety and quality of life. Collaborates effectively with interdisciplinary teams and delivers compassionate, evidence‑based care across diverse behavioral‑health settings.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Professional Staff Nurse
VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System
Pittsburgh, PA
11.2017 - Current
- Full-time 40 hours/week
- Acute Behavioral Health
Professional Staff Nurse
VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System
Pittsburgh, PA
11.2015 - 11.2017
- Full-time 40 hours/week
- Med-Surge
Professional Staff Nurse
Heritage Valley Sewickley Hospital
Sewickley, PA
10.2015 - 12.2016
- Casual 7 days/month
- Acute Behavioral Health
Professional Staff Nurse
HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Sewickley
Sewickley, PA
06.2015 - 11.2015
- Full-time 40 hours/week
- Acute Rehab
Professional Staff Nurse
Monongahela Valley Hospital
Monongahela, PA
01.2011 - 06.2015
- Full-time 40 hours/week
- Acute Behavioral Health and Med-Surge Unit
Education
Master of Science - Nursing
Franciscan University of Steubenville Ohio
Steubenville, OH08.2025
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
California University of Pennsylvania
California, PA05.2015
Associate of Science - Nursing
Community College of Allegheny County
West Mifflin, PA12.2010
Skills
Behavioral health assessment; mental status exams; cognitive and functional assessments (MMSE, MoCA)
Crisis intervention, stabilization, and de‑escalation in high‑acuity settings
Management of aggressive or unsafe behaviors; therapeutic limit‑setting; least‑restrictive interventions
Suicide and violence risk screening; safety planning; environmental safety checks
Dementia‑related behavior management; redirection and validation techniques
Monitoring for delirium vs dementia; fall‑risk reduction in cognitively impaired patients
Behavioral care planning for dementia‑related behaviors
Trauma‑informed care and therapeutic communication
Collaboration with psychiatry, social work, therapy teams, and memory‑care staff
Discharge planning and coordination of community resources
Monitoring for medication effects and co‑occurring medical/psychiatric condition
Certification
- Ohio, Registered Nurse (RN 525333) Since 2023; Renewal October 31, 2027
- Pennsylvania, Registered Nurse (RN 625880) Since 2011; Renewal October 31, 2026
- American Heart Association -BLS Since 1998; Renewal December 31, 2026
Timeline
Professional Staff Nurse
VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System
11.2017 - Current
Professional Staff Nurse
VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System
11.2015 - 11.2017
Professional Staff Nurse
Heritage Valley Sewickley Hospital
10.2015 - 12.2016
Professional Staff Nurse
HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Sewickley
06.2015 - 11.2015
Professional Staff Nurse
Monongahela Valley Hospital
01.2011 - 06.2015
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
California University of Pennsylvania
Associate of Science - Nursing
Community College of Allegheny County
Master of Science - Nursing
Franciscan University of Steubenville Ohio
Professional Recognition
Daisy Award November 2019, A veteran wrote how he was planning to commit suicide and saying what he needed to say to be discharged. He wrote, “If it weren’t for Rachel and her compassion to take time and work with me on my mental health, I would have undoubtedly gone down that dark path of suicide. I found my self-worth and I plan on attending to my mental health in all aspects”.
Professional Development
- In-Patient Behavioral Health Education for Staff and Veterans
- Develops and implements personalized care plans for veterans with cognitive decline, focusing on managing behavioral symptoms, administering psychotropic medications, and supporting activities of daily living. November 2017-Present
- Precept new nurses to behavioral health unit. Educate new nurses about antipsychotic medications, implications of increased blood sugars with antipsychotics, diabetic care, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, tardive dyskinesias vs parkinsonism, serotonin syndrome, dementia education using peer-reviewed research November 2017- Present
- Conduct educational groups about health promotion including proper diet, sleep hygiene medication compliance, signs and symptoms behavioral health crisis using peer-reviewed research November 2017- Present
- Conduct educational groups about diabetes management, stress and heart and brain complications (stroke heart attack) with effects of cortisol levels, serotonin, and dopamine affecting mental health using peer-reviewed research November 2017- Present
- Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) project approved and utilized by the Pittsburgh Veteran’s Affairs as education for nurses on signs and symptoms, treatment, medical emergency response including transfer to ICU Achieved November 2020
- SMART Recovery Facilitator January 2019- Present
- Achieved 30 hours Distance Training focusing on drug, alcohol, PTSD, and mental health recovery. Facilitate recovery groups in inpatient psychiatric units. This recovery incorporates science and learning about brain structure with educational handouts during group therapy, including healthy eating, sleep hygiene, and medical management.
- Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior (PMBD) November 2017-Renewal November 2026
- 16-hour training for facilitators teaching employees from medical and behavioral health how to deescalate an in-person behavioral crisis so that healthcare may resume for that patient without incident.