“I have an almost complete disregard of precedent and a faith in the possibility of something better. It irritates me to be told how things always have been done … I defy the tyranny of precedent. I cannot afford the luxury of a closed mind. I go for anything new that might improve the past.” - Clara Barton
Dr. Jessica Giddens
Dr. Jessica Giddens is an INTJ-Asπ, doctorate of nursing practice and has extensive experience in the mental health field and has served as a speaker and advisory board member in the areas of nursing leadership, psychopharmacology, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, attention deficit disorder, schizophrenia, tardive dyskinesia, pseudobulbar affect, binge eating disorders, autism spectrum disorders, psychopharmacogenomics, epigenetics as well as genetic testing, to name a few. Dr. Giddens is the owner and CEO of Holon Inclusive Health System and Healthcare consultant, in addition to being a #NeuroTribe mom. She is adjunct faculty at Maryville University and has supported multiple universities to provide clinical mentorship for medical and nurse practitioner students.
As a nurse she has worked in multiple areas including community mental health, inpatient psychiatric units including adult, acute adult, geriatric, and child and adolescents. In addition to her extensive experience in psychiatry, she has also worked as a nursing supervisor and as part of an acute care float team gaining experience in multiple inpatient medical units.
Despite her own struggles with Autism and juggling work-life balance with motherhood, throughout her training and career, she has received several scholarships, honors, and awards. Jessica also is recognized as an industry and national thought leader and has been invited to be an advisory board member for psychiatric research and development companies such as Otsuka, Sunovion, Allergan, Abbvie, Teva, and Avanir. In addition, she has been a speaker for molecules such as Ubrelvy, Vraylar, Fetzima, Viibryd, Rexulti, and Neudexta. As an advocate for neurosicence nomenclature and routine use of psychopharmacogenomics in practice, she has spoken for Genomind and is a member of the International Society of Psychiatric Genetics. She has also taken part in industry publications and has participated as a co-host on a local health radio show, The Health Beat, in St. Louis.
Jessica feels she has a diverse experience and passion in psychiatry and strives to decrease stigma and promote education and research in the field. She loves to assist the promotion of psychiatric nurse practitioners and psychiatric nurses internationally and increase public awareness regarding their contributions to the psychiatric field. She hopes that her passion for psychiatry, the science of neuropsychopharmacology, neurobiology, neuropathology, and neuropsychopharmacogenomics; and her research will continue to inspire other nurses to expand the horizons for psychiatric nurses everywhere, and someday hopes to be one of the first doctorly prepared nurse practitioners to be accepted as a member of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology and become an even more influential leader.
Diary of a child with a nurse mom:
Having a mom who is a nurse comes with a lot of perks as well as disadvantages....
1. Never in your entire life have you successfully faked a sickness. Ever.
2. The names of your mom’s colleagues ended with the initials RN, BSN, DNP, MD, DDS or DO.
3. When you say you vomited, you will be asked about its consistency and color and you are to answer her questions in full detail.
4. There are books with pictures of organs and genitals all over your house, but it’s not a big deal.
5. You knew that it wasn’t just a headache. It was an occipital migraine without an aura.