Carissa Tufano, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC
About
Carissa Tufano is a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner. She currently holds a faculty position as full-time lecturer in the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program. Carissa’s journey in nursing started at Quinnipiac University where she graduated with her BSN (2006). She went on to earn her MSN in psychiatric mental health nursing at Yale School of Nursing (2008). She recently completed her doctoral degree in 2022 as a member of the Yale School of Nursing’s inaugural Clinical DNP class. Prior to joining the faculty at the Yale School of Nursing in 2019, Carissa began her teaching career at Quinnipiac University as a clinical instructor in the psychiatric hospital setting and in on-campus simulation labs. Her extensive clinical experience includes working with adult and older adult populations. Carissa particularly enjoys precepting specialty students during their intensive geriatric-psychiatric rotation. Additionally, Carissa teaches Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Seminar I, II, III and IV and Mental Health Assessment Across the Lifespan.
Clinical Practice
Carissa’s clinical philosophy focuses on shared decision making with patients and families. Prior work experiences as a psychiatric provider on the Griffin Hospital consultation liaison service and at a federally qualified healthcare center have given her vast exposure to medically and psychiatrically complex individuals. Clinical efforts over the last 10 years have been focused on psychiatric assessment, psychopharmacological management, enhancement of environmental factors and staff education in long-term care communities. She is currently co-owner of a private practice providing onsite mental health assessment and intervention to patients of assisted living, residential care housing and skilled nursing communities in Connecticut with a focus on interprofessional collaboration.