Echo Downey, PMHNP-C, APRN

About Echo

Licensing Info: PMHNP-C (Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner)

Education info (degree, school, city/state):

• MSN – Regis College, Weston, MA
• BSN – Western Governor’s University
• AAS & AS – Gillette College

Start date with CCH:

• June 2021 – NP in Behavioral Health Services
• May 2013 – RN in OB

Other credentials and/or specializations: RNC-Low Risk Neonatal

What attracted you to health care, and why is working in BHS important to you?

While nursing had been in the back of my mind because of the great examples my aunts and sister had set in their careers, it didn’t become important to me to become a nurse until after I started having kids. After multiple visits to myriad health care facilities when my son first developed epilepsy I realized quickly that a great nurse or provider, who really seemed to care, could make all the difference in someone’s visit, whether it was a simple outpatient visit or an inpatient stay. I enjoyed working with kids at ABC Pediatrics and getting to see them grow, but I started at the hospital after the clinic was closed. With working on OB, I enjoyed taking care of NICU babies and the adrenaline of attending deliveries. I found I missed the “normal” schedule of the clinic, though, and getting to know my patients through multiple visits. Spending time with patients in crises, whether they were surgical patients or families of preterm or sick babies, became my favorite days. I decided that God had placed me on a path to mental health and counseling when I realized how much I relished helping people cope.

Why did you choose to work for CCH?

The many facets of CCH’s Behavioral Health Services was most enticing. Many people just want a pill that can fix everything, and I can help with some of that, but CCH also provides the counselors to talk to, the resources for care management, and the intense care that people need in a crisis.

What is your approach to or philosophy on patient care?

Through my experiences, I have come to believe that health is not just body-oriented, but mind and spirit. Too often we focus on the symptoms of the body, but many people struggle with things no one can see. There’s a quote by Demi Lovato that I love: “You don’t have to struggle in silence. You can be un-silent. You can live well with a mental health condition, as long as you open up to somebody about it.” People need to know that they aren’t alone and people want to help and have the tools to help. I am one of those people.

What do you do for fun?

I love to travel, anywhere and everywhere. I enjoy camping and boating with my family, but my favorite past time is watching a funny movie with the people I love.