Dr. Meghan Orbegoso, DNP, PMHNP-BC
Hi! I’m Meghan, but feel free to call me Meg or Dr. O. I am a psychiatric nurse
and nurse educator with many years’ experience in most mental health settings including outpatient, voluntary inpatient, court ordered inpatient, SMI populations, psychiatric urgent care and crisis units. I work at Phoenix Children’s inpatient psych unit and float to the behavioral health area in the emergency department. I also teach mental health specialty for nursing students. I chose to go into education and become a nurse practitioner because I am determined to be the change I want to see in the world. During my nursing education and nurse practitioner education journey, there were no instructors that looked like me or looked like anyone that I grew up with or that I felt could relate to BIPOC, first-generation, or even to barriers of social determinants of health.
My family background is Peruvian and my husband is Dominican and we love to EAT! We love trying new dishes and cuisines we have not tried yet so please share any recommendations! Our toddler is still in his chicken nuggets only phase, but he will hopefully see the light and seasoning by his ancestors soon. When I’m not working or spending time with family, I like to dissociate in light-hearted media including YouTube, mobile games, fan-fictions, anime, and BBC’s 1995 Pride and Prejudice. I stay informed and therefore stay away from fictional media that is serious; the real-life state of the world is drama enough!
Q&A
What is your favorite movie? Lion King
Favorite superhero? Class C Hero - Saitama!
If you could have a superpower, what superpower would you pick? To speak every language and always have the right words to say.
If you had 3 wishes, what would you wish for? That everyone had access to mental health care, a solid support system, and a loving community. That our days and weeks and months were longer and not to get more done, but to rest, spend time, and enjoy. For everyone to feel safe, to feel seen and known, to feel they are enough, and to believe they deserve care and kindness.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself: I have serious stage-fright. I don't know how I decided to become an educator and lead lectures/lessons for 50+ nursing students at a time. I know why I want to do it, but I still don't get how I manage to speak coherently while I internally panic.
Tell us about your pets: I have a Pit Mix named Goose. He got his name from his honk-like kennel cough he had when we rescued him. He is a good boy
What are ways beyond medication that can improve your mental health? All of the self-care activities! All of the positive lifestyle practices that make sense for you and your family and community. Connecting with nature, caring for yourself emotionally, spiritually, holistically matters. Having strong healthy relationships matter! The results from the 80+ year Harvard wellbeing study are clear: "The clearest message that we get from this 75-year study is this: Good relationships keep us happier and healthier. Period." - R. Waldinger, Director of the Harvard Study.
​If a patient is nervous about an evaluation, especially when talking about tough things like trauma or sexual abuse, what would you want them to know? You are safe with me. We can discuss as little or as much as you feel ready, willing, and able to share in the moment. I will not push you to disclose more than you want to.
What is your philosophy on using medication to treat mental health? Are medications lifelong? My favorite medication is Therapy. It has the fewest side effects and the longest half-life. :) But really, I believe medication can be a valuable resource and tool in a client's treatment plan, but should not be considered in isolation. I want to work with you and collaborate on all aspects of mental health which includes medications and more. Whether medications are life-long will vary from client to client and from situation to situation.
What are your thoughts about treating adult ADHD? I was diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood. I grew up in a family that did not believe in mental health. That struggle with executive function was just laziness and the only treatment was to "ponte las pilas" or "work harder". I had teachers from kindergarten to college say "she's smart, but she would do better if she just applied herself." I failed out two Universities and several classes in my life until I learned about mental health in nursing school. The day after the first lecture on mental health and illness I scheduled a psychiatric evaluation. I was expecting a diagnosis of anxiety and ended up learning I was depressed and struggled with ADHD. I started treatment and the world opened up. I went from failing and being withdrawn due to academic performance to graduating with 3.8 for my Bachelors and Doctorate degrees. I have a lot of thoughts and feelings when it comes to adult ADHD. A wonderful psychiatric nurse practitioner diagnosed me and still manages my treatment and I look forward to helping my future clients in their journey.
Yes, I shared a bit about my experience with adult ADHD in the previous question. In that first psychiatric evaluation, I learned I also had been struggling with depression. I remember being told that it was not normal to constantly feel like a burden and having negative thoughts playing on a loop in your mind. I was shooketh! And let me tell you when I started my first antidepressant and the negative thoughts slowed and eventually stopped! Flabber-fucking-ghasted! Because what do you mean I just needed store bought serotonin to stop feeling like a constant burden!? Witch-craft! Brujeria! And I love it! I want to help others also realize they are worthy of taking up space! I want you to man-spread to the heavens (figuratively of course, but also you do you!) with how comfortable you are with taking up space and knowing you deserve care, you deserve kindness, and you deserve to feel and know that you are enough just as you are :)
