Meet the Author

I have loved psychiatric nursing since the first day of my psychiatric nursing course in college. I knew right away that it would be my specialty. I taught psychiatric nursing for 16 years, so a great deal of my teaching materials and experience went into Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: Concepts of Care in Evidence-Based Practice. I endeavored to provide instructors, students, and practicing nurses with a textbook that is comprehensive enough to fully answer the question "What do psychiatric nurses do?" in a language that can be understood by all.

I once loaned a copy of my textbook to a married couple who were my clients. A psychiatrist had just diagnosed the husband with a personality disorder, and they were frightened and confused about what that meant. I asked them to read the corresponding chapter in my book. They came back to me with enthusiasm. The wife said, "This is wonderful! My husband and I read it together, and now we understand his problem. I know this is a nursing book, but can we buy one?" It gave me great pleasure to know that even though they were not nurses, they understood what I had written and my words offered them such comfort.

I have been married for 46 years to my high school sweetheart, Jim. We have two grown daughters, Kerry and Tina, a granddaughter, Meghan and a grandson, Matthew, who appear with me in the picture. We also have three dogs: Bucky, a miniature schnauzer; Chiro, a beagle/dachshund mix; and Angel, a white German Shepherd.

I hope that my textbook conveys my enthusiasm for the nursing profession and helps you in your commitment to psychiatric nursing. If you would like to share thoughts on how this book helps you in your understanding of psychiatric nursing, or if you would like to offer suggestions for how it can be improved in future editions, please send me an e-mail or write to me in care of my publisher, F.A. Davis Company.

Mary C. Townsend
Email: mctown41@hotmail.com