Jeff Carroll, Associate Chief Nursing Officer at MiraVista Behavioral Health Center, knows well the satisfaction of working with patients managing psychiatric conditions.
He calls what he does “some of the most challenging yet rewarding work you will ever be a part of in nursing.”
“There are days that can be very trying, but the days you see the difference you helped someone make for themselves – these days make all the effort worth it,” Jeff said. “Every day is different.”
He adds “trying to have patients understand their full potential is something I strive for.”
“Meeting a patient where they are and helping them discover this about themselves is critical in their journey to success,” Jeff said. “Helping them realize, too, that this journey may not necessarily be a straight line, but that each curve or bump
is a potential learning opportunity.”
He called for respect of psychiatric patients as “individuals who are seeking help for a reason.”
“They aren’t just a diagnosis or a label,” he said. “They should be treated and respected as individuals who at this time need some help.”
He credits his career path and commitment partly to the influence of his parents. His mother worked as a social worker for the State of Connecticut and his dad was a director of nursing at Connecticut Valley Hospital.
“I was always fascinated in scenarios they were able to describe throughout their careers,” he said. “I always enjoyed trying to understand people, their mannerisms and why certain individuals had different characteristics.”
Jeff followed his dad’s suggestion to try nursing. While working at a residential treatment center for adolescent boys during those school years he realized he wanted to do psychiatric nursing.
“When I graduated, I was offered a job at an adult inpatient unit in Connecticut before I passed my exam to be licensed as a registered nurse. I passed the next week and began right away. I haven’t had the desire to change my specialty since.”
That early start solidified Jeff’s passion for working in mental health, a field that has continued to shape not just his career—but his perspective on personal growth as well.
“I have learned the value of patience with oneself,” Jeff said. “Everyone is striving to be a better version of themselves in one way or another, but it often takes time. Ups and downs along the way are normal variations in a long-term goal to live one’s best life.”