The Role of Psychiatric Nursing in PHP and IOP: How Compass Supports Patients Through Every Stage of Care 

A Q&A with Mary Kate Gruebnau, RN, Senior Director of Nursing 

Behind every patient’s treatment journey at Compass Health Center is a team of nurses who bring empathy, expertise, and unwavering dedication to the healing process. Psychiatric nursing sits at the heart of Compass’s Partial Hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) programs, ensuring that patients receive not only high-quality mental health treatment, but also the medical support, advocacy, and continuity of care that make lasting recovery possible. 

To better understand this vital work, Compass Health Center’s Brittney Teasdale spoke with Mary Kate Gruebnau, Senior Director of Nursing. With more than a decade at Compass and a background that bridges medical-surgical and psychiatric nursing, Gruebnau shares how her team supports patients and families across every stage of care. In this conversation, she discusses the integral role of nursing within Compass’s interdisciplinary treatment model, the importance of compassionate advocacy, and how nurses help patients feel seen, supported, and safe as they take steps toward healing. 

This interview has been lightly edited for grammar and flow. The speaker’s original meaning and intent have not been changed. 

Q&A 

Brittney Teasdale: I’d love to learn more about your background in psychiatric nursing. What brought you into the field and what interested you. 

Mary Kate Gruebnau, Senior Director of Nursing: 
Early in my career, I started in medical-surgical nursing. Even at that level of care, I recognized a critical need for mental health support. Mental health is embedded in every aspect of nursing and healthcare. Working with patients and families in acute settings, I could see the strain—uncertain diagnoses, navigating medical concerns, and the overlap of physical and emotional symptoms. Being part of that healing process made the value of mental health support really clear, and I saw how much I wanted to be part of it. 

BT: How has psychiatric nursing shaped your approach to patient care? 

MKG: 
Psychiatric nursing aligns with what I enjoy most as a nurse: listening deeply to patients and families, helping them work through challenges, and finding practical solutions. It’s shaped my approach to be consistently compassionate and patient-centered, which aligns closely with Compass’s mission. 

BT: How did your experience prior to Compass—medical and behavioral health—inform how you lead the nursing department here? 

MKG: 
My medical-surgical background helps me understand the medical complexities that can accompany mental health conditions—comorbidities, family and personal medical histories. There’s often overlap between medical and mental health needs, and part of our role is looking at the whole person and discerning what’s medical, what’s mental health, and how to alleviate both. That whole-person perspective is central to mental health nursing. 

BT: How is nursing integrated into the treatment team and plan at Compass, specifically within PHP and IOP? 

MKG: 
Compass nurses are engaged at every stage of the patient journey. At intake, we assess medical needs and determine whether medical monitoring is required during programming. We work closely with patients and families to ensure continuity of routines from school and home, mirroring those at Compass and helping develop needed accommodations. During program, we provide medical interventions and medication support. We’re a core part of the treatment team and decision-making around both medical and mental health needs. 

BT: For patients who need nursing support but haven’t been in PHP or IOP and feel nervous about getting their needs met in our care, how do you alleviate those concerns? 

MKG: 
Our nurses take time to listen and understand each patient’s story, meeting them where they are. We aim to create spaces for vulnerability, build trust, and partner with patients in their treatment—always upholding dignity, self-value, and safety. You’ll even see many nurses wearing attire that says “You matter” or “The world is better with you in it.” We want to be our patients’ biggest cheerleaders and advocates—present and available for whatever they need. 

BT: How do you work alongside psychiatrists and support their work with patients? 

MKG: 
We’re fortunate to operate as an interdisciplinary team. Nurses collaborate daily with therapists, psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and education specialists through treatment planning and daily huddles. That real-time collaboration—especially when acuity is high—supports the best outcomes and ensures continuity of care across departments. 

BT: You sound like advocates throughout the journey—medical and mental health experts who are with patients every step of the way. 

MKG: 
Many patients have put medical and mental health on the back burner. Treatment becomes a chance to focus on the whole self—catching up on appointments, medication management, and organizing access to meds. We support long-term management and give patients tools for success—acutely and beyond. 

BT: Could you share an example—real or hypothetical—of how nursing insight or advocacy shifted a treatment trajectory? 

MKG: 
Education is a big one: teaching about conditions, medication side effects, and offering space for questions can change engagement and outcomes. I also want to highlight our Medical Intake Coordinators on the nursing team. They’re key advocates for giving patients the time and space to heal—handling disability paperwork and school documentation to temporarily pause responsibilities like work or school. That reduces burden so patients can focus on recovery. There are financial components too, and without that advocacy, some patients couldn’t access care at all. 

BT: When appropriate and with permission, how do you involve families from a nursing perspective? 

MKG: 
We consider both families of origin and chosen families. We integrate them thoughtfully—especially with education: managing and organizing medications at home, addressing side effects, and mirroring what works in program within the home environment. We have more time with patients than a brief office visit allows, so we can process challenges with families. For under-18s, anything we’re communicating with the patient, we’re also coordinating with parents/caregivers so it carries into the home setting. 

BT: And that applies to behavioral health medications as well? 

MKG: 
Absolutely—awareness of what the medication is for, what to expect, and how to address side effects. Access is a major focus: if insurance denies a medication, nursing coordinates with the pharmacy and insurer and leverages assistance programs or savings cards. We work to ensure medications are both accessible and affordable. 

BT: That support is huge—it’s overwhelming to navigate alone. 

MKG: 
Patients and families already have so much on their plates. We take on administrative burdens wherever we can—paperwork, insurance, logistics—so they can focus on recovery. 

BT: How does the Compass nursing model differ from hospital or less intensive outpatient settings? 

MKG: 
The Compass model drew me in immediately. We lead with a patient-centered approach: is this best for patient care? Does it support treatment goals? Is it individualized? That shared mission is embedded in our culture. Teamwork and agility matter too—when we know best practice, we coordinate across teams and do the work to get there.  

BT: You can also monitor progress in real time and adjust to where the patient is at. 

MKG: 
Exactly. We have more time with patients, a team-driven approach, and we see strong outcomes. 

BT: Let’s talk outcomes. How does nursing contribute to Compass’s strong, measurable outcomes? 

MKG: 
Nursing is part of every key Compass initiative—access, continuity, excellence, and optimal outcomes. One example: if a patient calls out due to illness, side effects, or oversleeping, nursing does motivational phone coaching—problem-solving how to get them to program that day, leveraging hybrid options when appropriate, or setting a return-to-site plan if rest is needed. For some patients without strong support networks, that phone call can be the difference between disengaging and staying in care. 

We also focus on safety and quality: minimizing adverse effects, monitoring medications, and adhering to quality measures that drive best care. These efforts help patients remain in program for the clinically indicated duration—something we know correlates with stronger long-term outcomes. 

BT: It’s also another individual touchpoint alongside groups, individual therapy, family therapy, and psychiatry—one more relationship that helps patients feel supported and seen. Okay, now zooming in on your role—what does your day look like overseeing nursing? 

MKG: 
I’ve been with Compass for 12 years. I started as a staff nurse in Northbrook, then became Director of Nursing for Chicago when we opened there. As Senior Director of Nursing, I oversee nursing department standardization, new site launches, innovation, and quality—finding safer, more efficient ways to deliver care. I support daily operations and consultation at current sites and help expand access to care, including virtually. Much of my time is spent on consultation, quality and compliance, and new site growth to reach patients where they are. Every patient deserves high-quality care, and each new site helps fulfill that mission. 

I also serve as Infection Control Officer—a role that emerged from the pandemic—maintaining best practices and standards across sites for infection control and risk mitigation.  

BT: How do you build and sustain a supportive nursing culture at Compass? 

MKG: Curiosity and open dialogue are core—we ask questions and keep communication flowing. We add a dash of humor; the work is meaningful and can be demanding, so sharing a smile or a laugh matters. All sites hold daily huddles to stay proactive on patient needs and reduce risk. 

In orientation, we equip nurses with resources and training to be autonomous, skilled critical thinkers—while knowing a steadfast nursing team is behind them, especially in complex or urgent situations. We continuously improve orientation based on feedback, staying open to change and adaptation. 

BT: I’ve seen that culture firsthand—you’re wonderful to collaborate with, and it’s grown so much with our new sites. I can’t think of a better person to lead nursing. 

MKG: 
Thank you. It’s a privilege. I never expected to be in leadership, but starting as a staff nurse keeps me grounded in the role. We want our nurses to feel equipped and never alone. It’s a strong support network. 

BT: Likewise; my early administrative operations experience shapes how I work today. Seeing how our patients move through our programs up close really matters. Anything else you want patients and families to know about Compass nursing? 

MKG: 
It’s an exciting time to serve the mental health community, and I’m grateful to be part of an organization expanding access when it’s needed most. If I could tell patients and families one thing: we’re here to be part of your journey. You’re in the driver’s seat; we’re the co-pilot—helping with directions, navigation, and encouragement. Our goal is to support your healing and recovery, build self-confidence and self-value, and help you carry that into the next phase of life after Compass. 

BT: Thank you so much, Mary Kate. This was wonderful—it’s inspiring to hear your passion for patient care and the breadth of what nursing does at Compass. 

Bios

Mary Kate Gruebnau, RN, is the Senior Director of Nursing at Compass Health Center, bringing more than a decade of experience in medical-surgical and psychiatric nursing. She oversees nursing operations, quality and safety initiatives, and interdisciplinary integration across PHP and IOP. Mary Kate began her Compass career as a staff nurse and now leads department standardization, new site launches, and innovation in patient-centered medical and mental health support. She also serves as Compass’s Infection Control Officer. Her leadership is grounded in whole-person care, team collaboration, and compassionate advocacy for patients and families. 

Britt Teasdale is a writer, photographer, and creative strategist. As Associate Director of Brand and Content at Compass Health Center, she has spent nearly a decade shaping narratives that translate complex clinical ideas into stories that resonate, reduce stigma, and help families access care. She holds a degree in Broadcast and Investigative Journalism, MFA in Creative Nonfiction Writing, and began her career as a reporter. She is also co-host of Compass’s forthcoming podcast, You Only Know What You Know.