About Us

Cathleen Handke, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC is a board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who graduated from Vanderbilt University. Cathleen’s nursing career has taken her on a journey through health care, from inpatient to outpatient settings, consulting services, nursing instructor, and long-term care. She started her career more than 25 years ago practicing as a nurse in a critical access hospital in central Nebraska. She quickly realized that her patient’s mental health can drastically affect their physical health and overall sense of wellbeing.

Cathleen’s passion and drive lies in working with individuals across the life-span by helping them achieve their goals and reach their full potential. She provides psychiatric evaluations and medication management when needed, paying special attention to the personal history, concerns, and overall health of her patients. By collaborating with her patients, understanding their goals for treatment, and listening to their concerns or fears of using medications, she is able to facilitate treatment with warmth and compassion. By being flexible in her approach to treatment and explaining options for treatment she can help meet the needs and desired outcomes of each individual.

In her free time, Cathleen enjoys cooking, gardening, and spending time with her husband and children. Cathleen is a member of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association and believes that nurses can and should play an essential role in shaping modern health care.