By Sarah Morgan Johnson
As her career has evolved, Caroline Baker, MSN, CRNP, PMHNP-BC (BSN 2011, MSN 2015, MSN 2020), believes the nursing profession has allowed her to maximize her skillsets and pursue her passions. The three-time alumna of the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing uses her clinical expertise as a Nursing Professional Development Specialist in the Center for Nursing Excellence and Center for Psychiatric Medicine at UAB Hospital to provide accessible mental health education on social media.
“I’ve found that in nursing, the opportunities are endless. Many people come into the profession thinking that bedside care is the only avenue of nursing, but that could not be further from the truth. There are so many ways you can optimize your unique strengths and interests as a nurse,” Baker said.
After graduating from the School with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2011, Baker started working as a staff mental health nurse at UAB. While she originally envisioned a career for herself as a labor and delivery nurse, she found a passion for mental health in this role. As she grew more settled in her own career, Baker found fulfillment in training new nurses and nursing students. Following encouragement from her peers and supervisors, Baker enrolled as a student in the School’s Master of Science in Nursing Nurse Educator specialty track, earning her degree in 2015. Soon after, she returned to the School again, graduating from the MSN Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Specialty in 2020.
“My degrees from the UAB School of Nursing have been instrumental in shaping my professional identity and fueling my passion for education and outreach. The skills I gained in both programs laid the foundation for me to be an advocate in the mental health field. My professors equipped me with advanced therapeutic techniques, clinical knowledge and assessment strategies. These insights help me to speak directly to the needs and experiences of my community,” Baker said.
In 2017, Baker found purpose through a new avenue of education: social media. She began sharing tips for managing mental health on her Facebook page and quickly gained a following. As her page gained traction, she realized the demand for more education, resources and expertise. She later launched her company, The Mental Health Detox in 2021.
“I decided to start The Mental Health Detox to normalize conversations about mental health and mental illnesses. I’ve become very passionate about providing those resources and tools to people. When I started sharing tips on social media, I realized that what is second nature to me as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner is not common knowledge for the average person. The Mental Health Detox is a platform for me to share my knowledge and make a difference,” Baker said.
Today, Baker is the author of “The 30-Day Mental Reset Workbook” and “Mental Health Tips for Everyday Life.” She hosts workshops, offers life coaching and goal planning sessions with clients, and shares resources in hopes of helping people manage their mental health. Baker encourages anyone considering the nursing profession to find their “niche” and lean into their passions.
“In nursing you have a snippet of almost every other type of profession. You have legal nurses, nurse educators, nurse researchers, nurse administrators, executives, legislators, bedside nurses and so much more. There is so much room to grow and evolve in your career as a nurse, so be open to exploring new things. Once you find your niche and your passion, maximize it. Find mentors to encourage and advise you along the way. There is no limit to the impact you can have in this profession,” Baker said.