America’s Best in Medicine Spotlights Sarah Carson, LPN: Licensed Practical Nurse Specializing in Psychiatric Bedside Nursing
Providing Compassionate Psychiatric Care, Crisis Intervention, and Mental Health Support for Veterans and Military Communities
Kernersville, North Carolina — Sarah Carson, LPN, a compassionate and resilient Licensed Practical Nurse specializing in psychiatric bedside nursing, is dedicated to supporting veterans and individuals facing mental health crises through empathetic, patient-centered care. With a strong commitment to advocacy, crisis intervention, and trauma-informed nursing, Sarah has built her career around helping vulnerable populations navigate some of life’s most difficult moments while ensuring they feel heard, respected, and supported.
Sarah began her healthcare journey as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) before pursuing nursing during one of the most challenging periods in modern healthcare history. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she earned her emergency Licensed Practical Nurse credential in 2020 and later obtained her permanent license in 2021 after graduating from Craven Community College, where she simultaneously completed her Practical Nursing Program and an Associate’s Degree. From the beginning of her career, Sarah demonstrated exceptional determination, adaptability, and a deep passion for serving others during times of uncertainty and crisis.
Currently, Sarah serves in psychiatric bedside nursing at a Veterans Medical Center, where she has worked for the past year and a half, caring for veterans experiencing complex psychiatric and medical challenges. Her responsibilities include medication administration, comprehensive head-to-toe skin assessments, detailed mental health evaluations, and maintaining continuous patient safety monitoring. She regularly assists patients facing PTSD, acute psychiatric crises, suicidal ideation, homicidal ideation, and co-occurring medical conditions requiring close observation and intervention.
A significant aspect of Sarah’s work involves crisis intervention and de-escalation, helping patients safely navigate emotionally overwhelming situations while maintaining dignity and trust. She collaborates closely with physicians, behavioral health therapists, physical therapists, and multidisciplinary healthcare teams to ensure holistic, coordinated care for every patient she serves.
Before transitioning into her current psychiatric nursing role, Sarah worked as a clinical liaison at Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune, where she worked alongside providers and registered nurses to assess patients in acute crisis situations and coordinate immediate psychiatric treatment and stabilization.
Sarah’s professional development reflects her dedication to advancing her expertise in mental health and emergency response care. She holds certifications in PTSD care, suicide prevention, SAFE talk certification, Basic Life Support (BLS) for CPR, and STOP THE BLEED trauma care. She also serves as an SMRS Responder for North Carolina and deployed to Asheville following Hurricane Helene to assist with relief and recovery efforts for affected communities.
Her dedication to patient care has earned significant recognition throughout her career. Sarah has been nominated for a DAISY Award and received an Everyday Achievement Award for medical management and care coordination from Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune. She has also received special recognition from Karen Pence as well as recognition from the United States Marine Corps 8th Communications Unit for her dedication to patient care and attention to detail.
As the spouse of an active-duty service member, Sarah feels a deeply personal connection to the military community and remains passionate about serving those who sacrifice so much in service to the country. “What I enjoy most is being able to make a real difference in someone’s day,” she says. “I realized that I am the difference between someone having a bad day and helping improve that day, or someone having a bad day and talking about their bad day with no one listening to them. These people are just like me — there is no difference. It just takes one bad day.”
Drawing from her own experiences with anxiety, trauma, and postpartum depression, Sarah brings empathy and understanding into every patient interaction. She emphasizes the importance of listening, advocacy, and genuine human connection when caring for individuals experiencing mental health challenges.
“It has been phenomenal to watch patients follow through programs and become the best version of themselves,” she explains. “I want to be that one nurse who helps someone and listens to them, to advocate for them and give them the care they deserve.”
Sarah is currently applying to Registered Nurse programs and plans to continue her education toward becoming a psychiatric nurse. Her long-term goal is to work in emergency departments, where she can combine trauma-informed care with acute psychiatric intervention while continuing her mission to advocate for and protect patients during their most critical moments.
Learn more about Sarah Carson:
Through her America’s Best in Medicine profile, https://americasbestinmedicine.com/connect/sarah-carson
America’s Best in Medicine
America’s Best in Medicine is a specialist online platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of leading healthcare professionals across the United States. They bring together top healthcare providers from all specialties and cities to share expert-driven articles, research, commentary, and clinical insight. Their core purposes are to showcase excellence in healthcare, build trust between providers and the public, and ensure that expert voices are elevated and heard in shaping medicine. Through their platform, users can access a community of leaders, opportunities for providers to share expertise, and trusted guidance for patients and peers alike.