Amy Criscitello
DNP, CRNP, PMHNP-BC
Assistant Teaching Professor
Sheetz Health and Wellness Center, Penn State Altoona
Phone: 814-949-5734
Email: adm105@psu.edu
Amy D. Criscitello, DNP, CRNP, PMHNP‑BC is an Assistant Teaching Professor and is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with extensive clinical experience across outpatient psychiatry, inpatient behavioral health, correctional mental health, geriatric care, and community settings. Dr. Criscitello is a U.S. Navy veteran whose clinical and leadership background informs her teaching and scholarship. Her academic interests include mental health nursing education, student wellness, trauma‑informed care, and increasing access to psychiatric services. She is actively involved in curriculum development and focuses on preparing future nurses for compassionate, evidence‑based mental health practice.
Education
DNP, Penn State; MSN, University of Maryland; post-master’s certificate NP, University of Pittsburgh; BSN, Penn State
Awards and Honors
DNP Student Champion, CGNE
Teaching
Courses Taught
- NURS420: Mental Health Nursing
Courses Developed
- NURS499: Study Away Panama
- NURS802M: Psych MHNP Integrative Biopsychosocial Assessment & Differential Diagnosis Across the Lifespan
Clinical Expertise and Areas of Specialization
PRIMARY:
- Clinical focus psychiatric mental health
CERTIFICATION:
- PMHNP-BC, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner-board certified
Mentorship
- Mentorship of clinical faculty and DNP students.
- Program development for study away (NURS499 courses) and NURS802M
Research
Research Interests and Areas of Expertise
- Wellness and resilience
- Evidence-Based Practice and Quality Improvement Projects
- MINDSTRONG program evaluation of delivery method
Presentations and Conference Involvement
PODIUM PRESENTATIONS:
- Fostering Wellness in Nursing: Insights from Mental Health Bulletin Boards
- PSU WINNS (Penn State University Wellness Initiatives for Nese Nursing Students)
POSTER(S):
- MINDSTRONG Program Delivery Method: A Program Evaluation
Publications and Scholarly Work
- Criscitello, A., Wolgast, K., & Lightner, C. (2025). MINDSTRONG program delivery type for undergraduate nursing students: a program evaluation. Building Healthy Academic Communities Journal, 9(1), 48–54. https://doi.org/10.18061/bhac.v9i1
- Lightner, C. M., Criscitello, A., Edgar, W., Almasloukh, K., Yahaya, A.-R., & Wolgast, K. (2025). Promoting Nursing Students’ Healthy Behaviors Through Cognitive Skills-Building. Journal of Radiology Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jradnu.2024.11.010
Service
Professional Organization Involvement and Fellowships
MEMBERSHIPS
- NLN
- APNA
- ANCC
- Sigma Theta Tau
- PA Coalition of Nurse Practitioners (PCNP)
- CGNE
- NHCGNE
FELLOWSHIPS
- Ohio State University College of Nursing Innovation and Entrepreneur Fellowship
LEADERSHIP
- Beta Sigma governance board, PCNP nominations committee
Clinically-oriented Conference Presentations and Clinical Publications
- Criscitello, A., Wolgast, K., & Lightner, C. (2025). MINDSTRONG program delivery type for undergraduate nursing students: a program evaluation. Building Healthy Academic Communities Journal, 9(1), 48–54. https://doi.org/10.18061/bhac.v9i1
- Lightner, C. M., Criscitello, A., Edgar, W., Almasloukh, K., Yahaya, A.-R., & Wolgast, K. (2025). Promoting Nursing Students’ Healthy Behaviors Through Cognitive Skills-Building. Journal of Radiology Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jradnu.2024.11.010
PODIUM PRESENTATIONS
- Fostering Wellness in Nursing: Insights From Mental Health Bulletin Boards, Sigma International Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE) Conference
- Penn State University Wellness Initiatives for Nese Nursing Students (PSU WINNS), PA Coalition of Nurse Practitioners
Interprofessional Collaboration, Community Engagement, and Global Health
- Global Brigades: https://www.globalbrigades.org/
