Shayna Wagler, MSN, PMHNP-BC

Founder | Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

My journey in healthcare began in 2013 when I earned my Associate of Science in Nursing and began my career as a registered nurse. In 2015, I completed my Bachelor of Science in Nursing and made a decision that would ultimately shape the rest of my career: I transitioned from working on a medical-surgical unit to an inpatient geriatric behavioral health unit.

It was there that I discovered my passion for mental health. Working closely with individuals experiencing complex psychiatric conditions gave me a deeper understanding of the challenges patients and their families face, as well as the profound impact compassionate, individualized mental healthcare can have on someone's life.

In 2018, I decided to further my education and pursue my Master of Science in Nursing to become a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. I graduated from the University of Southern Indiana in 2021 and began practicing in outpatient mental healthcare.

Throughout my career as a nurse practitioner, I have primarily served individuals in rural, underserved communities, where access to quality mental healthcare is often limited. My experience includes treating patients across the lifespan, from young children to older adults, with a wide range of psychiatric conditions. I have worked extensively with individuals experiencing severe and persistent mental illness, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other complex psychiatric conditions, as well as those requiring court-ordered treatment. I also have significant experience treating depression, anxiety, ADHD, PTSD, substance use disorders, and many other mental health concerns.

But over time, I began to recognize something that didn't sit right with me.

I saw how easily healthcare could become focused on the number of patients seen rather than the quality of care being provided. Appointments felt rushed, patients often needed more time than they were given, and I found myself increasingly frustrated by a system that didn't always allow me to provide the level of care I believed my patients deserved.

I knew there had to be a better way.

That belief is what led me to create Elira Health.

I founded Elira Health with a simple goal: to provide the kind of care I would want for myself and my own family. Care that isn't rushed, where patients feel heard, their concerns are taken seriously, and treatment decisions are made together.

I believe mental healthcare should be more than a brief appointment and a prescription. It should involve understanding the whole person — their experiences, relationships, environment, challenges, and goals. A diagnosis may help guide treatment, but it does not define who someone is.

At Elira Health, my goal is to create an environment where patients feel comfortable being honest, asking questions, and actively participating in their care. Whether someone is navigating a new diagnosis, managing a lifelong mental health condition, or simply trying to feel like themselves again, I want them to know they have a provider who is willing to listen and take the time to understand.

Because to me, quality mental healthcare isn't about how many patients I can see in a day. It's about making the time I spend with each patient truly count.