Hi, I’m
Melissa Stannard
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified (PMHNP-BC)
Lee's Summit,MO
How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these.
George Washington Carver
Summary
Experienced and compassionate Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) and board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) with over 15 years of diverse clinical experience across psychiatric and general healthcare settings. Provides trauma-informed, evidence-based psychiatric and Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) care to adults with complex psychiatric, substance use, and medical comorbidities, including specialty populations such as perinatal, court-mandated, and dual-diagnosis patients.
Current practice includes outpatient, residential, and crisis settings, with strong interdisciplinary collaboration and integrated care planning. Doctoral training emphasizes system-level quality improvement, leadership, health policy, and advocacy, with active involvement in domestic violence screening and intervention initiatives. Prior nursing experience in labor and delivery and as a certified Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE-A) informs a comprehensive understanding of trauma across the lifespan.
Brings a collaborative, patient-centered approach to psychiatric care, grounded in trauma-informed practice and a commitment to improving outcomes for complex and high-risk populations.
Education
Frontier Nursing UniversityVersailles, KY
Doctor of Nursing Practice from System-level Quality Improvement, Leadership, Heal
06-2026
University Overview
-Candidate
-Anticipated graduation June, 2026
Frontier Nursing UniversityVersailles, KY
Master of Science from Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
03.2024
University Overview
Awards and Honors
- Elected to Student Council for PMHNP Class 201: 2022-2024
- Elected to Student Council for CNEP class 201: 2021-2022
- Magna Cum Laude graduate
- 3.90 GPA
- Elizabeth Leppman Scholarship Recipient
- Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society Member
Georgia Southern University, Armstrong CampusSavannah, GA
Bachelor of Science from Nursing
05.2010
University Overview
- Graduated magna cum laude
- Elected President of Nursing Class
Overview
16
years of professional experience
10
Years of post-secondary education
Work History
ReDiscoverKansas City, MO
APRN - PMHNP - BC
08.2024 - Current
Job overview
- Provide comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, diagnosis, and medication management for adult women with primary substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions in outpatient and residential treatment settings.
- Manage Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), including buprenorphine-based therapies and adjunctive pharmacologic management, within a trauma-informed and recovery-oriented framework.
- Serve court-mandated and parole/probation-referred clients as part of the Alt Care Program, addressing complex psychiatric and substance use needs in collaboration with legal and social service partners.
- Collaborate closely with interdisciplinary treatment teams—including therapy, nursing, case management, and external medical providers—to ensure integrated, patient-centered care.
- Conduct domestic violence (DV) screening, safety planning, and trauma-informed interventions to address the intersection of interpersonal violence, trauma, and substance use.
- Recognize and triage medical comorbidities; coordinate referrals and care transitions with external medical providers.
- Actively participate in quality improvement initiatives, contributing to the development and implementation of enhanced screening protocols, care coordination pathways, and clinical workflow improvements.
- Provide education and support to clients regarding medication adherence, relapse prevention, and mental health management, fostering empowerment and engagement in recovery.
Dr. Wood's WellnessLee's Summit, MO
Registered Nurse, Functional Medicine Clinic (PRN)
01.2018 - 08.2024
Job overview
- Observed and assessed patients to identify mental and physical health symptoms with potential functional medical causes.
- Administered and managed bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for patients with hormonal imbalances, collaborating with physician for personalized treatment plans.
- Implemented functional medicine approaches, utilizing holistic and patient-centered strategies in care, with focus on root cause mental and physical health dysfunction.
- Educated patients on benefits, risks, and expectations of interventions, empowering them to make informed decisions about their health and well-being.
- Ensured compliance with regulatory standards and clinic protocols related to controlled substances.
- Collaborated with and assisted physician in office-based surgical procedures, administering controlled substance injections, arranging supplies, and maintaining sterility.
- Attended provider training seminar, educating functional medicine providers on hormone management techniques and participating in hands-on training for subcutaneous hormone administration.
St. Luke's East HospitalLees Summit, United States
RN-BSN, LDRP
09.2011 - 09.2021
Job overview
Clinical Responsibilities:
• Managed comprehensive care in high-volume OB unit with 250+ monthly deliveries. Core responsibilities included patient triage, admissions, and conducting physical and mental health assessments.
• Provided intrapartum fetal monitoring, maternal management, newborn care, and postpartum support.
• Provided care and support to grieving mothers experiencing infant loss, assisting them with all labor and delivery needs as well as psychosocial resources and support.
Patient Diversity and Complexity:
• Engaged in multidisciplinary collaboration as needed for holistic patient support.
• Implemented individualized care plans for diverse spectrum of maternity patients encompassing all childbearing years, various socioeconomic demographics, and cultural backgrounds.
• Engaged in multidisciplinary collaboration as needed for holistic patient support.
Achievements:
• Received multiple DAISY award nominations for exceptional patient care in high-volume L&D unit, handling approximately 4,000 deliveries yearly.
• Participated in unit-based focus and quality improvement groups, contributing to enhanced patient care protocols.
• Precepted student nurses and new graduates, offering education on evidence-based practice, standards of care, operational procedures, and safety protocols.
• Performed charge nurse duties on rotating basis, demonstrating leadership and optimizing team performance.
Emergency Response:
• Trained as Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE-A) for ER response, responsible for care, management, and evidence collection for male and female victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, and rape. Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams and advocacy organizations.
• Provided level-headed emergency response during obstetric emergencies, demonstrating skilled and timely interventions.
Collaboration with Healthcare Professionals:
• Collaborated closely with doctors and midwives in management and care of women and babies during pregnancy, childbirth, postnatally, and postpartum.
• Assisted physicians during deliveries, examinations, and surgical procedures, anticipating needs, encouraging patients, and attending to babies after birth.
Centerpoint Medical CenterIndependence, MO
RN-BSN Labor & Delivery
12.2010 - 12.2011
Job overview
Clinical Responsibilities:
• Managed comprehensive care in high-acuity OB unit with 150+ monthly deliveries. Led patient triage, admissions, and conducted physical and mental health assessments.
• Executed intrapartum maternal-fetal monitoring, newborn care, and postpartum support.
• Implemented individualized care plans for diverse spectrum of maternity patients encompassing all childbearing years, various socioeconomic demographics, and cultural backgrounds.
• Cultivated culturally sensitive approach in all aspects of patient care.
Patient Diversity and Complexity:
• Developed and implemented care plans for diverse maternity patients, including those with multiple comorbidities, high-risk conditions, and navigating high-conflict psychosocial dynamics.
• Emphasized mental health assessments as integral part of overall patient care.
Achievements:
• Received multiple DAISY award nominations for providing top-class total patient care in high-acuity L&D unit, handling approximately 2,000 deliveries yearly.
• Actively participated in unit-based focus and quality improvement groups, contributing to enhanced patient care protocols with focus on mental health components.
Emergency Response:
• Effectively managed comorbidities and high-risk populations while navigating high-conflict psychosocial dynamics.
• Demonstrated prompt and level-headed emergency response.
Collaboration with Healthcare Professionals
• Collaborated seamlessly with multidisciplinary team, including mental health professionals, to ensure comprehensive patient care.
• Assisted physicians during deliveries, treatments, examinations, and surgical procedures, showcasing adaptability and ability to integrate mental health considerations into medical interventions.
Skills
Diagnosis and treatment
Patient education
Medication management
Clinical decision-making
Clinical documentation
Diagnostic reasoning
Interprofessional collaboration
Psychiatric care
Health promotion
Mental health assessments
Effective communication skills
Holistic wellness approaches
Health promotion
Mental health assessments
Effective communication skills
Holistic wellness approaches
Affiliations
- Association of Missouri Nurse Practitioners
- American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
- The 4 State APN Network
- Neuroscience Education Institute
- American Psychiatric Nurses Association
- Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
- FNU Student Council
Professional Licensure
- APRN Licensure KS - Applied and pending
- -Anticipated May 2024
- APRN Licensure MO - Applied and pending
- -Anticipated May 2024
- ANCC PMHNP Board Certification
- May 6, 2024
- RN License MO - License #2010036880
- -Active Unencumbered
- RN License KS - License #14-113450-061
- -Active Unencumbered
Certifications and Training
- ANCC - PMHNP Board Certified
- ASAM
- BLS
- ACLS
- SANE-A (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner-Adult)
- NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program)
- AWHONN Fetal Monitoring
- Gnosis Fetal Monitoring
- ALSO (Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics)
- STABLE (post-resuscitation/pre-transport stabilization care of sick infants)
Clinical Practicum Experience
Graduate Clinical Practicum - Mental Health
ReDiscover Kansas City Assessment and Triage Center, Kansas City, MO
- - Rapid access triage, and stabilization, for adults experiencing a behavioral health crisis
ReDiscover Mental Health Bannister Office, Kansas City, MO
- - Adult outpatient medication management
Burrell Behavioral Health ACT-TAY Program, Independence, MO
- - Assertive Community Treatment for Transitional Aged Youth (ACT-TAY)
Burrell Behavioral Health, Branson, MO
- - Branson Meadows Clinic; Medication-assisted treatment ACT Program
- - Branson West Clinic; Recovery services and outpatient medication management
Burrell Behavioral Health, Springfield, MO
- - Behavioral Health Urgent Care
Undergraduate Clinical Practicum - Mental Health
Coastal Harbor Behavioral Health, Savannah, GA
- -Adult Long-term residential
- -Pediatric Long-term residential
- -Pediatric Acute Care
Memorial Health Behavioral Health Clinic, Savannah, GA
- -Adult Residential Acute Care
Georgia Regional Hospital - State Psychiatric Facility, Savannah, GA
- -Residential Forensic Psychiatry Unit
Matthew Reardon Center for Autism - Savannah, GA
- -Innovative year-round, evidence-based educational environment for autistic children, teens, and young adults.
Volunteer & Practical Experience
- Marriage and Life Enrichment Boot Camp Seminar
- Small Group Leader and Drill Coach
- Volunteered with the Marriage and Life Enrichment Boot Camp seminar for over six years, contributing to more than five seminars in various roles. Engaged participants by leading small groups, demonstrating skills, monitoring skill practices, and serving as an intermediary for couples during drills.
- Guided couples and individuals through 120+ drills during the four-day intensive program, incorporating therapeutic modalities rooted in CBT, couples therapy, psychodrama, group therapy, and Family Systems Therapy (FST).
- Delivered skill-building sessions covering communication, conflict resolution, boundaries, psychoeducation, trust-building, and intimacy enhancement.
- Assisted participants in navigating trauma, emotional damage, and relationship issues, fostering positive changes in dysfunctional patterns impacting their lives.
- Harvester's Community Food Network
- Warehouse Volunteer
- Volunteered with Harvester's Community Food Network, actively participating in sorting food for distribution to area food pantries and community outreach organizations.
- Practical and Observational Experience:
- Hands-on involvement in the treatment of diverse mental health conditions, including adolescent and adult substance use disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD, strokes, veteran mental health, anxiety, adolescent mental health, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, sexual trauma, grief, perinatal mood disorders, and interventional psychiatry.
- Gained insights through interactions with individuals facing mental health challenges, contributing to a nuanced understanding of various conditions and their management.
Professional Licensure
- APRN Licensure KS - 53-83395-061
- APRN Licensure MO - 2024024280
- ANCC PMHNP Board Certification
- RN License MO - 2010036880
- RN License KS - 14-113450-061
- NPI - 1801630900
- CAHQ - 16244832
- Kansas DEA - eligible/pending
- Missouri DEA - eligible/pending
Certifications and Training
- ANCC - PMHNP Board Certified
- BLS
- ACLS
- SANE-A (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner-Adult)
- NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program)
- AWHONN Fetal Monitoring
- Gnosis Fetal Monitoring
- ALSO (Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics)
- STABLE (post-resuscitation/pre-transport stabilization care of sick infants)
Clinical Practicum Experience
Graduate Clinical Practicum - Mental Health
ReDiscover Kansas City Assessment and Triage Center, Kansas City, MO
- - Rapid access triage, and stabilization, for adults experiencing a behavioral health crisis
ReDiscover Mental Health Bannister Office, Kansas City, MO
- - Adult outpatient medication management
Burrell Behavioral Health ACT-TAY Program, Independence, MO
- - Assertive Community Treatment for Transitional Aged Youth (ACT-TAY)
Burrell Behavioral Health, Branson, MO
- - Branson Meadows Clinic; Medication-assisted treatment ACT Program
- - Branson West Clinic; Recovery services and outpatient medication management
Burrell Behavioral Health, Springfield, MO
- - Behavioral Health Urgent Care
Undergraduate Clinical Practicum - Mental Health
Coastal Harbor Behavioral Health, Savannah, GA
- -Adult Long-term residential
- -Pediatric Long-term residential
- -Pediatric Acute Care
Memorial Health Behavioral Health Clinic, Savannah, GA
- -Adult Residential Acute Care
Georgia Regional Hospital - State Psychiatric Facility, Savannah, GA
- -Residential Forensic Psychiatry Unit
Matthew Reardon Center for Autism - Savannah, GA
- -Innovative year-round, evidence-based educational environment for autistic children, teens, and young adults.
Volunteer & Practical Experience
- Marriage and Life Enrichment Boot Camp Seminar
- Small Group Leader and Drill Coach
- Volunteered with the Marriage and Life Enrichment Boot Camp seminar for over six years, contributing to more than five seminars in various roles. Engaged participants by leading small groups, demonstrating skills, monitoring skill practices, and serving as an intermediary for couples during drills.
- Guided couples and individuals through 120+ drills during the four-day intensive program, incorporating therapeutic modalities rooted in CBT, couples therapy, psychodrama, group therapy, and Family Systems Therapy (FST).
- Delivered skill-building sessions covering communication, conflict resolution, boundaries, psychoeducation, trust-building, and intimacy enhancement.
- Assisted participants in navigating trauma, emotional damage, and relationship issues, fostering positive changes in dysfunctional patterns impacting their lives.
- Harvester's Community Food Network
- Warehouse Volunteer
- Volunteered with Harvester's Community Food Network, actively participating in sorting food for distribution to area food pantries and community outreach organizations.
- Practical and Observational Experience:
- Hands-on involvement in the treatment of diverse mental health conditions, including adolescent and adult substance use disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD, strokes, veteran mental health, anxiety, adolescent mental health, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, sexual trauma, grief, perinatal mood disorders, and interventional psychiatry.
- Gained insights through interactions with individuals facing mental health challenges, contributing to a nuanced understanding of various conditions and their management.
Professional Licensure
- APRN Licensure KS - 53-83395-061
- APRN Licensure MO - 2024024280
- ANCC PMHNP Board Certification
- RN License MO - 2010036880
- RN License KS - 14-113450-061
- NPI - 1801630900
- CAHQ - 16244832
- Kansas DEA - eligible/pending
- Missouri DEA - eligible/pending
Certifications and Training
- ANCC - PMHNP Board Certified
- ASAM
- BLS
- ACLS
- SANE-A (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner-Adult)
- NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program)
- AWHONN Fetal Monitoring
- Gnosis Fetal Monitoring
- ALSO (Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics)
- STABLE (post-resuscitation/pre-transport stabilization care of sick infants)