MSN-Ed., ASN, BSHA, RN , Doctoral (Current)
Rhonda M. Baxter, MSN-Ed., ASN, BSHA, RN, is in her third year of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program at Maryville University. Her focus centers on mental health and substance abuse prevention and recovery education. Dedicated to advancing equitable mental health care, she emphasizes culturally sensitive, accessible, and evidence-based approaches that address the needs of varied population groups and underserved populations. As a Registered Nurse with specialized expertise in psychiatric, addictions, and educational nursing, Baxter provides individualized care coordination for Veterans with substance misuse and psychiatric disorders at the Washington, D.C. Veterans Affairs Medical Center's Substance Abuse Recovery Program.
Her compassionate, data-informed practice promotes long-term recovery and relapse prevention while improving overall quality of life for Veterans navigating complex behavioral health needs. Baxter recently led a year-long, evidence-based quality improvement initiative that implemented Ethyl Glucuronide (EtG) urine testing for abstinence monitoring and integrated Measurement-Based Care (MBC) within addiction medicine for Veterans with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). The project produced system-wide improvements, including reduced alcohol use, fewer detox admissions, and a 13% increase in AUD medication prescriptions at discharge. An active member of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, the American Nurses Association, the Maryland State Nurses Association, the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, and the Nurse Practitioner Association of Maryland, she continues to advance best practices in addiction treatment and mental health care.