Antwonette Hilliard
Brentwood
Summary
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with over 20 years of acute and outpatient psychiatric nursing experience including forensic/maximum security mental health, veterans' psychiatric health, and acute and community-based mental health.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Adult Acute Inpatient Psychiatric Clinical
CENTERPOINTE HOSPITAL
Saint Charles, MO
11.2025 - Current
- Acute inpatient psychiatry and detox services, including management of high-acuity psychiatric presentations, substance use disorders, and crisis stabilization.
- Provided direct nursing care in a high-acuity inpatient psychiatric setting, managing patients experiencing acute psychiatric crises and substance withdrawal/detoxification.
- Conducted ongoing mental status, withdrawal, and safety assessments, identifying early signs of decompensation, intoxication, or medical instability.
- Managed detox patients using evidence-based withdrawal protocols, monitoring for complications, and communicating clinical changes promptly to providers.
- Delivered care in a restraint-free environment, utilizing Handle With Care training and structured de-escalation techniques to manage agitation and behavioral crises.
- Applied therapeutic communication, trauma-informed care, and use-of-self strategies to support patient engagement and maintain unit safety.
- Collaborated closely with psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, social workers, and interdisciplinary team members to support treatment planning and continuity of care.
- Administered and monitored psychotropic and detox-related medications, observing for therapeutic response, side effects, and adverse reactions.
- Maintained accurate, timely documentation in accordance with regulatory, safety, and institutional standards.
Outpatient Pediatric, Adolescent, and Adult Neuropsychiatry NP Clinical
ARC OF OZARKS
Springfield, MO
05.2025 - 08.2025
- Pediatric and adult neuropsychiatric care, supporting assessment and treatment planning for children, adolescents, and adults with developmental, behavioral, and neuropsychiatric conditions within an interdisciplinary care model.
Outpatient Adult Psychiatric NP Clinical
COMPASSIONATE HEALTHCARE
St. Louis, MO
02.2025 - 05.2025
- Outpatient psychiatric care with emphasis on diagnostic evaluation, medication management, risk assessment, and continuity of care.
Licensed Clinical Supervisor / Educator
AKINS MENTAL HEALTH CARE EAST
Saint Louis, MO
05.2020 - 08.2022
- Contracted as licensed clinical educator for a 40-bed long-term residential psychiatric rehabilitation facility, providing initial and ongoing education, certification, and competency validation for paraprofessional and clinical staff.
- Designed and delivered annual, biannual, and monthly in-service training aligned with state regulations, organizational needs, and clinical quality findings, resulting in improved compliance and staff readiness.
- Developed and implemented evidence-based training curricula and care standards, including safe medication management and behavioral intervention practices, contributing to a 32% reduction in emergency interventions.
- Partnered with program leadership to evaluate staff performance, reinforce standards of practice, and support a successful state audit (2021) with sustained improvements in stakeholder confidence and satisfaction.
Acute Psychiatric Registered Nurse (contract)
CHESTER MAXIMUM SECURITY MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY (Maxim Healthcare Staffing)
Chester, IL
01.2019 - 10.2019
- Provided direct psychiatric nursing care to patients in a maximum-security forensic setting, including individuals with severe mental illness, complex trauma histories, and significant safety risks.
- Performed comprehensive mental status, behavioral, and risk assessments, identifying early signs of psychiatric decompensation, aggression, or self-harm.
- Collaborated closely with psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, psychologists, social workers, correctional staff, and interdisciplinary team members to support treatment planning and continuity of care.
- Administered and monitored psychotropic medications, observing for therapeutic response, adverse effects, and medication nonadherence, and promptly communicating clinical changes to providers.
- Utilized trauma-informed care and therapeutic communication to engage patients, de-escalate agitation, and maintain safety within a high-threat environment.
- Responded to psychiatric emergencies, behavioral crises, and security events, applying sound clinical judgment and crisis intervention skills.
- Maintained accurate, timely documentation in accordance with forensic, regulatory, and institutional standards.
- Supported secure therapeutic milieu by balancing patient rights, clinical care needs, and safety protocols inherent to forensic psychiatric treatment.
Director, Clinical Network
EVERSANA LIFE SCIENCES
Chesterfield, MO
10.2018 - 10.2019
- Held the highest level of nursing authority within a national clinical network, directing practice standards for 1,500 independent RN contractors and 800+ agencies, supporting 4,000+ weekly (208,000 annual) specialty infusions for a rare disorder through an exclusive manufacturer partnership.
- Served as Acting SVP of Clinical Navigation, providing strategic leadership for the nursing business unit and managing a $25M clinical budget; redesigned clinical procurement and service-level protocols using fair-market analysis and workforce modeling, resulting in a $1M reduction in clinical spend and a projected $4.2M revenue increase over five years.
- Led national clinical workforce expansion and quality improvement, growing the network from 800 to 1,500 high-quality nurses in seven months through the elimination of non-compliant contractors and targeted recruitment of highly skilled clinicians.
- Developed and implemented a national evidence-based nurse education and training program for contractors and agencies, improving clinical care delivery, regulatory compliance, and quality performance metrics.
- Directed and trained audit teams to assess quality, credentialing, and regulatory compliance (ACHC, Joint Commission, VAWD), increasing compliance by 88% within four months and achieving a successful regulatory audit (2019).
- Collaborated with executive leadership at BD (Becton Dickinson) and Eli Lilly and Company, presenting nursing and clinical service solutions that contributed to the successful acquisition of an $18M contractual clinical partnership.
- Partnered in the design, testing, and national rollout of a proprietary electronic clinical documentation platform, standardizing documentation and quality oversight across all contracted agencies and clinicians.
Nurse Manager, Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, VA MEDICAL CENTER
Seattle, WA
10.2017 - 10.2018
- Directed 24/7 operations for a 60-bed Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MHRRTP), a 20-bed sexual violence treatment unit, and multiple outpatient mental health clinics across five Seattle regions, overseeing clinical operations, safety, security, and patient accountability.
- Led recruitment, hiring, scheduling, staff development, discipline, and recognition for a 100+ member unionized clinical workforce, collaborating with union leadership, HR, and community partners to reduce hiring lag time and improve workforce stability.
- Served on the VA Executive Leadership Team, contributing to VISN 20 regional initiatives, quality metrics, and workforce planning, including completion of a regional nursing salary survey to support equitable, competitive compensation.
- Led facility-wide nursing reorganization efforts, improving safety, accountability, cost containment, and staff engagement and retention. Coordinated Environment of Care rounds with VA Police, Environmental Management, Safe Patient Handling, and Credentialing teams to ensure Joint Commission compliance and regulatory readiness across inpatient, residential, and community mental health sites.
- Facilitated monthly interdisciplinary staff meetings to disseminate policy updates, clinical standards, and research findings, contributing to improved scores on the 2018 All-Employee Survey compared to 2017.
Inpatient Acute Mental Health RN Supervisor
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, VA MEDICAL CENTER
Saint Louis, MO
01.2011 - 10.2017
- Provided clinical leadership on a 48-bed high-acuity inpatient psychiatric unit, supporting safe, evidence-based care for patients with severe and complex mental illness.
- Conducted comprehensive psychiatric and safety assessments, identifying early signs of decompensation and intervening to prevent escalation.
- Collaborated closely with psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, psychologists, social workers, and interdisciplinary team members to support diagnostic clarity, treatment planning, and continuity of care.
- Applied advanced clinical judgment to risk assessment, crisis intervention, and behavioral management, contributing to consistently low emergency department transfers.
- Guided and mentored nursing staff in therapeutic communication, trauma-informed care, and behavioral observation, reinforcing best practices in inpatient psychiatry.
- Oversaw admission and discharge workflows, ensuring attention to safety screening, medication reconciliation support, benefit verification, and discharge planning coordination.
- Supported a therapeutic milieu through non-coercive de-escalation strategies, achieving 100% successful resolution of high-risk behavioral events with zero restraint use, zero staff injuries, and zero incident reports over two years.
- Coordinated care across service lines, including Women’s Health and Emergency Departments, to ensure safe transitions and follow-up planning.
Education
Master of Science - Nursing
Walden University
Minneapolis, MN02-2026
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Chamberlain University
Saint Louis, MO.03-2011
Skills
- Interdisciplinary Treatment Team Collaboration
- Psychiatric Crisis assessment and de-escalation
- Mental Health Nursing Instructor/Educator
Affiliations
- Nurse Executive Leadership Team, Co-Chair – VA Medical Center, Seattle, WA (2017–2018)
- Nurse Professional Standards Board, Member – VA Medical Center, Seattle, WA (2017–2018)
- Environment of Care Leadership Committee, Member – VA Medical Center, Seattle, WA (2017–2018)
- Nurse Professional Standards Board, Member – VA Medical Center, St. Louis, MO (2015–2016)
- Saint Louis County Sexual Violence Task Force, Member – St. Louis, MO (2015–2016)
- Alumni Board, Co-Chair – Chamberlain College of Nursing, St. Louis, MO (2013–2016)
- Ronald McDonald House Charities, Volunteer – Chamberlain College of Nursing, St. Louis, MO (2016)
Certification
- Registered Nurse (IL, MO)
- Basic Life Support (BLS) & Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Instructor
- Nonviolent Crisis Prevention & Intervention (CPI)
- Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) | St. Louis County YWCA
- Forensic Nurse Examiner & Expert Witness | Illinois Attorney General
Timeline
Adult Acute Inpatient Psychiatric Clinical
CENTERPOINTE HOSPITAL
11.2025 - Current
Outpatient Pediatric, Adolescent, and Adult Neuropsychiatry NP Clinical
ARC OF OZARKS
05.2025 - 08.2025
Outpatient Adult Psychiatric NP Clinical
COMPASSIONATE HEALTHCARE
02.2025 - 05.2025
Licensed Clinical Supervisor / Educator
AKINS MENTAL HEALTH CARE EAST
05.2020 - 08.2022
Acute Psychiatric Registered Nurse (contract)
CHESTER MAXIMUM SECURITY MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY (Maxim Healthcare Staffing)
01.2019 - 10.2019
Director, Clinical Network
EVERSANA LIFE SCIENCES
10.2018 - 10.2019
Nurse Manager, Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, VA MEDICAL CENTER
10.2017 - 10.2018
Inpatient Acute Mental Health RN Supervisor
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, VA MEDICAL CENTER
01.2011 - 10.2017
Master of Science - Nursing
Walden University
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Chamberlain University
Additional Clinical Experience
- House Supervisor, Shriner's Hospital for Children (12/21 - 10/23)
Honors and Awards
Society for Collegiate Leadership & Achievement – Member (Fall 2025), National Society of Leadership and Success – Member (2022), Sigma Theta Tau International, Nursing Honor Society – Member (2009), Dean’s List – Graduate Nursing Program (Fall 2009), Honor Roll – Undergraduate Nursing Program (Summer 2009), Honor Roll – Undergraduate Nursing Program (Fall 2008), Merit-Based Scholarship, Department of Veterans Affairs (2008–2011)