Ashley Magruder, RN

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Intern

I’m a nurse with a diverse clinical background and more than 10 years of experience providing compassionate, patient-centered care. My career includes work in neonatal intensive care (NICU), medical-surgical nursing, private duty nursing with international clients, and palliative care, experiences that have shaped my holistic and trauma-informed approach to supporting patients and families.

Through my work with NICU and perinatal families, I’ve developed a deep passion for mental health care. I’ve witnessed firsthand the emotional challenges parents often face while caring for medically complex infants, including anxiety, trauma, grief, and the intense stress that can accompany the postpartum and perinatal period. These experiences inspired me to pursue advanced training as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) with a special interest in perinatal mental health, postpartum support, and family-centered care.

I’m is passionate about helping individuals and families feel supported during life’s most vulnerable seasons.

My approach prioritizes creating a safe, compassionate, and non-judgmental space where clients feel heard and understood. I’m particularly interested in supporting new and expecting parents, individuals navigating trauma, and families adjusting to medical or developmental challenges.

In addition to my work with perinatal families, I have a strong interest in pediatric mental health and supporting children and families as they navigate emotional, behavioral, and developmental concerns.

My dedication to this work is also rooted in personal experience, navigating her own childhood trauma shaped my understanding of healing and deepened my commitment to helping others access support, resilience, and community.

I’m actively involved in several committees at Johns Hopkins Hospital focused on palliative care, staff wellness, education, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. I also volunteer with Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, a nonprofit that provides remembrance photography for families experiencing infant or pregnancy loss. Through this work, I honor and support families during some of their most difficult moments.

I feel deeply honored to support clients in their mental health journeys and is committed to providing care grounded in empathy, respect, and genuine connection.

Outside of my professional role, I’m a proud mother of three grade-school children and enjoys the busy, rewarding energy of family life. I share my home with a miniature dachshund and a miniature Australian shepherd, who are my constant sidekicks.

In my free time, I love music and attending concerts, and I enjoy creative outlets like resin crafts, embroidery, and coloring as ways to relax and recharge.