Mary Malaguti, MSN, RN

Psychiatric Nurse — Doctor of Nursing Practice & Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Student

For Mary Malaguti, MSN, RN, mental health care has never simply been a career path. It is work she has felt called to throughout her nursing career.

Mary began working in psychiatric nursing in 2015 and has spent more than a decade caring for people during some of the most vulnerable and deeply human moments of their lives. Those experiences have shaped not only the nurse she is today, but also the provider she is becoming. Mary believes meaningful mental health care begins with listening and taking the time to understand the person behind the symptoms, the experiences that have shaped them, and what healing and a meaningful life look like to them.

Mary is currently completing her Doctor of Nursing Practice and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner training at Augusta University, with an anticipated graduation in May 2027. Her professional background also includes healthcare leadership and clinical review, giving her a broader understanding of patient care and the complexities individuals and families often encounter while navigating the healthcare system.

As she prepares to transition into advanced psychiatric practice, Mary hopes to help bridge the space between psychiatric treatment and the therapeutic relationships that are central to lasting mental health and well-being. She believes medication can be an important part of treatment, but that a prescription alone is rarely the whole answer. Her philosophy is grounded in thoughtful assessment, evidence-based care, education, collaboration, and genuine human connection.

Mary believes some of the most meaningful moments in mental health care happen when a person realizes they are being truly heard—not reduced to a diagnosis, a difficult chapter, or a list of symptoms. Her goal is to create a space where people feel safe enough to be honest, respected enough to have a voice in their care, and supported as they work toward lives that feel healthier, more hopeful, and more their own.

For Mary, becoming a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner is not a departure from the work she has been doing for more than a decade. It is the next chapter of it—an opportunity to care for people more fully while never losing the human connection that first drew her to psychiatric nursing.