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APNA Councils

Engage with thought leaders who share your interests in an aspect of psychiatric-mental health nursing.

A Council is a group of APNA members organized to enhance APNA’s mission and purpose through direct input to the Board of Directors on a psychiatric-mental health nursing area of focus defined by the board. Councils study and review issues pertinent to the council’s area of interest and expertise and make recommendations to the Board for the following:

Council Structure
A Chair and Associate Chair report to the Board of Directors. A Steering Committee provides essential support and an Advisory Panel shares discussion, information, and feedback regarding the council’s area of focus. Council Chairs are appointed by the Board of Directors; Steering Committee members are appointed by the President; and any interested APNA member can join the Advisory Panel.

Scroll down for a listing of APNA Councils and their leadership. To gain a better understanding of how councils operate in general, please see the APNA Council Toolkit. If you have any questions, please reach out to councilsupport@apna.org.

APNA Councils

Connect with other APNA members on specialty topics by joining an APNA Council! Below is more information on each APNA council, including its chairs and Member Bridge community.

Addictions Council

The transformative/expert resource in advancing excellence in the prevention and treatment of substance use and addictive disorders. Learn More

Administrative Council

Fosters a vibrant community that facilitates collaboration and communication among psychiatric nurse administrators, serves as a clinical resource in achieving shared goals, and assists in the use of evidence-based practices and innovative systems for exceptional patient care. Learn More
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John Brewer
John Brewer
DNP, PMHNP Administrative Council Chair

Child & Adolescent Council

Works collaboratively to respond to questions or concerns about best practice, current policy, and procedures for providing care to children, adolescents, and their families. Learn More
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Jamie Zelazny
Jamie Zelazny
PhD, MPH, RN Child & Adolescent Council Chair
Jessica Gordon
Jessica Gordon
PhD, APRN, CPNP-PC, PMHNP-BC Child & Adolescent Council Associate Chair

Council for Mental Health Advocacy

The conduit for monitoring legislative, regulatory and policy matters affecting mental health. Learn More
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Council for Safe Environments

Provides an integrated structure designed to thoughtfully address issues that impact the safety of persons served as well as service providers. Learn More
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Education Council

The central community for psychiatric-mental health nurse educators, meeting identified needs of APNA members who work in education and sharing innovative approaches to teaching at the prelicensure and graduate levels. Learn More
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Melissa Neathery
Melissa Neathery
PhD, RN, CNE Education Council Associate Chair

Practice Council

Provides a forum for the expression of the voices of RNs and APRNs regarding issues related to psychiatric-mental health nursing practice and provide input as needed to other councils with regards to administration, education, and research. Learn More
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Recovery Council

The mission of the APNA Recovery Council is to empower psychiatric-mental health nurses to learn and utilize recovery practice techniques in their care. Learn More
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Susan Brammer
Susan Brammer
PhD, RN Recovery Council Chair

Research & Scholarship Council

The APNA Research & Scholarship Council supports collaboration, development, and dissemination of psychiatric-mental health nursing scholarship, or rigorous scholarly inquiry – including the scholarship of discovery, teaching, practice, and integration as defined by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN, 1999).  Learn More
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Kathryn E. Phillips
Kathryn E. Phillips
PhD, RN Research and Scholarship Council Associate Chair