Skip to Main Content

2026 APNA Secretary’s Report

Dear Colleagues,

Constance Noll
APNA Secretary

As Secretary for the APNA Board of Directors, I am pleased to share this annual update on our membership growth, professional resources, and accredited education. Thank you for being part of a community where psychiatric-mental health nurses learn from and support one another. 

APNA surpassed 16,000 active members as of September 30, 2026! This is an increase of 7% from the same date last year. Our renewal rate is 86.6%, and estimated average member tenure is 7.5 years. 

Throughout the year, APNA released and updated resources that drew on member expertise and addressed issues affecting psychiatric-mental health nursing. Highlights included: 

 Work in progress includes creating or updating resources and publications speaking to workplace safety, integrated care, care of detained persons, ketamine infusion therapy, staffing inpatient units, seclusion and restraint, telemental health, assessment and management of suicide, artificial intelligence, and workforce.  

 The APNA eLearning Center continues to offer tailored, accredited education for both PMH-RNs and PMH-APRNs. The site currently hosts 458 sessions totaling 400 contact hours – and close to 100 of those contact hours were available for free to members at some point this year. Key courses that inform your practice were also updated this year, including the interactive one-hour face-to-face assessment course and the revised Motivational Interviewing: Practical Strategies for Nurses course, which is free to members. 

 APNA’s national conferences, chapters, councils, and online communities are where members connect with colleagues, share expertise, and contribute to the profession. APNA members hold more than 2,000 volunteer positions across councils, committees, and task forces. Members find local connection through the 36 active chapters covering 41 states. APNA introduced an updated Member Bridge platform in April 2026, which hosts activity now totaling 198,243 posts and 24,953 library entries, as well as 90 active mentor matches with the APNA mentor matching tool. More people are discovering APNA’s resources online, with website visits and new users each increasing 37% during the most recent reporting period. An improved website search tool also makes it easier to find relevant information within the site and a revised APNA monthly digital newsletter better features member perspectives, professional resources, and regular policy updates.  

As APNA Secretary, I maintain the records and minutes of official APNA Board of Directors meetings. Over the past year, the Board met on the following dates: October 14, 2025; November 11, 2025; December 9, 2025; January 13, 2026; February 11-13, 2026; March 10, 2026; April 14, 2026; May 12, 2026; June 3-4, 2026; July 14, 2026; August 11, 2026; and September 8, 2026.  

Thank you for sharing your experience, ideas, and expertise through APNA. Your participation is what makes this association a place for connection, learning, and professional collaboration. 

Respectfully submitted,

Constance Noll
Secretary

Your dynamic community of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses.

Connect with fellow psychiatric-mental health nurses, be the first to know about evidence-based resources and programs, and participate in exclusive opportunities to advance the care and treatment of those with mental health & substance use needs.

JOIN TODAY MEMBER COMMUNITY

Footer Cta