Product Theater Breakfast | No Contact Hours Provided
7:15am- 8:45am Central
Sponsored by Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
Mini Concurrent Sessions | 0.75 Contact Hours
9:00AM – 9:45AM Central
7:00AM PT | 10:00AM ET
4011: Advanced Practice
9:00am – 9:45am Central
Review of the ASAM/AAAP Guidelines for Treating Stimulant Use Disorder: Considerations for PMHNPs in Private Practice – APRN
This presentation will introduce the newest ASAM/AAAP guidelines for treating stimulant use disorder. The relevance of these guidelines to PMHNP private practice will be discussed and potential ways that PMHNPs can use innovative and collaborative approaches to providing care will be explored.
Presenter: Amanda Culp-Roche, PhD, PMHNP-BC, FNP-C
Augmenting Genomic Competencies for Precision Psychiatric Care: What do Psychiatric APRNs Need – APRN
This presentation explores the genomic competencies needed for precision psychiatric care, focusing on the unique challenges psychiatric APRNs face. It highlights critical training gaps and discusses targeted educational strategies to enhance genomic integration in psychiatric practice.
Presenter: Rose Mary Xavier, PhD, APRN, PMHNP-BC, FAAN, FAANP
This session is available to virtual attendees.
4012: Virtual Reality
9:00am – 9:45am Central
Multi-Disciplinary Virtual Reality De-Escalation Simulation Achieves Learning Gains for Healthcare Staff – RN APRN
Virtual reality is the future of psychiatric nursing education! Virtual reality is an immersive, realistic educational strategy used to safely practice de-escalation skills and psychiatric emergency notification responses in a controlled environment. Learn how to create and implement a virtual reality simulation, including learning outcomes, scenario, and evaluation metrics.
Presenter: Jennifer E. Moyer, MSN, RN, SANE
Virtual Escapes: Revitalizing Nurses One Break at a Time – RN APRN
This presentation explores Virtual Reality (VR) as a tool to enhance nurse well-being. A study in psychiatric units found VR breaks improved work performance. Participants felt refreshed and better prepared for work. These findings highlight VR’s potential as a scalable, innovative solution to enhance workplace well-being and support nursing staff.
Presenters: Wendy R. Moore, MSN, RN, NE-BC; Philip P. Hofrenning, BSN, RN; Derek G. Myers, BSN, RN
4013: Child & Adolescent
9:00am – 9:45am Central
Lost in Transition: Addressing Psychiatric Care Gaps for Former Foster Youth – RN APRN
This presentation explores the mental health care experiences of former youth-in-care transitioning to adulthood. Specifically, we use a journey map to illustrate youth interactions with the mental health system across the care continuum, highlighting existing strengths, barriers, resources, and opportunities for improved mental health care.
Presenter: Brianna Jackson, PhD, MScN, RN, CPMHN(C)
Use of a Measurement-Based Care Protocol in Adolescent Mental Health Therapy: A Quality Improvement Project to Improve Outcomes – RN APRN
This presentation describes the development, implementation, and evaluation of a measurement-based care (MBC) protocol at an outpatient counseling center to improve treatment engagement and mental health outcomes for adolescents. The benefits of using MBC to monitor and guide psychiatric treatment, and strategies to sustain the process, will be provided.
Presenter: Dana M. Anderson, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC
4014: Undergraduate Education
9:00am – 9:45am Central
The Bipolar Carousel: Using a Three-Dimensional Model to Advance Mental Health Education – RN APRN
This interactive, engaging, and innovative session presents participants with the opportunity to have hands-on experiences with 3D models demonstrating the emotional lability experienced by individuals with bipolar depression. Participants will leave with an understanding of how to use these and similar models in nursing education or clinical practice.
Presenters: Lauren Niles, PhD, RN; Veronica Sullivan, DNP, CRNP, PMHNP-BC
The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Psychological Distress, and Help Seeking Intentions on Nursing Students Seeking Mental Health Services – RN APRN
This presentation examined ACEs, psychological distress, and help-seeking intentions among nursing students. Attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control influenced intentions, with ACEs moderating subjective norms’ effect. Key barriers—time constraints, financial concerns, fear of disclosure, and stigma—highlight the need for targeted interventions to improve mental health service use.
Presenter: Zainab Almogheer, PhD, MSN, BSN
4015: Violence Prevention
9:00am – 9:45am Central
A Hard-Hitting Solution to Workplace Violence and Injury – RN
This presentation introduces a systematic approach to eradicate workplace violence and nurse injury on an inpatient Psychiatric Child and Adolescent Unit. The participant will leave with strategies that mental health nurses can implement in most settings to safeguard safety outcomes and have a sense of psychological safety and wellbeing.
Presenter: Cynthia Estes, MHA, DNP, RN, PMH-BC, NEA-BC
Breaking the Silence after Workplace Violence: Balancing Justice vs. Compassion – RN APRN
The presentation will highlight the complex process involved in pressing charges after patient assault and provide the opportunity to discuss and debate common problems associated with pressing charges from the perspective of both workers seeking justice and offering compassion to patients.
Presenters: Joanne DeSanto Iennaco, PhD, APRN, PMHNP-BC, PMHCNS-BC, FAAN, FFNMRCSI; Kristen Kichefski, DNP, MBA, RN, PMH-BC, NEA-BC; Jennifer McIntosh, PhD, APRN, PMHNP-BC, CNE, NEA-BC; Elyse Nguyen, CAN
4016: Trauma
9:00am – 9:45am Central
Supporting Nurses to be Resilient and Navigate Secondary Traumatic Stress in an Inpatient Psychiatric Setting – RN APRN
STS is a known health risk for nurses in PMH nursing. The creation of “Universal Precautions”, or systemic safeguards aimed at the promotion of resilience and support, is imperative. Interventions such as focus groups, peer-led clinical supervision, tip sheets, and toolkits have been found to support nurses to understand and navigate STS.
Presenters: Stacy Horowitz, MSN, RN, PMH-BC, CARN
Mental Health Support for Community Health Nursing Teams Experiencing Secondary or Vicarious Trauma – RN APRN
This presentation explores how community health nursing teams experience secondary trauma from prolonged exposure to clients’ traumatic experiences. Research and case studies highlight emotional distress affecting nurse well-being and retention, emphasizing the need for embedded mental health support within the team, including counseling, peer support, and interventions.
Presenters: Karmie M. Johnson, DNP, RN, PMHNP-BC, CNE; Candace Knight, PhD, RN, FAAN; Claire Harris, LICSW-S
This session is available to virtual attendees.
4017: Measurements / Outcomes
9:00am – 9:45am Central
Implementing a Standardized Clozapine-Induced Constipation: Nursing Protocol in Inpatient Psychiatric Settings – RN APRN
Clozapine-induced constipation is a leading cause of life-threatening bowel obstruction in psychiatric inpatients. This session presents a nine-month evaluation of a nursing-led constipation management protocol. Key strategies include structured assessments, prophylactic bowel regimens, and patient education initiatives, to reduce complications and improve Clozapine patient outcomes through prevention-focused care.
Presenters: Scott Levine, RN; Anthony Patterson, RN-BSN
Optimizing Ratings for Understanding Psychiatric Unit In-Hospital Acuity through Learning and Evaluation (ORUPOLE) Tool: Enhancing Standardized Acuity Measurement in Inpatient Psychiatric Units – RN APRN
The Inpatient Psychiatric Unit (IPU) faces challenges in standardized acuity assessment. To address this, we developed the ORUPOLE tool, integrating CMS guidelines and clinical data. In collaboration with our Neuroscience Clinical Research team, we refined acuity assessment. ORUPOLE is expected to revolutionize psychiatric acuity measurement and adapt to various inpatient settings.
Presenters: Mable Koshy, BSN ,PMH-BC; Christopher Gossett, MSN, APN-BC; Amy Weaver, MHA, BSN, RN, CEN, PMH-BC, NEA-BC
Concurrent Sessions | 0.75 Contact Hours
10:00AM – 10:45AM Central
8:00AM PT | 11:00AM ET
4021: Inpatient
10:00am – 10:45am Central
Code Echo: Proven Elopement Reduction – RN
Elopement prevention planning is critical for all inpatient psychiatric hospitals. Preventing elopements of patients on legal holds and conservatorship is crucial. This presentation will introduce you to a new response to elopements that has resulted in a substantial reduction in elopements that has been sustained for several years.
Presenter: Steven Molina, BSN
4022: Practice
10:00am – 10:45am Central
Stage Front: Empowering Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Transitioning From Shelters to Community Setting – RN APRN
The Front Stage program will be described and the role of the Psych-APRN will be explored as the facilitator for designing a community-based curriculum with the aim of providing continued support and learning and growth opportunities for survivors of intimate partner violence. Mechanisms for evaluation will be discussed.
Presenter: Betty Kohal, DNP, PMHCNS, BC
4023: Child & Adolescent
10:00am – 10:45am Central
From Rockets to Results: A Journey of Immersive Education and Development – RN APRN
Design immersive, staff-centered interventions to address diverse learning styles and enhance key nursing skills, including communication, critical thinking, and teamwork. This session equips you with the tools to create impactful educational experiences that elevate nurse engagement and prepare healthcare professionals for success.
Presenters: Elizabeth Cole, BSN, RN, PMH-BC; Andy Otten, MHS, MA, BA
4024: Undergraduate Education
10:00am – 10:45am Central
Anxiety and Aggressive Patient Management Training for Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Pilot Study – RN
This presentation shares findings from original research examining the impact of aggression management training on nursing students’ anxiety. It will explore the integration of current practice-based experiential learning into nursing curricula and highlight the importance of this approach in preparing students for mental health nursing clinical rotations.
Presenter: Paula Baisden, EdD, MSN-Ed, BSN-RN, PMHRN-BC
4025: Recovery Tools
10:00am – 10:45am Central
Pharmacologic Management of Sleep Disorders in Psychiatric Patients – APRN
Join this interactive session on managing sleep disorders in psychiatric patients. Explore polypharmacy’s impact, evidence-based pharmacologic strategies, and deprescribing techniques. Through case studies, gain practical tools to balance hypnotics, sedating antidepressants, and antipsychotics while mitigating dependency risks. Special focus on sleep architecture and aligning drug selection to disease processes.
Presenters: Mark Crawford, MSN, PMHNP-BC; Leslie Laine, MSN, PMHNP-BC; Brianna Swanson, MSN, PMHNP-BC
This session is available to virtual attendees.
This session is eligible for pharmacology contact hours.
4026: Advanced Practice
10:00am – 10:45am Central
Deprescribing in Action: Reducing Polypharmacy to Improve Mental Health Outcomes – APRN
This interactive, lively presentation provides the opportunity to discuss, develop, and prioritize the steps necessary to formulate a deprescribing plan for three common complex patient psychotropic medication scenarios. There will be a specific focus on the management of multiple psychotropics and controlled substances, as well as long-term antipsychotic use in the older adult.
Presenters: Bonnie Lynn Nickasch, DNP, APNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC; Miriam Sward, DNP, APNP, PMHNP-BC, ANP-BC; Alyssa Forslin, DNP, APNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC
4027: Complementary & Alternative Therapies
10:00am – 10:45am Central
Gardening: A Secondary Prescription For The Treatment Of Schizophrenia – RN
This presentation will provide the tools to attendees on how to create and maintain a therapeutic garden for psychiatric rehabilitation on an inpatient unit. A demonstration will be provided on how to use the produce to make healthier food choices to reduce weight gain and other metabolic risk factors.
Presenter: Janette O’Connor, MS, BS, BSN, RN-PMH-BC
This session is available to virtual attendees.
