APNA Annual Conference Program

PRODUCT THEATER BREAKFAST

9:30am – 10:30am
Sponsoring Company: AbbVie
No contact hours provided.

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COMMUNITY CHAT & POSTER PRESENTATIONS OPEN

10:30am

Earn up to 4.0 contact hours on Thursday and Friday as you explore the more than 100 innovative poster presentations on display. (Posters available throughout the day.)

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Thursday Welcome & Awards Showcase

11:00am-11:30am

Start your conference off with a warm welcome from APNA leadership and the chance to meet psychiatric-mental health nurses and nursing students who are revolutionizing the profession.

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President’s Address

11:30am – 12:30pm ET

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses: Revolutionizing Access to Person-Centered Care – RN, APRN

APNA President Matt Tierney will lead an exploration of the unique skills and qualities that position psychiatric-mental health nurses at the forefront of revolutionizing access to care. By highlighting APNA member contributions to research, evidence-based practice innovations, & more, this presentation will shine a spotlight on nurses as the backbone of PMH care who are working within & outside of existing structures to lead a revolution of person-centered care.

Presenter: Matthew Tierney, MSN, PMHNP-BC, ANP-BC, CARN-AP, FAAN

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45-Minute Concurrent Sessions
12:40pm – 1:25pm ET

2101: Interprofessional Education, Community Practice

12:40pm – 1:25pm

Innovations to Campus Mental Healthcare in the Pandemic – RN, APRN

Presentation of a survey tool developed to assess psychiatric symptoms and needs relating to the pandemic within a university community. The results of this tool were applied to create innovative delivery of mental health services across the university system to give stakeholders increased access to information, resources, and services.

Presenters: Jennifer S. Schneider, PhD, PMHNP-BC; Stephanie D. McIver, PhD

2102: Integrated Care, Eating Disorders

12:40pm-1:25pm

A Person-centered Care Approach to Eating Disorders: Identification and Management in Psychiatric and General Medical Settings – RN, APRN

Eating Disorders (EDs) have the highest mental illness mortality. One death every 52 minutes is the direct result of an ED. Up to 92% of frontline nurses (and physicians) believe they missed an ED diagnosis. This presentation provides PMHNs with person-centered care approaches/tools for ED identification and management in psychiatric/medical settings.

Presenters: Dr. Rebecca A. Owens, DNP, MBA, MSN, RN-BC; Joyce J. Fitzpatrick, PhD, MBA, RN, FAAN, FNAP; Kathryn E. Phillips, PhD, MA, MSN, CHSE, APRN; Stephanie Nolan, DNP, MBA, RN, CPAN, NEA-BC; Evelyn Attia, MD

2103: Simulation, Inpatient Interventions

12:40pm-1:25pm

Utilization of Virtual Simulation Education Involving Complex Mental Health Cases – RN, APRN

This presentation introduces the integration of complex, mental health cases with standardized actors into a virtual simulation. By bringing different aspects of the PMHNP role into virtual simulation advances nursing education in a safe environment.

Presenter: Jamison Lord, DNP, RN, PMHNP

 

2104: Child & Adolescent, Education

12:40pm-1:25pm

Increasing Access to Mental Health Care among Underserved Pediatric Populations in San Diego through a Post-Graduate PMHNP Child-Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship – APRN

This is an interactive presentation that introduces a post-graduate PMHNP child-adolescent psychiatry fellowship as a means to prepare PMHNPs to care for underserved pediatric populations. Participants will be encouraged to inquire about the various clinical and didactic aspects of the fellowship.

Presenters: Anna Pasternak, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC; Crystal Ross, MSN, RN, APRN, PMHNP-BC; Alexandra Sietsma, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC; Virginia Meltzer, MSN, RN, APRN, PMHNP-BC; Sharon Anthony, MSN, RN, APRN, PMHNP-BC

 

2105: Practice, Self Care

12:40pm-1:25pm

Perfect Self-Care Practice for Unhealthy Perfectionism during Imperfect Times – RN, APRN

This presentation will review the alarming statistics related to nursing stress and workplace, present an overview of unhealthy perfectionism and mindful self compassion (MSC), demonstrate techniques for MSC and have participants practice techniques empowering them to plan steps to improve their self-care with their own MSC practice.

Presenters: JoEllen Schimmels, DNP, RN, PMHNP-BC, ANP-BC, CNE, FAAN; LaTonia Clark Chalmers, APRN, PMHNP-BC

2106: Women’s Health, Special Populations

12:40pm – 1:25pm

The Mental Health Impact of Infertility – RN, APRN

The presentation summarizes mental health issues related to infertility and fertility treatments. The presentation suggests screening tools and possible interventions. A case study is presented.

Presenter: Miriam Lundy, PMHNP

 

2107: Research

12:40pm – 1:25pm

Using Grounded Theory Methodology to Examine the Experience of Depression During the Freshman Year of College – RN, APRN

This presentation provides valuable information for PMH nurses working with college-age students. An emerging Grounded Theory developed utilizing participants’ own words provides a better understanding of the needs of students living with depression during the freshman year in college. With this increased understanding, effective interventions can be developed.

Presenters: Julie M. Brandy, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, CNE; Theresa A. Kessler, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC, CNE, FAAN; Grace M. Gass, MSN, RN

 

2108: Inpatient, Practice

12:40pm – 1:45pm

Implementing a Workplace Violence (WPV) Prevention Bundle on Inpatient Psychiatric Units – RN, APRN

Supported by unit and system leadership, an Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Fellowship team consisting of bedside nurses successfully responded to increased workplace violence (WPV) events system-wide by implementing a WPV Bundle to identify and treat patients at increased risk for violence in a multi-hospital system.

Presenters: Hagar Osei, BSN, RN; Leslie Hicks, BSN, RN-BC;  Patricia Achama, BSN, BSHA

 

2109: Psychotherapy, Recovery

12:40pm – 1:25pm

Two Birds with One Stone – Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy for Psychiatric and Complex Medical Conditions: A Practical Approach to Integrative Health Care that Promotes Recovery and Resiliency – RN, APRN

This presentation will introduce the Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy formulation for complex medical challenges experienced by individuals with serious mental health conditions. Practical strategies will be derived for effecting positive, life-prolonging change. The approach is relevant to registered nurses and advanced practice nurses.

Presenters: Joseph Keifer, Psy.D., BSN, RN; Ellen Inverso, Psy.D.; Paul Grant, Ph.D.

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25-Minute mini Concurrent Sessions
1:35pm – 2:00pm ET

2201: Administration, Research

1:35pm – 2:00pm

Work Environment and Job Satisfaction: A Correlational Study in Behavioral Healthcare – RN, APRN

Research conducted pre-COVID explored the correlation between work environment and job satisfaction in mental health. This presentation reviews the research and findings and offers implications for leaders. Given the perennial problems of burnout, dissatisfaction, and disengagement, leaders need strategies to support the health and well-being of staff post-COVID.

Presenter: Julie S. Donley, EdD, MBA, BSN, RN

 

2202: Child & Adolescent, Community Practice

1:35pm – 2:00pm

Evidence Based Parenting Strategies: What to do When Time Out Doesn’t Work! – RN, APRN

This presentation will discuss evidence based strategies to teach parents in a 30 minute office visit to address disruptive behaviors in children and adolescents. An overview of disruptive behaviors, etiology, risk factors and treatment options will be discussed including medication management when indicated.

Presenter: Dianna Inman, CPNP-PC,PMHS, PMHNP-BC

 

2203: Child & Adolescent, Staff Education

1:35pm – 2:00pm

Transitioning Mental Health Care for Adolescents: The Steps to Care Model (STCM) – RN, APRN

This presentation will discuss the Steps to Care Model designed to reduce the vulnerabilty of children and adolescents as they transition to adult psychiatric/ mental health care services. Specific outcomes regarding the successful transition of children and adolescent mental health care to adult mental health care services will be identified.

Presenter: Marian L. Farrell, PhD, PMH-NP, BC, PMH-CNS, BC, CRNP

 

CANCELLED 2204: Graduate Education, Administration

1:35pm – 2:00pm

Health Literacy: A Neglected Nursing Imperative – RN, APRN

This presentation exposes the dire need for inclusion of HL across nursing curriculum. It appeals to those with leadership roles and opportunities to re-evaluate and prioritize nurses role in the construction of a health literate community and nation.

Presenter: Edna M. Lewin, PhD RN

 

2205: Inpatient, Practice

1:35pm – 2:00pm

Improving Psychiatric Person-centered Care During a Pandemic with a Nurse-run Patient Health Education Group – RN, APRN

This presentation shows that by simply incorporating individual and collective patient voices, PMHNs can revolutionize person-centered care. A frequent, brief, nurse-run patient health education/wellness group, incorporating patient feedback/perceived disconnects to rapid, yet necessary, care plan changes (e.g. those necessitated by global pandemics or other events) can improve the patient experience.

Presenters: Rebecca A. Owens, DNP, MBA, MSN, RN-BC; Christine McManus, MSN, RN; Christina Machuca, RN

 

2206: Practice, Staff Education

1:35pm – 2:00pm

Creating a Psychiatric COVID-19+ Team to Bring Specialized Care to COVID+ Patients in Medical Isolation – RN, APRN

This presentation outlines the innovative way this inpatient psychiatry unit addressed the COVID-19 pandemic using the CMS waivers. The target population is asymptomatic COVID-19 positive patient requiring acute psychiatric admission.

Presenter: Jessica Frihart, MSN, CNS, PMHRN-BC

2207: Research, Undergraduate Education

1:35pm – 2:00pm

Influence of COVID-19 on the Next Generation of Nurses: A Multi-Methods Study – RN, APRN

This study examined perceptions of pursuing a nursing career amidst COVID-19 among undergraduate nursing students. Over half of students reported that COVID-19 had influenced their interest in pursuing a nursing career, with six themes emerging: no change, reaffirming/confirmatory, importance of nursing, reality check, positive influence, and negative influence.

Presenter: Karen Jennings Mathis, PhD, APRN-CNP, PMHNP-BC, FAED

2208: Research, Special Populations

1:35pm – 2:00pm

Enhancing Behavioral Health Promotion through Tailored Comic Books: When Nicotine Attacks-Fight the Crave – RN, APRN

People living with mental illnesses (MI) face unique challenges in tobacco use cessation because of the pernicious relationship between tobacco use and psychiatric disorders. This presentation will provide an evaluation of a tailored knowledge translation product (a comic book) designed to deliver evidence-based tobacco treatment information to a target audience.

Presenters: Chizimuzo Okoli, PhD, MSN, MPH, RN; Heather E. Robertson, MA; Bassema Abu-Farsakh, MSN

2209: Self-Care, Practice

1:35pm – 2:00pm

Nurses Group: a Therapeutic Group for Nurses by Nurses – RN, APRN

This presentation will describe the overall design of a PMH nurse-led group created in response to the pandemic’s impact and aimed at providing a collaborative setting for nurses to engage around similar personal and professional experiences, normalize stress responses, promote resilience, and offer strategies to maintain and restore optimal functioning.

Presenters: Christine Tebaldi, PMHNP-BC; Rebecca Sanford, PMHCNS-BC

2210: Substance Use, Culture/Diversity

1:35pm – 2:00pm

Addressing Stigma and Structural and Cultural Barriers in Substance Use Disorders and its Treatment by Infusing Social Justice and Equity in Clinical and Educational Systems – RN, APRN

This presentation addresses the human and financial costs of the opioid epidemic and the fact that over 80% of those with OUD do not receive treatment. We describe the barriers to treatment, measures to address those barriers, and propose a path toward a response from RN/APRNs, nursing educators, and administrators.

Presenters: Karen Werder, PhD, PMHNP-BC; Alexa Colgrove Curtis, PhD, MPH, FNP, PMHNP

2211: Telehealth, Simulation

1:35pm – 2:00pm

Innovative Strategies for Optimizing Virtual Learning and Telehealth Simulation Experiences for PMHNP Students – APRN

This presentation discusses leveraging available resources during the COVID-19 pandemic to engage students in simulation via telehealth. Evidence-based guidelines for telehealth will provide a framework for simulation development. Detailed steps of simulation development will be discussed along with potential obstacles and proposed solutions.

Presenters: Megan Simmons, DNP, PMHNP-BC; Marci Zsamboky, DNP, PMHNP-BC, PMHCNS-BC, CNE

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COMMUNITY RECHARGE

2:00pm – 2:30pm
Gather on Zoom with your fellow psych nurses for a time of sharing and a little lighthearted fun! We’ll put you into Zoom rooms and give you suggested topics to guide your conversation. Camera on and mute button off as you get to know colleagues across the country and enjoy each other’s company.

POSTERS & EXHIBIT HALL OPEN

2:30pm – 3:30pm

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PRODUCT THEATER 

3:30pm – 4:30pm
This activity is provided by Otsuka/Lundbeck.

Concurrent Sessions
4:40pm – 5:25pm

2301: Interprofessional Education, Integrated Care

4:40pm – 5:25pm

Better Together: Integrating a Primary Care and Psychiatric/Mental Health NP Residency Program in a VA Setting – RN, APRN

This presentation introduces the practice of integrating primary care and mental health nurse practitioner residency programs with the goal of breaking down the “silo” mentality frequently encountered between specialties. New practitioners become comfortable working with peers from another specialty, ultimately assisting them to work more collaboratively.

Presenters: Amy R. Morton-Miller, PhD, PMHNP-BC/PMHCNS-BC; Stacey K. Shaffer, MSN, APRN, AGPCNP-BC

 

2302: Integrated Care, Practice

4:40pm – 5:25pm

Psychedelics in Psychiatry: Exploring the Alternative Treatment Options for Mental Health Care – RN, APRN

Psychedelics… a term that many are uncomfortable, intrigued, or misunderstood. Nurses have been the front line staff in psychedelic treatments since the beginning. Psychedelic treatments are coming and clients want to know more. Do you have the answers or know where to find out more?

Presenter: Carlton J. Spotswood, BSN, RN-BC, PMHNP-S

2303: Child & Adolescent, Research

4:40pm – 5:25pm

A New Paradigm Ordering the Impacts of Complex Trauma: Neurobiology of Core Learning Deficits and Implications for Treatment – RN, APRN

This presentation introduces an innovative paradigm which depicts how childhood trauma experiences create weaknesses in neurodevelopmental mechanisms which impact emotional and associative learning and generate downstream regulation difficulties. The core elements of this model and supporting research are presented as well as potential intervention strategies to address the trauma impacts.

Presenters: Kathleen R. Delaney, PhD, PMHNP, FAAN; Jamie L. Hamill, DNP, PMHNP-BC

 

2304: Practice, Culture/Diversity

4:40pm – 5:25pm

Best Practices in Assessing and Providing Spiritual Care to Clients with Psychiatric Mental Health Needs – RN, APRN

This presentation will review the author’s research exploring the barrier to providing spiritual care identified by psychiatric mental health nurses. Best practices and professional guidelines in identifying spiritual distress and how to provide client-centered spiritual care it will be described.

Presenter: Melissa Neathery, PhD, RN, CNE

 

2305: Women’s Health, Graduate Education

4:40pm – 5:25pm

Infusing Reproductive Mental Health Competencies across the PMHNP Curriculum – RN, APRN

Presently, graduate programs related to psychiatric mental health offer limited education in reproductive mental. Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner faculty in collaboration with a clinical partner incorporated evidence-based reproductive mental health content across the didactic and clinical courses to create future practitioners who truly can practice across the lifespan.

Presenters: Cynthia Diefenbeck, PsyD, APRN, BC; Jennifer Graber, EdD, APRN, PMHCNS-BC; Anne DeCaire, MSN, PMHNP-BC

 

2306: Research, Undergraduate Education

4:40pm – 5:25pm

Academic Incivility Hurts: Perceptions and Coping Strategies of Prelicensure Registered Nursing Students – RN, APRN

This presentation discusses identification of academic incivility behaviors, quantification of experienced behaviors, and employment of coping strategies when addressing incivility behaviors by 373 prelicensure registered nursing students who participated in an anonymous online survey as part of a quantitative nonexperimental descriptive study of nursing student-to-student incivility.

Presenter: Robin Ann Foreman, PhD, MSN, RN, CNE, PLNC

 

2307: Practice, Business of Psychiatric Nursing

4:40pm – 5:25pm

Top 10 Risks When Providing Outpatient Behavioral Healthcare – RN, APRN

Today, more than ever, people are seeking outpatient behavioral healthcare. With an increase in behavioral health visits comes an increase in the potential for board complaints, claims and litigation. APRNs need to recognize other vulnerable risk areas when providing outptatient behavioral health care.

Presenters: Allison Funicelli, MPA, CCLA, ARM, CPHRM, FASHRM; Gloria Umali, BSN, RN, MS, MPA, CPHRM

 

2308: Child & Adolescent, Trauma

4:40pm – 5:25pm

Identifying Skills for Connecting, Building Trust, and Developing Relationships with Sexually Exploited Youth – RN, APRN

Sexually exploited (SE) youth are mistrustful due to experiencing repeated betrayal. It creates a major barrier to their seeking help. This presentation introduces effective skills for engaging and building trust with SE, marginalized, at-risk youth. Thirteen skills are identified and explained.

Presenter: Julie A. LaRose, DNP, ARPN, CNP, MSN

 

2309: Undergraduate Education, Substance Use

4:40pm – 5:25pm

Creating the Nurses’ Substance Use Education Massive Open Online Course: NSUE-MOOC – RN, APRN

The purpose of the transdisciplinary project is to mainstream substance use education through the creation of a nurses’ substance use education massive open online course (NSUE-MOOC). The NSUE-MOOC is adaptable so that PMH nursing content can be threaded throughout existing curricula, from associate degree programs to advanced practice nursing.

Presenters: Karen J. Foli, PhD, RN, FAAN; Wan Ju Huang, PhD; Nicole Adams, PhD, RN, CEN; Susan Kersey, DNP, PMHCNS, PMHNP-BC

 

Concurrent Sessions
5:35pm – 6:20pm

 

2401: Child & Adolescent,  Telehealth

5:35pm – 6:20pm

From the Exam Room to Zoom! A look at the Delivery of Child/Adolescent Tele-Mental Health – RN, APRN

This presentation will address common issues, like rapport building and creating a virtual safe space, that are encountered in providing tele-mental health services to youth and explore evidence-based strategies to address these issues. This will include discussion of the application of EBP to the developing practice of tele-mental health nursing.

Presenters: Nicole Bartek, DNP, PMHNP-BC; Erin Cochran, MSN, PMHNP-BC

2402: Inpatient, Patient Advocacy

5:35pm – 6:20pm

Psychiatric Patients’ Perception of Involvement in the Plan of Care – RN

The purpose of this presentation is to share with the audiences the findings of a qualitative phenomenological research study done to explore patients’ perception of being involved in their plan of care during an inpatient psychiatric hospital stay, and the implications of this new knowledge to nursing practice.

Presenter: Jaspal K. Gill, PhD, RN-BC

2403: Itegrated Care, Practice

5:35pm – 6:20pm

An Embedded Behavioral Oncology Program Improves Patient Centered Care – RN, APRN

This presentation shares how a fully embedded psycho-oncology program improves patient related care. By understanding the risks that depression, anxiety, and other constitutional symptoms pose to cancer patients, this presentation will hopefully propel the inclusion of mental health interventions as a standard part of care at a national level.

Presenter: Rebecca Ann Reichert, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC

2405: Practice, Scope & Standards

5:35pm – 6:20pm

Leaders in Care: Revising the Scope and Standards of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Practice – RN, APRN

Published by the ANA in collaboration with APNA and ISPN, this session will present an overview of the third edition of the Scope and Standards of Practice for Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing, including major updates to content and language and support for the future of Psychiatric-Mental Health (PMH) nursing practice.

Presenters: Joyce M. Shea, DNSc, APRN, PMHCNS-BC; Cheryl Woods Giscombe, PhD, PMHNP-BC, FAAN

2406: Psychotherapy, Private Practice

5:35pm – 6:20pm

What Can Nursing Teach Us About How to Be a Psychedelic Therapist? A Care-Informed Model for Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy – RN, APRN

Psychedelic-assisted therapies will likely be available in the next 5 years. Nurses, skilled at holding healing space, are well suited to deliver this therapy. This presentation will discuss a theoretical framework of care based in Jean Watson’s Nursing Caritas Processes as they relate to the nurse in psychedelic therapy.

Presenter: Andrew Penn, MS, CNS, PMHNP

2407: Simulation, Addictions

5:35pm – 6:20pm

Using Simulation During COVID-19 to Enhance and Evaluate the Use of Telehealth Motivational Interviewing Competency in an Addictions Nursing Subspecialty Program – RN, APRN

This presentation introduces strategies for PMH nursing faculty through the use of simulation and standardized patients to enhance and evaluate the use of Telehealth Motivational Interviewing Competency.

Presenters: Kimberly Williams, DNS, RN, ANP-BC, PMHNP-BC, PHNA-BC; Kirsten Pancione, DNP, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC

2408: Telehealth

5:35pm – 6:20pm

Improving Telehealth Services at the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP) – RN, APRN

This presentation describes how the Model for Improvement was applied to increase access to and quality of care of telehealth services at Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program. Participants will leave with ideas for quality improvement projects targeting telehealth at their own organizations.

Presenter: Sheena Wood, RN

 

2409: Undergraduate Education, Special Populations

5:35pm – 6:20pm

Revisioning Undergraduate Nursing Curriculum with an Eye on Inclusion – RN, APRN

This interactive presentation introduces the audience to a redesigned undergraduate (UG) nursing curriculum, intentionally inclusive of individuals of across the lifespan diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Examples provided will illustrate opportunities within existing UG nursing curricula to include the health care needs of this critically important population.

Presenters: Holly E. Brown, DNP, RN, PMHNP-BC, PMHCS; Elizabeth A. Kiss, DNP, RN, FNP-BC

Let’s Party!

APNA Annual Conference Reception
6:30pm – 7:30pm

Kick back with your PMH nursing pals during the APNA Annual Conference Reception! Enjoy an evening of fun and rejuvenation after a challenging year.