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Why Attend the APNA Annual Conference?

Each year the APNA Annual Conference offers hundreds of PMH nurse-approved sessions and crucial dialogue to advance your practice.

Looking to enlist your organization’s support for you to attend the conference? View the INSTITUTIONAL GROUP REGISTRATION RATES.


You’ll leave the conference feeling:

“Inspired to be a part of the bigger picture in psychiatric-mental health nursing.”

“Reminded of why I got into this field and the power of establishing a therapeutic relationship.”

“Refreshed and rejuvenated from meeting all these people who are so passionate about improving our field.”

APNA Annual Conference Program

Choose from hundreds of presentations covering diverse PMH nursing topics like:

Artificial Intelligence
Addictions/Substance Use

APRN Practice
Child & Adolescent
Community Care
Complementary & Alternative Therapies
Depression

Ethics
Graduate Education

Integrated Care
Inpatient

Leadership
Legal
Measurements/Outcomes
Military
Outpatient
Pharmacology
Private Practice
Psychedelics
Psychotherapy
RN Practice
Recovery Tools
Research
Safety
Special Populations
Trauma
Undergraduate Education
Violence Prevention
Women’s Health
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Earn up to 115+ ANCC NCPD Contact Hours

  • Up to 24.75* during the conference
  • 90+ with session recordings available 2-3 months after the conference

*Includes pre-conference add-on sessions (additional fee) and industry-sponsored symposium.

More About Contact Hours

Hear From Speakers that Inspire

Hundreds of your colleagues will share success-stories and evidence-based discoveries at the conference. Meet 2 of your featured speakers:

APNA President’s Address

Empowered to Innovate and Collaborate: PMH Nurses Shaping Care Excellence
Thursday, October 16, 9:00am Central

Joyce Shea, DNSc, APRN, PMHCNS-BC, FAAN

Dr. Joyce Shea is a board-certified advanced practice psychiatric-mental health nurse (APRN) specializing in integrated behavioral and physical health care. She is Professor Emerita at Fairfield University’s Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies. Having previously served for 5 years as Secretary on the Board of Directors for the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, she stepped into the role of President for this premier psychiatric nursing organization as of October 2024. Dr. Shea also recently co-chaired the national Task Force for revising the Scope and Standards of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Practice and has received over $6 million in HRSA funding, with the most recent grant focusing on telehealth care and inter-professional practice. She has been inducted as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing.


Keynote Presentation

The Power of One 
Friday, October 11, 9:00am Central
Allison Massari

As an advocate for patients and healthcare professionals, Massari has an intimate understanding of the demands and challenges of the healthcare profession, and compelling authority to address the current needs of the healthcare industry. She experienced firsthand the critical value of receiving personalized health care after surviving two life-threatening car accidents, one where she suffered second and third degree burns on over 50 percent of her body.

Raised by parents who were both clinicians – her father an otolaryngologist whose primary focus was on oncologic cases, and her mother a nurse who worked in the emergency department, operating room, and newborn nursery across her career – Allison grew up immersed in the healthcare field and was captivated by her parent’s compassionate work.

As she shares her riveting and courageous journey, Massari shines light on how all healthcare professionals provide immense value. The profound lessons she learned inspire confidence and self-leadership, while elevating hearts and building resiliency within the challenges of the high-pressure healthcare work environment.

Open Your Mind, Get Refreshed, Advance Care

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“I appreciated the variety of sessions offered and many themes that ran through sessions consistently and with kindness and compassion.”

– 2024 Attendee

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“I love this conference more than any others I go to. To be surrounded by psych nurses is mighty safe feeling.

– 2024 Attendee

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“Great experience. Can’t wait to see you all in Louisiana next year!”

 – 2024 Attendee

Connect with Amazing Nurses at Can’t-Miss Events

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Celebrate Inspiring Nurses

Meet the APNA Annual Awards recipients, APNA Memorial Scholarship Recipients, & APNA Board of Directors Student Scholars at the Conference Kickoff & Awards Ceremony at 6:30pm Central on Wednesday.

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Let’s Party!

On Thursday, stop by the reception from 7:30pm-9:30pm Central, where you can mix, mingle, and make connections!

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Poster Presentations

Explore evidence-based discoveries & earn up to 4 contact hours for viewing & evaluating the posters Thursday from 10:00am-6:30pm and Friday, 10:00am-3:00pm Central. Chat with the presenters at 10:30am on Friday.

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State Meetups

Join your state huddle to connect with psychiatric-mental health nurses from your area 5:45pm-6:45pm Central on Friday. Meet local leaders and discuss your region’s PMH nursing advancements, needs, and opportunities.

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Connect with  Councils & Committees

Connect with like-minded colleagues with expertise in addictions, administration, children & adolescents, education, mental health advocacy, practice, safe environments, recovery, and research & scholarship at 3:30pm-4:15pm Central on Thursday.

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Exhibit Hall

Get information from and engage with industry stakeholders in psychiatric-mental health nursing on Thursday, 1:30pm-5:00pm and Friday, 10:00am-1:00pm Central.