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The Essentials of Caring for Persons Who Are Diagnosed with Personality Disorders

This resource was created by the APNA Personality Disorders Task Forces to assist nurses in caring for patients whose symptoms and struggles have caused them to meet the criteria for the diagnosis of a personality disorder, as well as to ultimately help nurses avoid judgment and decrease stigma. It organizes the diagnosis of personality disorder in three parts: Cluster A, Cluster B, and Cluster C.

This resource is intended for use in inpatient and outpatient settings by registered nurses, advanced practice nurses, and nurse educators.


The essentials document and supplemental case studies below will help you:

  • Understand the complexities of the disorders
  • Develop an awareness of the prevalence and presentation of each disorder
  • Gain the ability to better understand, communicate, and form a therapeutic relationship with individuals who are diagnosed with personality disorders

Approved by the APNA Board of Directors February 2022.

Personality Disorders Essentials of Caring

Guides nurses to better understand individuals’ experiences and establish a therapeutic treatment plan.

Download Essentials

Personality Disorders Case Studies

Supplemental case studies to further promote understanding, avoid judgement, and decrease stigma.

Download Case Studies

APNA Personality Disorders Cluster A Task Force

(Paranoid, Schizoid, and Schizotypal Personality Disorder)

Diane Esposito – Chair

Steering Committee

John Chovan, PhD, DNP, RN, CNP, CNS
Paula Alexander-Delpech, PhD, PMHNP-BC, APRN
Roxanne England, MS, RN
Dawn Goldstein, PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC, CCM
Camellia Ann Herisko, DNP, MSN, RN, PMHCNS – BC, CRNP
Kevin Ann Huckshorn, PhD, MSN, RN, ICRC
Lindsey Irwin, RN, BSN
Joseph Keifer, PsyD, BSN, RN
Edna Lewin, PhD, RN
Jennifer Lucy Lamb, PMHNP-BC, MN
Heather A. Muxworthy, DNP(s), PMHNP-BC, LLC
Joyce T. Olagoke, RN-BC, BSN, MSN
Julene Dorothy Smith, RN, ARNP, PMHNP-BC
Jessica Ann Whelan, FPMHNP-BC, RN, BSN, MSN, FMHNP

Advisory Panel

Ablavi Agomessou DNP, PMHNP-BC, FNP-C
Sally Alexander DNP, PMHNP-BC
Cheyanne Burns BSN, RN, PMHNP-BC
Alicja Cebulak PMHNP
Emily Cervantes BSN, RN
Kevin DiGuglielmo MSN, PMHNP-BC
Susan Evans MSN
Michelle Fuhrmann RN, BSN
Jenette Gerst MSN, PMH-BC, NPD-BC
Ivan Giannou RN-BC
George Gilchrist MSN, MHRN
Deanna Golden DNP, MBA, RN
Angela Goodson RN, MSN
Christopher Gossett RN
Cheryl Gray RN
Dee Dee Hecht-Hewit BSN, RN, PCC-s, CRC, LSW, PMHNP
Erica Hinds-Campbell APRN, MSN, RN
Felicia Hwung Grabowski MSN, RN-BC
Joseph Keifer PsyD, BSN, RN
Komi Kokou-Abi PMHNP-BC

Jennifer Lamb PMHNP-BC, MN
Blessing Lawski PMHNP, RN-BC
Donna Linette DNP, RN, NEA-BC, HN-BC, NEA-BC
Deanna Ludwig-Bos MSN, RN
Rachel Matz RN
Haley Meier BSN, RN
Megan Merwin BSN, RN
Renae Milhoan RN, MSN
Libby Nichols MSN, RN, PMH-BC
Evelyn Nwaigwe DNP, MSN, PMHNP-BC
Tammi Packer BSN, RN-BC
Mary Pushchak BSN, RN, PMH-BC
Ria Rivera RN
Lexxus Soristo BSN, RN
Michael Steele Jr, MSN, RN-BC
Richard Sullivan BSN, RN, CMSRN
Mary Ann Tipanero BSN, RN, CRRN
Robyn Welch RN, MSN

APNA Personality Disorders Cluster B Task Force

(Borderline, Narcissistic, Histrionic, and Antisocial Personality Disorders)

Sherry J. Lindsay– Chair
 

Steering Committee

Maryam Adebayo, PMHNP-BC
Elizabeth Blondeau, BS, RN-BC
Maryanne F. Fournier, PMHNP-BC
Dana Frank, RN
Todd B. Hastings, PhD, MS, RN
Rachael Hovermale, DNP, APRN
Anita Iyengar, PMHCNS-BC, RN
Kerry M. Kennedy, RN, MA
Kathryn Kieran, MSN, PMHNP-BC
Debra Jane Livingston, RN, MS, NE-BC
Pamela E. Marcus, RN, APRN, PMH-BC
Christine Moran, RN, MSW
Maria T. Olivier, MSN, RN
Rosanne Visco, PhD, RN

Advisory Panel

Pamela Adamshick PhD, RN, PMH-BC
Sally Alexander DNP, PMHNP-BC
Conisa Allen RN
Kendra Anderson
Tina Aown MSN, RN-BC, CNML
Mariel Arbogast-Wilson
Kathleen Armitage RN
Samantha Arnold MSN-Ed, RN
Marsha Ashurst PhD, PMHNP, PMHCNS
Lola Baker RN
Christopher Betley BSN, RN
Jennifer Bowen Burgess DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Christina Brazier MSN, BSN, RN
Suzanne Butler BSN, RN,
Carol Campbell DNP, APRN, PMHCNS-BC, PMHNP-BC, FNP-C
Hope Campbell RN, MSN, NEA-BC
Kelly Carlson Ph.D., APRN-BC, NP
Heather Caron RN, MSN
Alicja Cebulak PMHNP
Emily Cervantes BSN, RN
Barbara Chasco-Papale APRN, MSN Psych-Mental Health
Angela Chesser PhD, RN, CNS
Lenore Cortez MSN, RNC
Mary Sharon Curran MS, RN
Doreen D’Agostino PMHNP-BC
Jamie D’Aquin
Theresa Damien MS, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP
Marissa DeCesaris APRN, PNP
Erin Delaney DNP, APN, PMHNP-BC
Sheila Deyette PhD, APRN, PMHCNS-BC
Deanna Dubay DNP, PMHNP, MSN, BSN, RN
Patricia Ealy PhD, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Margaret Early PhD, RN
June Esser MSN, RN, PMHCNS-BC
Leslie Evers RN, MSN, CS, LMFT, PMHCNS
Ellen Fagan-Pryor CNS, PMHCNS, RN, BC
Karen Federspiel DNP, MS, RN-BC, GCNS-BC
Brooke Finley MSN, PMHNP-BC, RN-BC, CARN-AP
Cathleen Fleming RN
Susan Franer PMHCNS-BC
Rhonda Fried BC, CNS, APRN, FPA
Kathleen Gaffney MSN, APN, PMHCNS, CPNP, PMHS-BC
Joe Garcia APRN, PMHNP
Susan Gell DNP, RNBC
Michelle Giddings DNP, PMHNP-BC, FNP-BC
George Gilchrist MSN, MHRN
Douglas Ginter RN, BSN
Joseph Giovannoni DNP, PMHCNS-BC, APRN-RX
Deanna Golden DNP, MBA, RN
Christopher Gossett RN
Susan Gray DNP, MSN, RN CNS-BC
Sonya Green MSN, RN
Amanda Grueber MSN, RN
Patricia Guenther MS, RN-BC
Robin Gutmann RN, PMHCNS, BC
Sarah Haag RN, APRN, CNP
Kathryn Hart APRN
Erica Hinds-Campbell APRN, MSN, RN
Margaret Hughes APRN, PMHNP-BC
Felicia Hwung Grabowski MSN, RN-BC
Olanike Idowu RN
Toddy Ingram MSN, ARNP, PMHNP-BC, CCM
Eudora Jones DNP, RN, PMHNP-BC
Khairunnissa Jooma APN, RN, LPC, MHSP, CART, MSN, PMHNP-BC
Amy Kammerer-Brannon BSN, DNP, PMHNP
Tammie Kampa
Cathleen Kealey MSN, RN, PMH-BC
Lori Keough PhD, RN, FNP, BC
Ellen King BSN, MSN
Ashley King PMHNP-BC
Melinda Kiser APRN
Komi Kokou-Abi PMHNP-BC
Carol Krieger PMHCNS, BC, SANE-A
Kristen Lambert PhD, MSN, RN
Ruth Larkin RN
Joy Lauerer DNP, MSN, APRN, BC
Andrea Lerma MSN, RNCS, APRN
Cindy Levee RN, Clinical Nurse Leader
Lisa Lewis CRNP
Susan Linden BSN RN PMH-BC
Shayna Loomis RN
Tamar Lucas EdD, RN-BC
Bonnie MacGregor MSN, RN-BC, SSGB
Nita Magee PhD, MHNP-BC, RN
Nancy Magrath PGC-NP, ANP, PMHNP-BC, CNS-BC
Susan Maloney PhD, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC
Carol Anne Marchetti PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC
Michelle Marino MSN, CRNP
Lacie McAbee DNP, PMHNP-BC
Ebonique McClinnahan MSN, PMHNP-BC
Sarah McNulty RN
Timothy Meeks MN, RN-BC
Haley Meier BSN, RN
Katerina Melino MS, PMHNP-BC
Renae Milhoan RN, MSN
Rise Mitchell DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Mary Moller PhD(h), DNP, ARNP, APRN, PMHCNS-BC, CPRP, FAAN
Michelle Mulroy

Christianne Nesbitt DNP, RN, GNP-BC, PMHNP-BC
Libby Nichols MSN, RN, PMH-BC
Constance Noll DNP, MA, PMHNP-BC, CRNP
Deborah O’Dell BSN, MSN, RN
Tammi Packer BSN, RN-BC
Janet Passley-Clarke DNP, CRNP, PMH-BC
Mark Pavlick RN, MS
George Peraza-Smith DNP, APRN, GNP-BC, GS-C, CNE, FAANP
Sharvette Philmon MSN, RN, NEA-BC, CNE
Bethany Phoenix PhD, RN, CNS, FAAN
Corina Picchiottino BSN, RN
Karen Pounds PhD, PMHCNS-BC
Keith Prazeres MSN, MBA, RN
Jessica Raines RN
Roseann Regan PhD, APRN, BC
Keesha Reid DNP
Dena Ridenour MSN, CS
Tracee Ridley-Pryor DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Donna Riemer RN
Colleen Ries MSN, PMHNP, RN
Ria Rivera RN
Jennifer Roberts RN-BC
Kelly Rock DNP, CRNP
Patti Rodgers RN, PMHNP, MSN
Cynthia Rost DNP, RN, HFQE
Luanne Sadowsky ARNP, BC
Debbie Salani DNP, PMHNP-BC, APRN, NE-BC
Jane Sander ARNP, DNP
Anna Sandusky Joles RN
Bernadette Santos MA, BSN
M. Joyce Sasse DNP, APRN, PMHNP, CNS
Melissa Sasso CRNP, MSN, PMHCNS-BC
Mary Scherling APRN, NP, BC
Deborah Schiavone PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC, CNE
Jennifer Schneider PhD, PMHNP-BC
Krista Scorsone MS, RN, PMHNP-BC
Anna Shanks ARNP
Hazel Sheppard RN
Jenna Shock MSN Ed., APRN, PMHNP-BC
Allison Sikorsky PHM-NP, APN
Sylvia Simeone DNP, PNHNP-BC, PMHCNS-BC NEA-BC
Latisha Smith BSN, RN
Marie Smith PhD, DNP, PMHNP-BC, EMT-B
Edna Smith FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, APRNRx, DNP
Briana Snyder PhD, RN, PMH-BC, CNE, RYT 200
Verena Socolar PMHNP
Lexxus Soristo BSN, RN
Michael Steele Jr, MSN, RN-BC
Debbie Steele MFT, PhD, RN
Edward Stern BSN, RN (PMHNP Student)
Sarah Stone RN
Susan Sullivan Psychiatric NP
Richard Sullivan BSN, RN, CMSRN
Colleen Sveum MSN, MBA, BSN, RN
Michael Tayag RN
Karen Taylor DNP, APRN-CNP, PMHNP-BC
Camillia Terrell MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Margaret Touw DNP, MS, RN
Adria Trapani-Barnacz RN
Carrie Trubia MSN, PMHNP-BC
Kristina Tucker RN
Shiori Usami CNS
Stephanie Verdeflor MSN, RN, PMH-BC
Kimberly Walker-Daniels MSN, PMHNP-BC, APNP
Lindsey Warren Davis PhD
Sabrina Watson RN
Kathleen Webster DNP, PMHNP
James Weidel PhD FNP-BC PMHNP-BC
Diane Wieland PhD, MSN, RN, PMHCNS-BC
Diana Wilson PMHNP-BC
Inez Withers RN, BSN, MSM, PMHNP-BC, CMCC,
Sandra Witmer PMHAPN-BC
Donald Wright RNC
Rick Yakimo PhD, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Brittany Yates DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Kristerra Yawea DNP, MBA, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Lori Yerrell-Garrett DNP, NP, RN, PMH-BC
Michelle Zapanta MSN, RN-BC
Marci Zsamboky DNP, PMHNP/CNS-BC, CNE
Christine Zuidema RN

 

APNA Personality Disorders Cluster C Task Force

(Avoidant, Dependent, and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorders)


Shirlee Davidson – Chair

Steering Committee

Florence Cristina Brooks, RN
Grashika Devendra
Ayako Garduque
Brayden Nicole Kameg, BSN, RN, CARN
Lynne Sparks Mann, MSN, RN, CNE
Roberta Lesli Mowdy, PMHNP-BC
Raul Alex Padilla, DNP, APRN-BC, CARN-AP, CRNI
Gwendolyn Porche, RN
Maria Puscas, ARPN, MSN, NP, MBA
Sonia Griffin Riley, MSN-Ed, RN
Traci T. Sims, DNS, RN, CNS/PMH-BC
Robin B Trivette, MSN, RN
Farid Uddin

Advisory Panel

Gwendolyn Abadom, RN
Ablavi Agomessou
Kinsey Airhart, RN
Sally Alexander, DNP, PMHNP-BC
Eudaldo Aponte III , MSN, APRN
Devin Bailey, DNP, NP-BC
Ramona Balsdon, RN, MSN
Desta Biratu, BSN, RN
Amanda Borup, APRN
Linsey Broadbent, RN, BSN
Sarah Bryant, BSN, RN, PHN-BC
Theresa Calderone, EdD, MEd, MSN, RN-BC
Alicja Cebulak, PMHNP
Emily Cervantes, BSN, RN
Teresa Chancellor, RN
Lorraine Chiappetta, RN, MSN, CNE
Lynda Creighton-Wong, APRN, RN, PMHNP-BC, PMHCNS-BC
Theresa Damien, PMHNP-BC, RN
Tracy Davies, DNP, APRN, AGNP, PMHNP-BC
Janette Espinoza, DNP, PMHNP-BC, MSN, BSN, RN
Juliana Estrada, BSN, RN
Leslie Evers, RN, MSN, CS, LMFT, PMHCNS
Karen Federspiel, DNP, MS, RN-BC, GCNS-BC
Ayako Garduque
Susan Gell, DNP, RNBC
George Gilchrist, MSN, MHRN
Deanna Golden, DNP, MBA, RN
Christopher Gossett, RN
Caitlin Gregorio
Sharon Haight-Carter, PMHNP-BC
Stephanie Hancock, DNP, RN
Ria Harris, RN
Erica Hinds-Campbell, APRN,MSN, RN
Felicia Hwung, RN
Mackenzie Ice, MS, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Olanike Idowu, RN
Eudora Jones, APRN
Khairunnissa Jooma, APN, RN, LPC, MHSP, CART, MSN, PMHNP-BC
Sooksai Kaewbua, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Brayden Kameg, DNP, PMHNP-BC, CARN, CNE
Lois Konzelman, MSN, EdD, RN

Sandra Krotman, RN MSN
Ashley Lockhart, MSN, RN, DNPc
Deanna Ludwig-Bos
Deborah L. May, PhD, PMHCNS-BC
Renae Milhoan, RN, MSN
Mary D. Moller, DNP, ARNP, APRN, PMHCNS-BC, CPRP, FAAN
Barbara Morgan, PhD, PMHNP-BC
Libby Nichols, MSN, RN, PMH-BC
Haley Olson, BSN, RN
Tammi Packer, BSN, RN-BC
Kathleen Patusky, PhD
Sharvette Philmon, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, CNE
Amie Riddle
Tracee Ridley-Pryor, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Megan Rogers, MSN, RN, PMHRN-BC
Luanne Sadowsky, ARNP, BC
Olivia Schaefer, RN, BSN
Krista Scorsone, MS, RN, PMHNP-BC
Edna Smith, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, APRNRx, DNP
Lexxus Soristo, BSN, RN
Sarah Spruill, RN
Jacinda Stanton, RN
Sylvia Stevens, APRN, MS, BC
LaKeshia Stewart, MSN, RN-BC
Pamela Stover, DNP, ARNP, PMHNP-BC
Richard Sullivan, BSN, RN, CMSRN
Susan Sullivan, Psychiatric NP
Mary Sullivan, APRN
Sheelagh Tallman, RN,MS
Andrea Tharpe, RN
Margaret Touw, DNP, MS, RN
Shiori Usami, CNS
Gloria Wilson, NP
Lisa Woodworth, APRN
Kristerra Yawea, DNP, MBA, APRN, PMHNP-BC

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