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Continuing Education

From live conferences to on-demand podcasts, get the education you need to keep your practice current, earn contact hours for your certification, or gain expertise in a specific topic with APNA nursing continuing professional development!

Click on the links below to learn more about each evidence-based program in psychiatric-mental health nursing.

If you are an institution interested in providing access to any of APNA’s continuing education programs to a group of learners, please email apnagrouporders@apna.org.

 

The American Psychiatric Nurses Association is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

APNA National Conferences

Get updates on psychiatric-mental health nursing while connecting with your community at APNA national conferences.

APNA Clinical Psychopharmacology Institute

Planned for Nurses, by Nurses for More than 20 Years
APNA 23rd Annual Clinical Psychopharmacology Institute
June 5-8, 2025 | Live in person in Rockville, MD or virtually!

APNA Annual Conference

APNA 39th Annual Conference
Empowered to Innovate and Collaborate: PMH Nurses Shaping Care Excellence
October 15-18, 2025 | Live in person in New Orleans, Louisiana or virtually!

APNA Suicide Prevention Certificate ProgramIncreasing Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Competence & Confidence in the Care of Those at Risk for Suicide

5 NCPD Contact Hours

  • Builds the knowledge, attitudes, skills and critical thinking of psychiatric-mental health nurses caring for persons at risk for suicide.
  • Four self-paced modules presented by psychiatric-mental health nurse subject matter experts, as well as supplemental resources and activities.
  • Increases confidence and competence in the nursing skills of suicide prevention, assessment, and care management of persons at risk for suicide.

Learn More
Information about bulk purchases for organizations

APNA Transitions in Practice Certificate ProgramFoundational Strategies & Best Practices to Optimize Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Success

15.25 NCPD Contact Hours

  • Covers foundational evidence-based knowledge and skills for providing safe and effective PMH nursing care.
  • Self-paced and interactice online curriculum that includes presenter videos, interactive quizzes, case scenarios, and reflection.
  • Optimizes PMH nurse success and improves person-centered planning for persons with mental health disorders.

 Learn More

Information about bulk purchases for organizations

Browse Online Education

Access content like podcasts, online courses, and more to keep your PMH nursing knowledge up-to-date on your schedule.

View all Available Courses in the APNA eLearning Center

Practical Nursing Strategies in Suicide Prevention

Contact Hours: 1.5
This course supports and strengthens nurses, in non-mental health settings, providing a skillset to screen and provide life-saving interventions for patients at risk for suicide.

Video Screening Interviews: APNA Developed Alcohol, Nicotine and Opioid Resources

Contact Hours: 0.5
In this course you will observe short interviews using screening tools provided by the APNA Addictions Council.
Register

APNA President’s Address

Contact Hours: 0.75
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses: Activating Our Voices as We Evolve in Our Profession
Register Now

Effective Treatments for Opioid Use Disorder

Contact Hours: 1.5-3.5
Access free courses to support you and your fellow nurses as you provide care to individuals with Opioid Use Disorder.
Register Now

APNA Transitions in Practice

Contact Hours: 15.25
Onboard new PMH-RNs or build the skills needed succeed with this online certificate program.
Register Now

APNA eLearning Center

Browse on-demand sessions on psychiatric-mental health nursing topics across the spectrum of care and start earning contact hours now.
Browse Now

Psychopharmacology

Contact Hours: 0.5-2.0
Cutting edge clinical updates eligible for pharmacology contact hours.
Browse Now

Annual Conference Session Archives

Contact Hours: 0.5-2.0
Recordings of PMH Nurse approved sessions from past conferences.
Browse Now

Medications for Substance Use Disorders (MSUD) Training

Contact Hours: 8.0
Two free webinars which together meet the 24 hours of required education to apply to obtain a DEA waiver to prescribe MAT for opioid use disorders.
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APNA eLearning Center

Earn continuing education contact hours by accessing more than 500 sessions.

VISIT THE APNA ELEARNING CENTER

Introduction

This video covers the basics of the eLearning Center, including searching for sessions, using bonus points, and more.

Become an APNA member and share your expertise!

  • Bonus Points Program
    A member benefit, bonus points are used in the APNA eLearning Center to “purchase” content.
  • Mentoring Opportunities
    Mentors and mentees can find and connect with each other based upon experience, specialty, location, knowledge area, or even method of communication.
  • Continuing Education Program Reviewers
    Become a Peer Reviewer! Earn contact hours and bonus points by reviewing sessions and handouts, and completing the post test, evaluation and peer reviewing document.
  • Other Educational Opportunities
    APNA provides links to educational opportunities offered by other associations and governmental agencies at its discretion.

Practical Nursing Strategies in Suicide Prevention

New Course Launched July 2024

1.5 Nursing Continuing Professional Development Contact Hours

The high prevalence of suicide is a major public health concern and nurses in non-mental health settings are uniquely positioned to make a difference in the lives of individuals at risk for suicide. This course supports and strengthens nurses, in non-mental health settings, providing a skillset to screen and use the Assessment, Intervention, Documentation, and Evaluation (AIDE) algorithm to initiate life-saving interventions for patients at risk for suicide. The course content is based on the APNA Essential Competencies for Assessment and Management of Individuals at Risk for Suicide. An expert in the field of psychiatric-mental health nursing delivers content and evidence-based strategies that nurses will be able to apply with people for the prevention of suicide.

The course is self-paced with supplemental activities and resources, including handouts, glossary of terms, references, and other resources. It focuses on evidence-based nursing knowledge which data show increases non-PMH-RNs’ confidence in their individual practice, as well as their competence in the nursing skills of suicide prevention, screening and initial management of persons at risk for suicide.

Learn More

 

99% of Psychiatric-Menal Health Nurses…

…felt more confident in their PMH nursing role after finishing the

APNA Transitions in Practice Certificate Program

“This was an excellent course and provided a breadth of knowledge that increased my confidence and ability to successfully transition into my new position as a psychiatric nurse.”

…felt more competent working with patients at risk for suicide after completing the

APNA Suicide Prevention Certificate Program

“This was a very good course …The suicide screening was explained very well, and I feel more comfortable practicing what I’ve learned.”

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

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