2015: A Big Year for APNA

APNA News: The Psychiatric Nursing Voice  |  November 2015 Members' Corner Edition

 



 

 

Our members accomplished big things this year! We've compiled some of the highlights based on the 2015 APNA Annual Activity Report.

 

Big News

Thanks to member leadership, collaboration and expertise, this year saw the introduction of several new programs and initiatives. Here's a quick look at a few.



 

 

 

 

 

Big First

The APNA Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Essential Competencies for Assessment and Management of Individuals at Risk for Suicide were released this year and can be found in our Resource Center. We have joined forces with representatives from the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses and the American Association of Critical Care Nurses to adapt the competencies for nurses in acute care settings.

 


 

 

 




 

 

Big Launch

The APNA Transitions in Practice Certificate Program, housed in the APNA eLearning Center, was created to help RNs transition into mental health practice settings, feel more confident in their care, and earn up to 15 contact hours. 100% of the participants agree that their awareness and understanding of psychiatric-mental health nursing was increased as a result of the program.


 

 

 

Big CONNECTIONS

More people than ever visited www.apna.org as their psychiatric-mental health nursing resource, including a record number logging in to Member Bridge and using the eLearning Center.New resources and programs were also available this year to help meet your needs on a local level. Members used their state communities on Member Bridge to connect with nearby colleagues, share information, and discuss local issues. Several state chapters also offered additional continuing education and networking through chapter conferences and dissemination of the APNA Recovery to Practice Program, Acute Care Psychiatric Mental-Health Nurses: Preparing for Recovery-Oriented Practice.

 

 

Big JAPNA Updates

This was an exciting year for the Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (JAPNA). Under the leadership of departing Editor in Chief Karen Farchaus Stein, JAPNA received an impact factor and will now be included in Thomson Reuters indexing. The inclusion of JAPNA in this index will boost its visibility and reach within the field of psychiatric-mental health nursing. To continue Dr. Farchaus Stein's legacy as she steps down as Editor in Chief, Geraldine Pearson has been named as her successor. Dr. Pearson brings extensive experience as a psychiatric-mental health nurse researcher and an editor to the post.


 

Big Numbers

In 2015, APNA grew to include 10,415 professionals dedicated to psychiatric-mental health nursing. More than 1,000 of you participated through our institutes, councils, and committees. On Member Bridge, more than 8,000 messages were exchanged.

Check out our 2015 Activity Report to see more of what the APNA community accomplished this year, including council activity, financials, and more.



 

 

 

biG Thank You

APNA would like to especially thank each and every one of you who has taken the time to contribute, whether through joining a discussion on Member Bridge, submitting an abstract for a conference, or providing expertise to inform an APNA program. To continue our gratitude and in the spirit of the season, we’ll be introducing a #ThankAPsychNurse campaign on social media soon. We invite you to join us and #ThankAPsychNurse - keep eye on our Facebook and Twitter pages in the coming weeks!

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