Announcing the 2026 JAPNA Author Awards Recipients
The JAPNA Author Awards recognize authors who publish outstanding work in the Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (JAPNA) annually!
The following authors, whose articles appeared in issues of JAPNA published in 2025 were nominated by members of the APNA Research & Scholarship Council. Awardees for each category were then voted on by the JAPNA Editorial Board.
Note: The below list lead authors only. For the full listing of authors, visit each article.
Outstanding Health Equity Award
Mary Molewyk Doornbos & Gail Landheer Zandee
A Community-Driven Mental Health Solution: Lay Mental Health Ambassadors
“The community-driven solution of training lay MHAs to do preventive, upstream mental health work in their neighborhoods holds potential to address existing mental health inequities. This study contributes to an emerging evidence base that can empower communities and nurses to collaborate in the development of useful research agendas, meaningful policy, and tailored mental health care.”
Also Nominated
Nicholas Guenzel
A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating Peer Recovery Coaches for Addiction Recovery Among Indigenous Americans
Outstanding Original Research Award
Raymond W. Novaco
Anger Predictors of Aggressive Behavior on an Acute Inpatient Psychiatric Unit
“Patients on an acute psychiatric unit can self-report anger that bears on their risk for short-term aggressive behavior. The value of nurse involvement in monitoring patients’ anger on inpatient psychiatric units is discussed, along with nurse-supported anger treatment programs.”
Also Nominated
Joy Scharfman
Exploring Nurses’ Perceptions of Nursing Presence in the Mental Health Setting
Elizabeth Kreuze, Elizabeth I. Merwin, Janet York
Methods of Suicide Among Nurses Globally: Examination of Epidemiological and Cohort Evidence
Outstanding Quality Improvement Award
Tonjanika Ballard
Cultural Competemility Training and Use of a Standardized Assessment Tool in Reducing Misdiagnosis of Black Patients with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders and Psychotic Disorders
“After introducing the BPRS-24 in clinical practice, it was used in 87.5% of assessments, with improved cultural skills and knowledge among HCPs. Using the BPRS-24 and cultural competemility training, misdiagnosis was identified in 48.4% of the sample, regardless of race.”
Also Nominated
Terence Yuyun Dzelambong
Improving Oral Nutrition Intake Through One-on-One Meal Support for Patients With Eating Disorders
Brandon Rogers
Evaluating De-Escalation Training for Direct and Indirect Employees Caring for Residents with Huntington’s Disease
Published May 2026
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