APNA Board of Directors Student Scholarship Recipient: ‘You Will Feel Like a VIP’
Starting a career — and stepping into leadership — can feel like a pretty big step for nursing students and new graduates. The 2026 APNA Board of Directors Student Scholarship recipients, however, begin their journeys with a unique advantage. Through this psychiatric-mental health nursing student scholarship, students gain early access to meaningful connections, professional development, and opportunities.
Last year, nursing students from across the U.S. were awarded one of the APNA Board of Directors Student Scholarships, which features one year of APNA membership and registration, travel, and lodging to attend the APNA Annual Conference.
And scholarship offers much more than conference attendance. For one of last year’s recipients, Kate Gibson, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, CPRS, the experience provided an opportunity to expand her knowledge, build professional relationships, and gain clarity about her career path.
Gibson recently shared her reflections on her experience as an APNA Board of Directors Student Scholar.
APNA: What would you tell those considering applying to become an APNA Board of Directors Student Scholar?
Gibson: Do it! It was such an eye-opening experience, and you will feel like a VIP! If you have never been to a conference before, APNA’s is a fabulous place to get started. Everything was so well organized and planned with your experience and learning in mind.
APNA: Could you share a little bit about your experience with the APNA Board of Directors Student Scholarship program?
Gibson: I felt so welcome at the APNA Annual Conference. It was especially helpful that we had the opportunity to introduce ourselves and get to know one another a bit beforehand through the discussion boards created for Board Scholars.
The session that impacted me most was on the topic of billing and coding. This is not something we get much training on as a PMHNP student, but is critical information. I really appreciated that the “business” aspect of practice was presented at the Conference.
Also, the Scholars luncheon was lovely. I truly enjoyed getting to know the incoming and outgoing APNA presidents, as well as the APNA Board of Directors members, and getting to know my APNA Board of Directors Student Scholar peers even better!
The 2025 APNA Board of Directors Student Scholars
APNA: How did receiving this psychiatric-mental health nursing student scholarship benefit you personally or professionally?
Gibson: I made many meaningful, practical, and ongoing connections at Conference. This was an opportunity that changed the trajectory of my career in ways I could never imagine. I now have professional peers across the country who I can share information with and collaborate with. That network is invaluable to me, especially when navigating some of the differences in licensing and scope of practice state to state.
2025 APNA Board Scholar Kate Gibson, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, CPRS, and Karen Landrum, MSW, LCSW, CEAP, stand in front of their poster presentation at the APNA 39th Annual Conference.
APNA: You also presented a poster at the APNA Annual Conference. What was that experience like for you? Would you encourage others to do the same?
Gibson: Yes, I absolutely encourage others, especially students, to apply to present. I learned so much from other attendees as we chatted in front of my poster. It really encouraged me to continue my professional topic of focus, Barriers to Self-Referral for Peer Recovery Support for Healthcare Professionals with Substance Use Disorders. The questions and excitement generated from my poster presentation gave me a push to apply to a PhD program!
APNA: How has your PMH nursing career progressed since you attended the APNA Annual Conference?
Gibson: I have continued to work as an addiction medicine PMHNP and have leveraged some of the experiences at the conference to enhance my confidence and communication skills. I am now working with a compounding pharmacy to conduct a medication trial within my clinic utilizing GLP-1s to support abstinence in recovering substance use disorders!
>>> Apply now for the 2026 APNA Board of Directors Student Scholarship. Recipients receive registration for the APNA 40th Annual Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, this October 27-31 AND one-year complimentary membership in APNA.
Published February 2026
About APNA: The American Psychiatric Nurses Association is a national professional membership organization committed to the practice of psychiatric-mental health nursing and wellness promotion, prevention of mental health problems, and the care and treatment of persons with psychiatric disorders. APNA’s membership is inclusive of all psychiatric-mental health registered nurses including associate degree, baccalaureate, advanced practice (comprised of clinical nurse specialists and psychiatric nurse practitioners), and nurse scientists and academicians (PhD). APNA serves as a resource for psychiatric-mental health nurses to engage in networking, education, and the dissemination of evidence. The American Psychiatric Nurses Association is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
