Leading by Example
With a provider shortage and ever-increasing demand for services, the time for psychiatric-mental health nurses to lead is here. Of course, leading is not always easy to do. Though I’m serving as APNA President, I can readily recall times I was hesitant to step forward, because I didn’t see myself as a leader.
As a psychiatric-mental health nurse, you are equipped with the necessary knowledge, education, skill set, and motivations to lead the changes that will shape care across this country. APNA is the perfect place to launch yourself into leadership.
Systems like task forces, councils, and chapters encourage volunteer leaders, give guidance and structure, and magnify your impact.
See below what members like you are accomplishing already this year and imagine a role for yourself!
- The Workplace Violence Task Force has been established and is seeking volunteers to build a resource that supports workplace teams following incidents of violence. What a wonderful opportunity to start your leadership journey!
- The Child & Adolescent Council will perform a review of the literature on infant and early childhood mental health to discover what we need to know to serve this population more effectively. Councils bring leaders together around areas of expertise to strengthen care.
- A Graduate Faculty Toolkit will debut soon to fill a need for help integrating complex new competencies into curricula. This unique and comprehensive resource is brought to you by members in education pooling knowledge to provide leadership.
And it’s only March! I’m looking forward to all we can accomplish as we serve together as leaders on councils and committees, advance care in our communities, and apply our gifts to a person-centered therapeutic approach with our patients. I hope you come to appreciate the leader in you and look for ways to shape the future of care!
Joyce Shea, DNSc, APRN, PMHCNS-BC, FAAN
President
American Psychiatric Nurses Association
Published March 2025
