Workplace Safety at the APNA Annual Conference

Fostering Safer Environments for You and Your Patients

At the APNA 40th Annual Conference this October 28-31 in Phoenix, Arizona, psychiatric-mental health nurse experts will present sessions on workplace violence and safety in health care. Attendees can expect practical strategies, research, and systems-level solutions for protecting both patients and staff.

Did you know…

• Nurses account for 48% of nonfatal workplace violence injuries (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025)
• Almost 20% of respondents cited threats to their safety, well-being, and capacity in the workplace as the top challenge in their work (APNA Strategic Direction Survey, 2025)
• More than one-third of PMH nurses report they do not feel safe on the job (APNA Report on the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Workforce, 2022)
• Violence in health care occupations represents more than 10% of all workplace violence incidents in the United States (OSHA, 2025)
  Find more statistics in the APNA Position: Violence Prevention

These realities highlight why workplace safety remains a critical focus for psychiatric-mental health nursing. The APNA Issue Statement: Addressing Workplace Violence in Today’s Environment recognizes that PMH nurses are at the forefront of violence prevention by assessing risk, providing education, modeling safe practices, and balancing robust safety protocols with therapeutic engagement. The sessions at this year’s conference will help nurses navigate competing priorities, like those stated in the APNA Resource: Key Components of Safety:

• Maintaining robust safety protocols
• Fostering therapeutic engagement
• Addressing tensions with practical tools
• Engaging in thoughtful reflection

Sessions at the APNA Annual Conference will explore the best evidence to support safe, therapeutic environments, including:

• De-escalation curricula and Behavioral Response Team competencies
• Suicide and violence assessments
• Simulation-based crisis preparation
• Interventions for increasing communication and empathy for patients
  And more!

Get an exclusive first look at workplace safety education coming to the APNA Annual Conference with these presenter-led Session Spotlights:

The APNA Restoring Workplace Safety Task Force will present From Risk to Resilience: Findings and Recommendations from the APNA Restoring Workplace Safety Task Force on Wednesday* at the APNA Annual Conference.

“We are excited to discuss how we might address the impact of violence on our PMH nursing community through APNA resources to help restore safety following incidents of violence.”

— Linda Beeber, PhD, PMHCNS-BC, FAAN, Task Force Co-Chair

JoEllen Schimmels will present the Pre-Conference Deep Dive Session, Getting Ready to Pop the Question: Improving Student Confidence in Assessing Suicidality & Violence, on Wednesday* at the Annual Conference.

“Ensuring that all psychiatric nurses are comfortable and proficient in assessing self- and other-directed violence risk is critical to promoting safety and delivering quality mental health care.”

— JoEllen Schimmels, PhD, DNP, PMHNP-BC

Beyond the Code: Transforming Nursing Confidence in Behavioral Health Emergency Management, presented by Alirio Olmedo on Wednesday*, will explore how workplace violence prevention requires more than a policy – systems should help nurses recognize risk early and respond confidently to protect both staff well-being and patient care.

“My work proposes the adoption of practical, evidence-based nurse-led systems that support nurses in recognizing early warning signs, assessing risk, and responding with confidence in real time… giving nurses the tools they need to de-escalate situations, protect themselves, and maintain a therapeutic environment for patients.”

— Alirio Olmedo, DNP, MSN, RN, MICN, CEN

*Wednesday sessions are a part of the Pre-Conference Package and are an additional charge from Full Conference registration. You can upgrade your registration at any time.

And on Thursday, Laykin Forthun, BSN, RN, PMH-BC, HNB-BC, will present a session on workplace safety: From Risk to Readiness: In Situ Crisis Simulation.

“Effective workplace violence prevention requires a coordinated team response, so training should be designed and delivered collaboratively as well,” Forthun said. “By conducting high-fidelity simulations in the clinical environment, we create opportunities to identify communication gaps, strengthen collaboration across disciplines, and prepare staff for the behavioral health crises they are most likely to encounter in practice.”

— Laykin Forthun, BSN, RN, PMH-BC, HNB-BC

Every psychiatric-mental health nurse deserves the knowledge, skills, and support to promote safety while delivering compassionate care. Register for the APNA 40th Annual Conference to learn from experts, connect with peers facing similar challenges, and gain practical solutions you can apply in your practice today!