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APNA Position Papers

APNA position papers state positions officially endorsed by the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) as authorized by the Board of Directors. They are intended to advance the profession of psychiatric-mental health nursing and discuss issues in the field of psychiatric-mental health nursing of vital interest to the public and the membership. Position Paper Process & Guidelines


Whole Health Begins with Mental Health

Approved March 2017; Revised April 2020; Revised February 2023


Adoption of Screening, Brief Intervention, & Referral to Treatment (SBIRT)

Approved September 2012; Revised June 2020
SBIRT Pocket Card for Nurses


APRNs Prescribing Buprenorphine & Buprenorphine/Naloxone

Approved July 2013; Revised June 2020
APNA MAT Training


Care of Detainees & Prisoners

Approved March 2016; Reviewed February 2020; Reviewed June 2022


Electroconvulsive Therapy

Approved January 2011; Revised July 2021


The Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity

Approved November 2021


Ketamine Infusion Therapy for Psychiatric Disorders

Approved June 2019; Under Review and Revision
Ketamine Treatment Considerations Checklist


Licensure, Accreditation, Certification & Education Recommendations

Approved February 2011; Reviewed February 2020; Reviewed February 2022; Updated February 2023
LACE Information & Resources


Nurse Assessment & Management of Suicide Risk

Approved February 2015; Revised December 2020; Revised and approved May 2022
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Essential Competencies for Assessment & Management of Individuals at Risk for Suicide


Psychiatric-Mental Health Advanced Practice Nurses

Approved October 2010; Reviewed February 2020; Revised June 2022
About PMH-APRNs


Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses’ Role in Primary Care

Approved February 2013; Revised July 2020; Revised June 2022


Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing’s Role in Tobacco Treatment

Approved October 2008; Revised July 2020
Nursing Competencies for Treating Tobacco Use Disorders


Psychotherapy and the Psychiatric-Mental Health Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Role

Approved December 2021


Scope & Standards of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing

Approved June 2014; Reviewed February 2020; Updated February 2023
Scope & Standards Publication


Staffing Inpatient Units

September 2011; Currently under review & revision


State of the World’s Nursing

Approved April 2020


The Use of Seclusion & Restraint

Approved 2000; Revised May 2007; Revised April 2014; Revised March 2018; Revised February 2022
APNA Standards of Practice: Seclusion & Restraint


Violence Prevention

Approved March 2017; Revised November 2020, April 2022
Violence Prevention Resources