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
