Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Resources

A collection of resources curated for psychiatric-mental health nurses: From toolkits to graduate school listings, the APNA Resource Center is your first access point for information on topics across the spectrum of psychiatric-mental health nursing.

Scroll down to browse through the resources, filter the resource library down to a specific topic by selecting one of the topics, or simply use the search bar to search by keyword.

APNA Resource Library

APNA Position Papers

White papers that advance PMH nursing by discussing topics of vital interest to the profession and advocating for solutions or potential paths to address concerns.

APNA Issue Statements & Reports

APNA publications addressing issues of important to PMH nurses, including nurse well-being, workforce, DEI, workplace violence, and more.

APNA Essentials of Caring for Persons Who Are Diagnosed with Personality Disorders

Recovery-based resource to assist nurses in caring for those who meet the criteria for a personality disorder diagnosis, as well as help nurses avoid judgment and decrease stigma. Created

Sexual & Gender Minority

APNA Care of Sexual & Gender Minority Individuals Info & Resources

An overview of disparities, care considerations, and available resources to support care of this population.

APNA Guidance Regarding Precepting and Mentorship

The American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) receives periodic inquiries seeking advice on the procurement of preceptors and mentors, as well as what role APNA plays in the process. Below is

APNA Graduate Education Faculty Toolkit

Organized by the domains of the AACN Essentials (2021), this toolkit provides in-depth resources, best practices, and key insights to help faculty foster critical thinking and advanced skills in

APNA Ketamine Infusion Therapy Treatment Considerations

Over several decades, research has shown that ketamine has antidepressive properties. Ketamine is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the induction and maintenance of anesthesia,

APNA Key Components of Safety

A collection of resources selected by the APNA Council for Safe Environments to help psychiatric-mental health nurses define safe environments, identify their key components, and implement strategies within their

APNA Mental Health Advocacy Toolkit

Adapted from Neuroscience Nurses AANN Advocacy Toolkit (2014) As trusted healthcare professionals, your voice is important in influencing and empowering the members of Congress from your state. Without your expertise

APNA Nursing Competencies for Treating Tobacco Use Disorders

TUD competencies that are consistent with the nursing scope of practice.

Criminal Justice System

APNA Persons with SMI In the Criminal Justice System Resources

Provides an overview of the issue, current practices and recommendations, transitioning from incarceration to the community, and recommendations for incarceration alternatives.

APNA Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Essential Competencies for Assessment and Management of Individuals at Risk for Suicide

These 9 APNA competencies outline the role of the PMH nurse specific to suicide prevention, which includes both systems and patient level interventions.

APNA SBIRT Pocket Card for Nurses

From APNA and Opioid Response Network - Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Pocket Card for nurses. Share with your nursing colleagues!

APNA Seclusion and Restraint Standards of Practice

APNA professional standards of practice related to the use of seclusion and restraint.

APNA Self Care Tips for Nurses

A booklet of tips collected from psychiatric-mental health nurses for practicing self care as a nurse.

Telemental Health

APNA Telemental Health Toolkit

This toolkit offers telemental health pearls and resources around national policy considerations; issues of equity, inclusion, and access; measuring outcomes; logistical concerns; and education strategies.

APNA Undergraduate Education Faculty Toolkit

For nursing faculty looking for ways to engage students via virtual learning, this toolkit offers a wide array of resources, worksheets, and activities that will help nurse educators provide students

APNA Workforce Reports

APNA reports on the psychiatric-mental health nursing workforce, based on its national survey data.

Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (JAPNA)

A bi-monthly peer-reviewed journal that publishes scholarship that contributes both to knowledge development and continuum of care, from mental health promotion and mental illness prevention, to psychiatric treatment

PMH Nurse-Vetted Resources from a Variety of Sources

Children & Adolescents

Attachment- and Emotion-Focused Parenting Interventions for Child and Adolescent Externalizing and Internalizing Behaviors

Attachment and emotion-focused parenting interventions that targeted child mental health were significantly more effective than those that did not in reducing externalizing behavior and internalizing behavior for children aged

Children & Adolescents

StatPearls Reactive Attachment Disorder

Describes the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of reactive attachment disorder and stresses the role of team-based interprofessional care for affected patients

Children & Adolescents

Pediatric Health Care and Attachment Disorders

This continuing education article explores attachment; and attachment theory; and attachment disorders in terms of types, risk factors, consequences, and treatment and provides implications for practice.

Children & Adolescents

Maternal depression and infant attachment security

Meta-analysis included 42 studies that showed there is a significant relationship between maternal depression and infant attachment nonsecurity.

Children & Adolescents

Non-suicidal self-injury and attachment trauma in adolescent inpatients with psychiatric disorders

This study examined how non-suicidal self-injury disorder differs with respect to mental disorders, gender and attachment status in adolescent psychiatric patients.

Children & Adolescents

Insecure Adult Attachment and Child Maltreatment: A Meta-Analysis

Meta-analysis shows a significant positive association between insecure attachment and child maltreatment.

Children & Adolescents

Longitudinal Associations between Substance Use and Interpersonal Attachment Security

Meta-analysis targeting longitudinal studies of attachment and substance use, 665 effect sizes drawn from 34 samples (total N=56,721) ranging from 1 month to 20 years. Results revealed

Children & Adolescents

The relationship between attachment and somatoform symptoms in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis

From the Journal of Psychosomatic Research, a systematic overview of the existing research literature concerning the relationship between attachment and somatoform symptoms in children and adolescents.

Criminal Justice System

What Works in Reentry Clearing House

A collection of research on the effectiveness of a wide variety of reentry programs and practices, featuring programs rated by the National Institute of Justice’s CrimeSolutions.gov.

Criminal Justice System

An Overview of Evidence-Based Practices and Programs in Prison Reentry

An article from the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority Research and Analysis Unit covering best practices for parole supervision, evidence-based reentry principles, and evidence-based reentry programs.

Criminal Justice System

Crisis Intervention Teams

Information from the National Alliance on Mental Illness on these programs.

Criminal Justice System

Stepping Up

A national initiative focused on reducing overincarceration of people with mental illnesses. It provides a data-driven framework that assists counties through training, resources, and support.