American Psychiatric Nurses Association
Encyclopedia
The American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) is a professional organization of over 6,500 psychiatric mental health nurses (PMHNs). It is committed to the specialty practice of psychiatric mental health nursing, health and wellness promotion through identification of mental health issues, prevention of mental health problems, and the care and treatment of persons with psychiatric disorders.
s and 60% advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs).
The Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (JAPNA) is published by SAGE Publications six times a year: February, April, June, August, October, and December. APNA membership includes a subscription JAPNA. Members may also access JAPNA online. It includes information regarding PMH nursing, improving mental health care, and health care policy. JAPNA’s peer-reviewed articles cover nursing practices,therapeutic approaches, information trends, and research in PMH nursing and its related subspecialties. It has a circulation of 10,809 subscribers.
APNA also co-published Psychiatric-Mental Health: Scope and Standards of Practice with the American Nurses Association and International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses.
The APNA Annual Conference is the largest gathering of PMH nurses in the US and consists of three days of continuing education specific to psychiatric mental health nursing. It offers continuing education contact hours for RN-PMHs and Advance Practice nurses.
The APNA Annual Clinical Psychopharmacology Institute offers sessions which provide psychopharmacology
continuing education contact hours related to psychiatric medication
s. This institute addresses the interaction of neurobiological and genetic mechanisms, Axis I and II disorders
and clinical syndromes, and current health care
issues in recovery
including transcultural care
delivery. Complex health issues, polypharmacy, and recently approved medications were also addressed.
APNA worked collaboratively with the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) on a three part series, Counseling Points™ - Caring for Patients with ADHD Throughout the Lifespan. APNA is developing a three part series of Counseling Points™ on tobacco dependence entitled Breaking Barriers and Implementing Change. Each issue will be worth one continuing education contact hour.
Membership
APNA currently has over 6,500 members, all of whom are at all levels of education from basic to doctoral, and work in a wide variety of settings including inpatient, outpatient, research, education, administration, clinical, private practice, military, and forensic. It is the largest psychiatric-mental health nursing membership organization, with over 40 chapters nationally and internationally. APNA also has membership for students and retired registered nurses. The membership is composed of approximately 40% psychiatric registered nurseRegistered nurse
A registered nurse is a nurse who has graduated from a nursing program at a university or college and has passed a national licensing exam. A registered nurse helps individuals, families, and groups to achieve health and prevent disease...
s and 60% advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs).
Publications
APNA has an electronic newsletter entitled "APNA News: The Psychiatric Nursing Voice" that is emailed to all members monthly.The Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (JAPNA) is published by SAGE Publications six times a year: February, April, June, August, October, and December. APNA membership includes a subscription JAPNA. Members may also access JAPNA online. It includes information regarding PMH nursing, improving mental health care, and health care policy. JAPNA’s peer-reviewed articles cover nursing practices,therapeutic approaches, information trends, and research in PMH nursing and its related subspecialties. It has a circulation of 10,809 subscribers.
APNA also co-published Psychiatric-Mental Health: Scope and Standards of Practice with the American Nurses Association and International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses.
Continuing Nursing Education (CNE)
APNA is an accredited provider of continuing nursing education (CNE) by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. The organization offers live and online continuing nursing education programs.The APNA Annual Conference is the largest gathering of PMH nurses in the US and consists of three days of continuing education specific to psychiatric mental health nursing. It offers continuing education contact hours for RN-PMHs and Advance Practice nurses.
The APNA Annual Clinical Psychopharmacology Institute offers sessions which provide psychopharmacology
Psychopharmacology
Psychopharmacology is the scientific study of the actions of drugs and their effects on mood, sensation, thinking, and behavior...
continuing education contact hours related to psychiatric medication
Psychiatric medication
A psychiatric medication is a licensed psychoactive drug taken to exert an effect on the mental state and used to treat mental disorders. Usually prescribed in psychiatric settings, these medications are typically made of synthetic chemical compounds, although some are naturally occurring, or at...
s. This institute addresses the interaction of neurobiological and genetic mechanisms, Axis I and II disorders
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is published by the American Psychiatric Association and provides a common language and standard criteria for the classification of mental disorders...
and clinical syndromes, and current health care
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
issues in recovery
Recovery model
The Recovery Model as it applies to mental health is an approach to mental disorder or substance dependence that emphasizes and supports each individual's potential for recovery...
including transcultural care
Cross-cultural psychiatry
Cross-cultural psychiatry or transcultural psychiatry is a branch of psychiatry concerned with the cultural and ethnic context of mental disorders and psychiatric services...
delivery. Complex health issues, polypharmacy, and recently approved medications were also addressed.
APNA worked collaboratively with the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) on a three part series, Counseling Points™ - Caring for Patients with ADHD Throughout the Lifespan. APNA is developing a three part series of Counseling Points™ on tobacco dependence entitled Breaking Barriers and Implementing Change. Each issue will be worth one continuing education contact hour.