American Psychiatric Nurses Association

Publications

APNA distributes a monthly electronic newsletter, APNA News: The Psychiatric Nursing Voice, to all members. The Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (JAPNA) is published bimonthly by SAGE Publications and includes peer-reviewed articles on psychiatric and mental health nursing, improving mental health care, and health care policy. Membership includes a subscription to JAPNA, with online access also available. APNA co-published Psychiatric-Mental Health: Scope and Standards of Practice with the American Nurses Association and the International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses.

Continuing nursing education

The American Psychiatric Nurses Association is recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation as an approved provider of continuing nursing education. It delivers these programs through both live events and online formats. Its annual conference, the largest national gathering for psychiatric and mental health nurses, spans three days of specialized continuing education. The APNA Annual Clinical Psychopharmacology Institute provides contact hours focused on psychiatric medications, covering topics like neurobiological and genetic interactions, Axis I and II disorders, clinical syndromes, and current healthcare issues such as transcultural care, polypharmacy, and new drug approvals.

APNA partnered with the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners to produce a three-part series called Counseling Points - Caring for Patients with ADHD Throughout the Lifespan. It is also developing a three-part series on tobacco dependence titled Breaking Barriers and Implementing Change.

Did You Know?

• Membership includes psychiatric registered nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, nursing students, licensed practical nurses, and retired nurses.
• Educational levels among members vary from basic to doctoral.