Professional Nursing Associations in Mental Health - APNA

This article discusses the significance of professional nursing associations in mental health, with a focus on the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA). It highlights the benefits of networking and continuous professional development opportunities provided by APNA.

Running head: NURSING
Nursing
Name of the student:
Name of the University:
Author’s note

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Description of the organization and its significance to nursing:
Professional nursing associations in nursing are important to generate flow of ideas and
proactively advocate for the needs of nurses (Nerland & Karseth, 2015). I am interested in the
specialty area of mental health and one of the professional organizations that relates to the
specialty area includes the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA). It is largest
professional organization committed to the practice area of psychiatric mental health nursing
(PMH) and prevention of mental illness. The main purpose and vision of the organization is to
facilitate professional advancement and by providing quality PMH nursing education and
advocating for mental health by dissemination current development in the area of nursing. The
vision of the organization is based on the core value of innovation, transparency, empowerment,
inclusivity, integrity and stewardship (American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA), 2018).
Being a member of APNA provides people with the benefit of getting access to several
benefits like continuing education, mentor matching, monthly newsletters and free subscription
to bi-monthly journal of the association. Members get plenty of resource for continuing
education.
Benefits and importance of the network:
Networking is important for the nurses entering the specialty field of psychiatric nursing
to help them in engage in continuous professional development and career advancement.
Networking helps in coming in contact with like minded people and gaining insight into how
nursing to recent development in the specialty area which is necessary to embrace evidence
based practice today (Carlson, 2016). APNA creates networking opportunities for nurses by
connecting members with their peers and profession. APNA has developed local nurse networks

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to enable nurse to build professional connections. They also arrange face to face education
session and conferences to ensure that members get the opportunity to meet people with
professional interest while accumulating their continous professional development (CPD) hours
(American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA), 2018)
Strategies used by the organization to keep members informed:
APNA keeps it members informed of health care changes and changes to practice by
arranging regular conferences. Two national conferences are held each year which informs the
public about practice based changes in the psychiatric mental health nursing. The APNA Annual
conference is a significant event during which three days of continuing education is provided and
nurses are informed about program for change in practice (American Psychiatric Nurses
Association (APNA), 2018).
Opportunities for continuous professional development:
As the main focus of APNA is career advancement and providing education to PMH
nurses, they have developed many well-structured programs for continued professional
development. The APNA annual conference is one of the event to inform nurses about new
advancement in the field of mental health nursing. The APNA Annual Clinical
Psychopharmacology Institute also opens opportunities for CPD by delivering education on drug
therapies and education related to psychiatric medications for nurse. APNA has created
eLearning center that provides online education on special skills. The website stores archived
sessions from APNA national conferences and eminent speakers. Webinars and pod cast also
provide nurse access to special skills on the area of specialty American Psychiatric Nurses
Association (APNA), 2018).

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References:
American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA). 2018. About the American Psychiatric
Nurses Association: An Introduction. Retrieved from:
https://www.apna.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3277
American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA). 2018. Get Involved and Connect. Retrieved
from: https://www.apna.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3277
Carlson, K. (2016). Building Relationships: The Power of Networking. Journal of Emergency
Nursing, 42(4), 295.
Nerland, M., & Karseth, B. (2015). The knowledge work of professional associations:
Approaches to standardisation and forms of legitimisation. Journal of Education and
Work, 28(1), 1-23.