Policy

Americans expressed serious concerns regarding health care in a new report released March 5 by the Department of Health and Human Services. The report, Americans Speak on Health Reform: Report on Health Care Community Discussions, summarizes comments from the thousands of Americans who hosted and participated in Health Care Community Discussions across the country and highlights the need for immediate action to reform health care. The report is available on a new website dedicated to health reform: www.healthreform.gov. The website will allow Americans to view the White House Health Forum, share their thoughts about health reform with the Obama Administration and sign a statement in support of President Obama’s commitment to enacting comprehensive health reform this year. Full Story

A hearing meant to give Defense Department officials a chance to explain their plans for spending $900 million allocated for mental health care quickly turned into a debate on how that money should be spent. As yet, military experts on post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries are still working out which studies should be funded, which treatment methods should be adopted and which pilot programs should be put in place, reported ArmyTimes.com. Full Story

Issues & Events

According to new survey data released today by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), less than half of all qualified applicants to entry-level baccalaureate nursing programs were enrolled last year despite calls to increase the number of well-educated registered nurses (RNs) in the U.S. workforce. Though interest in nursing careers is high, the latest data show that almost 50,000 qualified applications to professional nursing programs were turned away in 2008, including nearly 7,000 applicants to master’s and doctoral degree programs. Full Story

A state-by-state report card released by the National Alliance on Mental Illness on March 11, gave the nation's mental health system a D grade overall. APNA members are encouraged to review the report at a special section of the NAMI website. The website publishes the findings, recommendations, the full report and suggestions about how you can help. Click here to visit the website.

APNA Highlights

Institute For Safe Environments: Members Wanted!
As the name implies, this institute will focus on issues of safety for clients and staff.  Following the recommendation of the Seclusion and Restraint Task Force, the APNA Board established the ISE to provide an enduring and integrated structure that is designed to address issues impacting the safety of persons served as well as service providers. The Institute will develop and disseminate white papers to bring greater clarity to areas of operational confusion, provide guidance for addressing challenges associated with special settings or populations, as well as share and promote best and promising practices. In addition, the ISE will develop and disseminate educational programs for utilization at the Chapter level, and will promote research that will support professional practice that is evidence based. Click here to learn more.

Task Force On Workplace Violence
APNA recognizes that violence in the workplace is a pressing occupational concern for all registered nurses and for psychiatric nurses in particular. To examine the scope of the problem and to identify solutions, the APNA chartered a Task Force on Workplace Violence in May 2007. Content experts conducted a comprehensive review of the literature focusing on the following practice areas: inpatient psychiatric settings, outpatient settings, emergency departments, nonpsychiatric areas such as home care, and academic environments. Workplace violence was broadly defined, including physical, sexual, and verbal threats and abuse from peers (i.e., horizontal violence) as well as consumers. Based on the findings, the task force developed recommendations for environmental safety, education, and research, both globally and specific to each setting. Download Position Paper (PDF file) Click here to give feedback on the position paper.

APNA Is Starting Our 2009 Election Process
This is an exciting time at APNA with an exceptional Board and dynamic staff working to provide a forum for our participation and networking. Now is the time for you to consider taking a leadership position with your professional organization. A position on the APNA Board of Directors or Nominating Committee is enormously rewarding both intellectually and professionally. All of psychiatric mental health nursing can benefit from your contributions and leadership. Click here for more information.

Counseling Points, ADHD - Free CE - Available On The Web!
Currently, APNA is working 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. The strength of Counseling Points lies in its ability to deliver the most current and authoritative best practice information directly to care providers of patients with mental health and psychiatric issues. Each issue of this free publication is mailed to all members of APNA. Members will be able to obtain Continuing Education Contact Hours by completing a post test after reading the content. Click here for more information.

Legislative

The National Council has published a fact sheets that reviews key provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). Read the Fact Sheet (PDF file)