American Psychiatric Nurses Association Elects New Members to Board of Directors
Falls Church, VA (PRWEB) July 18, 2013 -- The American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) is pleased to announce the four members who have been elected by the APNA membership to its Board of Directors. The APNA Board of Directors carries out the objectives and purposes of the association, establishing its mission, purpose, values, and direction. The newly elected psychiatric mental health nurses to the APNA Board of Directors are:
- President- Elect Susie Adams, PhD, PMHNP-BC, PMHCNS-BC, FAANP; a Professor at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing in Tennessee
- Secretary Benjamin M. Evans, DD, DNP, RN APN, PMHCNS-BC; Assistant Professor at William Paterson University and President of HealthStat Consulting LLC in New Jersey
- Member-at-Large Michael J. Rice, PhD APRN-NP, FAAN; Professor & Endowed Chair of Psychiatric Nursing at the University of Colorado
- Member-at-Large Amy Rushton, MSN, RN, PMHCNS-BC; Chief Nurse Executive for the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute
With over 35 years of experience spanning a variety of roles in psychiatric mental health nursing, APNA President-Elect, Susie Adams, PhD, PMHNP-BC, PMHCNS-BC, FAANP is currently the Director of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program at Vanderbilt University’s School of Nursing. Dr. Adams has served as a Member-at-Large on the APNA Board of Directors for the past two years in addition to representing APNA on external committees such as the National Task Force (NTF) on Quality NP Program Evaluation and the VA National Council on Academic Affiliations. “With the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, we are at a pivotal time in reshaping the health care delivery system to integrate primary and mental health care in the U.S.,” says Adams. “Through our APNA members’ expertise in practice, research, administration, and education, and collaboration with other disciplines, collectively we can build ‘best practice models’ that truly deliver accessible, affordable, effective holistic health care.”
Secretary Benjamin M. Evans, DD, DNP, RN APN, PMHCNS-BC, a former President of the APNA New Jersey Chapter who has held positions at all levels of nursing, has been an active APNA member for over a decade. Member-at-Large Michael Rice has extensive experience representing APNA on various task forces and committees and recently assumed the position of Professor and Endowed Chair of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing at the University of Colorado. Member-at-Large Amy Rushton, MSN, RN, PMHCNS-BC has been reelected to a second term as a Board Member-at-Large. Her experiences from staff nurse to Chief Nurse Executive provide her with insight into both the micro and macro issues facing the psychiatric mental health nursing profession.
The APNA Board of Directors is pleased to welcome these members to their leadership positions within this organization of professionals. The members will assume their new positions during the “Annual Meeting and Town Hall” at the APNA 27th Annual Conference, October 9-12, in San Antonio, Texas. At that time, Bethany Phoenix, PhD, RN, CNS will conclude her term as APNA President and current President-Elect Patricia Cunningham, DNSc, APRN, BC will assume the office.
The American Psychiatric Nurses Association is a national professional membership organization committed to the specialty practice of psychiatric-mental health nursing and wellness promotion, prevention of mental health problems and the care and treatment of persons with psychiatric disorders. APNA’s membership is inclusive of all psychiatric mental health registered nurses including associate degree, baccalaureate, advanced practice (comprised of clinical nurse specialists and psychiatric nurse practitioners), and nurse scientists and academicians (PhD). APNA serves as a resource for psychiatric mental health nurses to engage in networking, education, and the dissemination of research.
Meaghan Trimyer, American Psychiatric Nurses Association, (855) 863-2762, [email protected]
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