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4026-23: Retrospective Study on the Effects Of Extended-Release Naltrexone (XR-NTX) Injection Among Justice-Involved Adults Misusing Opioids Released from Correctional Facilities In Louisiana 

This presentation highlights the results of the first retrospective study on extended-released naltrexone offered by the Medication-for Opioid Use Disorder (MAT) Program by the Department of Corrections in Louisiana. Participants will learn how XR-NTX impacted treatment retention, relapse, and recidivism among justice-involved individuals misusing opioids released from correctional facilities in 2018 and 2019.

Presenters:  Isabelle Dubois, RN, BSN, MSc, PMHNP student; Sara Jones, PhD, APRN, PMHNP-BC, FAAN, FAANP

Disclosures:  The APNA planners and faculty have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. Off-label uses will not be discussed during this presentation.

Session Length:  30 minutes

Target Audience:  RN, APRN

Learning Outcome:
Upon completion of this presentation, the participant will be able to:

• Discuss the clinical impact of extended-release naltrexone among justice-involved individuals misusing opioids upon eight weeks of re-entry.

Keywords:  Extended-release Naltrexone, Opioid Use Disorder, Justice-involved Individuals

Nursing Continuing Professional Development:
0.5 contact hours.  * In order to receive contact hours, you must: Listen to presentation, complete an evaluation, and earn a passing score on the post-test before the expiration date. You will have 5 tries to correctly answer the questions on the post-test and a score of 80% is required to pass. Once you have passed and completed an evaluation, the certificate will be generated online, available for you to print immediately. You cannot earn credit unless all steps are completed.

The American Psychiatric Nurses Association is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Access to this course will end:  November 1, 2026

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Small Towns, Big Impact: Psychiatric Nursing and Rural Opioid Safety Strategies

Contact Hours:  0.75 contact hours
Target Audience:  RN, APRN  
Presenter:  Jennifer L. Scott, DNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC

Distinguish yourself as a psychiatric nurse leading transformational change in rural and other addiction care settings. Join a network of psychiatric nurses who are advancing addiction care through innovative, evidence-informed education strategies. Discover how rural communities are leveraging their unique strengths to create innovative, sustainable, safe treatment programs utilizing community resources. Participants learn practical strategies for overcoming common barriers, building community partnerships, and implementing effective solutions to provide safe treatment strategies while honoring rural values and resources. Gain the tools and knowledge to:

• Identify strategies to leverage existing community strengths in developing rural safety-focused approaches.
  
• Describe practical approaches to implement and sustain community safety support in rural communities.
  
• Apply risk reduction within psychiatric nursing practice.
• Develop connections with resources that support safety-focused substance use disorder programs in a rural community.
  

Learning Outcome: 

Upon completion of this program, the participant will: 

• Identify two safety-focused strategies that should be considered when implementing sustainable opioid use disorder treatment programs in rural communities.
  

Disclosures:  The APNA planners and faculty have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.  Off-label uses will not be discussed during this presentation. 

Keywords:  Addiction, Education, Rural Health, Partnerships

Price:  Free

Nursing Continuing Professional Development:
0.75 contact hours.  * To receive contact hours, participants must:  Complete all the course components.  Once you have completed the course, post-test, honor statement and evaluation, and earned a passing score of at least 80% on the post-test, your nursing continuing professional development certificate will be generated online and available for immediate printing. Credit cannot be earned unless all course components are completed. No partial credit can be awarded.  

Grant Statement:

Funding for this initiative was made possible (in part) by grant no. 1H79TI088037 from SAMHSA. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Release Date:  November 25, 2025
Access to this course will end:  November 25, 2028

The American Psychiatric Nurses Association is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

© APNA 2025. Reproducing and distributing this material without the written permission of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) is prohibited. 

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4011.2-25: Augmenting Genomic Competencies for Precision Psychiatric Care: What do Psychiatric APRNs Need

This presentation explores the genomic competencies needed for precision psychiatric care, focusing on the unique challenges psychiatric APRNs face. It highlights critical training gaps and discusses targeted educational strategies to enhance genomic integration in psychiatric practice.

Presenter:  Rose Mary Xavier, PhD, APRN, PMHNP-BC, FAAN, FAANP

Disclosures:  The APNA planners and faculty have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. Off-label uses will not be discussed during this presentation.

Session Length:  30 minutes

Target Audience:  APRN

Learning Outcome:
Upon completion of this presentation, the participant will be able to:

• Identify two key genomic competencies required for precision psychiatric care.

Key Takeaway(s): 

• There is a critical and currently unmet need for targeted educational strategies to equip psychiatric APRNs with the skills required to implement genomics-integrated precision psychiatric care.

Keywords:  Genomics, Pharmacogenomics, Precision Psychiatric Care, APRNs

Nursing Continuing Professional Development:
0.5 contact hours.  * In order to receive contact hours, you must: Listen to the entire presentation, complete the reflection activity, evaluation, and honor statement before the expiration date. Once all steps are successfully completed, a certificate will be generated online and available for you to print immediately. Contact hours cannot be awarded unless all required components are completed. 

The American Psychiatric Nurses Association is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Release Date:  December 12, 2025
Access to this course will end:  December 1, 2028

*For an uninterrupted learning experience, please download and use Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari, etc. If you continue to experience issues, you may need to update your browser.

4037-25: Five Needle Protocol: An Opportunity for Nurses to Help Bridge the Gap Between the Demand for Behavioral Health Care Services and Available Resources 

This presentation will explore ways nurses can integrate the five needle auricular acupuncture (5NP) as an effective, economical, and safe intervention for decreasing anxiety, depression, insomnia, trauma, and pain management, in a range of settings. Nurses will be inspired to take 5NP to areas where there are treatment gaps.

Presenter:  Pamela Greene, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, ADS

Disclosures:  The APNA planners and faculty have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. Off-label uses will not be discussed during this presentation.

Session Length:  45 minutes

Target Audience:  RN, APRN

Learning Outcome:
Upon completion of this presentation, the participant will be able to:

• Describe three potential benefits of the Five Needle Protocol.

Key Takeaway(s): 

• The 5 Needle Protocol can be used in your community to bridge the gap between available behavioral health services and demands.

Keywords:  Auricular Acupuncture, Acudetox, 5 Needle Protocol

Nursing Continuing Professional Development:
0.75 contact hours.  * In order to receive contact hours, you must: Listen to the entire presentation, complete the reflection activity, evaluation, and honor statement before the expiration date. Once all steps are successfully completed, a certificate will be generated online and available for you to print immediately. Contact hours cannot be awarded unless all required components are completed. 

The American Psychiatric Nurses Association is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Release Date:  December 12, 2025
Access to this course will end:  December 1, 2028

*For an uninterrupted learning experience, please download and use Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari, etc. If you continue to experience issues, you may need to update your browser.

4024-25: Anxiety and Aggression Management Training for Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Pilot Study

This presentation shares findings from original research examining the impact of aggression management training on nursing students’ anxiety. It will explore the integration of current practice-based experiential learning into nursing curricula and highlight the importance of this approach in preparing students for mental health nursing clinical rotations.

Presenters:  Paula Baisden, EdD, MSN-Ed, BSN-RN, PMHRN-BC; Allison Danielle Cray, MSN-FNP, BSN-RN

Disclosures:  The APNA planners and faculty have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. Off-label uses will not be discussed during this presentation.

Session Length:  30 minutes

Target Audience:  RN

Learning Outcome:
Upon completion of this presentation, the participant will be able to:

• Describe integration strategies for aggression management content into nursing curricula.

Key Takeaway(s): 

• Addressing nursing students' anxiety about clinical violence improves safety, confidence, and engagement, leads to more meaningful and effective clinical learning.
• Exposure to staff violence-prevention techniques significantly reduces student anxiety, allowing them to feel safe, present, and ready to participate in mental health clinicals.
• Integrating aggression management content into nursing curricula prepares students to recognize, respond to, and learn from real-world clinical safety practices confidently and calmly.

Keywords:  Patient Violence, Immersive Learning, Prelicensure Nursing

Nursing Continuing Professional Development:
0.5 contact hours.  * In order to receive contact hours, you must: Listen to the entire presentation, complete the reflection activity, evaluation, and honor statement before the expiration date. Once all steps are successfully completed, a certificate will be generated online and available for you to print immediately. Contact hours cannot be awarded unless all required components are completed. 

The American Psychiatric Nurses Association is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Release Date:  December 8, 2025
Access to this course will end:  December 1, 2028

*For an uninterrupted learning experience, please download and use Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari, etc. If you continue to experience issues, you may need to update your browser.

4036-25: Mind and Metabolism in Harmony: Addressing the Metabolic Side Effects of Second-Generation Antipsychotics with Topamax, Metformin, and GLP-1 Receptor Agonists 

This dynamic presentation explores the cardiometabolic risks associated with second-generation antipsychotic medications. It highlights the efficacy of topiramate, metformin, and GLP-1 receptor agonists in managing these risks, including weight loss, improved BMI, enhanced glycemic and lipid profiles, increased medication compliance, and improved self-esteem in patients with psychotic disorders.

Presenters:  Tiffany Pressley, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, PMH-BC, CNE, CMSRN; Nina Russell, DNP, FNP-C, MSN-Ed, APRN

Disclosures:  The APNA planners and faculty, with the exception of those listed below, have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. All relevant financial relationships listed for these individuals have been mitigated. Off-label uses will not be discussed during this presentation.

Tiffany Pressley, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, PMH-BC, CNE, CMSRN is the CEO of BIA Healthcare. The presentation content is not related to the business lines of BIA Healthcare.

Session Length:  30 minutes

Target Audience:  RN, APRN

Learning Outcome:
Upon completion of this presentation, the participant will be able to:

• Understand cardiometabolic risks associated with SG2-antipsychotic medications. 

Key Takeaway(s): 

• Topiramate, metformin, and GLP-1 receptor agonists are effective in managing SGA risks, including weight loss, improved BMI, and increased medication compliance.

Keywords:  Pharmacology

Nursing Continuing Professional Development:
0.5 pharmacology contact hours.  * In order to receive contact hours, you must: Listen to the entire presentation, complete the reflection activity, evaluation, and honor statement before the expiration date. Once all steps are successfully completed, a certificate will be generated online and available for you to print immediately. Contact hours cannot be awarded unless all required components are completed. 

The American Psychiatric Nurses Association is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Release Date:  December 8, 2025
Access to this course will end:  December 1, 2027

*For an uninterrupted learning experience, please download and use Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari, etc. If you continue to experience issues, you may need to update your browser.

4044-25: Creating a Meaningful Post-Conference Experience to Enhance Learning for the Pre-Licensed Nursing Student

This presentation will focus on creating a meaningful clinical post-conference experience by combining the principles of the Clinical Judgment Model and trauma-informed approach to analyzing care. Utilizing these principles of learning will assist the student to conceptualize complex patient concerns while providing safe, effective care.

Presenters:  Pamela E. Marcus, RN, APRN/PMH-BC; Todd Hastings, PhD, RN, CNE; Patricia Mulvaney-Roth, DNP, MSN, APRN, PMHCNS-BC, AGCNS; Katherine B. Evans DNP, RN

Disclosures:  The APNA planners and faculty have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. Off-label uses will not be discussed during this presentation.

Session Length:  30 minutes

Target Audience:  RN, APRN

Learning Outcome:
Upon completion of this presentation, the participant will be able to:

• Formulate four patient-related clinical questions based on the Clinical Judgement Model using a trauma-informed approach in the clinical post-conference.

Key Takeaway(s): 

• Formulating Socratic questions utilizing the Clinical Judgement Model supports student learning.
• Support students who have observed or experienced critical incidents during their clinical day.
• Utilize peer support and debriefing framework to support student learning during post-conference for clinical or simulation.

Keywords:  Trauma-informed Care, Nursing Education

Nursing Continuing Professional Development:
0.5 contact hours.  * In order to receive contact hours, you must: Listen to the entire presentation, complete the reflection activity, evaluation, and honor statement before the expiration date. Once all steps are successfully completed, a certificate will be generated online and available for you to print immediately. Contact hours cannot be awarded unless all required components are completed. 

The American Psychiatric Nurses Association is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Release Date:  December 8, 2025
Access to this course will end:  December 1, 2028

*For an uninterrupted learning experience, please download and use Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari, etc. If you continue to experience issues, you may need to update your browser.

4017.2-25: Implementing an Equitable Acuity Scale in Inpatient Psychiatric Units: Optimizing Ratings for Understanding Psychiatric Unit In-Hospital Acuity through Learning and Evaluation (ORUPOLE)

The Inpatient Psychiatric Unit (IPU) faces challenges in standardized acuity assessment. To address this, we developed the ORUPOLE tool, integrating CMS guidelines and clinical data. In collaboration with our Neuroscience Clinical Research team, we refined acuity assessment. ORUPOLE is expected to revolutionize psychiatric acuity measurement and adapt to various inpatient settings.

Presenters:  Mable Koshy, BSN, PMH-BC; Amy Weaver, MHA, BSN, RN, CEN, PMH-BC, NEA-BC

Disclosures:  The APNA planners and faculty have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. Off-label uses will not be discussed during this presentation.

Session Length:  15 minutes

Target Audience:  RN, APRN

Learning Outcome:
Upon completion of this presentation, the participant will be able to:

• Understand the challenges of using a standardized acuity assessment in inpatient psychiatric units.

Key Takeaway(s): 

• A standardized acuity tool like ORUPOLE reduces personal rating variance and improves staffing accuracy.
• Scenario-based testing helps validate acuity tools in real-world psychiatric care settings.

Keywords:  ORUPOLE, Psychiatric Acuity, Acuity Based Staffing

Nursing Continuing Professional Development:
0.25 contact hours.  * In order to receive contact hours, you must: Listen to the entire presentation, complete the reflection activity, evaluation, and honor statement before the expiration date. Once all steps are successfully completed, a certificate will be generated online and available for you to print immediately. Contact hours cannot be awarded unless all required components are completed. 

The American Psychiatric Nurses Association is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Release Date:  December 8, 2025
Access to this course will end:  December 1, 2028

*For an uninterrupted learning experience, please download and use Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari, etc. If you continue to experience issues, you may need to update your browser.

4017.1-25: Implementing a Standardized Clozapine-Induced Constipation Nursing Protocol in Inpatient Psychiatric Settings

Clozapine-induced constipation is a leading cause of life-threatening bowel obstruction in psychiatric inpatients. This session presents a nine-month evaluation of a nursing-led constipation management protocol. Key strategies include structured assessments, prophylactic bowel regimens, and patient education initiatives, to reduce complications and improve Clozapine patient outcomes through prevention-focused care.

Presenters:  Scott Levine, RN, BSN; Anthony Patterson, RN-BSN

Disclosures:  The APNA planners and faculty have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. Off-label uses will not be discussed during this presentation.

Session Length:  15 minutes

Target Audience:  RN, APRN

Learning Outcome:
Upon completion of this presentation, the participant will be able to:

• Describe the development of a nursing-led clozapine constipation protocol.

Key Takeaway(s): 

• Clozapine-induced constipation is preventable through nursing-led interventions that promote hydration, ambulation, and bowl regimen.
• Clozapine-induced constipation poses a significantly greater mortality risk than agranulocytosis, yet it remains under-recognized and under-monitored in clinical practice.

Keywords:  Clozapine Adverse Effects, Clozapine-induced Gastrointestinal Hypomotility (CIGH), Clozapine-induced Constipation

Nursing Continuing Professional Development:
0.25 contact hours.  * In order to receive contact hours, you must: Listen to the entire presentation, complete the reflection activity, evaluation, and honor statement before the expiration date. Once all steps are successfully completed, a certificate will be generated online and available for you to print immediately. Contact hours cannot be awarded unless all required components are completed. 

The American Psychiatric Nurses Association is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Release Date:  December 8, 2025
Access to this course will end:  December 1, 2028

*For an uninterrupted learning experience, please download and use Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari, etc. If you continue to experience issues, you may need to update your browser.

4016.1-25: Supporting Nurses to be Resilient and Navigate Secondary Traumatic Stress in an Inpatient Psychiatric Setting

Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) is a known health risk for nurses in PMH nursing. The creation of “Universal Precautions”, or systemic safeguards aimed at the promotion of resilience and support, is imperative. Interventions such as focus groups, peer-led clinical supervision, tip sheets, and toolkits have been found to support nurses navigating STS.

Presenter:  Stacy Horowitz, MSN, RN, PMH-BC, CARN

Disclosures:  The APNA planners and faculty have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. Off-label uses will not be discussed during this presentation.

Session Length:  15 minutes

Target Audience:  RN, APRN

Learning Outcome:
Upon completion of this presentation, the participant will be able to:

• Identify three interventions in my practice to anticipate and protect myself from secondary traumatic stress.

Key Takeaway(s): 

• Active leadership support is essential for implementing and sustaining change.
• Openly addressing barriers, such as fear of asking for help, improves adoption and cultural shift.
• Team-based approaches and recognition programs build confidence, safety, and connection among staff.

Keywords:  Secondary Traumatic Stress, STS, Resilience

Nursing Continuing Professional Development:
0.25 contact hours.  * In order to receive contact hours, you must: Listen to the entire presentation, complete the reflection activity, evaluation, and honor statement before the expiration date. Once all steps are successfully completed, a certificate will be generated online and available for you to print immediately. Contact hours cannot be awarded unless all required components are completed. 

The American Psychiatric Nurses Association is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Release Date:  December 9, 2025
Access to this course will end:  December 1, 2028

*For an uninterrupted learning experience, please download and use Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari, etc. If you continue to experience issues, you may need to update your browser.