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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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4043-25: “Wow! How Did You Do It?” The Process of Removing Mechanical Restraints from Child and Adolescent Inpatient Care

This presentation will describe the multilayered approach to restraint reduction in a child and adolescent psychiatric hospital that resulted in removal of mechanical restraints completely from the children's unit and removal of the restraint chair from two adolescent units.

Presenters:  Lauren Sullivan, BSN, RN, PMH-BC; Ashley Oxley, BSN, RN, PMH-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:  45 minutes

Target Audience:  RN, APRN

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

• Describe three interventions implemented hospital-wide and their relationship to the removal of mechanical restraints.

Key Takeaway(s): 

• Elimination of mechanical restraint use is achievable.

Keywords:  Restraint Reduction, Safety, Child and Adolescent

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 19, 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.

4035-25: Prescription Overload: The Hidden Dangers of Polypharmacy 

This presentation examines psychiatric polypharmacy risks and evidence-based deprescribing strategies. It covers dual antipsychotic use, benzodiazepine and stimulant tapering, and shared decision-making. Attendees will learn to optimize medication regimens using a deprescribing toolkit and interprofessional collaboration to reduce medication overload while maintaining effective treatment.

Presenters:  Leslie Laine, PMHNP-BC; Mark Crawford, PMHNP-BC; Alex Sietsma, PMHNP-BC, DNP

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:  APRN

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

• Identify at least two evidence-based deprescribing strategies to manage polypharmacy in psychiatric practice. 

Key Takeaway(s): 

• A structured deprescribing toolkit guides safe, patient-centered medication reduction using evidence, clinical judgement, and collaborative strategies.

Keywords:  Polypharmacy, Deprescribing, Toolkit

Nursing Continuing Professional Development:
0.75 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 22, 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.

4031-25: When Push Comes to Shove: Reducing Workplace Violence (WPV) on an Inpatient Psychiatric Unit 

This dynamic presentation offers access to the successful, proactive strategies used by one inpatient psychiatric unit in reducing workplace violence (WPV) by predicting, protecting, and preventing escalation. Participants will leave with innovative, preemptive approaches to implement on their own journeys to improve safety and satisfaction for patients and staff.

Presenters:  Mullane Harrington, MPH, BSN, RN, PMH-BC, MHP; Natalie Zender, BSN, RN, PMH-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:  45 minutes

Target Audience:  RN

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

• Identify one strategy to predict, prevent, or protect from workplace violence (WPV).

Key Takeaway(s): 

• Evidence-based assessment tools can help prevent WPV. 
• Implementing relevant care plans can help protect against WPV. 
• Staff can learn to prevent WPV by shifting unit culture.

Keywords:  Workplace Violence (WPV), Inpatient Psychiatric Unit, Violence Prevention

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 23, 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.

4025-25: Pharmacologic Management of Sleep Disorders in Psychiatric Patients

Join this interactive session on managing sleep disorders in psychiatric patients. Explore polypharmacy’s impact, evidence-based pharmacologic strategies, and deprescribing techniques. Through case studies, gain practical tools to balance hypnotics, sedating antidepressants, and antipsychotics while mitigating dependency risks. Special focus on sleep architecture and aligning drug selection to disease processes.

Presenters:  Mark Crawford, MSN, PMHNP-BC; Leslie Laine, MSN, PMHNP-BC; Brianna Swanson, MSN, PMHNP-BC

Disclosures:  The APNA planners and faculty have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. Off-label uses will be discussed during this presentation.

Session Length:  45 minutes

Target Audience:  APRN

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

• Analyze the impacts of at least two pharmacologic agents on sleep architecture and formulate integrated management strategies.

Key Takeaway(s): 

• By recognizing the impact of sleep on mental wellness and collaborating across disciplines, psychiatric nurses can help drive integrated, evidence-based solutions for chronic insomnia.
• Understanding the impact of drugs on sleep architecture is vital to optimizing and tailoring treatment to unique patient needs.

Keywords:  Sleep, Insomnia, Pharmacology

Nursing Continuing Professional Development:
0.75 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 18, 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.

4034-25: The Evolution of Undergraduate PMH Clinicals: Developing Sim Days for a Meaningful and Uniform Clinical Experience 

This presentation will introduce the evolution of PMH Sim Days in an undergraduate curriculum as a meaningful alternative to acute care clinical rotations.

Presenters:  Jocelyn Gonzalez Etheredge, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC; Melissa Titus, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-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:  30 minutes

Target Audience:  RN, APRN

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

• Understand how to create and implement a psychiatric-mental health (PMH) clinical Sim Day for undergraduate nursing students.

Key Takeaway(s): 

• Simulation in PHM nursing education is a valuable tool to support clinical learning and improve confidence.

Keywords:  Mental Health Nursing Education, Simulation, Clinical Learning

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 18, 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.

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.

4011.1-25: Review of the ASAM/AAAP Guidelines for Treating Stimulant Use Disorder: Considerations for PMHNPs in Private Practice

This presentation will introduce the newest ASAM/AAAP guidelines for treating stimulant use disorder. The relevance of these guidelines to PMHNP private practice will be discussed and potential ways that PMHNPs can use innovative and collaborative approaches to providing care will be explored.

Presenter:  Amanda Culp-Roche, PhD, PMHNP-BC, FNP-C

Disclosures:  The APNA planners and faculty have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. Off-label uses will be discussed during this presentation.

Session Length:  15 minutes

Target Audience:  APRN

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

• Evaluate one approach to implementing the newest ASAM/AAAP stimulant use disorder guidelines successfully into PMHNP private practice.

Key Takeaway(s): 

• Contingency management is considered the standard of care for stimulant use disorder.
• Other behavioral therapies and strategies can enhance treatment outcomes, including reducing dropout rates and supporting sustained recovery.

Keywords:  Stimulant Use Disorder, Treatment Guidelines, Psychosocial Strategies, Contingency Management

Nursing Continuing Professional Development:
0.25 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 16, 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.

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.