- Email: [email protected]
Diversity, dialogue, and independence
Journal o f the American Psychiatric Nurses Association
President's Message Diversity, Dialogue, and Independence
4. H e a d q u a r t e r s w e r e relocated in 1994 to Washington, DC, and the Association contracted for The American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) m a n a g e m e n t services from Smith, Bucklin, and is at an exciting juncture in its development because it Associates. This move to the nation's capital gave APNA a m u c h - n e e d e d national presence. has both the opportunity and the mandate to prepare for and position itself for entry into the next millenni5. The J o u r n a l o f the A m e r i c a n Psychiatric Nurses um. As an organization, APNA is relatively young in Association (JAPNA) became the official journal of that it is only 12 years old. In terms of leadership, I am the Association and very importantly was designatonly the ninth president of APNA. I mention these ed as an i n d e p e n d e n t entity wholly o w n e d b y facts because the following milestones were achieved APNA. The first issue of JAPNA was published in in a very short period of time. These accomplishments February 1995 under the editorship of Drs. Nikki were made possible because of the vision of our first Polis and Grayce Sills. eight presidents, our Boards of Directors, and our 6. A Congress on Advanced Practice in Psychiatric members. Nursing was held in 1996. The Congress served as 1. Excellent educational programs that have served to a think tank for nursing experts to identify barriers enhance the knowledge base of our m e m b e r s have to practice, propose initiatives to achieve the goals b e e n the primary feature of our annual conferof the eight work groups, and develop a strategic ences. plan for survival. 2. Liaison relationships and strategic alliances have 7. One immediate outcome of the Congress was the b e e n d e v e l o p e d with an establishment of a legislative ever-expanding group office under the able direcI believe strongly that the remainder of organizations that reption of Jill Rathbun. Because resent mental health, of our course should be based on of this n e w m e m b e r service, psychiatric-mental health APNA was able to take the dialogue with our membership. nursing, and our client initiative in conjunction with system of individuals, ANA to obtain passage of families, and communities. Medicare funding for clinical nurse specialists in 3. APNA secured funding from the Kellogg Foundrural as well as urban areas. ation to convene a national invitational conference 8. All goals of the Congress have b e e n met or are in in 1993 in which psychiatric-mental health nurses, progress. C o m p l e t e d goals include the develophealth care providers, and c o n s u m e r s identified m e n t of a brochure that describes the advanced k e y issues in mental health that n e e d e d to be practice psychiatric nurse, development of position addressed in any national health care reform plan. papers on prescriptive authority and m a n a g e d care, During this same year, APNA b e c a m e an organizaand the production of a video about aggression tional affiliate of the American Nurses Association m a n a g e m e n t in the elderly. Examples of projects in (ANA), which was important because it served to progress include the d e v e l o p m e n t of a psychoconnect APNA to the mainstream of nursing. p h a r m a c o l o g y curriculum and d e v e l o p m e n t of strategic alliance relationships with the Mental Health Association. 9. A Survival Strategies Workshop was developed as Reprint requests: Jane Ryan, RN, APPJV~ CNAA, MN, 9153 Imperial Castle Ct., Las Vegas, NV 8914 Z an initiative to foster recruitment of nurse generalJ A m Psychiatr Nurses Assoc (I9_98). 4, I3 7-i39. ists in states with an APNA chapter. In conjunction with other recruitment incentives, APNA has Copyright © i998 by the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. inducted 26 state or regional chapters and 1078-3903/98/$5.00 + 0 66/1/94293 increased membership to 3,800. October I 9 9 8
APNA website: www.apna.org 137
Ryan
Journal o f the American Psychiatric Nurses Association
The identification of s o m e of our milestones is important because they describe the outcomes of our prior goals as an organization. Unfortunately, they do not tell us where we should be traveling in the future as we approach a n e w millennium. Part of our future course will be directed by our Strategic plan, but I believe strongly that the r e m a i n d e r of our course should be based on dialogue with our membership. Consequently, my term of office as president will be characterized by the themes of dialogue, diversity, and independence. It could also be k n o w n as the Year of the M e m b e r b e c a u s e I w a n t you, the m e m b e r , to b e c o m e actively involved in the Association and have a say about our future direction. Because APNA operates formally through the Board of Directors and its committees and meets only once a year as a whole at the annual conference, it has b e e n m y observation that dialogue with the m e m b e r s has b e e n limited and e v e r y o n e w o u l d benefit if it w e r e enhanced. Therefore, I have made a commitment to try to visit each of our 26 APNA chapters. Members will have the opportunity to dialogue about the initiatives of APNA and share both their concerns and their vision for the future of APNA in the next millennium. In the same context, I would like to promote m e m bership involvement in APNA. Even though our m e m bership has increased significantly, only a fraction of the 77,000 psychiatric-mental health nurses in the
One barrier that we can do something about is the premise that APNA has not been very successful in providing a "home of interest" for each member. United States belong to APNA. Why is that the case? What are the barriers that prevent psychiatric-mental health nurses from joining? While acknowledging the c o m p l e x i t y of the multiple barriers, I personally believe that one barrier that w e can do something about is the premise that APNA has not b e e n very successful in providing a " h o m e of interest" for each member. If w e were successful, our current m e m b e r s would be out there beating the bushes to tell their colleagues what an exciting organization APNA is and listing all the reasons w h y they must join APNA. The current structure of APNA provides for m e m 138 APNA webs#e: www.apna.org
bets to be involved in (a) their state or regional chapters, (b) APNA committees and task forces, and (c) APNA functional n e t w o r k i n g groups (FNGs). The FNGs provide a place for psychiatric-mental health
With 3,800 members, why do we currently only have five functional networking groups? nurses with "like interests" to dialogue about a specific topic and r e c o m m e n d action to the APNA Board of Directors if indicated. With 3,800 members, w h y do we currently only have five FNGs? Because of the lack of membership involvement, I would like to address m y second theme, which is diversity. I conceptualize diversity in the broadest sense to encompass the differences that make us unique. Those differences serve to differentiate us as unique nurses and as unique individuals. Some of the variables that differentiate us include the setting in which we work, the type of patients that we work with, our theoretical foundation for our nursing practice, our area of expertise, our roles in nursing, our ethics, beliefs, and philosophy about psychiatric-mental health nursing, our educational backgrounds, our gender, our age, our skin color, our sexual preference, our religion, our physical and mental disabilities, and our country of origin. If we had a h o m e for each of our unique differences, then APNA would be able to provide a place for participation by every m e m b e r because our membership represents all of the a b o v e differences. Our differences would also promote the concept of like interests, which is the basis for membership in FNGs. It is m y dream that we will develop many FNGs tO represent our diversity, for example, special concerns with ethics, violence, or private practice; gay and lesbian nurses; m e n in psychiatric nursing; African-American nurses; and Hispanic nurses. It is only after we confront our differences that we will be afforded the opportunity to look at our similarities and assimilate both into the practice of psychiatric-mental health nursing that includes the delivery of culturally diverse nursing care. I challenge those nurses in our m e m b e r s h i p w h o have an interest in any of the a b o v e - n a m e d differences to come forward and provide the leadership to establish a FNG. I p r o p o s e d a bylaw change this past fall to expand the structure of APNA to include the concept of "councils" in addition to FNGs for groups
Vol. 4, No. 5
Journal o f the American Psychiatric Nurses Association
Ryan
of m e m b e r s with like interests. The rationale for the and negotiation attempts are thwarted, APNA is left change was to provide formal recognition for FNGs with options that include accepting the fee increase, that had matured to the point where they wanted to looking for another m a n a g e m e n t c o m p a n y that prob e c o m e a p e r m a n e n t group in the structure of APNA. vides the same services at a lower fee, or moving to The FNGs would then proindependent management. vide a place for m e m b e r s Your Board of Directors took It is only after we confront our w h o w a n t e d to dialogue a forward view in 1998 and about an issue or topic and differences that we will be afforded decided to formulate a plan achieve some sense of reso- the opportunity to look at our for APNA to b e c o m e an lution in a time-limited mani n d e p e n d e n t entity as soon ner. I believe that this struc- similarities and assimilate both into as fiscally attainable. An ture would serve to enhance the practice of psychiatric-mental ambitious goal of becoming the richness of the diversity i n d e p e n d e n t b y the year health nursing that includes the of our m e m b e r s and help us 2000 was targeted as being delivery of culturally diverse nursing achievable. W h e t h e r this recruit n e w members. goal is achievable in reality My last t h e m e is o n e of c a r e , independence. Since our will d e p e n d on membership inception in 1987, APNA has s u p p o r t of this project. If contracted for its m a n a g e m e n t services. Examples of Sigma Theta Tau and ANA can accomplish it, w h y these services include our executive director, adminiscan't APNA? I believe that APNA must m o v e to indetrative assistant, office space, furniture, m e m b e r s h i p p e n d e n c e if w e are to achieve our m a n y dreams for data services, computing, and accounting. Although psychiatric-mental health nursing in the n e w millenthere are m a n y advantages for APNA to contract for nium. I challenge each of you to give serious considthese services, the primary disadvantage is that APNA eration to this initiative and encourage you to engage is not a wholly o w n e d independent entity that conin dialogue with your APNA officers, with your chaptrois its o w n destiny. My position on this issue should ter officers, and with each other. Together we m a k e a not be interpreted in any w a y to indicate displeasure difference. with our current executive director and administrative Jane A. Ryan, RN, APRN, CNAA, MN assistant. The issue is e m b e d d e d in our financial situPresident ation. When m a n a g e m e n t fees are raised significantly
BOUND VOLUMES AVAILABLE TO SUBSCRIBERS Bound volumes of the Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association are available to subscribers (only) from the publisher, at a cost of $31.00 for domestic, $38.52 for Canadian, and $36.00 for international subscribers, for Volume 4 (February-December); shipping charges are included. Each bound volume contains subject and author indexes, and all advertising is removed. Copies are shipped within 60 days after publication of the last issue in the volume. The binding is durable buckram, with the journal name, volume number, and year stamped in gold on the spine. Payment must accompany all orders. Contact Mosby, Inc., Subscription Services, 11830 Westline Industrial Dr., St. Louis, MO 63146-3318, USA; phone 314-453-4351 or 800-453-4351. Subscriptions m u s t be in force to qualify. Bound v o l u m e s are n o t available in place o f a regular subscription.
October 1998
APNA website: www.apna.org 139
President's Message Diversity, Dialogue, and Independence
4. H e a d q u a r t e r s w e r e relocated in 1994 to Washington, DC, and the Association contracted for The American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) m a n a g e m e n t services from Smith, Bucklin, and is at an exciting juncture in its development because it Associates. This move to the nation's capital gave APNA a m u c h - n e e d e d national presence. has both the opportunity and the mandate to prepare for and position itself for entry into the next millenni5. The J o u r n a l o f the A m e r i c a n Psychiatric Nurses um. As an organization, APNA is relatively young in Association (JAPNA) became the official journal of that it is only 12 years old. In terms of leadership, I am the Association and very importantly was designatonly the ninth president of APNA. I mention these ed as an i n d e p e n d e n t entity wholly o w n e d b y facts because the following milestones were achieved APNA. The first issue of JAPNA was published in in a very short period of time. These accomplishments February 1995 under the editorship of Drs. Nikki were made possible because of the vision of our first Polis and Grayce Sills. eight presidents, our Boards of Directors, and our 6. A Congress on Advanced Practice in Psychiatric members. Nursing was held in 1996. The Congress served as 1. Excellent educational programs that have served to a think tank for nursing experts to identify barriers enhance the knowledge base of our m e m b e r s have to practice, propose initiatives to achieve the goals b e e n the primary feature of our annual conferof the eight work groups, and develop a strategic ences. plan for survival. 2. Liaison relationships and strategic alliances have 7. One immediate outcome of the Congress was the b e e n d e v e l o p e d with an establishment of a legislative ever-expanding group office under the able direcI believe strongly that the remainder of organizations that reption of Jill Rathbun. Because resent mental health, of our course should be based on of this n e w m e m b e r service, psychiatric-mental health APNA was able to take the dialogue with our membership. nursing, and our client initiative in conjunction with system of individuals, ANA to obtain passage of families, and communities. Medicare funding for clinical nurse specialists in 3. APNA secured funding from the Kellogg Foundrural as well as urban areas. ation to convene a national invitational conference 8. All goals of the Congress have b e e n met or are in in 1993 in which psychiatric-mental health nurses, progress. C o m p l e t e d goals include the develophealth care providers, and c o n s u m e r s identified m e n t of a brochure that describes the advanced k e y issues in mental health that n e e d e d to be practice psychiatric nurse, development of position addressed in any national health care reform plan. papers on prescriptive authority and m a n a g e d care, During this same year, APNA b e c a m e an organizaand the production of a video about aggression tional affiliate of the American Nurses Association m a n a g e m e n t in the elderly. Examples of projects in (ANA), which was important because it served to progress include the d e v e l o p m e n t of a psychoconnect APNA to the mainstream of nursing. p h a r m a c o l o g y curriculum and d e v e l o p m e n t of strategic alliance relationships with the Mental Health Association. 9. A Survival Strategies Workshop was developed as Reprint requests: Jane Ryan, RN, APPJV~ CNAA, MN, 9153 Imperial Castle Ct., Las Vegas, NV 8914 Z an initiative to foster recruitment of nurse generalJ A m Psychiatr Nurses Assoc (I9_98). 4, I3 7-i39. ists in states with an APNA chapter. In conjunction with other recruitment incentives, APNA has Copyright © i998 by the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. inducted 26 state or regional chapters and 1078-3903/98/$5.00 + 0 66/1/94293 increased membership to 3,800. October I 9 9 8
APNA website: www.apna.org 137
Ryan
Journal o f the American Psychiatric Nurses Association
The identification of s o m e of our milestones is important because they describe the outcomes of our prior goals as an organization. Unfortunately, they do not tell us where we should be traveling in the future as we approach a n e w millennium. Part of our future course will be directed by our Strategic plan, but I believe strongly that the r e m a i n d e r of our course should be based on dialogue with our membership. Consequently, my term of office as president will be characterized by the themes of dialogue, diversity, and independence. It could also be k n o w n as the Year of the M e m b e r b e c a u s e I w a n t you, the m e m b e r , to b e c o m e actively involved in the Association and have a say about our future direction. Because APNA operates formally through the Board of Directors and its committees and meets only once a year as a whole at the annual conference, it has b e e n m y observation that dialogue with the m e m b e r s has b e e n limited and e v e r y o n e w o u l d benefit if it w e r e enhanced. Therefore, I have made a commitment to try to visit each of our 26 APNA chapters. Members will have the opportunity to dialogue about the initiatives of APNA and share both their concerns and their vision for the future of APNA in the next millennium. In the same context, I would like to promote m e m bership involvement in APNA. Even though our m e m bership has increased significantly, only a fraction of the 77,000 psychiatric-mental health nurses in the
One barrier that we can do something about is the premise that APNA has not been very successful in providing a "home of interest" for each member. United States belong to APNA. Why is that the case? What are the barriers that prevent psychiatric-mental health nurses from joining? While acknowledging the c o m p l e x i t y of the multiple barriers, I personally believe that one barrier that w e can do something about is the premise that APNA has not b e e n very successful in providing a " h o m e of interest" for each member. If w e were successful, our current m e m b e r s would be out there beating the bushes to tell their colleagues what an exciting organization APNA is and listing all the reasons w h y they must join APNA. The current structure of APNA provides for m e m 138 APNA webs#e: www.apna.org
bets to be involved in (a) their state or regional chapters, (b) APNA committees and task forces, and (c) APNA functional n e t w o r k i n g groups (FNGs). The FNGs provide a place for psychiatric-mental health
With 3,800 members, why do we currently only have five functional networking groups? nurses with "like interests" to dialogue about a specific topic and r e c o m m e n d action to the APNA Board of Directors if indicated. With 3,800 members, w h y do we currently only have five FNGs? Because of the lack of membership involvement, I would like to address m y second theme, which is diversity. I conceptualize diversity in the broadest sense to encompass the differences that make us unique. Those differences serve to differentiate us as unique nurses and as unique individuals. Some of the variables that differentiate us include the setting in which we work, the type of patients that we work with, our theoretical foundation for our nursing practice, our area of expertise, our roles in nursing, our ethics, beliefs, and philosophy about psychiatric-mental health nursing, our educational backgrounds, our gender, our age, our skin color, our sexual preference, our religion, our physical and mental disabilities, and our country of origin. If we had a h o m e for each of our unique differences, then APNA would be able to provide a place for participation by every m e m b e r because our membership represents all of the a b o v e differences. Our differences would also promote the concept of like interests, which is the basis for membership in FNGs. It is m y dream that we will develop many FNGs tO represent our diversity, for example, special concerns with ethics, violence, or private practice; gay and lesbian nurses; m e n in psychiatric nursing; African-American nurses; and Hispanic nurses. It is only after we confront our differences that we will be afforded the opportunity to look at our similarities and assimilate both into the practice of psychiatric-mental health nursing that includes the delivery of culturally diverse nursing care. I challenge those nurses in our m e m b e r s h i p w h o have an interest in any of the a b o v e - n a m e d differences to come forward and provide the leadership to establish a FNG. I p r o p o s e d a bylaw change this past fall to expand the structure of APNA to include the concept of "councils" in addition to FNGs for groups
Vol. 4, No. 5
Journal o f the American Psychiatric Nurses Association
Ryan
of m e m b e r s with like interests. The rationale for the and negotiation attempts are thwarted, APNA is left change was to provide formal recognition for FNGs with options that include accepting the fee increase, that had matured to the point where they wanted to looking for another m a n a g e m e n t c o m p a n y that prob e c o m e a p e r m a n e n t group in the structure of APNA. vides the same services at a lower fee, or moving to The FNGs would then proindependent management. vide a place for m e m b e r s Your Board of Directors took It is only after we confront our w h o w a n t e d to dialogue a forward view in 1998 and about an issue or topic and differences that we will be afforded decided to formulate a plan achieve some sense of reso- the opportunity to look at our for APNA to b e c o m e an lution in a time-limited mani n d e p e n d e n t entity as soon ner. I believe that this struc- similarities and assimilate both into as fiscally attainable. An ture would serve to enhance the practice of psychiatric-mental ambitious goal of becoming the richness of the diversity i n d e p e n d e n t b y the year health nursing that includes the of our m e m b e r s and help us 2000 was targeted as being delivery of culturally diverse nursing achievable. W h e t h e r this recruit n e w members. goal is achievable in reality My last t h e m e is o n e of c a r e , independence. Since our will d e p e n d on membership inception in 1987, APNA has s u p p o r t of this project. If contracted for its m a n a g e m e n t services. Examples of Sigma Theta Tau and ANA can accomplish it, w h y these services include our executive director, adminiscan't APNA? I believe that APNA must m o v e to indetrative assistant, office space, furniture, m e m b e r s h i p p e n d e n c e if w e are to achieve our m a n y dreams for data services, computing, and accounting. Although psychiatric-mental health nursing in the n e w millenthere are m a n y advantages for APNA to contract for nium. I challenge each of you to give serious considthese services, the primary disadvantage is that APNA eration to this initiative and encourage you to engage is not a wholly o w n e d independent entity that conin dialogue with your APNA officers, with your chaptrois its o w n destiny. My position on this issue should ter officers, and with each other. Together we m a k e a not be interpreted in any w a y to indicate displeasure difference. with our current executive director and administrative Jane A. Ryan, RN, APRN, CNAA, MN assistant. The issue is e m b e d d e d in our financial situPresident ation. When m a n a g e m e n t fees are raised significantly
BOUND VOLUMES AVAILABLE TO SUBSCRIBERS Bound volumes of the Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association are available to subscribers (only) from the publisher, at a cost of $31.00 for domestic, $38.52 for Canadian, and $36.00 for international subscribers, for Volume 4 (February-December); shipping charges are included. Each bound volume contains subject and author indexes, and all advertising is removed. Copies are shipped within 60 days after publication of the last issue in the volume. The binding is durable buckram, with the journal name, volume number, and year stamped in gold on the spine. Payment must accompany all orders. Contact Mosby, Inc., Subscription Services, 11830 Westline Industrial Dr., St. Louis, MO 63146-3318, USA; phone 314-453-4351 or 800-453-4351. Subscriptions m u s t be in force to qualify. Bound v o l u m e s are n o t available in place o f a regular subscription.
October 1998
APNA website: www.apna.org 139