APNA and ANCC Announce a Joint Venture
Partnership for Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
Silver Spring, MD - The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) have strengthened their relationship and are now working to determine the nature and future of advanced practice certification in the specialty of psychiatric mental health nursing.
APNA President Sandra Talley, PhD, APRN, BC, FAAN, hails this movement forward as "an opportunity for the leadership of APNA and ANCC to share information that will lead to new knowledge concerning the role of advanced practice nurses specializing in psychiatric mental health care." ANCC President Patricia S. Yoder-Wise, EdD, RN, CNAA, BC, FAAN, states that "The combined wisdom and energy of APNA and ANCC leadership will set new guidelines for organizational collaboration and undoubtedly move both organizations closer to understanding certified nurses' contribution to the delivery of high quality psychiatric and mental health care."
The two organizations are planning a joint venture-ownership with equal voice and mutual interest in the future of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Certification. The presidents of both organizations will be presenting an update during the business meeting of APNA's Annual Conference, in Nashville, Tennessee, on November 4, 2005.
In the spirit of creating partnerships to support nurses who want to provide high quality psychiatric-mental health care, ANCC and APNA have engaged in a series of successful dialogs. As the result, the professional nursing organizations have renewed their joint commitments to delineate the roles of psychiatric and mental health nursing specialists and advanced practice nurses. Moreover, the collaboration will lead to refinement of APNA's practice standards as well as continued discussions about the analysis of role delineation studies and their influence on the development of psychiatric and mental health nursing certification exams.
To advance this collaboration, applicants who are APNA members will receive a special discount rate, currently $70 less than the non-member rate, as candidates for ANCC's certification exams. Also, APNA members renewing their ANCC certifications in psychiatric and mental health nursing will receive a reduced rate, currently up to $70 less than the non-member rate. These rates for initial and renewal certification will be effective November 1, 2005. ANCC currently offers psychiatric and mental health nursing certification for nurses who hold a diploma, associate's degree, bachelor's degree, or higher level of education.
About ANCC
ANCC is the nation's leading nursing credentialing center, offering general and advanced practice certification in over 35 specialty areas. In addition, ANCC offers continuing nursing education contact hours and review course materials through its Institute for Credentialing Innovation, accredits organizations that offer or approve continuing education courses for registered nurses, and promotes excellence in nursing services through its Magnet Recognition Program®. Each ANCC program is offered on an international platform through the ANCC Credentialing International program. The American Nurses Credentialing Center is a related entity of the American Nurses Association.
About APNA
The American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) is a membership organization representing the specialty practice of psychiatric-mental health nursing. APNA fosters excellence in the domains of education, policy, practice, research, and organizational development. APNA influences these domains through core values of leadership, open communication, development, alliance, advocacy, diversity, stewardship, and professional ethics. These values are fundamental to APNA's vision, mission, goals and strategic plan. APNA is committed to facilitating and supporting opportunities for dynamic interaction and participation among the membership. We provide forums for collaborative relationships, partnerships, and networks with mental health consumers and other healthcare professional groups.
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The ANA is the only full-service professional organization representing the nation's 2.7 million registered nurses through its 54 constituent member nurses associations. The ANA advances the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the rights of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Congress and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public.
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