Emily Bell Donelson, MSN, ARNP PMHNP BC, (Bay Pines VA, Tampa) Mariamma Pyngolil, MSN, ARNP PMHNP BC (Broward Health Medical Center, Fort Lauderdale) and Donna Linette, DNP, MSN, NEA-BC (Broward Health Imperial Point, Fort Lauderdale) are the only three certified APNA (American Psychiatric Nurses Assoc.) facilitators in the entire state of Florida and spearheaded the first training seminar in Florida at Broward Health Imperial Point in August with over 30 nurses attending from local-area hospitals.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services that supports efforts related to mental illness and substance abuse. SAMHSA defines recovery as ‘A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential’.
The American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) has developed a program – Acute Care Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses: Preparing for Recovery Oriented Practice, to support recovery concepts. This program presents recovery knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to facilitate change in psychiatric nursing practice. The APNA – Florida Chapter decided this was a priority for the nurse at the bedside and their RN Council took on the initiative to assure that Florida has trained facilitators.
Why is this important? The concepts of recovery are critical for the inpatient psychiatric nurse to consider to support the patient and family. Recovery means that we include all of the SAMHSA principles in our daily practice. Recovery supports the patient, meets/exceeds regulatory requirements for patient involvement, and is just the right thing to do! Broward Health Imperial Point mental health nurses continue to grow in understanding recovery and how to assure that their practice reflects the principles.
