2025 Nursing Conference Grant Winning Essays

The questions for this year’s application cycle were as follows: 

1. Please describe how you will share what you learn at this conference with colleagues. 

2. How will you incorporate what you learn from this educational offering into your practice? 

3. How will this conference advance your long-term career goals (beyond the attainment of continuing education hour requirements)? 

 

Essays were lightly edited for grammar, flow, and readability.  

 

Joshua Moran Jimenez

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Essay 1:  To ensure the knowledge gained from the APNA Annual Conference is meaningfully disseminated and applied across our organization, I plan to share key takeaways through the following collaborative platforms: Through the Institute of Psychiatry Collaboration Council, I will present a summary of conference highlights during an upcoming council meeting, focusing on system-level innovations, policy updates, and interdisciplinary strategies that align with our institutional goals. I will also propose integrating relevant conference materials into ongoing initiatives, such as quality improvement projects or strategic planning discussions. As a member of the Psychiatric Nursing Excellence Collaborative comprised of nursing leadership, staff leaders, preceptors, students, faculty, clinical instructors, and representatives from the nursing excellence office, I will lead a debrief session to share evidence-based practices and clinical pearls from the conference. This may include a short presentation on trauma-informed care updates, recovery-oriented approaches, or workforce well-being strategies. I will also distribute curated resources such as slides, handouts, or session recordings to support continued learning among members. Through unit-based councils, I will tailor key insights to the needs of frontline staff by sharing practical tools and clinical updates during unit-based council meetings. For example, I may highlight new approaches to managing psychiatric emergencies or improving therapeutic communication. I will also encourage discussion on how these practices can be adapted to our specific patient populations and workflows.

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Essay 2: Attending the APNA Annual Conference will provide me with valuable insights into current trends, evidence-based practices, and innovative strategies in psychiatric-mental health nursing. I plan to integrate these learnings into my practice in the following ways: As a nurse practitioner, I will apply updated clinical knowledge and therapeutic approaches to enhance patient care. For example, if I attend a session on managing co-occurring disorders, I will incorporate those strategies into my treatment planning and medication management. I also plan to explore new tools for patient engagement and symptom tracking, which can improve outcomes in outpatient behavioral health settings. As a nurse educator, I will bring back key concepts and teaching strategies to enrich the learning experience for my students. For instance, if I learn about innovative simulation techniques for psychiatric assessment, I will integrate those into my curriculum to better prepare students for real-world clinical challenges. As a nurse leader, I will use the knowledge gained to advocate for trauma-informed, recovery-oriented care models within my organization. If the conference includes sessions on workforce well-being or leadership in mental health, I will apply those insights to support staff development and resilience. Additionally, I plan to collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to implement best practices and promote a culture of continuous improvement.

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Essay 3: The American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) Annual Conference is uniquely positioned to support my professional growth as a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner, educator, and emerging nurse leader. It also aligns with my long-term goal of becoming a nurse researcher, as I prepare to begin a PhD in Nursing Science program in May 2026. The conference offers evidence-based updates in psychopharmacology, trauma-informed care, and integrated behavioral health- knowledge I will apply directly in my clinical practice to improve patient outcomes. As a nurse educator, I will gain innovative teaching strategies and mentorship models that I can use to better support APP students in behavioral health settings. These insights will also inform my future research interests in psychiatric nursing education. Sessions on workforce well-being, policy advocacy, and system-level change will enhance my leadership contributions to initiatives such as the Psychiatric Nursing Excellence Collaborative and the Institute of Psychiatry Collaboration Council. Exposure to current psychiatric-mental health research and networking with nurse scientists will help me refine my research interests and identify potential mentors and collaborators as I transition into doctoral study. I plan to share key takeaways with colleagues through presentations at unit-based councils, the Psychiatric Nursing Excellence Collaborative, and the Institute of Psychiatry Collaboration Council, ensuring the knowledge gained benefits our broader community. Attending this conference is a critical step in bridging my current practice with my future goals in nursing science, education, and leadership.

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