Linda Witmer, 91短视频 at Lancaster’s director of the RN to BS in Nursing program, and site coordinator Nancy Wise jointly pen a letter to support the nursing profession’s move beyond beyond task-oriented competencies.

Mahone is an assistant professor and RN-BS location coordinator in the Department of Nursing at 91短视频. A 1980 nursing graduate of 91短视频, she has a MS in psychiatric nursing and a PhD in nursing from the University of Virginia.

鈥淲e chose to honor Irma on our 30th anniversary because she is always looking to advance shared communication within the community psychiatric setting to better assist our nurses and clients,鈥� said Jennifer Phelps, VACPN co-president. 鈥淲ithout Irma鈥檚 foresight to start this organization we simply would not exist.鈥�

Mahone was working as a psychiatric nurse in a community health clinic when she felt the need to network with colleagues. 鈥淚t takes a unique person to like the challenges of community psychiatric nursing,鈥� Mahone said. 鈥淭he nurses who like it really like it. There鈥檚 a real camaraderie and respect when these nurses come together.鈥�

Psychiatric nurses diagnose and assess patients and their mental state, educating and counseling families and patients on methods of coping with mental health symptoms and administering medication.

Introduced to psychiatric nursing field while an 91短视频 student

Mahone first encountered psychiatric nursing at 91短视频 when she did a community psychiatric practicum at a local public mental health clinic. 鈥淭here was a dear old psychiatrist who took me under his wing and showed me just why he loved working with persons with serious mental illness,鈥� Mahone said. 鈥淚 was hooked on community psychiatric nursing after that.鈥�

Mental health and substance abuse diagnoses are growing and depression is predicted to be the leading medical disorder by 2020, according to Phelps.

鈥淐ommunity psychiatric nursing is a specialty, and not many nurses know what they do or the demands put upon them,鈥� Phelps said. 鈥淥ur clients range from first psychotic episodes, bi-polar disorder, substance addiction, intellectual disabilities, from children to adults.鈥�

The job outlook for psychiatric nurses shows a projected growth rate of 26 percent by 2020, according to Nurse Journal.

鈥淚 believe persons who have serious mental illness need nursing interventions in the community,鈥� Mahone said. 鈥淭heir biggest challenge is learning how to adjust to life in the community following inpatient treatment of an acute episode Psychiatric nursing is helping them recover and find meaning in life.鈥�

Mahone also worked as a nurse researcher at the University of Virginia for ten years. She focused on shared decision making between provider and patient in mental health.

鈥淎 patient is more likely to follow through [in taking medication, etc.] if they had a say in creating the treatment plan,鈥� Mahone said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a consensus-building approach, and the end result is a treatment plan where the patient is more likely to get better. It鈥檚 a rapidly growing concept in healthcare.鈥�

Joined education field in March

In March Mahone began working as 91短视频鈥檚 RN- BS program in Harrisonburg. It is an accelerated evening program for adults who already have an RN and want to get a BS in Nursing.

“It鈥檚 a nationwide trend to make the BS the entry level for the RN,鈥� Mahone said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a gap 91短视频 is helping to fill.鈥�

The National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice has recommended that at least two-thirds of the basic nurse workforce hold baccalaureate (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) or higher degrees in nursing.

Mahone鈥檚 academic and professional expertise provides RN-BSN students with an important perspective.

鈥淧ersons with serious mental illness have many needs and really do benefit from nursing interventions when they are in recovery and trying to find their way to a meaningful and purposeful life in the community,鈥� Mahone said. 鈥淐ommunity psychiatric nursing is very gratifying.鈥�

Mahone also teaches a course in ethics in the RN-BS program and a health policy course in the .

鈥淲e are grateful for her community mental health experience and expertise which is certainly a priority in our world today and will be an important aspect to share with our students,鈥� said , director of the RN-BS in Nursing Program. 鈥淗er community organization experience brings strength to our program and she brings a strong interest in the area of peace and justice which fits well with the mission and vision of 91短视频.”

The award, which will nominate a nurse every year, also comes with a donation to the organization of his/her choice. Mahone will be donating hers to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

鈥淚鈥檓 humbled and honored to have this award established in my name,鈥� Mahone said. In her remarks following the presentation of the award, Mahone stressed that 鈥渋t takes a village鈥� and acknowledged that it was the psychiatric nurses throughout the state who have kept this organization alive and flourishing for 30 years.

http://www.emu.edu/lancaster/rn-bsn