Bethany Phoenix, PhD, RN, FAAN

Recent research efforts have focused on the regulatory framework for advanced psychiatric nursing practice and workforce trends in the specialty. As part of the Advanced Practice Committee of the American Psychiatric Nurses' Assn., I was a co-investigator in two nationwide surveys of boards of nursing to collect information about legislative and regulatory changes (titling, prescriptive authority, etc.) that impact advanced practice psychiatric nursing (APPN) and to identify state and nationwide trends for APPNs. I participated in design of the surveys, data collection from state boards of nursing, and summary and analysis of the findings. I am co-PI on a study recently funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that will use a mixed methods approach to examine structural, practice and policy barriers to optimal use of PMHNPs to meet the workforce needs of California's public mental health system, as well as analyzing effective methods of collaborative practice currently in use in county settings.