Listserv User Guide

While the AAPPN Listserv is private, messages posted to it are not HIPAA compliant. Do not include information that could identify any patient or potential patient.

Honor copyrighted material. Please do not copy and paste articles in your message. Instead, include a link to them. If the article is not available online, refer to it with typical reference citations and provide a brief quote.

Be polite and courteous. Before hitting the send button, consider how you would feel if your message was the headline story in your hometown newspaper. We call this the New York Times test.

Observe antitrust concerns. AAPPN is a professional association and by its very nature is subject to antitrust issues. Discussions about rates charged, efforts to exert collective pressure on payors, terms of contracts with insurance companies, internship salaries, etc., all are prohibited.

Leave politics at the door. Listserv exchanges must avoid electioneering or endorsing a candidate for federal, state, or local political office. That said, advocacy on substantive issues is separate from electioneering for candidates. Electioneering is absolutely prohibited. Advocacy on legislative issues is allowed.

When posting a message to the listserv asking for support regarding a case, we request all listserv users follow these guidelines.

Listserv users should ask for patient permission before seeking support from the listserv.

Any case presentation requesting guidance or recommendations should be detailed enough to get a clinical picture, and broad enough that one could not identify the patient, even if one were familiar with the not-identified community where the patient lives.

As the listserv is NOT a HIPAA-compliant form of communication, listserv users should keep patient information to a minimum and avoid all use of Protected Health Information in their messages.

Listserv users should use the following recommended case sharing template.

• The patient is an Adolescent/Young Adult/Adult/Older Adult, Ethnicity, Gender from a Rural/Urban/Suburban area who presents with the following symptoms:
• Pertinent background data: patient came from an Eastern/Western/Northern/Southern state to live with a Relative due to these symptoms.
• Known history includes, e.g., Patient worked as a social worker until Month/Year when symptoms became overwhelming.
• Medical conditions ruled out include:
• The clinical question is:

State concisely and clearly the topic of your comments in the subject line.

Only send a message to the entire list when it contains information that benefits everyone.

For items such as referrals, office space, etc., please be clear about the geographic area. And keep in mind that “eastside” does not mean Bellevue to our members in Spokane!

Send messages such as “thanks for the information” or “me, too” to individuals—not to the entire list. Do this by using the “reply” option for your email. “Reply all” will send your message to the entire listserv.

Do not send administrative messages, such as “remove me from the list,” through the listserv. To unsubscribe, follow the link at the bottom of the listserv email message or contact Chris Crosser at gro.n1792104299ppaa@1792104299sirhc1792104299 or 360-734-3166.

Do not use the listserv to invite the entire list to join your social network (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.).

Warn members of lengthy messages either in the subject line or at the beginning of the message body with a line that says “Long Message.”

Please note, AAPPN does not actively monitor the site for inappropriate postings.

However, in the event that any inappropriate posting is brought to AAPPN’s attention, AAPPN reserves the right to take all appropriate action in response. AAPPN reserves the right to terminate access to any user who does not abide by AAPPN policies and guidelines.

AAPPN established its listserv to foster connection, collaboration, and communication within the advanced psychiatric nurse community.

By using the listserv, members agree not to send:

• Unsolicited Commercial Email (spam). This includes requests for political solicitations, funding, or other time and resources of AAPPN members.
• Requests for preceptors. AAPPN is not an appropriate venue in creating preceptor relationships. It is not an acceptable use of the listserv to post messages requesting preceptors or clinical sites.
• Requests for participation in surveys or educational projects. 

Messages regarding client referrals, office space for lease, job announcements, or for-fee events or activities conducted by AAPPN or AAPPN members are not considered spam. For-fee activities may include outside events, ongoing workshops, or supervision or therapy groups. As a courtesy to fellow members, please limit messages regarding for-fee activities to one message per activity per two months.

Members agree to only use email addresses that they own and control for sending and receiving messages to and from the listserv.

Members agree to follow the general participation policy, case sharing policy, and listserv etiquette.

Members agree to respect the privacy of other users. 

Members agree not to forward listserv messages.

All electronic mailing lists are to used only for lawful purposes. Transmission, storage, or presentation of any information, data or material in violation of any United States Federal, State or City law is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to: copyrighted material, material we judge to be inappropriate, threatening, obscene, or protected by trade secret and other statutes.

The AAPPN office will notify any member who posts a message which violates AAPPN policies or is counter to AAPPN’s mission.

Any member who posts a second inappropriate message will be temporarily removed from the listserv. The member may have their listserv privileges reinstated by providing in writing that they will follow all AAPPN policies.

Any member who posts a third inappropriate message will permanently lose their listserv privileges.

What is the listserv? Is it something like Facebook, Bluesky, or X for psychiatric nurse practitioners?

The listserv is an email-based member-to-member discussion.

It is not like social media. It is not built for quick or glib questions or responses.

There is an expectation that all messages be polite and courteous. Sarcasm, yelling (WRITING IN ALL CAPS), and disrespectful language don’t have a place on the listserv.

Before hitting the send button, ask yourself how you would feel if your message was the headline story in your hometown newspaper or a respected professional journal.

While the listserv is not HIPAA compliant, it is a private email discussion among professionals. It is not appropriate to forward listserv messages outside the group. If you have a compelling reason to forward a message, be sure to delete all identifiable information, including names and email addresses.

How do I post a message to the listserv?

To post a message, simply send an email to the listserv. It will be automatically sent to all members subscribed to it. You can format your listserv message just like any other email. You can even attach a file.

Please reply only to the person who posted the message. If your response would be of interest to the entire listserv, you can choose to “reply all.”

For the listserv email address, visit the AAPPN Listserv information webpage. (Login required.)

Is it okay for me to post a message about a job opening I know about?

Yes, you can post job announcements, office space availability, and practice-for-sell notices.

I’m a student. Can I use the listserv to find a preceptor?

No, you cannot look for a preceptor using the listserv.

Can I invite members to a consultation group I’m starting?

Yes, you can invite AAPPN members to join a consultation you are starting. Respondents should reply directly to you and you would be in charge of organizing and hosting the consultation group. Subsequent emails should be sent from your email, not through AAPPN’s listserv.

If you are proposing a new monthly meeting for AAPPN members, similar to the Rural Practice Group, CAYA, or the Case Discussion Group, please contact Chris Crosser for more information.

Can I share information about upcoming events by other organization?

Yes, you can post a single message about another organization’s event as long it is not the same week as an AAPPN workshop or conference.

Can the office post a message about a job opening or event for another organization for me?

No, the office generally doesn’t post messages for third parties. Notable exceptions include information about fellowships and scholarships. AAPPN also is a proud partner of the Lois Price Spratlen Foundation and will, from time to time, share information about its events.

Is there a way to post a message without my name?

Yes, if you feel uncomfortable about posting a question and want to remain anonymous, the office can post it for you and forward the responses to you.

What happens if I misunderstand AAPPN’s listserv policy and post something I should not have posted?

Misunderstandings and mistakes happen. AAPPN has developed what we hope is a clear policy about this.

Here are the steps AAPPN will take:

• The AAPPN office will notify any member who posts a message which violates AAPPN policies or is counter to AAPPN’s mission.
• Any member who posts a second inappropriate message will be temporarily removed from the listserv. The member may have their listserv privileges reinstated by providing in writing that they will follow all AAPPN policies.
• Any member who posts a third inappropriate message will permanently lose their listserv privileges.

What happens if my email gets hacked?

In the case of a suspicious email on the listserv, the AAPPN office will temporarily remove the sender from the listserv and immediately contact the member about a possible email hack.

Once the possible email hack is resolved, the member will be added back to the listserv.

How do I update my listserv subscription information?

In the footer of each listserv message, there is a link you can use to change your email address, “go on vacation” which temporarily suspends listserv messages, unsubscribe from the listserv, or switch to receiving the digest version.

Is there a way to find past listserv messages?

Yes. Log into the AAPPN Listserv information webpage for the link to the listserv archive.

I’m not receiving listserv messages. Who do I contact?

Contact Chris Crosser at gro.n1792104299ppaa@1792104299sirhc1792104299 or 360-734-3166.