September 29, 1938-August 31, 2021
Barbara Carol Minchin, MSN, ARNP, was an early member and strong supporter of the AAPPN.
Her activism, together with other early members, helped legitimize the field of advanced psychiatric nurse practitioners in Washington State.
Barbara passed away on August 31 at Martha & Mary Health and Rehab Center in Poulsbo at the age of 82. A memorial and reception will be held in her honor on Saturday, November 27, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1020 Jefferson St., in Port Townsend.
Barbara was an AAPPN member from 2005-2012 and served as a mentor and advocate for mental health services professionals throughout her career.
At the beginning of her career, Barbara served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War, flying wounded and deceased servicemen back to the states. She remained in the reserves until the 1980’s, when she returned to active duty until her retirement from the Army as a Major.
Barbara taught at the University of Washington School of Nursing from 1969-1977, where she provided department leadership and was loved by her students. In the early 1980’s she served as a charge nurse at the University of Washington psychiatric inpatient unit and mentored psychiatric RNs, many of whom went on to practice as ARNPs.
In other capacities, she served as the Director of Nursing of the New Mexico State Mental Hospital in in Las Vegas, N.M. She also worked as an advanced practice psychiatric nurse in Okanagan and in Port Townsend, where she was in private practice and also worked for Jefferson Mental Health.
Barbara will be remembered for her kindness and generosity and will be deeply missed.