A call for volunteers and leadership within AAPPN to continue to promote strength and growth within our practices, profession, association, and communities.
I am honored to lead your Board of Directors in 2024. We have proven that we are resilient and continue to seek ways to grow in our profession and association with our members, volunteers, and leaders.
I have met many members over the past years that work in different areas across the state with unique backgrounds, experiences, and interests. There is strength that is found in the diversity of our members. That diversity benefits all members.
During the past few years AAPPN has and introduced a variety of online practice groups (CAYA and Rural Practice groups and, soon, the Case Discussion Group). We seek to encourage members to connect based on their interests. We all have a passion for meeting the mental healthcare needs within our practices, communities, and state. I encourage you to join or even lead an interest group.
I also encourage you to connect about interests you are passionate about. Our listserv is a great avenue to bring your experiences and knowledge to members and future advanced practice psychiatric nurses. We are a member-driven professional association. We need voices from our members as volunteers to continue to guide us within our association and profession.
Please consider volunteering on a committee. You can help plan our conference, advance our legislative agenda, or honor the stars of our profession.
We have had such wonderful past and current leaders that have shaped our profession and AAPPN. I would like to encourage you to be active in your profession at work, in your community, in Washington state and our country, and in our association.
We need to ensure that we are seen and heard as advanced practice psychiatric nurses around the state. We need to build our connections with other advanced practice psychiatric nurses and students to grow our membership, strengthen our practices and profession, keep up with changes in our state and country that affect our practices, and share our knowledge and experiences.
Thank you for all you do as a mental health professional.
Leslie M. Hite, PMHNP-BC
AAPPN Board President