While individual psychiatrists have collaborative and business relationships with psychiatric nurse practitioners, there is no systematic approach to the relationship between child and adolescent psychiatrists and the professional organizations that represent Advanced Practice Nurses (APRNs) nor the policies that address the interaction between child and adolescent psychiatrists and APRNs. There is no joint problem solving on issues of common concern such as improved access to treatment, patient safety, initial training, continuing education, and quality improvement. This Workshop first sets a foundation describing APRN training, licensing, certification, regulation, and practice relationships followed by a discussion of the issues related to more effective joint planning and policy development to further shared objectives on a national, state, and regional level.

Sponsored by the AACAP Committee on Healthcare Access and Economics