We congratulate our member, Professor Smoyak who was inducted as an honorary fellow into the Royal College of Nursing in April 2011. Royal College of Nursing states:
“A psychiatric nurse, health care sociologist, and a member of the Rutgers University College of Nursing, in her 50 years of teaching Professor Smoyak has delivered courses in mental health and illness, psychiatric and mental health nursing, and family dynamics, as well as health and qualitative research methods.
“A highly respected researcher in the field of mental health, her drive to ‘get the job done’ has seen her generate vibrant networks that attract world-class teams of multi-disciplinary researchers. Throughout her long research career she has frequently relished being one of the first to tackle a number of contentious topics. This tenacity saw her become one of the first nurses to focus on the role and needs of families caring for people with an experience of mental illness, and a leading authority on how psychiatric patients are kept in hospitals beyond the required discharge date. More recent research projects include an assessment of the role of public health nurses, and the criminal and clinical perspectives of stalking.
“Her vast body of publications and paper have brought Professor Smoyak to the attention of the international mental health nursing fraternity. She is also editor of the Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services (JPN) – the only monthly journal serving psychiatric nurses in clinical practice in the United States and around the world.
“From her ground breaking programme of workshops on group and individual therapy for hospitalised patients delivered to practicing staff nurses in state and psychiatric hospitals in the 1960s - which advanced the skills, knowledge and professionalism of psychiatric nurses in the US and beyond - to her pioneering work on nurse-patient interaction, Professor Smoyak’s teaching, research and scholarship have helped to shape all aspects of psychiatric and mental health nursing worldwide.
The Mardi Considine Remarkable Award
A longtime member of The Society of Psychiatric Advanced Practice Nurses, Patricia Kakstis, was honored recently at a gala fundraising event hosted by Family Guidance Center/ Family and Children’s Services Board of Directors. At Family Guidance in Hamilton, Pat provides psychiatric evaluations and medication monitoring to a diverse psychiatric population of varying ages. The Mardi Considine Remarkable Award was given to Pat after she was nominated by her fellow staff members. The award is given in memory of Mardi Considine to honor a staff person who has shown unusual dedication and highly distinguished service to the agency.
At the presentation dinner, Pat was praised for the work she does as an APN with special recognition of her ability to care for her patients’ mind, body and spirit. Stories were told of how she often goes beyond her job responsibilities, establishing funds for the poor, linking mental health clients with physical care resources, and seeking out transportation so her patients can attend important appointments. In addition to holding a reputation as an excellent prescriber and therapist, Pat has generously given of her time to teach and mentor other nurses and nursing students.
In response to the presentation, Pat graciously thanked her coworkers, family, and friends, stating that their help makes it possible for her to accomplish what is needed and that she could not succeed without them. She added that she absolutely LOVES her job particularly because it gives her the opportunity to practice as a psychiatric APN.
Throughout the evening Pat could be overheard saying that what she does is typical for any good nurse. Thanks for the compliment Pat. You’re right….APN’s provide excellent care. But this time your fellow members of The Society of Psychiatric Advanced Practice Nurses want to say thank you for representing us so well and CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU!!!
SPAPN Members were among NJ Healthcare Providers invited to attend “D.C. Day” |