Baker College nursing student recognized by national medical association

Angela Goodson is one of 15 undergraduate/pre-licensure students nationwide and the only one from a Michigan college or university who has received a scholarship to attend the 2017 conference of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA), Oct. 18-21, in Phoenix.

Goodson received the APNA Board of Directors Student Scholarship as a nursing student at Baker College’s Auburn Hills campus. She graduated Aug. 19 with an associate degree in nursing.

“Angela was an extremely dedicated nursing student and is committed to making a positive impact in her community by providing quality care to others,” said Peter W. Karsten, Ph.D., CPA, Baker College of Auburn Hills president. “This national honor reflects positively on the Baker College nursing program's high quality faculty and staff and their outstanding work preparing graduates for success in the workforce.”

Scholarship recipients were selected based on academic merit and dedication to psychiatric-mental health nursing. Goodson, of Clarkston, was recommended for the award by a co-worker at Havenwyck Hospital, Auburn Hills, where Goodson has worked for four years.

“Receiving this award is an absolute honor,” she said. “I’m especially looking forward to conference breakout sessions focusing on substance abuse and mental illness where I will be able to further my education in this incredibly interesting specialty.”

Goodson started as a contingent technician at the hospital and has been promoted several times, including to the position of nurse following graduation from Baker College. Her goal is to work as a psychiatric-mental health nurse at the hospital, and she is interested in helping incarcerated individuals who suffer from mental illness.

The APNA award includes registration, travel and lodging expenses for the conference and a one-year APNA membership, which includes access to education, networking and resources that help to further develop nursing skills.

“This year’s Board of Directors Student Scholars are inspiring,” said APNA President Kris McLoughlin, DNP, APRN, PMHCNS-BC, FAAN. “In realizing their extraordinary potential, they will help ensure that our future is one that includes high-quality psychiatric-mental health nursing care for those in need.”

Approximately 1,600 psychiatric-mental health registered nurses and advanced-practice registered nurses are expected to attend the 2017 conference. It will offer more than 100 continuing education sessions and networking. The theme is Whole Health Begins with Mental Health. The APNA is a national professional membership organization committed to the specialty practice of psychiatric-mental health nursing and wellness promotion, prevention of mental health problems, and care and treatment of persons with psychiatric disorders.

Fall 2016, the Auburn Hills campus transitioned its nursing program to a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) pre-licensure track. Goodson was in the campus’ last cohort of the associate degree in nursing program.

For more information about the Baker College nursing program, contact Nicole Chirco in the admissions office at nicole.chirco@baker.edu or 248.340.0600, or visit www.baker.edu.

Baker College is Michigan’s largest independent not-for-profit college, with 12 campus and extension sites across the state, as well as 100 percent online program options, across 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Founded in 1911, Baker College represents a better way forward for more than 3,300 faculty and staff, 17,000 students and hundreds of thousands of alumni. For more information on Baker College, visit www.baker.edu or follow Baker College on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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Photo caption

Baker-AH-Goodson1.jpg – Baker College student Angela Goodson, left, receives a framed news release that announces the winners of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association’s Board of Directors Student Scholarship from Kathleen Pieroni, MSN, RN, Baker College of Auburn Hills program director for the School of Nursing.