Inaugural Behavioral Health Nursing Summit exceeds expectations, fosters connections

In April, Radford University’s College of Nursing hosted its inaugural Behavioral Health Nursing Summit, called “Fostering Connection in Nursing Practice: Cultivating Healthy Resilience in Behavioral Health Care.” More than 175 attendees participated in the daylong summit, including faculty, staff and students from Radford and other universities, as well as leaders from government agencies, hospitals, healthcare clinics and larger healthcare systems throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond.

In her welcoming remarks, Provost Bethany Usher said, “As a regional public university, Radford University's mission is to not only give an excellent education to our diverse and talented students, but also to make a positive impact on Southwest Virginia and the entire commonwealth. With today’s program of speakers and activities, I know that the knowledge you are sharing will be important. But it's also clear that building community amongst you all will be equally important.”

Featured speakers were Nelson Smith, commissioner of the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS), and Donna Wright, expert in healthcare professional development and renowned author. In interactive sessions with attendees, they shared insights about the state of behavioral health today, along with opportunities to improve delivery and outcomes as well as barriers to overcome.

“We were thrilled by the outpouring of support for this inaugural event,” said Deidra Pennington, undergraduate nursing department co-chair. “The wide variety of participants coming from universities, clinics and hospitals and state agencies reflects the interest in and importance of behavioral health today.”

As part of the event, Smith announced 10 new scholarships for full-time DBHDS facility-based RNs at participating facilities. The “DBHDS RN-to-BSN scholarship” will provide RNs with full tuition of $10,620 to pursue Radford University College of Nursing’s RN-to-BSN program, a 10-month, 100% online program. The fast-track program is designed to help RNs advance their careers and boost their earning potential by expanding their skills and knowledge while enhancing their understanding of behavioral healthcare policy, nursing care and administration, and evidence-based practices.

“The new scholarships provided by Commissioner Smith will have far-reaching implications for behavioral health RNs across Virginia,” said Wendy Downey, dean of the College of Nursing. “It’s an honor for the commissioner to support Radford University and the College of Nursing’s commitment to excellence in developing professional nurses to meet the behavioral health needs in our communities.”