Parkland leader named to board of American Psychiatric Nurses Association

DALLAS — The American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) has elected Celeste M. Johnson, DNP, APRN, PMH CNS, Director of Nursing, Psychiatric Services at Parkland Health & Hospital System, to the 2016 APNA Board of Directors. Johnson will serve as Member-at-Large, assuming the role at the organization’s 29^th Annual Conference in Lake Buena Vista, FL in October.

Johnson has more than 35 years of experience as a psychiatric mental health clinician, advanced practice nurse, educator, administrator, consultant and translator of evidence into practice. She has held her current position at Parkland since August 2014, where she provides clinical and operational leadership for psychiatric emergency, inpatient, outpatient and consult/liaison services. Before joining Parkland, she held nursing leadership positions at HCA Green Oaks Hospital, Dallas; Children’s Medical Center, Dallas; and Baylor University Medical Center.

APNA is a professional association organized to advance the science and education of psychiatric-mental health nursing. It is committed to the specialty practice of psychiatric-mental health nursing, health, wellness and recovery promotion through identification of mental health issues, prevention of mental health problems and the care and treatment of persons with psychiatric disorders. APNA has more than 10,000 members.

 “Celeste Johnson is a leader in her profession and a great asset to Parkland,” said Fred Cerise, MD, MPH, Parkland’s President and CEO. “We are proud of her accomplishments and appreciate the work she does every day at Parkland to ensure that our patients receive safe, quality care.”

“I look forward to helping fulfill APNA’s goals by sharing my experiences with innovative, evidence-based practices, education, inter-professional collaboration, advocacy and healthcare technology,” Johnson said.

Johnson was APNA Texas chapter president from 2010 to 2013 and has been on the state chapter board for the past five years. She has served as Chair, Mental Health Node Expert Reference Group, The Joanna Briggs Institute, Adelaide, S. Australia, an international research group, from 2013 to present. She is a member of Dallas County’s Behavioral Health Leadership Team, past board member of Texas Nurses Association and past member of Dallas County Youth Services Advisory Board.

Johnson received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Virginia Commonwealth University/Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, VA. She earned a Master of Science in Nursing from The University of Texas at Arlington and Doctor of Nursing Practice degree at Texas Christian University, Fort Worth.