Kate Gibson, D.N.P., APRN, PMHNP-BC, CPRS, a May 2025 graduate of the VCU School of Nursing, is one of just 30 students nationwide selected as a 2025 recipient of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) Board of Directors Student Scholarship.

Gibson, who serves as a clinical nurse in Radiology at VCU Health and an affiliate faculty member at the VCU School of Nursing, is among a select group nationwide recognized for their dedication to psychiatric-mental health nursing. The scholarship includes complimentary registration to the APNA 39th Annual Conference and a one-year membership in the association.

The APNA Board of Directors Student Scholarship is awarded annually to nursing students who demonstrate strong academic performance, professional engagement and a clear commitment to advancing the field of psychiatric-mental health nursing.

“For me, winning the American Psychiatric Nurses Association Board of Directors' Scholarship means that I will be able to network and learn from a body of knowledge and networking opportunities that would have otherwise taken years to access,” Gibson said.

I was drawn to the PMHNP program because of VCU SON's reputation and my own experience as a person in long-term recovery from a substance use disorder. I wanted to provide the same exceptional care I once received as a patient.

Gibson says her personal journey and academic experience at VCU played a significant role in shaping her path toward psychiatric-mental health nursing, combining her lived experience in recovery with the clinical training and mentorship she received to prepare for a career grounded in empathy, advocacy, and evidence-based care.

“I was drawn to the PMHNP program because of VCU SON's reputation and my own experience as a person in long-term recovery from a substance use disorder. I wanted to provide the same exceptional care I once received as a patient,” she said. “My experience at the VCU School of Nursing has opened many doors for me, including obtaining my certified peer recovery specialist credentials and completing an advanced post-graduate certificate in international addiction studies through VCU School of Medicine's IPAS program.”

Her selection as an APNA Board of Directors Student Scholar reflects a growing recognition of the value in combining lived experience with clinical expertise to advance compassionate, recovery-informed psychiatric-mental health care

“The APNA Board of Directors Student Scholarship is an investment in the future of psychiatric-mental health nursing,” said APNA President Joyce M. Shea, DNSc, APRN, PMHCNS-BC, FAAN. “In a time when mental health needs are more urgent than ever, this scholarship supports students who are preparing to lead, to innovate, and to provide person-centered, evidence-based care. To be selected as an APNA Board of Directors Student Scholar is a prestigious recognition of a student's promise and passion for this vital and incredibly rewarding area of nursing. These scholars represent the future of our profession, and their voices will shape the delivery of psychiatric mental health care for years to come.”