In October, Otavio Tobias and Gabby Sutton were awarded the 2024 American Psychiatric Nursing Associations (APNA) Director’s Student Scholarship which included special recognition at the national conference and attending scholar mentoring activities. Both were two of only six undergraduates awarded from hundreds nationwide. Their win marks the first time in APNA history that two undergraduates were awarded from the same school—a remarkable achievement. APNA will hone their ability to work in mental health nursing as they support the organization in its aim to enhance the quality of mental health care through education, support, and advocacy for psychiatric nurses.
To apply for the award, Otavio and Gabby submitted detailed reports of their research experiences and extracurricular activities, obtained letters of recommendation from BYU Nursing faculty, and wrote personal essays. “For them to get this award is an incredible honor,” said Dr. Leslie Miles. “It’s not a lottery; it’s based on what they’ve done and their goals for their future. They are expected to be leaders in the psychiatric nursing field.”
Gabby Sutton
Gabby has worked with those who have mental illness for most of her nursing career thus far, advocating for patients with disabilities in her native Washington, D.C., and received a World Proclamation for Autism Awareness and a congressional recognition for dedication leadership. Her recent APNA award will enable her to attend graduate school and fulfill her dream of one day opening her own clinic dedicated to taking care of patients with mental health concerns.
“My experiences with vulnerable populations have motivated me to help create a healthcare system where individuals with mental needs do not fall through the cracks,” said Gabby. “Patients with mental health concerns typically have many of the same health conditions, and often times more health complications than patients without mental health conditions. I’ve seen how a little can go a long way and small interventions such as dimming the lights in exam rooms to decrease stimulation or providing sensory toys to help with emotional regulation can make a big difference in decreasing stress and improving health outcomes for these patients."
At the APNA conference, Gabby was particularly grateful to see so many healthcare professionals caring about the same populations as she does. Having members of APNA offer advice and mentorship as she prepares for graduate school down the line was invaluable and she is excited to learn about subspecialties of mental health care she did not know existed. Her experience at APNA will benefit her as she continues to promote holistic care in the realm of mental health.
Otavio Tobias
Otavio gained interest in psychiatric nursing during his second semester in the nursing program. “I really love this aspect of one-on-one care with a patient going through psychotherapy,” said Otavio. “The opportunity to have your relationship with a patient be a therapeutic intervention is so unique.”
He currently serves as board president of Utah Student Nurse Association and has conducted research with Sondra Heaston in Paraguay over the past three years. Attending the APNA conference connected him to professionals that solidified his goal to attend graduate school.
“I think it’s cool when people who are further down the line in this field that you respect and aspire to go out of their way to create opportunities and open doors for those just entering the field,” said Otavio. “I felt very supported and found that I would have colleagues who would back me up as I grow in the profession. It was cool to see people passionate about the same things I am.”
Membership in APNA will enable both Gabby and Otavio to achieve their goals of graduate school and will amplify the effect they can have in their future nursing career.
Follow this link to learn more about APNA.
