History

For over five decades, the MFP at the American Nurses Association (ANA), has been engaged in the challenge of reshaping the profile of nurse leaders in research, clinical practice, and academia. The efforts of the MFP have resulted in an increase in the numbers of nurses who have expertise in psychiatric/mental health nursing. About 1000 MFP Fellows with earned doctorates or masters degrees help to document the program's success.

Fellows of the MFP have contributed to nursing's theoretical and empirical knowledge base about nursing's role in providing health care services. Some of the graduates are employed as clinicians, who work in high risk urban and rural areas, providing care to children and families who are victims of violence, HIV/AIDS, and substance misuse. Others provide direct care to individuals with mental and behavioral health conditions who reside in a variety of settings such as state hospitals and community-based homes. Still, others work in community clinics and outreach programs and are often the primary care providers for underinsured or uninsured patients and their families, who might otherwise go without needed mental health services.

A substantial number of the Fellows seek and retain employment in academic settings where they teach, conduct research, and participate in the promulgation of public policy. Their work demonstrates that research and public policy aid all professionals in their efforts to provide effective, person-centered care. These approaches help to lessen the cost of health care, minimize the impact of stigma that is attached to mental health conditions in some communities, and improve the nation's overall health.