Hawaii Community College nursing instructor Cheryl Puntil is the 2017 recipient of the Award for Distinguished Service from the American Psychiatric Nurses Association.
Hawaii Community College nursing instructor Cheryl Puntil is the 2017 recipient of the Award for Distinguished Service from the American Psychiatric Nurses Association.
Puntil will be honored Oct. 18 during the 31st annual National APNA Conference in Phoenix.
With more than 10,000 members, APNA is the largest professional membership organization committed to the specialty practice of psychiatric mental health nursing and wellness promotion, prevention of mental health problems, and the care and treatment of people with psychiatric disorders.
Puntil and several APNA colleagues worked on the APNA Essential Suicide Competencies for nurse assessment and management of individuals at risk for suicide.
“Through (Cheryl’s) vision, determination, and perseverance, the APNA Suicide Competencies initiative became a reality and an exemplar, continues to expand, and addresses both a major national public health problem and gap in nursing education,” Puntil’s colleagues stated.
“It is an incredible honor,” Puntil said. “I followed my passion and was lucky to find awesome mentors who paved the way for me to assist in establishing competencies that will change nursing practice and improve care for those at risk for suicide.
“I was very surprised and grateful for the acknowledgment from my esteemed colleagues who nominated me, and to the APNA board for voting on my behalf to receive the award.”
Puntil received her bachelors of science in nursing from the College of Saint Teresa in Winona, Minn., and her master’s of science in nursing from the University of California, Los Angeles.
She is certified as an advanced practice registered nurse and a psychiatric mental health clinical nurse specialist.
Puntil joined the HCC Division of Nursing and Allied Health in 2014. HCC offers an associate of science degree in nursing and a certificate of achievement in practical nursing.