Hope College senior nursing major Christina Bello of Milford is one of only 15 undergraduate nursing students nationwide to receive a 2012 American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) Janssen Student Scholarship.
The highly competitive scholarship award includes registration, travel and lodging expenses to attend the APNA annual conference and a one-year complimentary membership in the APNA. This year’s conference, the premiere event for psychiatric nursing, will be held on Wednesday-Saturday, Nov. 7-10, in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Bello, who will graduate in December, aspires to pursue graduate education and certification as a psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner. Her activities as a student have included the Phelps Scholars Program, student-organized Dancer Marathon fund-raiser held on behalf of Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, the college’s H20 Wellness Visit Program, Images: A Reflection of Cultures, a spring break immersion trip and the Kappa Delta Chi sorority. She is a 2008 graduate of Milford High School, and the daughter of Reynaldo and Josephine Bello of Milford.
Founded in 1986, the APNA is the largest professional membership organization committed to the specialty practice of psychiatric-mental health (PMH) nursing and wellness promotion, prevention of mental health problems, and the care and treatment of persons with psychiatric disorders. APNA membership totals more than 8,000 PMH nurses worldwide. APNA members practice in all settings, including inpatient, community, academic, research, private and public health institutions, and high-level administrative positions at state and federal levels.