News from Cambridge Health Alliance
February 5, 2010
Cambridge Health Alliance Nurse Manager Honored
for Innovation in Psychiatric Nursing
 Cambridge,
MA…Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) nurse manager Kathleen
Regan, RN, MHA, recently received the 2009 Award for Innovation
from the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA).
The award recognizes an APNA member who has developed and/or demonstrated
a new, fresh approach to care through innovation in psychiatric-mental
health nursing practice. Regan is one of 10 nurses from across the
U.S. who was honored.
Regan's career in psychiatric nursing has spanned nearly 30 years
in a variety of settings, including community health clinics, adult
day treatment, and child and adult inpatient units. She joined the
Child Assessment Unit (CAU) at CHA's Cambridge Hospital campus in
2001 and, a year later, led a significant paradigm shift in inpatient
care, adopting a more humane, trauma-sensitive treatment model for
patients.
The transformation has been successful; CAU is an award-winning
child and family-centered care facility. Regan's 2006 book Opening
Our Arms: Helping Troubled Kids Do Well chronicles the changes
the unit underwent including the challenges she faced as she implemented
a new standard for psychiatric care.
The APNA recognized Regan's leadership, direction, vision, and
partnership with her staff to better care for children with serious
mental illness as well as her willingness to share her experiences,
vision, and success with others. Regan also played a significant
role on the APNA's Restraint and Seclusion Task Force in 2007.
"It is thoroughly gratifying to be honored for doing my life's
work," said Regan. "Knowing that the award comes from
colleagues and experts in the field whom I really respect makes
it especially meaningful."
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