Founded in 1972, SPAPN was the first professional nursing body in the country to certify clinical nurse specialists in psychiatric nursing. Today, the Society includes all psychiatric advanced practice nurses, both psychiatric nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists in advanced practice nursing.

The Society continues to advocate and lobby for psychiatric advanced practice nurses in practicing to the fullest scope of their training and education, upholding the standards of excellence for psychiatric mental-health nursing and to promote the delivery of high quality professional care to clients, their families and the community.