Assignment: Academic Success and Professional Development

Assignment: Academic Success and Professional Development Plan Part 4: Finalizing the Plan

Nursing is a dynamic profession that aims to address health care needs of patients depending on the changes of patterns of disease in a society. In this regard, nurses play a significant role in optimizing quality outcomes for patients regardless of the state of health manifested by individuals (Delaney & Vanderhoef, 2019). Most often, pursuing a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing is not an end to a nursing career but it is the path that one can use to specialize in a given area of practice that guarantees quality care to patients. In a similar case, I have enrolled for Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) at Walden University to pursue further interest and knowledge in the specialty of psychiatric-mental health nursing to address the dynamics of healthcare system of the current society (Bingham & O’Brien, 2018). Initially, I hoped to enroll in gerontology nursing but upon guidance and with extensive consultations, I chose psychiatric mental health. PMHNP is a specialty where nurses provide direct care to clients in need of mental health assistance (Ong et al., 2017). Gerontology nursing on the other hand involves the provision of care to older patients in nursing homes or a health facility.

As for psychiatric-mental health nursing, students are prepared to identify typical vital signs, administer medication, and how to provide ambulatory services to patients with psychological problems (Hastings, Kroposki & Williams, 2017). In addition, nurses in this specialty are trained on wound care and skills on intravenous (IV) therapy as well as competencies on grading comatose patients who need intensive care treatment. On the contrary, gerontology nurses require skills on biopsychosocial factors related to elderly patients, complications of polypharmacy, and analysis of morbidity patterns in old age (Garbrah et al., 2017). In both settings of PMHNP and gerontology nursing, students need skills to address health needs of patients.

When compared to gerontology, psychiatric-mental health nursing is required in almost all settings of care across the world. In essence, PMHNP would be a better specialty of nursing to study as career prospects in the profession are promising being that one can work anywhere and at any time (Ong et al., 2017). However, despite the imminent and unwavering progression of aging in the present world, fewer nursing students select gerontology as a specialty due to low interest in the area. The reason could partly be due to a lack of interest in providing care at the end of life setting possibly in a nursing home or in a hospice (Garbrah et al., 2017). In this regard, psychiatric-mental health nursing is exciting and provides an avenue where nurses meet patients with different urgent needs as opposed to routine check-ups of elderly patients with degenerative diseases.

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Step 2: Justification of Nursing Specialty

Use the space below to write a paragraph identifying and justifying your reasons for choosing your MSN specialization. Be sure to incorporate any feedback you received from colleagues in this week’s Discussion Forum.

I prefer psychiatric-mental health nursing for MSN specialization to gerontology nursing even though the former requires one to work in a high-stress environment. I find the setting in mental health nursing exciting as one works at every instant to address urgent needs of patients as opposed to care of older patients which can at times be boring due to repeated cases of service delivery (Bingham & O’Brien, 2018). Most of the colleagues I work with have observed keenly my good speed in care delivery and excellent communication skills which can be instrumental in providing urgent care in a mental health setting. Coupled with my good relationship with patients, I have a conviction that an MSN in mental health nursing will help me offer utmost care to clients presented at the psychiatric unit of the health facility.

Step 3: Professional Organizations

Use the space below to identify and examine one professional organization related to your selected or preferred specialty. Explain how you can become a member of this organization.

My specialty area in the MSN program operates under the umbrella of American Psychiatric Nurse Association (APNA) in the United States of America. Founded in 1986, APNA is not meant for profit and is exclusively organized for charitable, educational as well as for scientific purposes (Hastings, Kroposki & Williams, 2017). The professional organization requires that each member must have been a registered nurse and completed a masters of science in nursing with a specialty in psychiatric-mental health nursing (Delaney & Vanderhoef, 2019). Upon completing my MSN program at Walden University, I will seek a state license with APNA so that I receive certification needed for. With the document, I will be able to assume membership with the organization and comply with the financial obligations stipulated in its policy.

Conclusion

Pursuing degree in nursing may not be an end to studies in the nursing profession. This could be supported by the premise that the patient care strategies continue to change which also necessitate improved care option. As for the case of psychiatric-mental health nursing, an advanced degree will be necessary to optimize care to patients. An MSN will also offer an avenue for a psychiatric-mental health nurse to be registered with the APNA professional body so the one works with a uniform standard for improved care.

References

Bingham, H., & O’Brien, A. J. (2018). Educational intervention to decrease stigmatizing attitudes of undergraduate nurses towards people with mental illness. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 27(1), 311-319. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12322

Delaney, K. R., & Vanderhoef, D. (2019). The psychiatric mental health advanced practice registered nurse workforce: Charting the future. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 25(1), 11-18. https://doi.org/10.1177/1078390318806571

Garbrah, W., Välimäki, T., Palovaara, M., & Kankkunen, P. (2017). Nursing curriculums may hinder a career in gerontological nursing: An integrative review. International Journal of Older People Nursing, 12(3), e12152. https://doi.org/10.1111/opn.12152

Hastings, T., Kroposki, M., & Williams, G. (2017). Can completing a mental health nursing course change students’ attitudes?. Issues in mental health nursing, 38(5), 449-454. https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2017.1278810

Ong, H. L., Seow, E., Chua, B. Y., Xie, H., Wang, J., Lau, Y. W., … & Subramaniam, M. (2017). Why is psychiatric nursing not the preferred option for nursing students: A cross-sectional study examining pre-nursing and nursing school factors. Nurse education today, 52, 95-102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2017.02.014

Academic and Professional Success Plan Template

Prepared by:

<INSERT NAME>

Week 1 | Part 1: Developing an Academic and Professional Network

NETWORK MEMBER 1

Name: Leah Brandt

Title: Student success advisor

Organization: Walden University

Academic or Professional: Academic

Why I selected this individual and/or team and how they will support my success in the MSN program and as a practicing nurse:

My academic student success advisor Leah is my point of contact for various questions and will readily be available to support me throughout my academic journey at Walden University. Upon speaking to her, I was able to gain an in-depth understanding of her role. She explained that she would guide, facilitate and help to keep me on track in preparation for each semester. She offered some tips on how to stay organized to have a healthy personal, work, and school life balance. She went over what I should expect for upcoming semesters and the process of registering and enrolling in classes. That helped to ease much of my anxiety. I plan to develop a professional relationship with my advisor so that I can reach out to her with any concerns or questions that may arise. Leah will play an essential role in my journey to being successful here at Walden. According to, Walden’s student support services “As a Walden student, you have access to a wide range of support services to help you succeed including academic advisors, tutors, 24/7 technical support, and a career planning and developing center” (support services, 2022). This speaks volumes as it takes a village to help navigate online learning.

According to the university website, the student success advisor will “answer questions about university policies and procedures, help you acclimate to the online classroom, track your academic progress, and guide you through a wealth of student resources” (Student Support Services, 2022). I know I will face many challenges in and out of the classroom. It gives me comfort to know that I will have Leah as a guide and advocate on my behalf. I will use all the resources provided to me to be successful in my quest to become a scholarly practitioner.

Reference

Support Services. (2022). Retrieved 1 October 2022, from https://www.waldenu.edu/why-walden/support-services

NETWORK MEMBER 2

Name: Walden Writing Center

Title: Writing center

Organization: Walden

Academic or Professional: Academic

Why I selected this individual and/or team and how they will support my success in the MSN program and as a practicing nurse:

Notes:

The format of APA is significant in this program and the writing center will provide resources on how to cite and much more. The writing center will be able to review all my papers so that I am able to perform at an exceptional level. The writing center has the option to “make a one-on-one appointment with one of the Writing Center’s writing instructors, who will review essay drafts, discussion posts, annotated bibliographies, or other written course materials” (Writing Center, 2022). I struggled with writing papers in the past, so I am thankful for this resource and plan to take advantage of this opportunity as I know I will be able to implement these learned skills as a practicing nurse.

References

Academic Guides: Getting Started: Overview. Academicguides.waldenu.edu. (2022). Retrieved 1 October 2022, from https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/start#s-lg-box-2789440.

Academic Guides: Getting Started: For Master’s Students. Academicguides.waldenu.edu. (2022). Retrieved 1 October 2022, from https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/start/masters.

NETWORK MEMBER 3

Name: Aiza Soares

Title: Registered Nurse

Organization: University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

Academic or Professional: Professional

Why I selected this individual and/or team and how they will support my success in the MSN program and as a practicing nurse:

Notes:

Aiza Soares is a Registered Nurse and mentor of mine. I met her while I was in college during my undergraduate studies. Aiza was in the class ahead of me, so she tutored me, and passed down her books, and scrubs. We’ve known each other for eleven years. She has been supporting me throughout my life and nursing career and continues to do so. She shares her experience and knowledge with me. She shares her goals and tells me what she would’ve done if she can go back in time. She went to CRNA school, and NP school and now she is living her dream. I believe that she will support my success in the MSN program because she is a great role model and leader. I know that she will offer sound advice to me as I embark on this journey. I value her because she is genuine, supportive, and always there for me when I need direction. I believe it is important to make connections and be able to have a go-to person in life. “Every professional connection should be based on interactions that involve knowledge sharing and mutual professional development” (Schmidt, K., 20202. I have not only gained a professional relationship with her, but I’ve built a lasting friendship.

She has continued to support me, and I am grateful and blessed to have someone like her in my life.

Reference

Schmidt, K. (2017). 5 Reasons Nurses Should Engage in Professional Networking. BluePipes Blog. https://blog.bluepipes.com/5-reasons-nurses-should-take-professional-networking-seriously/

NETWORK MEMBER 4

Name: Jamie Fuller

Title: Registered Nurse

Organization: St Charles Hospital Bend Oregon

Academic or Professional: Professional

Why I selected this individual and/or team and how they will support my success in the MSN program and as a practicing nurse:

Notes:

Jamie Fuller is a Registered Nurse. She is a colleague and dear friend of mine. We worked alongside each other at St Charles bend hospital in Oregon. She is also in school to become an FNP. She has been a huge support system for me and provided me with advice that helped me in making my decision to join the PMHNP program.

“Nurses can develop relationships with individuals who work in their desired fields or roles with the intent of gaining knowledge” (Schmidt, K., 2022). She listened to my goals and supported my decision. She told me what to expect with becoming an NP and her experience so far in her program. I know that she will continue to support me throughout the MSN program by connecting me to other professionals in this field. I am happy we kept in contact because she also has friends in the PMHNP field, and I can use that to my advantage for networking purposes.

Reference

Schmidt, K. (2017). 5 Reasons Nurses Should Engage in Professional Networking. BluePipes Blog. https://blog.bluepipes.com/5-reasons-nurses-should-take-professional-networking-seriously/

Week 2 | Part 2: Strategies to Promote Academic Integrity and Professional Ethics

Part 1: Writing Sample: The Connection between Academic and Professional Integrity

Academic integrity and scholarly writing go hand in hand. While communicating using the written word is an inherently creative process, academic integrity is the practice of holding oneself accountable for one’s work. The reason academic integrity is important is that honesty is really the best policy, and using your own perspective and words makes your writing unique. Therefore, academic integrity and writing are a pair that work together and create professional content that is your own. In academic writing, one must be sure that papers are properly formatted using the APA format, and that all resources are properly cited. The “Writing Center staff created this APA checklist to help students remember the basics of APA citations, reference lists, and style” (“Academic Guides: Plagiarism Prevention Resource Kit: Home”, 2022). Using the provided resources will help students improve their scholarly writing.

Professional practices and scholarly ethics are both important, as they serve to guide and manage students to do their best. This writer believes it is also important for us to use these resources to substantiate our arguments in our writing and to make sure we are using reliable scholarly information. We must have the education piece to be able to properly conduct our writing for our audience. The two components are what students build on and grow when they go on to the real world in their profession. The academic and professional pieces of resources will guide me in succeeding in this program, so I do plan on utilizing these resources.

Grammarly, Safe Assign, and paraphrasing all contribute to academic integrity in different ways. Grammarly is a powerful tool that can be used to correct one’s grammar, thus improving writing skills. The “Walden University’s Writing Center provides premium Grammarly accounts to all current Walden University students at no additional cost” (“Academic Guides: Grammarly: Overview”, 2022). Students can build confidence in their writing by using this program to improve their scholarly writing.

SafeAssign exists to avoid plagiarism and to make sure that writing is original and uses the student’s own words. “The Walden University student handbook broadly defines plagiarism as the “use of intellectual material produced by another person without acknowledging its source” (“Academic Guides: Plagiarism Prevention Resource Kit: Home”, 2022). SafeAssign provides students with clarity by checking their writing and affirming that their work is original. “SafeAssign is Walden’s primary tool for detecting, deterring, and preventing plagiarism” (“Academic Guides: Grammarly: Overview”, 2022). “The student resources below will support you in using SafeAssign, including how to submit drafts and assignments through SafeAssign and how to interpret a SafeAssign Originality Report” (“Academic Guides: Grammarly: Overview”, 2022). Paraphrasing is another element of academic integrity because it is important that students use their own knowledge, and not just another person’s words and ideas.

PART 2: Strategies for Maintaining Integrity of Work

Scholarly writing requires effort and due diligence. The writer plans to execute this by utilizing the tools and resources that are presented to me, such as the writing center, the library, and more. This will help to expand my knowledge and thus improve my writing skills. Other strategies the writer intends to practice in order to maintain academic integrity as a student include using resources, such as Grammarly and SafeAssign. The writer will use up-to-date resources to ensure that my written work is credible. I will use these strategies to guide me in my practice and my journey to becoming a scholarly writer.

The MSN program encourages students to practice using their own words in order to maintain academic integrity. “Integrity involves treating others with respect communicating with one another in a positive, courteous manner, honoring confidences, and maintaining a professional demeanor both in and out of the workplace” (Rosenkoetter & Milstead, 2010). While the writer continues to grow in the nursing profession, the writer vows to maintain integrity and ethics by using strategies taught to me by the Walden University’s program.

The Walden university website will provide me with all the essential tools I will need to be successful in this program. The Walden library is where I can find the references that will provide me with the information to write my papers. It is available to me on a daily basis, whenever the writer may happen to need it. The writer can find books, websites, journals, and much more through this resource. The writer anticipates that this is where the writer will find many of my evidence-based resources when writing my papers.

As a nursing healthcare professional, the writer will stay up to date with the latest evidence-based practices so that the writer can share relevant information with my patients and communicate it in a way that is professionally based on the policies and procedures pertaining to my work. Another strategy the writer intends to utilize to maintain integrity throughout my professional work includes networking by attending conferences and workshops. The writer will “recognize the value of codes of ethics developed by the American Nurses Association and the International Council of Nurses; the use of these codes by practicing nurses to guide clinical practice is a long-held standard in the nursing profession” (Rosenkoetter & Milstead, 2010).

References

Academic Guides: Plagiarism Prevention Resource Kit: Home. Academicguides.waldenu.edu. (2022). Retrieved 4 October 2022, from https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/plagiarism#s-lg-box-22570871.

(2022). Retrieved 4 October 2022, from https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/apa/checklist.

Academic Guides: Grammarly: Overview. Academicguides.waldenu.edu. (2022). Retrieved 4 October 2022, from https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/grammarly.

Academic Guides: Academic Integrity: SafeAssign & Turnitin. Academicguides.waldenu.edu. (2022). Retrieved 4 October 2022, from https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/studentaffairs/academicintegrity/safe-assign-turn-it-in.

American Nurses Association (2001). Code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements. Silver Spring, MD: Author. International Council of Nurses. (2006). The ICN code of ethics for nurses [brochure]. Geneva: Author. Rosenkoetter, M. (1983). A code of ethics for nursing educators. Nursing Outlook, 31, 288. Rosenkoetter, M., & Milstead, J. (2010). A code of ethics for nurse educators: Revised. Nursing Ethics, 17, 137-139.

Week 3 | Part 3: Research Analysis

Mental health and interpersonal relationships are great topics for research for psychiatric nurses. Mental health is a critical component of overall health and well-being, and interpersonal relationships are a key part of human experience. By researching mental health and interpersonal relationships, psychiatric nurses can gain a better understanding of how these concepts affect people’s lives and the ways in which they can support people who are struggling with mental health issues or struggling in their interpersonal relationships. Additionally, this research can help to inform the development of new interventions, treatments, and support strategies for psychiatric nurses to use in their work with clients. The purpose of this section is to identify the main topic of interest and to identify and analyze a peer-reviewed research article focused the topic.

The main topic of interest: Impacts of Mental Health and Interpersonal Relationships in Psychological and Physical Symptoms among Adolescents

Step 1: Research Analysis

Complete the table below

Topic of Interest:	Impacts of Mental Health and Interpersonal Relationships in Psychological and Physical Symptoms among Adolescents
Research Article: Include full citation in APA format, as well as link or search details (such as DOI)	Li, J., Li, J., Jia, R., Wang, Y., Qian, S., & Xu, Y. (2020). Mental health problems and associated school interpersonal relationships among adolescents in China: a cross-sectional study. Child and adolescent psychiatry and mental health, 14(1), 1-10. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13034-020-00318-6
Professional Practice Use: One or more professional practice uses of the theories/concepts presented in the article	The article presents the concepts of reliability and validity in a very clear and concise manner. It is easy to understand how these two concepts can be used to measure the accuracy of information obtained from a survey or research study. Reliability refers to the consistency of a measure, or how closely it measures what it is supposed to measure on different occasions. Validity, on the other hand, refers to whether a measure actually measures what it is supposed to measure. The use of these two concepts in this research article helped researchers ensure that the results they obtained are accurate and reliable.
Research Analysis Matrix Add more rows if necessary	Strengths of the Research	Limitations of the Research	Relevancy to Topic of Interest	Notes
The findings provide some valuable insights into the prevalence of mental health problems and associated school interpersonal relationships among adolescents in China.	The research was conducted only in central China and that it relied on self-reported data which may not be entirely accurate.	The objective and findings directly addressed the main topic of interest. The main objective of the study was to investigate the prevalence of mental health problems and associated school interpersonal relationships among adolescents in China.	This study provides valuable insight into the prevalence of mental health problems and their associated impacts on school interpersonal relationships among adolescents in China. The authors should be commended for their efforts in conducting this research. However, there are a few notable limitations that should be mentioned.
One of the main strengths of the study is the use of quantitative approach which involves the application of primary data to determine statistically and clinically significance outcomes	The cross-sectional design of the study does not allow for any causal inferences to be made about the relationships between variables.	The findings from this study provide an important glimpse into the state of mental health and school interpersonal relationship, which is the main topic of the study.	The authors should be commended for their efforts in conducting this research. However, the few notable limitations should be considered whenever the article is being cited.

Step 2: Summary of Analysis

There are a few key things to look for when identifying and analyzing peer-reviewed research. First, it is important to determine if the research has been published in a reputable journal. Reputable journals are typically peer-reviewed, meaning that the articles they publish have been reviewed by experts in the field before being accepted for publication. This helps to ensure that the research is of high quality and is accurate. Second, it is important to read the article carefully and understand what it is saying. This may require some background knowledge in the subject area, but it is important to be able to understand the main points of the study and what its conclusions are. Finally, it is also important to consider who funded the study.

When researching on a peer-reviewed article for this topic, I first identified all of the peer-reviewed research on the topic. I typically used a few different search engines (including Google Scholar) and databases (such as PubMed) to find as many relevant papers as possible. Once I listed all the papers, I started by reading the abstracts to get a sense of the overall findings. I then read the whole paper including the methodology to determine the significance of the findings. Finally, I synthesized everything that I learned into a coherent argument and to determine their relevance with the main topic of research.

There are a few key strategies that I have found to be effective when looking for peer-reviewed research. One strategy is to use a keyword or phrase in a search engine such as Google Scholar. This will bring up a list of articles that were published in peer-reviewed journals. Another strategy is to use an online database such as JSTOR. This will allow a researcher to search for articles that have been published in academic journals over the past century. A resource I plan to use in the future for finding peer-reviewed research is the website of the National Library of Medicine, which is part of the United States National Institutes of Health. The NIH website has a searchable database of research papers that can be filtered by journal, subject area, and other criteria. Another great resource for finding peer-reviewed research is PubMed, a search engine created by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) at the US National Library of Medicine. PubMed includes over 26 million citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books.

Conclusion

This study showed the “impact of mental health and interpersonal relationships in psychological and physical symptoms among adolescents”. Mental health and interpersonal relationships are great topics for research for psychiatric nurses. Mental health is a critical component of overall health and well-being, and interpersonal relationships are a key part of human experience. The purpose of this section is to identify the main topic of interest and to identify and analyze a peer-reviewed research article focused the topic. Peer-reviewed articles considered in this section provides a level of quality control for scientific research; it provides significant information that can be used in addressing different aspects of the research topic. I would recommend this article to inform professional practice because the concept used in this article is accurate and reliable and the article demonstrates thoroughly researched information.

Reference

Li, J., Li, J., Jia, R., Wang, Y., Qian, S., & Xu, Y. (2020). Mental health problems and associated school interpersonal relationships among adolescents in China: a cross-sectional study. Child and adolescent psychiatry and mental health, 14(1), 1-10. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13034-020-00318-6

Week 6 | Part 4: Finalizing the Plan

A nursing specialty should be chosen carefully because it can have a major impact on one’s career. For example, if a nurse chooses to specialize in critical care, they may spend most of their time working in a hospital setting. However, if they choose to specialize in pediatric nursing, they may spend more time working in a clinic or doctor’s office. Another important consideration is the type of patients that a nurse will be working with. For example, nurses who specialize in geriatrics will likely work with elderly patients, while nurses who specialize in oncology will likely work with cancer patients. It is important to choose a specialty one is interested in and that will allow them to work with patients who they feel comfortable caring for. The purpose of this section is to undertake the comparison of nursing specialties including PMHNP and Clinical Nurse Specialist specialty.

Step 1: Comparison of Nursing Specialties

I selected PMHNP specialty given my interest and desire to improve mental health problems and the related conditions. The PMHNP specialty is in psychiatric and mental health nursing. Graduates in PMHNP specialty are prepared to provide care to patients who are experiencing mental health issues or psychiatric disorders (McGuinness et al., 2020). Graduates in this specialty may work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and private practice. They may also be involved in research and teaching. Psychiatric and mental health nurses have a deep understanding of the complexities of the human mind and how it relates to overall health and well-being. They are experts in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions, and they work closely with patients and their families to provide support and guidance throughout treatment.

My second choice is Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) specialty. A Family Nurse Practitioner is a registered nurse who has completed an advanced practice nursing education program and is licensed to provide care to patients of all ages. FNP’s are experts in primary care and can diagnose and treat common health conditions, prescribe medications, and provide preventive health care. Graduate FNP’s work in a variety of settings, including clinics, hospitals, schools, and nursing homes. They may also be self-employed or work for a healthcare organization. Their patients may include individuals of all ages, from infants to the elderly.

Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs) and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) have different focuses, but both play important roles in the healthcare system. FNPs specialize in the care of families and children, while PMHNPs specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders. FNPs can provide general primary care services such as wellness exams, screenings, and immunizations, while PMHNPs can provide diagnostic evaluations and medication management for patients with mental health disorders. Both FNPs and PMHNPs are important members of the healthcare team, and their contributions are invaluable to the overall wellbeing of patients.

A PMHNP is a psychiatric nurse practitioner. They are specifically educated and trained to provide psychiatric services, which can include diagnosis, treatment, and management of mental health disorders (Peterson et al., 2019). An FNP is a nurse who has advanced education and clinical experience in a specific area of nursing. They can diagnose and treat common health conditions, prescribe medications, and provide preventive health care

Step 2: Justification of Nursing Specialty

I chose my PMHNP specialty because I wanted to be able to work with patients who have serious mental health conditions that often require medication management in addition to therapy. I also wanted the ability to prescribe medications, which is something that isn’t available to psychiatric nurse practitioners in some states (McGuinness et al., 2020). The mental health field is always changing and provides new challenges every day, which keeps me engaged in my work. I also enjoy working with patients and their families, and feel like I am able to make a real difference in their lives.

Step 3: Professional Organizations

The American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) is the professional organization for psychiatric nurses in the United States. It was founded in 1967 and has more than 10,000 members. APNA’s mission is to promote excellence in psychiatric nursing and quality mental health care by providing leadership and advocacy, sharing best practices, and supporting the growth and development of its members (McGuinness et al., 2020). One of APNA’s key goals is to advance the role of psychiatric nurses in all practice settings.

APNA offers several different types of membership, including student, associate, and professional. To become a member of the APNA, one must first be a registered nurse. They can then apply for associate membership, which is open to all nurses who are not in psychiatric specialty practice. Also, to become a professional member of the APNA, one must be a registered nurse and have at least two years of psychiatric nursing experience (McGuinness et al., 2020). If they meet the eligibility requirements, they can apply for membership online or by mail. They will need to provide their name, address, social security number, and date of birth; information about their nursing education and experience.

Conclusion

A nursing specialty should be chosen carefully because it can have a major impact on one’s career. For example, if a nurse chooses to specialize in critical care, they may spend most of their time working in a hospital setting. I chose my PMHNP specialty because I wanted to be able to work with patients who have serious mental health conditions that often require medication management in addition to therapy. A PMHNP is a psychiatric nurse practitioner (McGuinness et al., 2020). They are specifically educated and trained to provide psychiatric services, which can include diagnosis, treatment, and management of mental health disorders.

References

McGuinness, T. M., Shirey, M. R., Cleveland, C., Richardson, J., Campbell, R., & Harper, D. C. (2020). An Innovative Approach for Graduate Education for Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners. Journal of Professional Nursing, 36(6), 526-530. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2020.08.003

Peterson, B. L., Pittenger, A. L., Kaas, M. J., & Lounsbery, J. L. (2019). Partnering for a sustainable interprofessional psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner education curriculum. Journal of Nursing Education, 58(12), 723-727. https://doi.org/10.3928/01484834-20191120-08

Nurses taking an MSN program with a nurse practitioner focus become certified nurse practitioners (NPs). NPs are advanced practice nurses who work directly with patients but have greater roles and responsibilities than registered nurses (RN). The purpose of this assignment will be to compare my nursing specialty of choice with my second preference, discuss why I selected the specialty, and explore a professional organization related to my preferred specialty.

Step 1: Comparison of Nursing Specialties

My selected nursing specialty is Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), and the second-preferred specialization is Family nurse practitioners (FNP). PMHNP graduates are equipped with knowledge and skills to address the mental health needs of individuals across the lifespan (Gabrielsson et al., 2020). The PMHNP coursework encompasses psychiatric assessment and symptom management, psychopharmacology, and therapy modalities. PMHNPs provide a full range of primary mental health care services, such as biopsychosocial assessment and diagnosis of patients with mental illness, psychiatric disorders, and co-occurring disorders (Gabrielsson et al., 2020). Treatment approaches used by PMHNPs include both medication, counseling, and psychotherapeutic interventions. Besides, PMHNPs practice in various settings, including emergency, inpatient, private psychiatrist practices, clinics, and community-based mental health services (Gabrielsson et al., 2020). They also provide mental health services in domestic violence shelters, correctional facilities, residential substance abuse facilities, and schools.

The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) specialty prepares NP students in clinical care, research, and policy. FNPs provide primary care to persons of all ages, from pediatric to adults (Poghosyan et al., 2017). Graduates are trained to provide high-quality community-based primary care to a wide range of patients with complex health care needs. Primary care is the core of FNP practice. FNPs assess, diagnose disorders, and develop treatment plans for individuals (Poghosyan et al., 2017). FNPs also educate patients and their families about disease prevention and wellness care and make referrals to specialists. They are trained to advocate for and empower patients and their families. In a majority of states, FNPs have independent practice privilege, which gives them prescriptive authority and allows them to treat patients independently in hospitals, clinics, or private practices where they take the role of a primary healthcare provider (Poghosyan et al., 2017). FNP graduates work with diverse populations in various clinical settings, including clinics, hospitals, doctor’s offices, private practice, and health insurance organizations. Unlike PMHNP, FNP graduates can undertake sub-specialties in their training in Cardiology, Emergency Medicine, Endocrinology, Geriatric care, and Oncology.

Step 2: Justification of Nursing Specialty

PMHNP is my preferred specialty because mental health has been my area of interest since I was an RN. My job experience working in various mental health hospitals and providing mental health care to individuals across the lifespan created an interest in mental health. I selected the PMHNP specialty to be equipped with a broad range of knowledge and skills that will increase my capacity in providing mental health services to clients in my organization (Chapman et al., 2019). Taking the PMHNP specialty will increase my autonomy in my workplace, which is a great motivational factor. The PMHNP program will equip me with knowledge and skills to perform a myriad of clinical roles, such ad conducting psychosocial and physical assessments and developing differential diagnoses of mental health conditions (Chapman et al., 2019). Besides, I will have the capacity to manage the care of patients, including treating symptoms and behavioral change through medication, psychotherapy, and education. I will also promote mental health in my community since I will be well-versed with the cultural differences in providing mental health care. Furthermore, the PMHNP program will equip me with skills to utilize data to evaluate patient outcomes and work with families, other healthcare providers, and communities.

The PMHNP role is steadily growing in the field of mental health. PMHNPs in my state have full authority, which allows them to assess and diagnose mental health illnesses and develop treatment plans independent of physician supervision. I chose PMHNP because I will not be limited to patient care since I can engage in administrative, educational, and research activities. Besides, there is an increased demand for mental health services, and the demand is expected to grow further in the coming years (Chapman et al., 2019). The demand is attributed to the growing number of insured Americans and the requirements of the Affordable Care Act on the provision of mental health care. The growing demand for mental health care and the decreasing stigma surrounding mental health disorders has resulted in a major void in psychiatric care (Chapman et al., 2019). As a result, PMHNPs are in high demand take the mental health jobs. Besides, mental health jobs are projected to be in high demand in the future years. Therefore, I chose the PMHNP since it has a high job prospect and it is financially rewarding.

Step 3: Professional Organizations

The American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) is a professional nursing organization for PMHNPs. APNA is devoted to the practice of psychiatric-mental health nursing, promotion of health and wellness through identification of mental health issues, prevention of mental health disorders, and the care and treatment of individuals with mental health disorders (APNA, 2021). It advocates psychiatric-mental health nursing and mental health care by developing positions on key issues and disseminating current knowledge and developments in PMH nursing (APNA, 2021). APNA collaborates with stakeholders to foster advances in recovery-focused assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and evaluation of individuals with mental health disorders.

APNA membership is inclusive of all Psychiatric mental health nurses, including those with an associate degree (ADN), baccalaureate (BSN), advanced practice (APRN), nurse scientists, and academicians. In addition, it has memberships for nursing students in full-time study, retired nurses, and PMH nurses on full-time active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces DOD (APNA, 2021). APNA also provides affiliate membership to other mental health professionals and nurses interested in supporting PMH nurses.

Conclusion

My preferred MSN specialty is PMHNP, which focuses on addressing the mental health needs of individuals across the lifespan. PMHNP graduates are trained in psychiatric assessment and symptom management, psychopharmacology, and therapy modalities. PMHNP differs from FNP, which focuses on providing primary care to individuals across the lifespan. FNP deals with acute and chronic medical conditions, while PMHNP focuses on mental health disorders. I selected the PMHNP specialty because of my interest in mental health, increased demand for mental health care, and the high job prospects. APNA is a professional organization related to psychiatry mental health specialty. It focuses on promoting health and wellness, preventing mental health disorders, and caring for and treating persons with mental health disorders.

References

APNA. (2021, August 17). About association for psychiatric nursing and mental health. https://www.apna.org/about-apna/

Chapman, S. A., Toretsky, C., & Phoenix, B. J. (2019). Enhancing psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner practice: impact of state scope of practice regulations. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 10(1), 35-43. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2155-8256(19)30081-X

Gabrielsson, S., Tuvesson, H., Wiklund Gustin, L., & Jormfeldt, H. (2020). Positioning psychiatric and mental health nursing as a transformative force in health care. Issues in mental health nursing, 41(11), 976-984. https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2020.1756009

Poghosyan, L., Liu, J., & Norful, A. A. (2017). Nurse practitioners as primary care providers with their own patient panels and organizational structures: A cross-sectional study. International journal of nursing studies, 74, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2017.05.004

Advanced nursing education requires students to select their specialty area so that they become experts in the chosen part and look forward to fulfilling the careers as nurse practitioners. Imperatively, after a consideration of various choices for my specialty, including a critical analysis, I have selected the following options based on the justification. I have also identified a professional organization related to my selected and preferred specialties and considered membership requirements.

Step 1: Comparison of Nursing Specialties

The first specialty is psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP). Psychiatric nurse practitioners work with individuals and populations with different mental and psychiatric problems across the care continuum; from children to adolescents and the elderly. They can also work in forensic settings and offer psychotherapeutic services to different patient populations (DeNisco, 2019). The implication is that their main role is to diagnose and treat mental health needs of patients and offer therapies as well as prescribe medications for individuals with mental health issues and substance use problems.

The second specialty that I have chosen is family nurse practitioner (FNP). The FNP role includes offering primary care services for patients across the care continuum, from infants to seniors. FNPs offer guidance and necessary care services to meet diverse patient needs, and help manage caseloads at different care settings and medical practices (Zaccagnini & Pechacek, 2019). They work alongside physicians and specialists to offer care to individuals and promote health and wellness. The implication is that just like FNPs, psychiatric nurses can also be general or have a specialized population like geriatrics care based on mental health issues like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Step 2: Justification of Nursing Specialty

Today, many people face mental health challenges at different parts of their lives and due to issues like the opioid epidemic that has led to substance use disorder (SUD). The choice to specialize in psychiatric mental health nurse practice (PMHNP) is due to personal and also public interests. I have two older siblings that are in the mental health field. They are Licensed mental health counselors and growing up I was able to witness their passion for helping those with mental health. Over the years, they shared many stories with me, and I started to develop an interest in wanting to enter the mental health field.

They have made an impact in the lives of many of their patients and I wanted the opportunity to do the same. I also realized that there was a shortage and high demand for mental health workers and thought I would help alleviate the shortage by joining the field. I wish to help people overcome the myriad of mental health challenges that they encounter and have devastating effects on their overall health.

Step 3: Professional Organizations

Professional nursing organizations help nurses to improve their skills and expertise as well as network with others in the industry. The professional organization associated with my specialty is the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA). All psychiatric nurses are members of this organization (APNA, 2022). The organization empowers psychiatric NPs and promotes professional development by encouraging members to enroll for continuing education, and offering resources for different cadres of psychiatric nurses. Membership requirements for the organization include being a psychiatric nurse practitioner and making an application obtainable from their website. The organization boasts of over 13,000 members.

Conclusion

Advanced practice nurses specialize in different areas based on their interests and career goals. Nursing specialties allow nurses to be experts in the area and offer quality care services to patients. The American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) is a professional organization that offer immense benefits to psychiatric nurse practitioners.

References

American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) (2022). About Psychiatric-Mental

Health Nursing. https://www.apna.org/about-psychiatric-nursing/

DeNisco, S. M. (2019). Advanced Practice Nursing: Essential Knowledge for the

Profession. Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Zaccagnini, M., & Pechacek, J. M. (2019). The doctor of nursing practice essentials: A

new model for advanced practice nursing. Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Select Grid View or List View to change the rubric’s layout.

“Patient-centered care has been central to nursing practice and unique nursing knowledge. This central focus provides an opportunity for nurses to develop policies that may affect practice so that practice is consistent with a distinctive knowledge base.” (Ortiz, 2018). In other words, the more we know and learn the more it benefits our patients that we care for. When we collaborate, network, and write a policy then everyone benefits from the greater good of that knowledge. It’s also about involving our patients and family members in helping make decisions about the path we take together to come up with a care plan that benefits the patient and is within reach. It is essential to take many things into consideration and not every person fits into a certain category.

“Providing care that is respectful of and responsive to individual patient preferences, needs, and values and ensuring that patient values guide all clinical decisions.” (Radwin, et al, 2019). What is best for my patients I feel is the most important aspect of being a Family Nurse Practitioner. The rationale is when we communicate with our patients, we are able to develop a care plan that works for them as an individual, we listen, we offer non-judgmental scientifically proven health care advice, and we take every aspect of our patient’s life into consideration our patients will be apt to adhere to that plan. I want my patients to feel that I see them as a person not as a 15-minute time slot and that I will do everything in my power to provide them with the care they deserve.

Ortiz, M. R. (2018). Patient-Centered Care: Nursing Knowledge and Policy. NURSING SCIENCE QUARTERLY, 31(3), 291–295. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894318418774906

Links to an external site.

Radwin, L. E., Cabral, H., Bokhour, B. G., Seibert, M. N., Stolzmann, K., Annis, A., & Mohr, D. C. (2019). A scale to measure nurses’ and providers’ patient centered care in primary care settings. Patient Education and Counseling, 102(12), 2302–2309. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2019.07.017

Name: NURS_6003_Module01_Week01_Discussion_Rubric

	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Main Posting	45 (45%) – 50 (50%)Answers all parts of the discussion question(s) expectations with reflective critical analysis and synthesis of knowledge gained from the course readings for the module and current credible sources. Supported by at least three current, credible sources. Written clearly and concisely with no grammatical or spelling errors and fully adheres to current APA manual writing rules and style.	40 (40%) – 44 (44%)Responds to the discussion question(s) and is reflective with critical analysis and synthesis of knowledge gained from the course readings for the module. At least 75% of post has exceptional depth and breadth. Supported by at least three credible sources. Written clearly and concisely with one or no grammatical or spelling errors and fully adheres to current APA manual writing rules and style.	35 (35%) – 39 (39%)Responds to some of the discussion question(s). One or two criteria are not addressed or are superficially addressed. Is somewhat lacking reflection and critical analysis and synthesis. Somewhat represents knowledge gained from the course readings for the module. Post is cited with two credible sources. Written somewhat concisely; may contain more than two spelling or grammatical errors. Contains some APA formatting errors.	0 (0%) – 34 (34%)Does not respond to the discussion question(s) adequately. Lacks depth or superficially addresses criteria. Lacks reflection and critical analysis and synthesis. Does not represent knowledge gained from the course readings for the module. Contains only one or no credible sources. Not written clearly or concisely. Contains more than two spelling or grammatical errors. Does not adhere to current APA manual writing rules and style.
Main Post: Timeliness	10 (10%) – 10 (10%)Posts main post by day 3.	0 (0%) – 0 (0%)	0 (0%) – 0 (0%)	0 (0%) – 0 (0%)Does not post by day 3.
First Response	17 (17%) – 18 (18%)Response exhibits synthesis, critical thinking, and application to practice settings. Responds fully to questions posed by faculty. Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas that are supported by at least two scholarly sources. Demonstrates synthesis and understanding of learning objectives. Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues. Responses to faculty questions are fully answered, if posed. Response is effectively written in standard, edited English.	15 (15%) – 16 (16%)Response exhibits critical thinking and application to practice settings. Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues. Responses to faculty questions are answered, if posed. Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas that are supported by two or more credible sources. Response is effectively written in standard, edited English.	13 (13%) – 14 (14%)Response is on topic and may have some depth. Responses posted in the discussion may lack effective professional communication. Responses to faculty questions are somewhat answered, if posed. Response may lack clear, concise opinions and ideas, and a few or no credible sources are cited.	0 (0%) – 12 (12%)Response may not be on topic and lacks depth. Responses posted in the discussion lack effective professional communication. Responses to faculty questions are missing. No credible sources are cited.
Second Response	16 (16%) – 17 (17%)Response exhibits synthesis, critical thinking, and application to practice settings. Responds fully to questions posed by faculty. Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas that are supported by at least two scholarly sources. Demonstrates synthesis and understanding of learning objectives. Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues. Responses to faculty questions are fully answered, if posed. Response is effectively written in standard, edited English.	14 (14%) – 15 (15%)Response exhibits critical thinking and application to practice settings. Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues. Responses to faculty questions are answered, if posed. Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas that are supported by two or more credible sources. Response is effectively written in standard, edited English.	12 (12%) – 13 (13%)Response is on topic and may have some depth. Responses posted in the discussion may lack effective professional communication. Responses to faculty questions are somewhat answered, if posed. Response may lack clear, concise opinions and ideas, and a few or no credible sources are cited.	0 (0%) – 11 (11%)Response may not be on topic and lacks depth. Responses posted in the discussion lack effective professional communication. Responses to faculty questions are missing. No credible sources are cited.
Participation	5 (5%) – 5 (5%)Meets requirements for participation by posting on three different days.	0 (0%) – 0 (0%)	0 (0%) – 0 (0%)

Academic and Professional Success Plan Template

Prepared by:

<INSERT NAME>

Week 1 | Part 1: Developing an Academic and Professional Network

NETWORK MEMBER 1

Name: Leah Brandt

Title: Student success advisor

Organization: Walden University

Academic or Professional: Academic

Why I selected this individual and/or team and how they will support my success in the MSN program and as a practicing nurse:

Reference

Support Services. (2022). Retrieved 1 October 2022, from https://www.waldenu.edu/why-walden/support-services

NETWORK MEMBER 2

Name: Walden Writing Center

Title: Writing center

Organization: Walden

Academic or Professional: Academic

Why I selected this individual and/or team and how they will support my success in the MSN program and as a practicing nurse:

Notes:

I chose the writing center at Walden University because I know that this will be an important resource that can help me improve my academic writing skills. The center will provide me with learning tools and materials that can help me properly format my scholarly papers. I will utilize this resource to support my success in the program. “Whether you are working on presenting your ideas in an academic voice or learning the finer points of APA style, the Walden Writing Center is here to help you achieve your writing goals” (Writing Center, 2022). The format of APA is significant in this program and the writing center will provide resources on how to cite and much more. The writing center will be able to review all my papers so that I am able to perform at an exceptional level. The writing center has the option to “make a one-on-one appointment with one of the Writing Center’s writing instructors, who will review essay drafts, discussion posts, annotated bibliographies, or other written course materials” (Writing Center, 2022). I struggled with writing papers in the past, so I am thankful for this resource and plan to take advantage of this opportunity as I know I will be able to implement these learned skills as a practicing nurse.

References

Academic Guides: Getting Started: Overview. Academicguides.waldenu.edu. (2022). Retrieved 1 October 2022, from https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/start#s-lg-box-2789440.

Academic Guides: Getting Started: For Master’s Students. Academicguides.waldenu.edu. (2022). Retrieved 1 October 2022, from https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/start/masters.

NETWORK MEMBER 3

Name: Aiza Soares

Title: Registered Nurse

Organization: University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

Academic or Professional: Professional

Why I selected this individual and/or team and how they will support my success in the MSN program and as a practicing nurse:

Notes:

She has continued to support me, and I am grateful and blessed to have someone like her in my life.

Reference

Schmidt, K. (2017). 5 Reasons Nurses Should Engage in Professional Networking. BluePipes Blog. https://blog.bluepipes.com/5-reasons-nurses-should-take-professional-networking-seriously/

NETWORK MEMBER 4

Name: Jamie Fuller

Title: Registered Nurse

Organization: St Charles Hospital Bend Oregon

Academic or Professional: Professional

Why I selected this individual and/or team and how they will support my success in the MSN program and as a practicing nurse:

Notes:

Reference

Schmidt, K. (2017). 5 Reasons Nurses Should Engage in Professional Networking. BluePipes Blog. https://blog.bluepipes.com/5-reasons-nurses-should-take-professional-networking-seriously/

Week 2 | Part 2: Strategies to Promote Academic Integrity and Professional Ethics

Part 1: Writing Sample: The Connection between Academic and Professional Integrity

PART 2: Strategies for Maintaining Integrity of Work

References

(2022). Retrieved 4 October 2022, from https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/apa/checklist.

Academic Guides: Grammarly: Overview. Academicguides.waldenu.edu. (2022). Retrieved 4 October 2022, from https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/grammarly.

Week 3 | Part 3: Research Analysis

The main topic of interest: Impacts of Mental Health and Interpersonal Relationships in Psychological and Physical Symptoms among Adolescents

Step 1: Research Analysis

Complete the table below

Topic of Interest:	Impacts of Mental Health and Interpersonal Relationships in Psychological and Physical Symptoms among Adolescents
Research Article: Include full citation in APA format, as well as link or search details (such as DOI)	Li, J., Li, J., Jia, R., Wang, Y., Qian, S., & Xu, Y. (2020). Mental health problems and associated school interpersonal relationships among adolescents in China: a cross-sectional study. Child and adolescent psychiatry and mental health, 14(1), 1-10. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13034-020-00318-6
Professional Practice Use: One or more professional practice uses of the theories/concepts presented in the article	The article presents the concepts of reliability and validity in a very clear and concise manner. It is easy to understand how these two concepts can be used to measure the accuracy of information obtained from a survey or research study. Reliability refers to the consistency of a measure, or how closely it measures what it is supposed to measure on different occasions. Validity, on the other hand, refers to whether a measure actually measures what it is supposed to measure. The use of these two concepts in this research article helped researchers ensure that the results they obtained are accurate and reliable.
Research Analysis Matrix Add more rows if necessary	Strengths of the Research	Limitations of the Research	Relevancy to Topic of Interest	Notes
	The findings provide some valuable insights into the prevalence of mental health problems and associated school interpersonal relationships among adolescents in China.	The research was conducted only in central China and that it relied on self-reported data which may not be entirely accurate.	The objective and findings directly addressed the main topic of interest. The main objective of the study was to investigate the prevalence of mental health problems and associated school interpersonal relationships among adolescents in China.	This study provides valuable insight into the prevalence of mental health problems and their associated impacts on school interpersonal relationships among adolescents in China. The authors should be commended for their efforts in conducting this research. However, there are a few notable limitations that should be mentioned.
	One of the main strengths of the study is the use of quantitative approach which involves the application of primary data to determine statistically and clinically significance outcomes	The cross-sectional design of the study does not allow for any causal inferences to be made about the relationships between variables.	The findings from this study provide an important glimpse into the state of mental health and school interpersonal relationship, which is the main topic of the study.	The authors should be commended for their efforts in conducting this research. However, the few notable limitations should be considered whenever the article is being cited.

Step 2: Summary of Analysis

Conclusion

Reference

Li, J., Li, J., Jia, R., Wang, Y., Qian, S., & Xu, Y. (2020). Mental health problems and associated school interpersonal relationships among adolescents in China: a cross-sectional study. Child and adolescent psychiatry and mental health, 14(1), 1-10. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13034-020-00318-6

Week 6 | Part 4: Finalizing the Plan

Step 1: Comparison of Nursing Specialties

Step 2: Justification of Nursing Specialty

Step 3: Professional Organizations

Conclusion

A nursing specialty should be chosen carefully because it can have a major impact on one’s career. For example, if a nurse chooses to specialize in critical care, they may spend most of their time working in a hospital setting. I chose my PMHNP specialty because I wanted to be able to work with patients who have serious mental health conditions that often require medication management in addition to therapy. A PMHNP is a psychiatric nurse practitioner (McGuinness et al., 2020). They are specifically educated and trained to provide psychiatric services, which can include diagnosis, treatment, and management of mental health disorders.

References

McGuinness, T. M., Shirey, M. R., Cleveland, C., Richardson, J., Campbell, R., & Harper, D. C. (2020). An Innovative Approach for Graduate Education for Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners. Journal of Professional Nursing, 36(6), 526-530. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2020.08.003

Peterson, B. L., Pittenger, A. L., Kaas, M. J., & Lounsbery, J. L. (2019). Partnering for a sustainable interprofessional psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner education curriculum. Journal of Nursing Education, 58(12), 723-727. https://doi.org/10.3928/01484834-20191120-08

– END –

My choice of nursing specialty in the MSN program is Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), hopefully followed by earning my Post Master’s Certificate in PMHNP. The choice was simple for me; I have battled with significant depression, anxiety, panic, and ADHD for a big part of my life. I developed several negative coping skills, but one led me down a dark path: alcoholism. It took many years of self-discovery and healing to be where I am today. I strive to educate individuals on mental illness and substance abuse disorders, aiming for optimal mental health, recovery, and compliance with treatment. Hopefully, one day, the stigma associated with both mental illness and substance abuse will end.

Individuals with mental illness and substance abuse often suffer in silence due to the stigma associated with both illnesses. I have witnessed healthcare workers comment negatively on patients in the behavioral health unit. These negative comments crush me as a psychiatric nurse. Both mental illness and substance abuse disorders have a stigma associated with them; substance abuse seems to be deemed more pessimistic by the public because of personal choice, illicit drug use, and viewed as immoral (Padgett, 2021). Advocating for individuals who have mental illness and substance abuse disorders is one way we can help educate the public on both these disorders, and hope to one day end the stigma associated with both (Padgett, 2021).

I have chosen The American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) as the professional organization associated with my chosen specialty. APNA is “The unifying voice of psychiatric-mental health nursing” (American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 2023). APNA is an excellent professional organization for all nurses in the psychiatric field. Being a member of APNA, you can access numerous evidence-based articles related to your specialty, opportunities for continuing education, professional growth, and networking (American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 2023). There is an annual fee for membership costs and several different membership categories. Yearly membership for nurses is $ 135, and if you’re a full-time student, you get a discounted annual rate of $25 with appropriate documentation from the university (American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 2023).