NURS 6003 Academic Success and Professional Development Plan

NURS 6003 Academic Success and Professional Development Plan

NURS 6003 Academic Success and Professional Development Plan

Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) pursuing advanced education, especially Master of Science in Nursing (MS) need to specialize in certain areas of care provision based on their options and desires. Deciding the choice of specialty is essential for APRNs so that they can focus on a certain area of healthcare delivery and improve overall patient outcomes (Delaney et al., 2019). Consequently, I have considered different specialties before making the decision to be a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP). The purpose of this paper is to discuss and compare my primary and second preferred specialties and identify the role of each specialty based on the preparation. The paper also discusses the justification for the selected or preferred specialty and examines a professional organization related to the specialty and way of joining the organization.

Step 1: Comparison of Nursing Specialties

My preferred specialty is being a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP). PMHNP nurses offer a full range of primary mental health care, including the psychosocial assessment, evaluation, diagnosis and developing treatment and care plans for patients with mental health needs and psychiatric disorders (Foster et al., 2020). Through the use of their knowledge and skills of psychotherapy modalities and psychopharmacology and in collaboration with physicians and other professional, PMHNP nurses place their patients on regimen of therapy and prescription medications to enhance their mental health. Psychiatric nurse practitioners also offer support and education to families and communities besides the evaluation of their patients’ progress throughout their lifespan (Jones et al., 2022). They also participate in policy development and health care reforms as they relate to mental health and treatment of mental health patients to improve access, reduce cost burden and enhance overall quality of care delivery (Delaney et al., 2019). The PMHNP specialty offers different opportunities and options for one to work in various settings that include inpatient and emergency department, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation facilities and even in telehealth or tele-psychiatry.

The second preferred option is working as family nurse practitioner. Family nurse practitioners (FNPs) work with families to offer both preventing and secondary care through implementation of health care plans. According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), FNPs maintain patient records, perform physical examination and order or conduct diagnostic tests as well as prescribe medications. They can also work in a variety of health care practice areas that include community health settings, private practice, health care systems and even in institutions like universities (AANP, 2019). FNPs can also attain additional certifications in different areas like diabetes and obesity management to meet the specific needs of their different patients across the care and age continuum. These certifications also help them to enhance their career prospects.

Similar to the PMHNP, a family nurse practitioner works with patients of all age groups in different care settings. The FNP can work independently in their own practice or be part of a team. Further, like the PMHNP, the FNP also requires similar qualifications of at least a master’s degree in advanced nursing education. However, the two specialties are fundamentally different in terms of roles and responsibilities and even the practice settings. For instance, the FNP’s primary focus is meeting the physical needs of patients, families and health populations (Kleinpell et al., 2019). Conversely, the PMHNP focuses on meeting the mental health needs of patients and even families. The two specialties are critical because they all implore providers to have further areas of focus that can include geriatrics, pediatrics, and even adolescent health.

Step 2: Justification of Nursing Specialty

The choice of nursing specialty depends on one’s desires as a healthcare providers based on needs within the community. The decision to select PMHNP specialty emanates from various reasons that include bridging the gap in mental health access to available resources. My qualification and practice as a PMHNP will assist address the rift between psychiatric services need and availability and access. Secondly, the misconceptions on mental health continue to rise and this affects accessibility by patients and the quality of care that one gets. Individuals and families have failed to seek mental health services because of increased levels of stigmatization and limited resources within the community settings (Foster et al., 2020). Individuals are fast to ignore and even deny the existence of signs and symptoms of mental health problems because they fear stigma from society and family, especially victimization. Therefore, as a PMHNP, I will leverage my professional background and skills to alter these misconceptions and stigma and enhance access to these services by individuals in different settings. I will ensure that I integrate mental health as part of holistic care provision to improve overall patient outcomes, especially at this time when issues like the opioid epidemic and COVID-19 pandemic continue to have devastating effects on mental health among individuals. I will practice where I am most required and meet patient needs by leveraging technologies like telehealth and telemedicine to improve access to resources and lower the overall cost burden associated with mental health provision for low-income individuals and communities.

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Step 3: Professional Organizations

Professional associations are an essential component for nurse as they offer them the chance to influence nursing practice, nursing education, health policy, and patient care provision through the implementation of innovative care models and evidence-based practice (EBP) interventions. These associations also generate energy, flow of idea and proactive work required to attain patient quality care delivery. The professional association related to my selected or preferred specialty is the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) (2023). This professional nursing association offers members a chance to connect with fellow psychiatric-mental health nurses, have access to resources like evidence-based resources and programs as well as participate in exclusive opportunities in advancing care and treatment of individuals with health and substance use disorders and needs. The organization also provides opportunities for members to enhance their PMH nursing knowledge through over 230 online continuing education sessions, and programs. For instance, members get four free education sessions every month to improve their skills in care provision. One can become a member as a practice nurse (APRN) specializing in mental health area or as a student. The individual meets the criteria and makes online application and pays the requisite fees.

Conclusion

Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) identify specialties to offer specialized care to selected patient populations with the aim of improving quality of care and expanding access as well as reducing the overall cost burden. Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) play a critical role in care delivery as they provide mental health care to individuals in need of these services to attain holistic care. As specialized providers, the psychiatric mental health nurses require certain qualifications and should join professional nursing organizations to improve their skills and knowledge in care provision.

References

American Association of Family Nurse Practitioners (AANP) (2019). Are You

Considering a Career as a Family Nurse Practitioner? https://www.aanp.org/news-feed/are-you-considering-a-career-as-a-family-nurse-practitioner

American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) (2023). Welcome to Your Psychiatric-

            Mental Health Nursing Community. https://www.apna.org/

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. DOI: 10.1177/1078390318806571.

Foster, K., Roche, M., Giandinoto, J. A., & Furness, T. (2020). Workplace stressors,

psychological well‐being, resilience, and caring behaviours of mental health nurses: A descriptive correlational study. International journal of mental health nursing, 29(1), 56-68. DOI: 10.1111/inm.12610.

Jones, J. S., Jones, J. S., & Beauvais, A. M. (2022). Psychiatric mental health nursing:

            An interpersonal approach. Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Kleinpell, R. M., Grabenkort, W. R., Kapu, A. N., Constantine, R., & Sicoutris, C. (2019).

Nurse practitioners and physician assistants in acute and critical care: A concise review of the literature and data 2008–2018. Critical care medicine, 47(10), 1442. DOI: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000003925.

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

I selected Dr. Williams because she is currently the Program Coordinator of the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program at Walden University. She has more than 20 years of experience practicing nursing and advanced practice nursing and over 10 years of teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels (Walden University, 2020). Dr. Williams is known for her sincere passion for teaching and mentoring. Thus, she will be an ideal mentor since I am in the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program. 

Notes:

It will be essential to approach Dr. Williams and express my interest in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nursing. I will also request her to guide me throughout the program to gain the knowledge and attitude needed for a Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP.

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

I selected Pogemiller because she is an Adult Health Nursing NP, which aligns with my future role. Pogemiller has a vast experience as an NP of over 10 years and is highly skilled in providing Adult Health Nursing. Besides, she is committed to providing high-quality care based on the best practice and clinical guidelines to achieve the best outcomes for patients. She can thus support me throughout the NP program and guide me in becoming a highly-skilled NP in the future.

Notes: I will approach Pogemiller and inform her of my current NP course in Adult Gerontology Primary Care. I will request her to be my professional mentor and guide me in steering through the course including the do’s and don’t’s of a Adult Gerontology NP.

Main Discussion Post for NURS 6003 Week 1

My Goals and Walden University’s Mission and Vision 

My name is Deborah, and I have been a nurse for nineteen years, practicing in the state of Maryland. During the past nineteen years, I have spent my career working with geriatrics in long-term care and short-term rehab. I have been in management for seventeen years, the last ten as a Director of Nursing. I have always desired to further my education and become a Nurse Practitioner. Still, I put it aside year after year to raise my children, all while giving excuses to myself that I could not find the time, and now, in my late 40s, I was beyond the age of going back to school. It was not until my oldest son completed his BSN in Nursing with Walden before going to Medical School, that I realized Walden offered the flexibility that I needed to fulfill my dream of becoming a Nurse Practitioner. 

As I looked into Walden University and read further about what was offered and the flexibility, I found that Walden’s Mission and Vision aligned with my professional goals. Walden’s Mission of providing the opportunity to become a scholar-practitioner making positive social changes and their vision that includes Walden graduates being part of a solution for the critical challenges of our society coincided with my goals and desires (Walden University, n.d.). I have not only tried to achieve this in my nursing career but I feel I would be able to be a part of as a Nurse Practitioner, advancing in my healthcare field. Health professionals face many challenges today in all fields of practice, from lacking staff, resources, and practitioners to providing the quality of care everyone deserves. One area where challenges have been spotlighted, especially since the Covid pandemic, is in our long-term care facilities. Lack of investment in our nursing homes, including the lack of providing quality care, lack of staffing, and oversight, gained attention, showing a critical challenge in society in need of a positive change (The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2022). As a scholarly professional, I aim to be a part of the positive change for geriatric patients in long-term care settings, including their healthcare and the environment they live, and in changing the negative views by many on these facilities. 

Social Change and Goals 

Walden University’s definition of social change and its goals align with my professional goals. With my goal to be a part of a change for geriatric patients in long-term care facilities, this program will allow me to play a role in Walden’s Social Change Initiative of building community and empowering change-makers (Walden University, n.d.). I look to practice in underserved areas where socioeconomic factors play a part in the care received by our communities. By obtaining my degree at Walden, I will be given the skills and knowledge to work towards and meet my goals effectively, representing Walden and their Social Change Initiative.  

MSN Program Outcomes and Perspectives 

Inspiring change in others, developing oneself, and attaining the skills and knowledge needed to become a confident leader is part of Walden’s MSN Program Outcome and Perspectives (Walden University, n.d.). Currently, as well as throughout my career, as part of being in nurse management, I have always aimed to be a role model. My leadership style is leading by example, working alongside my staff, supporting them, and advocating for them and our patients. The MSN program here will help me grow in my profession and provide me with skills that I need to continue to inspire others and be a positive role model for fellow nurses and healthcare workers. 

Networking 

As part of making a positive change in society and upholding the missions, values, and goals of Walden University and the MSN Program, networking is essential. Networking offers many opportunities to achieve these goals, including knowledge sharing, exchanging of information, and being a part of writing and revising policies and procedures, as well as opening doors for career advancement and many different job opportunities (Schmidt, n.d.). Networking with other healthcare professionals both within Walden and outside of Walden will allow me opportunities to connect with others who may have similar goals. Networking also allows me to connect with others I can learn from, sharing experiences and knowledge that will help each other. Connecting with other healthcare professionals who have been where I am now in college can give me positive inspiration and push when I feel overwhelmed. Also, linking with those currently going through the program will allow us to encourage each other and lean on each other for professional and personal support. I know I am not the only single parent working a full-time job and now going through college. Networking with individuals trying to juggle all the same responsibilities of running a home, caring for children, a full-time job, and now college can be of great encouragement because we understand each other’s situation personally.  

I look forward to continuing my education at Walden, and upholding the Missions, Values, and Goals, as well as networking with others to achieve these goals.