Hi Amy,

I am also Pursuing a degree in the PMHNP program. I also struggled, like I’m sure many others, in deciding on which program to go into. I feel like mental health in this country is a huge issue; it is often not given the priority it should until something tragic happens. I think it Is great that you’re following in your grandmother’s footsteps by working in mental health. Good luck with your schooling.

Hello Amy,

Thank you for your discussion. I agree with you that mental health issues are among some of the common conditions in the country currently. Wu et al., (2021) point out that the recent covid-19 pandemic significantly contributed to rising mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorders, among others. Despite the rise in cases of mental health issues, it is important to point out that there is still a shortage of mental health providers in the country. This is supported by Mongeli et al., (2020) who suggest that certain populations such as Americans in the rural areas and other disenfranchised populations experience challenges in accessing mental health services. As such, I think it is a wise decision to choose to specialize in mental health care as it offers an opportunity of contributing towards the delivery of healthcare services to populations with an actual need. I agree with you that the lack of a mentor in the field of healthcare is a main challenge in the field of mental healthcare. Unlike other specializations, getting a mentor or a preceptor in mental healthcare can be challenging because of the shortage in these practitioners.

References

Mongelli, F., Georgakopoulos, P., & Pato, M. T. (2020). Challenges and opportunities to meet the mental health needs of underserved and disenfranchised populations in the United States. Focus, 18(1), 16-24.

Wu, T., Jia, X., Shi, H., Niu, J., Yin, X., Xie, J., & Wang, X. (2021). Prevalence of mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of affective disorders, 281, 91-98.

Hello Yanet, thank you for this post.

PMHNPs provide advanced care in a wide range of settings where mental health needs are treated. PMHNPs have significant impacts on patients facing long-standing disparities in mental health care (Foster et al., 2019). Psychiatric nurse education expands beyond clinical experiences to the policy and social trends affecting communities (Chapman et al., 2019). I chose PMHNP so that I can help create awareness about mental health. I chose this specialty because it will help raise awareness of mental health overall, including mental health disorders, and eliminate the stigma that stubbornly adheres to the notion of seeking mental help. This increase is helping people become more aware of their struggles while encouraging them to seek help (Chapman et al., 2019). The American Psychiatric Nurses Association is the largest national professional society representing psychiatric nurses. APNA is the unifying voice of psychiatric-mental health nursing (Foster et al., 2019). This professional organization is committed to the specialty practice of psychiatric-mental health nursing, health, and wellness promotion through the identification of mental health issues, prevention of mental health problems, and the care and treatment of persons with psychiatric disorders.

References

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

Foster, K., Roche, M., Giandinoto, J. A., & Furness, T. (2019). Workplace stressors, psychological well‐being, resilience, and caring behaviors of Mental Health Nurses: A descriptive correlational study. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 29(1), 56–68. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12610

Hi Yanet,

I agree with you that there is a global lack of awareness within mental health. There is a lot of stigma around mental health as well.  Stigma results when individuals associate differences within one another with negative stereotypes and by labeling and separating from those with such differences (Herrera et al, 2023). Discrimination due to this stigma is another issue to deal with. There are now aims to reduce stigma such as stigma programs that use social marketing, public service announcements, and through education (Roe, Lysaker, & Yanos, 2014). There are so many things that can effect your mental health. Understanding that mental illness is just like getting sick but in the mind is important and we all deal with it at some point in our lives and it too is a part of the human condition (Morehead, 2021).

Herrera, S. N., Larsen, E. M., Deluca, J. S., Crump, F. M., Grivel, M., Blasco, D., Bryant, C., Shapiro, D. I., Downing, D., Girgis, R. R., Brucato, G., Huang, D., Kufert, Y., Verdi, M., West, M. L., Seidman, L. J., Link, B. G., McFarlane, W. R., Woodberry, K. A., … Corcoran, C. M. (2023). The association between mental health stigma and face emotion recognition in individuals at risk for psychosis. Stigma and Health, 8(1), 31–39. https://doi.org/10.1037/sah0000379Links to an external site.

Morehead, D. B. (2021). Science Over Stigma : Education and Advocacy for Mental Health. American Psychiatric Association Publishing.

Roe, D., Lysaker, P. H., & Yanos, P. T. (2014). Overcoming stigma. In The stigma of disease and disability: Understanding causes and overcoming injustices. (pp. 269–282). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/14297-014

Hello Yanet,

Thank you for your insightful discussion. Indeed, a professional portfolio is essential in highlighting the skills and expertise that one has gathered throughout the years. One of the benefits of a portfolio is that it tracks one’s proficiencies (Madden et al., 2019). When a student develops a portfolio, they can determine their strengths. A student can also determine areas of deficiencies or where to improve upon. This can guide the steps that a student takes to improve one’s portfolio. Regarding specific steps that a student that can take to improve their portfolio I would like to add the importance of volunteering to provide healthcare services to diverse populations. For instance, a nursing student can volunteer in the community clinics. This offers the student an opportunity to gain skills and experience in healthcare delivery to diverse populations (Carey & Kies, 2022). Students can also improve their portfolio through undertaking certification programs to garner various skills in healthcare delivery.

References

Carey, S. K., & Kies, J. M. (2022). Unexpected Learning Opportunities for Nursing Students. AJN The American Journal of Nursing, 122(1), 44-47.

Madden, K., Collins, E., & Lander, P. (2019). Nursing Students’ Perspectives on ePortfolios: Themes and Preferences Compared with Paper-Based Experiences. International Journal of ePortfolio, 9(2), 87-96.

Hello Yanet,

Great post. Like you, I also choose the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) specialty. In your post you mentioned there is a lack of awareness in the psychiatric field and I have to say I certainly agree with you. I believe one of the reasons for the lack of awareness is due to the stigma of mental health disorders. Coombs et al. (2021) stated “mental healthcare is especially difficult due to lingering social stigmas and scarcity of services.” Often times because of the lack of understanding and misinformation surrounding mental health, individuals who battle mental illness are judged and as a result they often do not seek help and go untreated. These individuals also avoid seeking treatment because of the fear of being treated differently, and or being discriminated against. Lack of treatment causes there to be a potential for the individual to become disabled if the mental illness becomes severe. Thus, mental health disorders are among one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, and as a result causes a treatment gap. According to Mongelli et al. (2020) the treatment gap is the proportional difference in the amount of people who have a mental illness and out of those individuals the amount who receive care. This gap for those individuals with mental disorders is over 50% throughout different countries and 90% in low-income countries. The rate in which mental health exists in low income populations was one of my driving forces for choosing this specialty.

References

Coombs, N. C., Meriwether, W. E., Caringi, J., & Newcomer, S. R. (2021). Barriers to healthcare access among U.S. adults with mental health challenges: A population-based study. SSM – Population Health, 15, 100847. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.10084Links to an external site.

Mongelli, F., Georgakopoulos, P., & Pato, M. T. (2020). Challenges and opportunities to meet the mental health needs of underserved and disenfranchised populations in the United States. FOCUS, 18(1), 16- 24.  https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.focus.20190028Links to an external site.

Hi Yanet,

I enjoyed reading your post, it is great that your found your passion in MSN PMHN. According to Butryn, Bryant, Marchionni, and Sholevar (2017), there is a sharp increase in the demand for nurse practitioners who specializes in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing (PMHN). This reflects an increased importance placed on the profession within the US health care system. The normalization of mental health issues, such as a depression, PTSD and substance abuse, just to mention a few, through mainstream media and the Affordable Care Act’s increased provision for treating mental health have lead to an increase in demand for mental health professionals. We are in need of more Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and I am sure that with the help of Walden University you will become a great one. No wonder why you picked  Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses , it has a great mission to advance the science and education of psychiatric-mental health nursing, committed to the specialty practice of psychiatric-mental health nursing, health, wellness and recovery promotion through identification of mental health issues, prevention of mental health problems and the care and treatment of persons with psychiatric disorders (Home-Association of Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses, 2020).

References

Butryn, T., Bryant, L., Marchionni, C., & Sholevar, F. (2017). The shortage of psychiatrists and
other mental health providers: Causes, current state, and potential solutions. International Journal of Academic Medicine, 1.

Home – Association of Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses. (2020, April). Association of Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses. https://www.aappn.org/

Response 2

Hello Pamela, great post,

Thanks for sharing your insights on the discussion examining nursing specialties. The nursing career has several specialties that a student can choose to venture into depending on their interests. Among these options, MSN psychiatry mental health is one of the most exciting specialties that one can venture into. Psychiatry and mental health equip the learner with vital skills, competence, and knowledge about mental health and behavioral disorders and how to manage them accordingly (Mongeli et al., 2020). Numerous affiliate bodies for psychiatric patients are available, giving its members numerous opportunities to develop career-wise. In addition to your input, the Association of Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses is a reliable option. It serves the members and professional community through connection, education, career cultivation, and advocacy (Association of Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses, 2020). Student membership for your case would be pertinent to enhancing your professional connections, career growth, and competence. Your discussion was well done.

References

Association of Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses [Internet]. Association of Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses. 2020. Available from: https://www.aappn.org/

Mongelli, F., Georgakopoulos, P., & Pato, M. T. (2020). Challenges and opportunities to meet the mental health needs of underserved and disenfranchised populations in the United States. Focus, 18(1), 16-24.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7011222/

Response 2

Hello Pamela, Since I could so strongly identify to what you wrote, I really loved reading your piece. A critical care nurse wouldn’t even consider a specialty that was outside of our field. However, the tales and experiences we encounter lead us in a route we had never considered before. I truly appreciated the way you included every specialty one may think about pursuing to enhance practice. As you correctly said, FNP and PMHNP work in tandem and complement one another. I’d also think about pursuing FNP certification after obtaining my PMHNP. It may be a fantastic opportunity for us to fill the gap given the dearth of this specialty service. PMHNPs are in the best possible position to satisfy the demand and meet the requirement. Due to the deficit, mental health services are frequently delayed and insufficiently accessible to disadvantaged areas. Access to care may be improved with PMHNPs. The National Academy of Medicine and the ANCC agree that PMHNPs should use their entire scope of practice in order to increase access to mental health treatments.

Reference:

Coombs, L. A. (2015). The Growing Nurse Practitioner Workforce in Specialty Care. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 11(9), 907–909. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2015.06.014

 Wiesen DNP, APRN, FNP-C. 8 Professional Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Organizations. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nursingprocess.org/psychiatric-nurse-practitioner-organizations.html.

Hello Pamela,

In your post, you have mentioned mentors and I would like to jump on this as well. I have personally interacted with several mentors across my journey in my career. One of the main differences that mentors have made in my life is helping me look at the dilemmas I am facing from different perspectives . For instance, when it comes to a nursing specialty, my mentors pushed me to think beyond what it is I want to do, and instead, to think about the areas that I would make a greater difference in and areas of need. These mentors are important as they have more years of experience in the field and thus, would be better placed to offer practical advice and coaching that will positively impact our decision making (Moss & Jackson, 2019; Venkatesa Perumal & Singh, 2022).

References

Moss, C., & Jackson, J. (2019). Mentoring New Graduate Nurse Practitioners. Neonatal network : NN, 38(3), 151–159. https://doi.org/10.1891/0730-0832.38.3.151

Venkatesa Perumal, R., & Singh, M. D. (2022). Mentorship in nursing in Canada – A scoping review. Nurse education in practice, 65, 103461. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2022.103461

Hi Pamela,

I enjoyed reading your post and I too can relate with your career choices. I’m a FNP-BC and currently working on obtaining a PMHNP certification . Just like you , I believe these two career paths complement each each other very well due to the many psycho-somatic and vice versa nature of so many illnesses and ailments. Emotional characteristics and processes predict major health outcomes, as do aspects of personal relationships. Article Summaries for Psychosomatic Medicine.(n.d.).  provide an overview of theory, methods, and research findings. In this articles, developmental aspects and the importance of early life events are described as related to the interplay between emotional and social determinants of health and disease. There is a review that concludes with a discussion of common biological foundations of affective and relationship processes, cultural factors in affective and relationship interactions, and implications for intervention research. You mentioned in your post the International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses (ISPN) and after some research I also would like to join that society, it sounds very interesting to me the collaboration between mental health professionals from different cultures and ways of living.

References

Article Summaries for Psychosomatic Medicine.(n.d.). Volume 81, Issue 8. Psychosomatic Medicine 81(8):p 675, October 2019. | DOI: 10.1097/PSY.0000000000000748

International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses. (n.d.). About ISPN. Retrieved from https://ispn.memberclicks.net/about-ispn

Hi Cindy,

I have talked to many of my colleagues and seen a lot of posts online about burnout over the last few years, and it’s real. I think one of the most important things we can do as nurses and as future mental health professionals is to take care of our own mental health issues. A lot of my fellow workers became burnout due to COVID and the extraordinary amount of hours that we work during that time, I think we all need a break.

Cindy, I totally agree with you in regard to a lot of your discussion post.  Nursing is a hard job just by itself without feeling the burden of everyone and everything.  It took me many years telling myself that I didn’t want to go back to school.  I have seen in the pediatric practice I work for, the struggles of so many children.  That is when I decided that I could do more than just placing orders and triage phone calls.  I knew I wanted to know more of the mind and learning how to deal with difficult behaviors, like you said.  And like you, I am happy to be able to make a difference in this world.

Mental health is important for everyone.  If as adults we can’t control ourselves, how are we to help our kids?  I am sure an advocate for mental health in children.

     Hi Jeffy, first let me commend you on such a decision. I’ve worked in the emergency department for the majority of my career and I feel I’ve dealt with many patients with mental illnesses. I knew it wasn’t the right path for me. I do see such a need for providers, like yourself who are willing to dedicate themselves to such a difficult area. These patients require dedicated professionals to help them through extreme times. I am happy as an emergency nurse to provide that stabilizing care they require and I can be empathetic. I will say I sometimes feel that I become a bit more frustrated because too often these patients are repeatedly in the ED because of failed programs. It seems to be a vicious cycle for some. I know I may not see the good outcomes quite as often.

Just like any other healthcare area, as the U.S. population rises so do the healthcare needs. “In June 2022, the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) reported that 151 million Americans lived in mental health professional shortage areas (Regiscollege.edu, 2023).” Location also clearly plays a role, but that’s, not the only reason. The need for providers is going to continue to rise, but at this time the HRSA is showing the need for practitioners to cover the deficit is currently 7,584 (Regiscollege.edu, 2023).

Many Americans struggled with mental health issues before the Covid pandemic. The added stress of such a change is not only creating new concerns for those already struggling, but also creating mental health and financial concerns for those who have not been struggling. “As the pandemic wears on, it’s likely the mental health burden will increase as measures taken to slow the spread of the virus, such as social distancing, business and school closures, and shelter-in-place orders, lead to greater isolation and potential financial distress (pcdc.org, 2023).” Isolation is too much for some and with our social distancing requirements many could not cope and the suicide rates with Covid escalated. So I just want to say you have chosen a field that is in great need of dedicated professionals like yourself.

What is the psychiatric nurse practitioner’s job outlook? Regis College Online. (2022, August 10). Retrieved February 1, 2023, from https://online.regiscollege.edu/online-masters-degrees/online-master-science-nursing/psychiatric-mental-health-nurse-practitioner/resources/psychiatric-nurse-practitioner-job-outlook/#:~:text=The%20demand%20will%20be%20particularly,mental%20health%20professional%20shortage%20areasLinks to an external site..

Covid-19 and Behavioral Health. Primary Care Development Corporation. (2020, August 21). Retrieved February 1, 2023, from https://www.pcdc.org/covid-19-and-behavioral-health/?creative=587372847111&keyword=covid+and+mental+health&matchtype=e&network=g&device=c&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIp4nFj5z0_AIV2BPUAR0FKw3-EAAYASAAEgJQqfD_BwELinks to an external site.

hello Jeffy,

I enjoyed reading your response to this weeks discussion. PMHNP is also my choice of program, i must say its very impressive to see so many of us venture into PMH given the mental health prover shortage. like you I also like the fact that this program specialty allows us to work individuals of all ages, because as much as making the decision to specialize in mental health was easy, choosing which age group I would like to serve is very hard. I originally wanted to work with adolescents, but after working for the VA I developed an interest in working with veterans, that being said I’m excited and looking forward to learning more about mental health and gaining knowledge that will serve my community.

Hi Jessie,

Mental health is certainly limited for those in low and middle income countries unfortunately. In some countries, families want to deal with a mental health problem in home due to stigma surrounding mental  illness. Older adults who are living in those low and middle income countries, are often the ones lacking financial means and are often the most affected by poor mental health (Giebel et al, 2022).  The World Health Organization (WHO) is enacting a Comprehensive Mental Health Action Program which consist of an action plan to promote mental health and well-being for everyone and achieve mental health services and coverage for all in an order to end the mental health treatment gap (Jordans & Kohrt, 2020).

Giebel, C., Shrestha, N., Reilly, S., White, R. G., Zuluaga, M. I., Saldarriaga, G., Liu, G., Allen, D., & Gabbay, M. (2022). Community-based mental health and well-being interventions for older adults in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Geriatrics, 22(1), 773. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03453-1Links to an external site.

Jordans, M. J. D., & Kohrt, B. A. (2020). Scaling up mental health care and psychosocial support in low-resource settings: A roadmap to impact. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 29. https://doi.org/10.1017/S2045796020001018Links to an external site.

WHO (2012) Assessing Mental Health and Psychosocial Needs and Resources: Toolkit for Major Humanitarian Settings. Geneva: World Health Organization.

Response 1

Hello, Jessie! I loved how you so succinctly described a social challenge, which is frequently dismissed. It is undoubtedly true that in some cultures and societies, mental health is still viewed as a misfortune. And it is quite disheartening to remark that social stigma still exists in our advanced society. I’m pleased that your expertise in this area will enable you to influence people’s perspectives and personal interactions in order to bring about social change. We all work hard to be physically strong, but we pay far less attention to maintaining our mental health. We all work hard to maintain our physical fitness but pay very little attention to maintaining our mental health because we overlook the reality that it’s essential for physical fitness, as you very well pointed out. I’m certain that your affiliation with an organization like APNA will provide you additional perspective on how to approach such societal challenges, and the description of the membership and costs was quite useful.

Reference:

Beers, K., & Sundborg, S. A. (2014). Social determinants of health. Best Practices in Mental Health: An International Journal, 10(2), 103–104.

Nadler-Moodie, M., & Croce, N. (2012). APNA Membership: Maximizing the Benefit of Membership! Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 18(5), 307–308. https://doi.org/10.1177/1078390312462603Links to an external site.

Anna, you bring up a great point that I haven’t heard mentioned by anyone else yet. I believe that professional organizations do lead to confidence in you discipline and specialty. Security and advocacy can both stem from membership and affiliation, and I am really glad to hear you recognize this!

Hello Claire,

Its interesting to read that you went back to pursue an additional APN degree, because you saw the need in the community. i agree with you we need more MHP providers, the provider shortage was already a problem before COVID-19, but became worse after. According to an article written by Stacy Weiner in 2022, one out of every 5 people in the USA had a mental illness in 2019 a total of 51.5million. The shortage of mental health providers is expected to keep growing, due to the growing population of mental illnesses (Weiner, 2022). some areas such as Nebraska, one might have to wait up to months for an appointment with a psychiatrist (Weiner,2022).

references

Weiner (2022). retrieved from https://www.aamc.org/news-insights/growing-psychiatrist-shortage-enormous-demand-mental-health-services

Zulay, I like what you said about this decision being life-changing! You are so right; you are making a decision now that will impact the rest of your life potentially, as well as those around you. It sounds like you did your research and made a thoughtful decision that will be best for you and for others.

Zheman,

I feel like we are on an island by ourselves because we are probably the only ones that is doing something outside of psychiatric mental health! I too am compassionate about acute care and is looking forward to working in the areas such as emergency rooms, ICU, PACU or for a cardiology group. Several studies show that using NPs in an outpatient cardiology clinic helped improve patient access, reduced wait times for consultations, and decreased the time required for diagnosis by 57% . In an acute care cardiothoracic unit, adding NPs reduced ICU readmissions from 2.6% to 1.9%, reduced length of stay from approximately 10 to 8 days, and improved survivability from 96.5% to 98.0 (Horne & Estes, 2021).

I as well have a membership with the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and I follow the specialty group for AGACNP and plan on getting my certification in ACNPC. The Requirements include:

• An unencumbered license has not been subjected to formal discipline by the board of nursing in the state(s) in which the nurse practiced during the most recent renewal period and has no provisions or conditions that limit the nurse’s practice. Provisions or conditions may include, but are not limited to, direct supervision of practice, drug administration limitations and/or practice area exclusions.
• Practice as an APRN for 1,000 hours during the five-year certification renewal period is required.
  • Eligible hours must include active involvement as an ACNP in the care of adult patients with complex acute and/or chronic health conditions in the U.S. ANCPs practicing outside the U.S. should contact AACN regarding eligible practice hours.
  • Contact information for your supervisor or a professional associate must be provided for verification of eligibility related to practice hours.
• Completion of 150 CE Points, with a minimum of 75 in Category I (25 as Pharmacology CE), is required.
  • The CE Points program includes informal learning and formal educational activities granting contact hours or CE, as well as optional activities such as presentations, preceptorships and volunteer work.

Natasha,

References

ACNPC-AG (adult-gero.). AACN. (n.d.). Retrieved January 31, 2023, from https://www.aacn.org/certification/get-certified/acnpc-ag

Horne, M. & Estes, K. (2021). Implementation of a new cardiology hospital service leveraging nurse practitioners to improve patient access and outcomes. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 33 (3), 231-238. doi: 10.1097/JXX.0000000000000421.

Zheman, I appreciate your post on the nurse practitioner program you are studying, Adult Gerontology Acute Care.  You are like myself and have dedicated myself to pediatrics and you to patients.  I never looked into that program as it deals with adults but I never thought about adolescence being care for by Adult Gerontology (Walden University, n.d.).

I think we all agree that the AANP is one organization we need to belong to.  There is such a wealth of knowledge from the website along with continuing education opportunities and great networking opportunities.  Having this resource as a tool for information will be invaluable for all of us (AANP, n.d.).

AANP. (2022). About the American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP). Retrieved from AANP: https://www.aanp.org/about/about-the-american-association-of-nurse-practitioners-aanp

Walden University. (n.d.). Choosing the MSN Specialization That’s Right for You. Retrieved from Walden University: https://www.waldenu.edu/online-masters-programs/master-of-science-in-nursing/resource/choosing-the-msn-specialization-thats-right-for-you

Hello Zheman,

Thank you for the impressive discussion on how you selected your specialization area. Your ambition to become an Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner is truly impressive. Your determination, despite the challenges that you have faced, is a testament to your passion for this field.

Joining the American Association of Nursing Practitioners (AANP) will be a valuable step in your professional development. As a member, you will have access to a range of resources and opportunities to support your growth, including reduced costs on continuing education and the chance to network with other nursing practitioners. By staying informed of the latest advancements in the field and connecting with your peers, you will be well-equipped to provide the highest quality care to your patients (DePriest et al., 2020). Your membership in the AANP will not only benefit you personally, but it will also have a positive impact on the nursing profession and the health of our nation as a whole.

I also with you that it is simple joining the AANP as it requires limited struggle. To join the AANP, you can simply visit their website and follow the steps to become a member (Rowley et al., 2020). They offer different membership levels to accommodate the needs of different practitioners, so you can select the one that works best for you.

In conclusion, your decision to specialize in Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nursing is a sound one, and I have no doubt that you will achieve great success in your studies and career. Your passion for this field and your unwavering commitment to your goals will make a significant impact on the lives of many people. I wish you the best of luck in your journey ahead and in your membership with the AANP.

     Zheman, I thought for sure I would choose the acute care route. It took a lot to decide to step away from something I know so well. I suppose there’s always a chance I would go back and obtain that certification. “The best way to think about FNP vs. ACNP is this: Family nurse practitioners (FNPs) provide primary care to individuals across the lifespan while acute care nurse practitioners (ACNPs) provide care in hospitals and other institutional settings (nursingprocess.org, 2023).” A primary care NP position will involve the care of all ages and in a more stable setting. The patients that come into the acute care settings are more unstable and require a practitioner with different skills than the route I’m choosing. I do think my background will benefit the FNP route I am taking now.  I also love that you mention the CEs that the different nursing organizations offer. It’s something I haven’t utilized yet. According to the ANA website, they offer continuing education in work environment, organizational excellence, clinical, certification review, and leadership (nursingworld.org, 2023). Wishing you the best of luck on your acute care journey!

FNP vs. ACNP – 15 key differences between FNP and ACNP. (n.d.). Retrieved February 4, 2023, from https://www.nursingprocess.org/fnp-vs-acnp.html#:~:text=The%20best%20way%20to%20think,hospital%20and%20other%20institutional%20settingsLinks to an external site..

Continuing Professional Education in nursing: Ana Enterprise. ANA. (2017, October 14). Retrieved February 4, 2023, from https://www.nursingworld.org/resources/individual/Links to an external site.

Shantae, thank you for your post. You mentioned several great points/rationales for your choice of mental health. First, you have a passion for it, which is so important! Next, you see that you can truly help the community through this path. Also, you have recognized the shortage of providers, which has made you want to serve. I think these are all excellent reasons to go the path you have chosen.

Sarah, I think the fact that you chose a path you are not necessarily familiar and comfortable with says a lot about who you are. You are not afraid of a challenge, and I can tell that you put a lot of thought and research into this decision. I am glad that you have decided to do this despite the challenge and hard work!

Module 6 Discussion Response 2

Family Nurse Practitioners play a significant role in providing essential healthcare services. Family nurse practitioners are required to undergo a high level of education. Although they operate under the supervision of physicians, there is a significant degree of autonomy. Practical training and education for family health practitioners enable them to execute health exams efficiently and provide family patient education, medication prescription, and various illnesses (American Organization of Nurse Executives, 2015). Family Nurse Practitioners have opportunities to work in diverse healthcare settings. They help to address the gap in patient care in areas and communities where the number of physicians is limited. Training is also very essential for family health practitioners. It enables these professionals to work as administrators in healthcare facilities.

The process of my nursing career has been in critical care. Deciding to go FNP vs. AGACNP route took careful consideration, so I can understand your thought process about getting older and the toll bedside takes on one’s body. My passion for and familiarity with working in critical care circumstances led me to choose the AGACNP route. I admire your bravery for choosing a different route and wish you luck on your journey!

I understand your membership with ANA goes to support the policies and protocols, and it is wise to have joined. When one becomes an ANA member, their voice is heard with opportunities to tell policymakers what one thinks and can save money with discounts on CE, certifications, publications, and more (ANA.org,2023). I currently do not have a membership, but I plan to being that I am in the MSN program.

References

American Organization of Nurse Executives. (2015). AONE

Nurse Executive Competencies. Chicago, IL: Author. Accessed at: www.aone.org

Accessible at: http://www.aone.org/resources/nurse-leader-competencies.shtmlLinks to an external site.

Join the American Nurses Association. ANA. (2017,October 14). Retrieved February 2, 2023, from

https://www.nursingworld.org/membership/joinANA/?utm_source=googlead&utm_medium=paidsocial&utm_campaign=acquisition_main&utm_term=membership&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5ufI9ZPz_AIVod2GCh3qWwasEAAYASAAEgJWFvD_BwE

Sarah,

You are working in a specialty that I plan on specializing in as an Acute Care Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner. I want to work in emergency medicine either in-patient as an hospitalist or in an urgent care setting. I have worked in the outpatient setting for the past 10 years and worked with FNP, and I no longer want the M-F 8-5pm hours and the repetitiveness that it has to offer. I am looking forward to working a few days a week with days off during the week and the adrenaline rush of the acute care setting.

There is also an Acute Care Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP specialty that I thought about, because like you said, when we start to get up in age we no longer have the strength to do 12-hour shifts and bedside care.  Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NPs provide longitudinal primary care, including preventive, chronic, and acute illness care, to adolescents, adults, and older adults; whereas Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NPs provide care to critically ill adults who may be unstable or at high risk for complications. While Family NPs provide care for common acute and chronic illnesses in primary care as well as preventive care to individuals and families across the life span (Peacock et al., 2022).

Here are some of the areas that you can work as an advanced nurse practitioner whether it be acute care or primary care, they are not too different from fnp.

(Walden University, n.d.) Areas of practice available to acute care adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioners are:

• primary care clinics

Natasha,

References

Peacock, A., Blakely, K., Maes, C., Henson, A., DiGiulio, M., & Henderson, M. J. (2022). Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioners: A discussion of scope and expertise. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 18(10), 1037–1045. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2022.07.017Links to an external site.

Walden University. (n.d.).Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Links to an external site.. Retrieved November 14, 2018, from https://www.waldenu.edu/masters/master-of-science-in-nursing

Hello Sarah,

Your discussion was concise and well-written. The point that intrigued me was your decision to join the family nurse practitioner program was influenced by the need to serve your community and provide primary care services. Various factors may influence the success of completing the family nurse practitioner course. One of them is how well-designed the practicum course is. According to Dumphy et al. (2019), a program that promotes critical thinking and clinical decision-making skills can help registered nurses transition easily to family nurse practitioners. Dumphy et al. (2019) also state that well-designed courses should review the knowledge gained in the nursing program.

Reference

Dumphy, D., DeSandre, C., & Thompson, J. (2019). Family nurse practitioner students’ perceptions of readiness and transition into advanced practice. Nursing Forum, 54(3), 352–357. https://doi.org/10.1111/nuf.12336Links to an external site.

Week 6 DP Response 2

Hello Joshua, Thank you for sharing your post.

I relate to your interest in initially becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). I took the GRE, shadowed CRNAs, applied for schools, and genuinely believed in overcoming all the obstacles. Unfortunately, as a single mother of four, the harsh reality I was running from caught up to me. I had to face the fact that with such a demanding program, I would be doing my children and myself a massive disservice by trying to take on such a challenging feat. With family, functionality, and flexibility at the forefront, I re-emerged on a different path. I commend you for following the love and passion for mental health nursing and for striving to meet the needs of such an underserved population. Unfortunately, the numbers do not lie; they worsen yearly, especially in rural areas. The healthcare system cannot meet these communities’ constantly growing mental health needs, thus leading to a national crisis in some regions Finley (2019). You discussed the flexibility of working with patients in different settings, including telehealth; this is a great way to reach patients that may be unreachable otherwise. Kaas (2019) discusses broadening students’ milieu to incorporate simulations in telehealth, digital and mobile platforms for delivering educational content and mentorship. With such a shortage in PMHNP and finding mentors or preceptors, do some institutions have to consider incorporating nursing educational experience through technological outreach to ensure students have the exposure and preparation needed for practice? Joshua, thanks again for sharing. I enjoyed reading your post.

Reference

Finley, B.A. (2019, November 15). Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner meeting rural mental

health challenges. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. 26(1),

                http://doi.org/10.1177/1078390319886357Links to an external site.

Kaas, M.J. (2019, Octiber 15). Will we be ready? Preparing psychiatric-mental health nurses for future

practice. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. 26(1),

https://doi.org/10.1177/1078390319878767Links to an external site.

Meagan, I think you make a great point about “limiting yourself”. While some people have no interest in seeing a diverse population of patients, others think that might be a possibility at some point in their careers. I think you did the more diverse option, and have now decided to truly focus on a group that you are passionate about, while effecting change. Great job!

Good for you, Nicole, in knowing what it is you want to do, who you want to care for and focus on, and how to do it.  I think closing the gap and helping children in crisis is admirable and valuable, and I thank you!

Hello Nicole,

Your discussion was concise and well-written. The point that stood out for me was that many children faced mental health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Focusing on psychiatric-mental health nursing practice can help address the mental health issues that children face. According to Meherali et al. (2021), during the COVID-19 pandemic, many children experienced anxiety, sleep and appetite disturbances, depression, and reduced social interactions due to the many restrictions placed at the time. Hence, there is a need for more psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners to cater to the mental health needs of children and offer treatment programs to ensure they grow up and live normal lives.

Reference

Meherali, S., Punjani, N., Louie-Poon, S., Abdul Rahim, K., Das, J. K., Salam, R. A., & Lassi, Z. S. (2021). Mental health of children and adolescents amidst COVID-19 and past pandemics: A rapid systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(7), 3432. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18073432Links to an external site.