NURS 6003 Walden: Transition to Graduate Study for Nursing

NURS 6003 Walden: Transition to Graduate Study for Nursing

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

I’ve explored the link between academic integrity and writing, as well as the connection between professional practices and scholarly ethics. I’ve also identified the approaches I intend to follow to uphold the integrity and ethics of my academic work as an MSN program student and in my future nursing career. The outcomes of these efforts are outlined below.

Finding a Job as a Nursing School Graduate

Academic Success and Professional Development Plan

Part 2 Section 1

One of the fundamental principles of academic integrity is honesty. In terms of writing, this means giving proper credit to the creators of any work referenced in academic writing by acknowledging them as the source. As a student, it’s essential to engage in scholarly research and use it to grasp and link academic concepts with real-world applications (Emmerich, 2019). Most of the research students use to learn is the product of diligent scholars who value research and education. It’s crucial to include their work in academic writing and attribute it to them. Failing to do so should be acknowledged by demonstrating where the information was obtained. Academic writing integrity also introduces the concept of objectivity in learning. Citing the works of other scholars in an academic paper enables learners to grasp objective viewpoints from various scholars and their relevance in the learning process.

Professional practices and scholarly ethics are closely connected because they depend on each other’s development. A student who adheres to scholarly ethics is likely to develop strong and valuable skills that can be applied to professional practice. For example, a student who consistently cites scholarly works in their academic papers is likely to possess integrity, which will be reflected in the workplace. Similarly, professional practices influence the level of scholarly ethics, especially through the interaction of teachers or instructors with students. A professional tutor will promote scholarly ethics by making it a requirement in their assignments for students to cite works from other scholars.

Part 2 Section 2

As a student in the MSN program, one strategy I intend to employ to maintain the integrity and ethics of my academic work is to always use scholarly resources as references in my research and to properly cite them in the recommended referencing style (Akyurek & Afacan, 2018). I plan to familiarize myself with various referencing styles for scholarly learning. Another strategy is to improve my research skills, especially in databases, to find credible sources of academic information so that when I cite them, the sources are reliable and credible. I also intend to use tools like PlagScan or Turnitin to ensure that my work is free from plagiarism while referencing other scholarly authors. I believe that I can avoid plagiarism by thoroughly reading and understanding the academic material I research and paraphrasing it in a way that prevents plagiarism.

Throughout my professional nursing career, I aim to enhance my research efforts to apply evidence-based practice in my work. I consider EBP vital in nursing because it upholds integrity in the profession, and enhances the chances of positive health outcomes for patients, as the interventions used are evidence-based (Pickler, 2018). Furthermore, I plan to prepare diligently for my examinations and seek training in professional ethics in nursing. I want to deepen my understanding of nursing ethics, not only to ensure that my patients achieve their desired health outcomes, but also to secure the longevity of my nursing career. I believe that violating ethical codes in nursing could put my career at risk, which is something I am determined to avoid.

Professional Success Plan

References

Akyürek, E. & Afacan, Ö. (2018). Problems Encountered During the Scientific Research Process in Graduate Education: The Institute of Educational Sciences. Higher Education Studies, 8(2), 47-57. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1175347.pdf

Emmerich, N. (2019). Professional ethics for researchers? Handbook of Research Ethics and Scientific Integrity, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-76040-7_34-1

Pickler R. H. (2018). Honoring the past, pursuing the future. Nursing Research, 67(1), 1–2. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNR.0000000000000255

URS 6003: Transition to Graduate Study for Nursing – Academic and Professional Success Plan

 

 

 

Module 3 | Part 3: Research Analysis

 

I have identified one topic of interest for further study. I have researched and identified one peer-reviewed research article focused on this topic and have analyzed this article.  The results of these efforts are shared below.

 

Directions: Complete Step 1 by using the table and subsequent space below identify and analyze the research article you have selected. Complete Step 2 by summarizing in 2-3 paragraphs the results of your analysis using the space identified.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 1: Research Analysis

Complete the table below

Topic of Interest:

 

Research Article: Include full citation in APA format, as well as link or search details (such as DOI)

 

Professional Practice Use:

One or more professional practice uses of the theories/concepts presented in the article

 

Research Analysis Matrix

Add more rows if necessary

Strengths of the Research

Limitations of the Research

Relevancy to Topic of Interest

Notes

 

Module 3: Research Analysis

I have identified one topic of interest for further study. I have researched and identified one peer-reviewed research article focused on this topic and analyzed this article. The results of these efforts are shared below.

Step 1. Research Analysis

Complete the table below

The topic of interest:

Psychotropic Medication Side Effects

Research Article:

Valdovinos, M. G., Schieber, E., McMahon, M., Beard, L., Wilkinson, A., & Carpenter, J. (2017). Adverse Side Effects of Psychotropic Medication and Challenging Behavior: Pilot Work Assessing Impact. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 29(6), 969–982. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-017-9570-0

Professional Practice Use

This study examines the adverse side effects of psychotropic medication use in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), often involving off-label drug use (i.e., not for FDA-approved purposes) in managing challenging behavior. Healthcare organizations and workers have used the concepts of this research to inform decisions regarding the appropriate use and prescription of psychotropic medications. Physicians have also used it to identify the adverse effects of the drugs and develop an appropriate treatment plan for managing the patients to alleviate the harmful effects and facilitate recovery. The study introduces a method that can be used to evaluate the motivating operation function of psychotropic medication’s adverse side effects and has, therefore, been used to advance further research on the effects of the drugs on children, adolescents, and adults with intellectual disabilities, as well as develop human-centered dietary decision support systems for use by people living with diabetes and using psychotropic medications.

Research Analysis Matrix

Strengths of the Research

Limitations of the Research

Relevancy To the Topic of Interest

Notes

 

The research successfully identified some potential adverse effects of psychotropic medications, such as increased hunger, tardive dyskinesia, aggression, and headache.

The study did not run control conditions for adverse side effects, making it challenging to assess accounting for the observed responses.

This study is relevant to the study topic as it identified some potential impacts of psychotropic medications on the functional capacity of patients and developed measures to manage the adverse effects.

Psychotropic medications may have some adverse effects that may affect the functional capacity of patients. Identifying these effects and developing appropriate interventions is essential in ensuring better patient management and improving their health outcomes.

 

It enabled a functional analysis to be conducted on each participant before and after exposure to the conditions of adverse side effects to make conclusive decisions.

The adverse side effect conditions were tested only once before the functional analysis, which may have left out some information regarding the impacts of the adverse side effects.

The use of an experimental approach to monitor the impacts of adverse side effects on challenging behaviors informed better prescriptive practices and behavioral interventions to serve adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities better.

 

Step 2: Summary of Analysis

• Craft a summary (2-3 paragraph) below that includes the following:
• Describe your approach to identifying and analyzing peer-reviewed research
• Identify at least two strategies that you would use that you found to be effective in finding peer-reviewed research
• Identify at least one resource you intend to use in the future to find peer-reviewed research

When I wanted to find peer-reviewed research, I went to the National Institute of Health (NIH) database and entered the keywords related to my research topic. For instance, I used words like “psychotropic medications” and “Adverse side effects” to search for relevant articles. I narrowed down the search by setting the publication date range from 2017 to 2022 to ensure I got the latest research for my analysis. Then, when I examined the article, I focused on understanding its purpose, the study design, its strengths, weaknesses, and how it relates to my research topic. This approach helped me discover a suitable peer-reviewed article based on unbiased scientific research for my study in NURS 6003: Transition to Graduate Study for Nursing – Academic and Professional Success Plan.

I’ve also discovered effective strategies for finding peer-reviewed research. These include exploring various online library databases and utilizing different search engines like Google. In library databases, I use relevant keywords and the PICOT questions to identify the most appropriate articles. I further narrow down my search by specifying the publication date range to get the most recent articles. I can also access research articles through search engines like Google, focusing on reputable databases like NIH, SAGE Journals, and ScienceDirect. Google Scholar has proven to be valuable for this purpose as well.

Looking ahead, I plan to utilize Ulrich’s Periodicals Directory to locate peer-reviewed articles. This resource provides comprehensive information about journals and serial publications from around the world, covering a wide range of subjects. It includes both freely accessible and subscription-based publications.

Module 6 | Part 4: Finalizing the Plan

In the process of determining my nursing specialty, I thoroughly examined my primary and secondary preferences. I also justified my choice of the primary specialty. Lastly, I explored a professional organization related to my preferred specialty and considered the steps I need to take to become a member of this organization as part of my academic and professional success plan in NURS 6003: Transition to Graduate Study for Nursing.

The results of my efforts are below.

Directions: Complete Step 1 by writing 2-3 paragraphs in the space below comparing the nursing specialty you have selected – or the one you prefer if your choice is still under consideration –  to your second preference. Identify each specialty and describe the focus and the role that graduates are prepared for. Identify any other differentiators you feel are significant, especially those that helped or may help you reach a decision.

 

Complete Step 2 by writing 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.

 

Complete Step 3 by examining and identifying one professional organization related to your selected or preferred specialty. Explain how you can become a member of this organization.

Step 1: Comparison of Nursing Specialties

 

Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

A Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) is a registered nurse who has received specialized training in mental health and psychiatry. Their role involves assessing, diagnosing, treating, and providing ongoing care for individuals with psychiatric and mental health disorders. PMHNPs are educated and professionally equipped to conduct comprehensive psychiatric evaluations and identify the risks associated with mental illnesses (Boyer et al., 2019). The American Psychiatric Association emphasizes that diagnosing psychiatric patients is based on assessing their mental health status. This assignment explores the role of psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners, compares them to other nursing specialties, discusses the reasons for choosing PMHNP, and delves into the professional organization related to psychiatric nursing in NURS 6003: Transition to Graduate Study for Nursing – Academic and Professional Success Plan.

Comparing PMHNP and Family Nurse Practitioner

PMHNPs acquire knowledge in psychodynamic and psychopharmacology techniques to guide them in patient treatment. They also develop essential skills like analytical thinking, professionalism, and problem-solving. Their responsibilities encompass physical assessment, treatment plan development, mental health education for communities, and patient follow-up. On the other hand, a Family Nurse Practitioner specializes in physical health issues, acute illnesses, infections, and injuries (Herbert & Sibley, 2022). Each specialty has a distinct focus in its scope of practice. The key difference for PMHNPs lies in their diagnostic process, which relies on diagnostic assessment tools and the criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual.

Step 2: Justification of Nursing Specialty

Reasons for Choosing Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

A PMHNP’s specialization includes physical health assessment, pathophysiology, pharmacology, health promotion, maintenance, and psychotherapy. This specialty is highly regarded because it expands the scope of practice to address mild to severe mental health conditions. It provides an opportunity to understand and interpret patients’ behavioral patterns during assessments and daily interactions (Kverno & Frosch, 2022). In today’s society, the prevalence of mental health issues has increased due to technological advancements, urbanization, childhood trauma, social isolation, socioeconomic disparities, and chronic stress. PMHNPs play a crucial role in creating awareness, offering treatment, and providing continuous care to individuals with mental health challenges. They have achieved significant milestones in their practice, such as developing a better understanding of healthy coping mechanisms in traumatic situations. They’ve also contributed to the reduction of suicide rates and the management of depression among young adults and adolescents. Moreover, PMHNP is a fulfilling field, especially when it comes to assisting patients in need.

Step 3: Professional Organizations

Professional Organization for Psychiatric Nursing

The American Psychiatric Association is a medical specialty society that represents psychiatrists across the United States. This organization supports the diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care of individuals with mental health issues. Additionally, it plays a crucial role in influencing the funding of psychiatric research and studies, as well as providing practice guidelines (Keepers et al., 2020). They are committed to ensuring the delivery of high-quality care for individuals and addressing the professional needs of their members. Their values include upholding the highest standards of clinical practice, maintaining the utmost ethical standards in professional conduct, and making patient-focused treatment decisions. The increased accessibility of psychiatric and mental health services, advocacy for the rights and interests of psychiatric patients, and the prevention and treatment of psychiatric disorders are among the organization’s key contributions. Members of the American Psychiatric Association include psychiatric nurses, psychiatry residents, and students undergoing training in the field.

References

Boyer, C. J., Rice, M. J., Sorrell, T. R., & Spurling, A. M. (2019). Advancing racial/ethnic and cultural sensitivity among PMHNP students through education, practice, and experience. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 25(6), 487-495. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2018.01.045

Kverno, K. S., & Frosch, E. (2022). Evaluation of the implementation of an online psychiatric nurse practitioner program for primary care nurse practitioners: Use of a Participatory Evidence-Informed (PEPPA-Plus) framework. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 39, 59-65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2022.03.008

Keepers, G. A., Fochtmann, L. J., Anzia, J. M., Benjamin, S., Ly ness, J. M., Mojtabai, R., … & (Systematic Review). (2020). The American Psychiatric Association practice guideline for the treatment of patients with schizophrenia. American Journal of Psychiatry, 177(9), 868-872. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.177901

Herbert, V. M., & Sibley, S. (2022). Addressing 4Ms of Age-Friendly Health Systems for Older Adults in Family Nurse Practitioner Education through Simulation-Based Learning. Clinical Simulation in Nursing, 64, 10-15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecns.2021.11.006 NURS 6003: Transition to Graduate Study for Nursing – Academic and Professional Success Plan