NURS 6003 Part 4 Finalizing The Plan Assignment

NURS 6003 Part 4 Finalizing the Plan Assignment

Walden University NURS 6003 Part 4 Finalizing The Plan Assignment– Step-By-Step Guide

 

This guide will demonstrate how to complete the Walden University  NURS 6003 Part 4 Finalizing The Plan Assignment assignment based on general principles of academic writing. Here, we will show you the A, B, Cs of completing an academic paper, irrespective of the instructions. After guiding you through what to do, the guide will leave one or two sample essays at the end to highlight the various sections discussed below.

 

How to Research and Prepare for NURS 6003 Part 4 Finalizing The Plan Assignment

 

Whether one passes or fails an academic assignment such as the Walden University  NURS 6003 Part 4 Finalizing The Plan Assignment  depends on the preparation done beforehand. The first thing to do once you receive an assignment is to quickly skim through the requirements. Once that is done, start going through the instructions one by one to clearly understand what the instructor wants. The most important thing here is to understand the required format—whether it is APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.

 

After understanding the requirements of the paper, the next phase is to gather relevant materials. The first place to start the research process is the weekly resources. Go through the resources provided in the instructions to determine which ones fit the assignment. After reviewing the provided resources, use the university library to search for additional resources. After gathering sufficient and necessary resources, you are now ready to start drafting your paper.

 

How to Write the Introduction for  NURS 6003 Part 4 Finalizing The Plan Assignment 

 

The introduction for the Walden University  NURS 6003 Part 4 Finalizing The Plan Assignment is where you tell the instructor what your paper will encompass. In three to four statements, highlight the important points that will form the basis of your paper. Here, you can include statistics to show the importance of the topic you will be discussing. At the end of the introduction, write a clear purpose statement outlining what exactly will be contained in the paper. This statement will start with “The purpose of this paper…” and then proceed to outline the various sections of the instructions.

 

How to Write the Body for  NURS 6003 Part 4 Finalizing The Plan Assignment 

 

After the introduction, move into the main part of the  NURS 6003 Part 4 Finalizing The Plan Assignment  assignment, which is the body. Given that the paper you will be writing is not experimental, the way you organize the headings and subheadings of your paper is critically important. In some cases, you might have to use more subheadings to properly organize the assignment. The organization will depend on the rubric provided. Carefully examine the rubric, as it will contain all the detailed requirements of the assignment. Sometimes, the rubric will have information that the normal instructions lack.

 

Another important factor to consider at this point is how to do citations. In-text citations are fundamental as they support the arguments and points you make in the paper. At this point, the resources gathered at the beginning will come in handy. Integrating the ideas of the authors with your own will ensure that you produce a comprehensive paper. Also, follow the given citation format. In most cases, APA 7 is the preferred format for nursing assignments.

 

How to Write the Conclusion for  NURS 6003 Part 4 Finalizing The Plan Assignment 

 

After completing the main sections, write the conclusion of your paper. The conclusion is a summary of the main points you made in your paper. However, you need to rewrite the points and not simply copy and paste them. By restating the points from each subheading, you will provide a nuanced overview of the assignment to the reader.

 

How to Format the References List for  NURS 6003 Part 4 Finalizing The Plan Assignment

 

The very last part of your paper involves listing the sources used in your paper. These sources should be listed in alphabetical order and double-spaced. Additionally, use a hanging indent for each source that appears in this list. Lastly, only the sources cited within the body of the paper should appear here.

Stuck? Let Us Help You

 

Completing assignments can sometimes be overwhelming, especially with the multitude of academic and personal responsibilities you may have. If you find yourself stuck or unsure at any point in the process, don’t hesitate to reach out for professional assistance. Our assignment writing services are designed to help you achieve your academic goals with ease. 

 

Our team of experienced writers is well-versed in academic writing and familiar with the specific requirements of the  NURS 6003 Part 4 Finalizing The Plan Assignment  assignment. We can provide you with personalized support, ensuring your assignment is well-researched, properly formatted, and thoroughly edited. Get a feel of the quality we guarantee – ORDER NOW. 

 

Sample Answer for NURS 6003 Part 4 Finalizing The Plan Assignment

Advanced nursing education students through their Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program should specialize in different areas as future nurse practitioners with the aim of dealing with a specific population or healthcare need. These specialties can include being a family nurse practitioner (FNP), a psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) and geriatric nurse practitioner among others. specialization allows nurses to fulfill their career objectives and attain more knowledge and skills to meet the increasingly diverse patient care needs aside from becoming experts in those areas. As such, after a consideration of various specialty options for specialty, including my analysis of the preferred specialty and a second option, I present my findings and the justification of these choices. I have also examined a professional organization linked to my selected and preferred specialty and the requirements that one needs to meet to become a member. This section of the plan presents these findings.

 

 Step 1: Comparison of Nursing Specialties

My selected and preferred specialty is psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP). I have selected this specialty because of the increasing need for mental health care services as mental health becomes an integral part of holistic care provision. Further, my preference for this specialty arises also from the desire to assist others attain better mental health and deal with comorbidities as well as risk factors for mental health conditions. PMHNPs play a critical part in enhancing mental health services and access, particularly now when many individuals are dealing with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic compounded by the opioid epidemic. PMHNPs work in different areas that comprise of general health facilities as well as specialty care settings. Through these settings, the offer care to different populations; right from the elderly to adults and adolescents with mental health issues. They can also work in law enforcement areas and the criminal justice system (Oleck, 2021). Becoming a PMHNP will enable me to bridge the current gap in care provision between demand and availability. Many people do not access health services for mental health because of lack of resources and accessibility (Tierney, 2020). I will use my professional experience and background to change misconception and demonstrate the importance of mental health to all who require it.

The second specialty is being an informatics nurse who integrates science and information and analytical sciences with the aim of identifying, defining, managing and communicating patient health information. Informatics nurses help in designing and implementation of health information technologies like patient portals, electronic health records (EHRs) and clinical decision support to health their entities meet the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Interoperability Programs (Meaningful Use) to enhance efficiency, quality of care, and patient safety. Informatics is becoming a core component of effective care delivery for practitioners and organizations as it allows them to understand patient better through effective data documentation.

Step 2: Justification of Nursing Specialty

According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioner (AANP) (2022), PMHNPs assess, diagnose, and treat mental health needs of patients. The specialty enables patients to access therapeutic interventions and medications to help deal with mental disorders and substance use issues. The justification for this specialty is the need to help others attain optimal mental health and increase access to these critical services. The current mental health situation requires providers to develop better approaches and incorporate patient needs as a way of ensuring that they have holistic care. Today, many individuals lack information on the type of mental health services that they can get from providers (Pearson, 2018). Therefore, my desire is to help bridge this gap, offer community awareness about the negative effects of ignoring the condition and how individuals can access resources. Through the specialty, I will offer better services and enhance adherence to medications and therapeutic interventions to attain better outcomes.

Step 3: Professional Organizations

PMHNPs are professionals who need to be members of professional associations to help them grow their career and network with others on the specialty. Consequently, the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) (2022) is a professional organization whose membership constitute psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners. The primary aim of this professional organization is to promote and empower psychiatric mental health NPs to attain career goals and professional development. The organization enables its over 13,000 members to network and have access to clinical research content and findings to help them improve care provision.

The organization encourages members to embrace lifelong learning, pursue research studies and remain committed to their professional development and career progression while ensuring that they offer quality patient care. The organization allows established and emerging as well as prospective mental health nurses to attain better skills and competences through its training programs, workshops, annual conferences, and effective networking opportunities (APNA, 2022). The members of the organization build communities based on collaborations and increased networking opportunities. One needs to meet the requirements of being a psychiatric NP and fill the requisite forms to become a member of the organization.

Conclusion

The MSN program enables nursing student to specialize and become experts so that they can improve the quality of care they provide to patients. These specialties like the PMHNP offers a chance to bridge existing gaps in care provision for patients and providers. Choosing this specialty allows one to offer mental health services among the deserving populations and meet their needs while expanding their professional experience and expertise.

 

References

American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) (2022). Are You Considering a

Career as Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner? https://www.aanp.org/news-feed/are-you-considering-a-career-as-psychiatric-mental-health-nurse-practitioner

American Psychiatric Nurses Association (2021). About the American Psychiatric

Nurses Association: An Introduction. Retrieved from https://www.apna.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3277

Pearson, G. S. (2018). Thoughts from the American psychiatric nursing association        health policy summit. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association,

24(3), 185-186.

Oleck, L. G. (2021). Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses: Activating Our Voices—Who We

Are, What We Do, What We Need. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 27(6), 507-508. DOI: 10.1177/10783903211054853.

Tierney, M. (2020). Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses: Revolutionizing Access to

Person-Centered Care. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 26(6), 595-597. DOI: 10.1177/1078390320965245.

Also Read:

NURS6003 Week 10 Discussion Examining Nursing Specialties

NURS6003 Transition to Graduate Study Week 1 Quiz

Nurs6003 Transition To Graduate Study For Nursing Week 6 Discussion

Nurs6003 Transition To Graduate Study For Nursing Week 3 Assignment

NURS6003 Week 5 Assignment Part 3: Strategies to Promote Academic Integrity and Professional Ethics

NURS6003 Week 9 Assignment Part 5: Professional Development

Nurs6003 Transition To Graduate Study For Nursing Week 1 Quiz

Nurs6003 Transition To Graduate Study For Nursing Week 4 Quiz

NURS 6003 Academic integrity involves fundamental values such as fairness, honesty, responsibility, and trust in writing

NURS 6003 Academic Success and Professional Development Plan Assignment

NURS 6003 Assignment specialty of psychiatric-mental health nursing

NURS 6003 Discussion Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP) program

NURS 6003 Transition Discussion Board Week 8

NURS 6003 Discussion Post an Explanation of your Choice of a Nursing Specialty Within the Program

NURS 6003 Describe your Approach to Identifying and Analyzing Peer-Reviewed Research

NURS 6003 Discussion Post an Explanation of at Least Two Strategies for Including Academic Activities and Accomplishments into your Professional Development Goals

NURS 6003 Discussion Begin Searching for a Peer-Reviewed Article that Pertains to your Practice Area and Interests you

NURS 6003 Quiz: APA Style and Format

NURS 6003 Week 1 Assignment Assignment: Academic Success and Professional Development Plan

NURS 6003 Transition to Graduate Study Week 1 Quiz 

Sample Answer 2 for NURS 6003 Part 4 Finalizing The Plan Assignment

Specialization is the process of concentrating and becoming an expert in a subject or skill. In the medical field, it provides professionals an opportunity to sift through the thousands of different aspects of the field and focus on one. This allows them to be unique compared to others and lets them pursue something they are passionate about. The freedom of specialization is immense and one of the amazing parts about specializing in Nursing. There are so many different options, it can sometimes feel overwhelming. That is why this process usually occurs later in a nurse’s career. After they have had time to see what intrigues them in the workplace and gain experience. Almost anything can affect your decision from your past jobs to your interactions with the patients to family members. It creates a one-of-a-kind back story for every nurse.

In my case, the nursing specialty I would love to choose is Acute Care. An Acute Care Nurse Practitioner is one who advanced practices the nursing role to care for critically ill patients with the intent of improving continuity of care and patient outcomes. This role is especially valuable as they are very helpful to ease the load off physicians. In fact, one eye-catching fact that intrigues me about them was the history of this position. This position was initially created to decrease the increasing workload of physicians and address the lack of acute care in hospitals. This high priority position seems to be very fitting for me as I love to take control and lead in times of confusion. I believe I can use my experience and calm and collected mindset to aid the situations. The reasons as to why I decided this nursing specialty was because of my experience as an Acute Surgical RN.

I started my first job as an Emergency room RN. As a nurse in acute care, I was responsible for time-sensitive illnesses and injury, rapid intervention to prevent death or disability, and restoring optimal health to patients. Acute care nurses must be able to react quickly and efficiently during high stress situations. Emotions are very high during these cares, but a nurse must be professional while practicing empathy for patients and their families.” (“acute care nurse practitioner role in Canada: Longwoods.com,” n.d.) I always wanted to be part of

critical communication and coordination link between all aspects of patient care of the acute and critically ill patients. The acute care, as a speciality, in NP program attracts me due to my past experience and a very rewarding position as you see patients improve but it can be a humbling experience every day which prompts further learning and improvement of skills. I believe that seeing what an Acute setting is like would prepare me promptly for such a specialization; supportive leadership of health care managers; and stable and predictable funding.

The difficulties that I had making this choice of specialization is that there are so many different options to choose from. It is very difficult and stressful to pinpoint the exact field you would like to dive into. Looking at each category of the MSN program, I saw that everyone had their own advantages. Knowing that this decision will determine what you will have to do daily is something that requires lots of thought and care. I wanted to do something where I could use my experience from the past and learn more in the process.

The sole factor that drove me towards my position was the patients at my hospital. Seeing them get more satisfaction from NPs compared to their designated Physicians. These patients had fewer unnecessary readmissions and emergency visits. In fact, Nurse practitioners are proven to decrease patient hospitalizations, ER visits and lengths of stay at various facilities, keeping health care costs down for patients, institutions, and taxpayers, and reducing time and income lost from work. (“Online acute care nurse practitioner MSN program | Walden University,” n.d.) Seeing all these amazing this done by previous Nurse Practitioners inspires and drives me to make my decision. This satisfaction I receive treating the patients, alongside my passion, is my driving force.

Finally, the last factor that is driving me to choose this specialty is my experience and expertise in the topic care (Forbes & Jessup, 2004). This journey requires rigorous graduate level academic preparation, acquisition of new knowledge and skills, and major changes in function and scope of practice. Graduate nursing education can be a time of great inspiration and excitement, yet it is also a time of upheaval and challenge for students while they struggle to meet academic demands and begin to make the transition from RN to FNP The American Association of Nurse Practitioners or AANP is one of the largest professional organizations in the USA. Within this association, there is the Acute Care Specialty Practice Group (SPG) which provides the opportunity to interact with colleagues in the same field. The AANP membership is customized to be a unified way to network and advocate their issues. AANP. “Whether you are just beginning your NP education or retiring from the profession, you can support the NP role while receiving member benefits that, in turn, support you personally and professionally”. (“AANP | The American Association of Nurse Practitioners,” 2019) The process to gain the membership is very seamless and easy. Simply, go onto their website at aanp.org and find the membership section. Then go to the NP type and follow the procedure to get the membership. There is a $150 fee; however, once you are in the organization you are given the rights to voting in Association elections. They do not look at you at a simple member, but as a unique part of their large society. It is a very helpful setting for old and new Nps.

References

AANP | The American Association of Nurse Practitioners. (2021, Nov 14). American Association of Nurse Practitioners. https://www.aanp.org/? gclid=CjwKCAjwmf_4BRABEiwAGhDfSbB3XIfgFLRdk2qeSs_ThVUVYJOPmmXHk YIke2q8QJcRXBrQoCuATBoCwfsQAvD_BwE

The acute care nurse practitioner role in Canada:: Longwoods.com. (n.d.). Longwoods Publishing :: Longwoods.com. https://www.longwoods.com/content/22272/nursing-leadership/the-acute-care-nurse-practitioner-role-in-canada Online acute care nurse practitioner MSN program

Walden University. (n.d.). Walden University: Accredited Online University Online Degree Programs. https://www.waldenu.edu/online-masters-programs/msn-nurse-practitioner-

At some point in every construction project, efforts turn from design and the focus moves to actual construction. With the vision in place and the tools secured, the blueprint can be finalized and approved. Then it is time to put on hardhats and begin work.

Throughout the course you have developed aspects of your Academic and Professional Development Plan. You have thought a great deal about your vision and goals, your academic and professional network of

support, research strategies and other tools you will need, the integrity of your work, and the value of consulting the work of others. With your portfolio in place, it is now time to finalize your blueprint for success.

Much as builders remain cognizant of the building standards as they plan and begin construction, nurses must remain mindful of the formal standards of practice that govern their specialties. A good understanding of these standards can help ensure that your success plan includes any steps necessary to excel within your chosen specialty.

In this Assignment you will continue developing your Academic Success and Professional Development Plan by developing the final component–a review of your specialty standards of practice. You will also submit your final version of the document, including Parts 1–4.

Note: For students in Nursing Education, Executive Nursing, Nursing Informatics, or Public Health Nursing, this Assignment is the first Portfolio Assignment in your program. You will have one Portfolio Assignment in each of your courses. You will need to save these Assignments for inclusion in your portfolio that you will submit in your Capstone course.

Click here to ORDER an A++ paper from our Verified MASTERS and DOCTORATE WRITERS: NURS 6003 Part 4 Finalizing the Plan Assignment

To Prepare:

Review the scope and standards of practice or competencies related to your chosen specialty in the resources for this module.

Review the MSN specializations offered at Walden by viewing the module resource, Walden University. (n.d.). Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).

Examine professional organizations related to the specialization you have chosen and identify at least one to focus on for this Assignment.

Reflect on the thoughts you shared in the Discussion forum regarding your choice of a specialty, any challenges you have encountered in making this choice, and any feedback you have received from colleagues in the Discussion.

The Assignment:

Complete the following items and incorporate them into the final version of your Academic Success and Professional Development Plan.

1. With the resources specific to the MSN specialization and the, Walden University. (n.d.). Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), shared in this module, write a paragraph or make a Nursing Specialty Comparison table, comparing at least two nursing specialties that include your selected specialization and second-preferred specialization.
2. Write a 2- to 3-paragraph justification statement identifying your reasons for choosing your MSN specialization. Incorporate feedback you received from colleagues in this Module’s Discussion forum.
3. Identify the professional organization related to your chosen specialization for this Assignment, and explain how you can become an active member of this organization. NURS 6003 Part 4 Finalizing the Plan Assignment
   

Note: Your final version of the Academic Success and Professional Development Plan should include all components as presented the Academic Success and Professional Development Plan template.

By Day 5 of Week 11

Submit your final draft of Parts 1-4 of your Academic Success and Professional Development Plan.

Submission and Grading Information

To submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:

• Please save your Assignment using the naming convention “WK11Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” as the name.
• Click the Week 11 Assignment Rubric to review the Grading Criteria for the Assignment.
• Click the Week 11 Assignment link. You will also be able to “View Rubric” for grading criteria from this area.
• Next, from the Attach File area, click on the Browse My Computer button. Find the document you saved as “WK11Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” and click Open.
• If applicable: From the Plagiarism Tools area, click the checkbox for I agree to submit my paper(s) to the Global Reference Database.
• Click on the Submit button to complete your submission. NURS 6003 Part 4 Finalizing the Plan Assignment

Grading Criteria

To access your rubric:

Week 11 Assignment Rubric

Check Your Assignment Draft for Authenticity

To check your Assignment draft for authenticity:

Submit your Week 11 Assignment draft and review the originality report.

Submit Your Assignment by Day 5 of Week 11

To submit your Assignment:

Week 11 Assignment

Congratulations! After you have finished all of the assignments for this module, you have completed the course. Please submit your Course Evaluation by Day 7.

Module 6 (Weeks 10–11): Standards of Practice

Laureate Education (Producer). (2018). Standards of Practice [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Laureate Education (Producer). (2018). The Walden Journey to a Masters in Nursing: Standards of Practice [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Laureate Education (Producer). (2018). The Walden Journey to a Masters in Nursing: Final Thoughts [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Analyze difficulties in determining nursing specializations
• Compare nursing specialties
• Justify selection of MSN specialization
• Analyze nursing specialization professional organization engagement strategies
• Create Academic Success and Professional Development Plans

Due By
Assignment
Week 10, Days 1–2

Read the Learning Resources.
Compose your initial Discussion post.
Week 10, Day 3

Deadline to post your initial Discussion post.
Begin to compose Part 4 of your Assignment.
Week 10, Days 4–5

Compose your peer Discussion responses.
Continue to compose Part 4 of your Assignment.
Week 10, Day 6
Last day to post Discussion responses.
Week 10, Day 7
Continue to compose Part 4 of your Assignment.
Week 11, Days 1–4
Continue to compose Part 4 of your Assignment.
Week 11, Day 5
Deadline to submit Part 4 of your Assignment.

Learning Resources

Required Readings

Bickford, C. J., Marion, L., & Gazaway, S. (2015). Nursing: Scope and standards of practice, third edition – 2015. Retrieved from http://ebooks.iospress.nl/publication/12524

Cherry, B., Caramanica, L, Everett, L. Q., Fennimore, L., & Elaine, S. (2019). Leveraging the power of board leadership in professional nursing organizations. JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration, 49(11), 517-519.

Echevarria, I. M. (2018). Make connections by joining a professional nursing organization. Nursing, 48(12), 35–38.

Truant, R., & Chan, R. J. (2017). Future ready: Strengthening oncology nursing leadership in the context of professional oncology nursing organizations. Canadian Oncology Nursing Journal, 27(1), 2-4.

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

Document: Academic Success and Professional Development Plan Template (Word document)

Choose among the following to review your specialization’s Scope and Standards of Practice or Competencies:

Nursing Informatics

Ebook: Nursing Informatics: Scope and Standards of Practice
American Nurses Association. (2015). Nursing informatics: Scope and standards of practice (2nd ed.). Silver Spring, MD: Author.

• “The Scope of Nursing Informatics Practice: Functional Areas of Nursing Informatics” (pp. 18–39)

Nursing Education

Website: Competencies for the Academic Nurse Educator
National League for Nursing. (2019). Nurse educator core competency. Retrieved from http://www.nln.org/professional-development-programs/competencies-for-nursing-education/nurse-educator-core-competency
Note: The competencies for the Academic Nurse Educator do not encompass the competencies or scope and standards of practice for the Nursing Professional Developer. The set of competencies associated with that specific role within the Nurse Education specialization will be examined in future competencies throughout your specialization program of study.

Nurse Executive

Website: Nurse Executive Competencies
American Organization for Nursing Leadership. (2015). AONL Nurse Executive competencies. Retrieved from https://www.aonl.org/resources/nurse-leader-competencies

Public Health Nursing

Website: Public Health Nursing Competencies

Quad Council Coalition. (2018). Community/Public Health Nursing [C/PHN] competencies. Retrieved from https://www.cphno.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/QCC-C-PHN-COMPETENCIES-Approved_2018.05.04_Final-002.pdf

American Nurses Association. (2013). Public health nursing: Scope and standards of practice (2nd ed.). Silver Spring, MD: Author.

APRN

Website: APRN Consensus Model

APRN Consensus Work Group & the National Council of State Boards of Nursing APRN Advisory Committee. (2008). Consensus model for APRN regulation: Licensure, accreditation, certification & education. Retrieved from https://www.nursingworld.org/~4aa7d9/globalassets/certification/aprn_consensus_model_report_7-7-08.pdf

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care and Primary Care NP Competencies

Website: AGAC and ACPC NP Competencies

Adult-Gerontology NP Competencies Work Group. (2016). Adult-gerontology acute care and primary care NP competencies. https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.nonpf.org/resource/resmgr/competencies/NP_Adult_Geri_competencies_4.pdf

Nurse Practitioner Core Competencies

Website: Nurse Practitioner Core Competencies

The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties. (2012). Nurse Practitioner core competencies. https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.nonpf.org/resource/resmgr/competencies/npcorecompetenciesfinal2012.pdf

Nurse Practitioner Programs

Website: Nurse Practitioner Programs

National Task Force on Quality Nurse Practitioner Education. (2016). Criteria for evaluation of Nurse Practitioner programs (5th ed.). https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.nonpf.org/resource/resmgr/Docs/EvalCriteria2016Final.pdf

Population-Focused NP Competencies

Website: Population-Focused Nurse Practitioner Competencies

Population-Focused Competencies Task Force. (2013). Population-focused Nurse Practitioner competencies. https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.nonpf.org/resource/resmgr/Competencies/CompilationPopFocusComps2013.pdf

Discussion: Examining Nursing Specialties

You have probably seen one or more of the many inspirational posters about decisions. A visual such as a forked road or a street sign is typically pictured, along with a quote designed to inspire.

Decisions are often not so easily inspired. Perhaps you discovered this when choosing a specialty within the MSN program. This decision is a critical part of your plan for success, and you no doubt want to get it right. This is yet another area where your network can help, as well as other sources of information that can help you make an informed choice.

Note: Unless otherwise noted, initial postings to Discussions are due on or before Day 3, and response postings are due on or before Day 6. You are required to participate in the Discussion on at least three different days (a different day for main post and each response). It is important to adhere to the weekly time frame to allow others ample time to respond to your posting. In addition, you are expected to respond to questions directed toward your own initial posting in a timely manner.

To Prepare:

Reflect on your decision to pursue a specialty within the MSN program, including your professional and academic goals as they relate to your program/specialization.

By Day 3 of Week 10

Post an explanation of your choice of a nursing specialty within the program. Describe any difficulties you had (or are having) in making your choice, and the factors that drove/are driving your decision. Identify at least one professional organization affiliated with your chosen specialty and provide details on becoming a member.

By Day 6 of Week 10

Respond to at least two of your colleagues’ posts by sharing your thoughts on their specialty, supporting their choice or offering suggestions if they have yet to choose.

Sample Answer 3 for NURS 6003 Part 4 Finalizing The Plan Assignment

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

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.

Sample Answer 4 for NURS 6003 Part 4 Finalizing The Plan Assignment

The nursing specialty that I have selected as my first choice is family nurse practitioner (FNP). An FNP is a nursing specialty that focuses on long-term patient-provider relationships spanning lifetimes and sometimes entering into multigenerational relationships (Goodwin University, 2019). FNPs are the most common medical professionals that a patient will interact with in the primary care setting (Goodwin University, 2019). FNPs focus on preventative care, monitoring long-term health plans, and assisting physicians with the care of patients. Depending on the area FNPs are widely in demand and have a meaningful impact on the community they serve.

My second choice of nursing specialty would be a nurse practitioner (NP). NPs are very similar in terms of the level of care provided but differ in terms of the responsibilities and populations cared for. NPs are advanced practice registered nurses who usually work with one specific age group or population with a specific type of health condition (Goodwin University, 2019). NPs engage in the prevention, diagnosis, and management of long-term health conditions in their specialty population (Goodwin University, 2019). FNPs care for a wide range of health conditions, ages, and populations. Another important difference is that NPs will pursue graduate education with an emphasis on their specialization while FNPs will pursue a graduate-level FNP program with a wider focus.

Regarding my choice of specialty within the MSN program, I weighed the necessary benefits and liabilities of each specialty and I ultimately settled on the specialty that I felt would be the most beneficial to my personal values and interests and my professional development goals. I do have to admit that this was not such an easily-inspired choice of mine. It took an extensive amount of preemptive research, reconsideration, and maybe some indecisiveness that charted my course to a suitable specialty in my field.

I based my choice on the knowledge that I would be bettering my skills and had a desire for a long-term career. In turn, this is a form of self-improvement. Nurses should seek membership in organizations that will best fulfill their professional and personal goals (Echevarria, 2018). For me, the role of FNP is right because it enables me to care for patients to the best of my abilities and to do something that inspires me to get out of bed every day. I adore caretaking and I have been interested in nursing since I knew that I needed to develop a career. Therefore, my choice of specialty was not one that required extensive decision-making, but simply a reconnection with my passion.

Choosing my specialty in the MSN program was something that I knew I had to do if I wanted to increase my knowledge base and skillset going forward. Nurses who take advantage of continuing-education opportunities gain professional breadth, broadening their knowledge regarding local and national nursing issues and going beyond the walls of their facilities (Echevarria, 2018).

The International Family Nursing Association (IFNA) is dedicated to nurses in the FNP role around the world. This organization provides continuing education opportunities, current and emerging research, support, and tools to support improved healthcare delivery (Wiesen, 2019). In order to become a member of this organization one must pay a $125 annual fee or $75 annually if they are a student (Weisen, 2019). The benefits of joining this organization include access to research, tools, and support related to the FNP role.

References

Echevarria, I. M. (2018). Make connections by joining a professional nursing organization. Nursing, 48(12), 35–38. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.nurse.0000547721.84857.cb

Goodwin University. (2019). Family nurse practitioner vs. nurse practitioner: whats the difference? https://www.goodwin.edu/enews/family-nurse-practitioner-vs-nurse-practitioner/

Wiesen, K. (2019). 8 top family nurse practitioner professional organizations and associations. https://www.nursingprocess.org/family-nurse-practitioner-organizations.html

Name: NURS_6003_Module06_Week11_Assignment_Rubric