The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program at Walden University provides a host of nursing specialties for advanced practice registered nursing (APRN) students based on the advanced nursing roles. These include certified nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife (NM and clinical nurse specialist. In this case, the selected advanced nursing program is nurse practice that leads to the role of being a nurse practitioner. In this case, the specialty is in psychiatry and a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP).
The choice of being a psychiatry nurse practitioner entails a consideration of several factors, and the difficulties in making the decision. There are several nursing specialties and choosing this one entails considering the other options, especially the awareness that each has an expanded scope and role (Phoenix, 2019). Mental health is a serious public health issue with millions suffering from different mental health issues like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use disorder (SUD) and other conditions that require interventions. However, a significant number cannot access care services because of several limitations that include inadequate providers to cater to their needs (Kumar et al., 2020). Therefore, in making the choice to be a psychiatric nurse, one must consider the factors and the motivation behind their decision.
The difficulty in making the choice emanates from the existing options as well as ensuring one gets the specialty that meets their needs and destined to help them offer better care to patients. The expanded roles and scope of PMHNP means that one must examine all aspects and hurdles that they may influence their choices.
The professional nursing organization affiliated to the psychiatric nurses is the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA). The organization has over 15,000 members who comprise of professional nurses and postgraduate students. One joins the association through subscription whose payment is monthly or annually (APNA, 2023). The association enables psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners to develop interventions that are evidence-based because it offers resources from research findings.
A PMHNP is a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. They are registered nurses who have specialized in psychiatric mental health nursing and who have completed a Master’s degree in psychiatric mental health nursing. PMHNPs work with patients who have a range of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and borderline personality disorder (Cherry et al., 2019). They provide assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and counseling for their patients. They may also prescribe medication to their patients as needed.
There are many reasons why I developed interest in PMHNP. My own choice of specialty was informed by personal experience with mental health problems that hat has negatively impacted the lives of my close family members. This is one of the reasons I feel so passionate about working in this field. It was hard for me to make this choice of becoming a PMHNP then I realized this was my passion to help others and my family with mental illness all along. It was not a hard decision for me to choose PMHNP because I had so much experience with it dealing with mentally ill patients has always been my passion.
There are a few key differences between Family Nurse Practitioners (FNP) and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNP). First, the focus of care. FNPs graduates are prepared to provide primary care for families, whereas PMHNP graduates focus specifically on mental health disorders. This can include diagnosing and treating mental illnesses, providing psychotherapy, and prescribing medications (Cherry et al., 2019). Second, the level of training. FNPs complete a Master’s degree, while PMHNPs earn a Doctorate in Nursing Practice. Finally, FNPs are certified through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), while PMHNPS are certified through the American Nurses Association’s Commission on Psychiatric Nursing Certification (Buppert, 2020). Mental illness is often misunderstood and fear-driven, but it is important to remember that these are real illnesses that impact real people’s lives. As a psychiatric nurse, I would have the opportunity to help people who are struggling with these conditions regain their health and quality of life.
There are a few different roles that graduates may hold within the Family Nurse Practitioner specialty. Some may work in clinics or doctor’s offices, while others may work in hospitals or other healthcare settings. Many FNPs also work in rural and underserved areas, providing much-needed care to those who might not have access to it otherwise. FNPs can provide primary care to pa
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