Discussion: Examining Nursing Specialties Essay.

I selected a PMHNP as my nursing specialty, which is among the few nursing specialty programs offered online. PMHNPs obtain the knowledge and skills to take history, perform physical assessments, diagnose, provide psychotherapy and prescribe medications for individuals with mental health disorders, substance abuse disorders, and personality disorders.Discussion: Examining Nursing Specialties Essay. The courses of a PMHNP focus on imparting learners with advanced skills and knowledge to manage adults, children, and geriatric patients as individuals, in family and group settings (Walden University, n.d.).  One of the major difficulties I had in making this choice was indecisiveness influenced by a lack of proper understanding on the training, roles and responsibilities of a PMHNP when compared to that of a FNP. However, the resources found in Walden’s website, and discussions with colleagues and close friends provided greater insights.Discussion: Examining Nursing Specialties Essay.

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Based on the choice of my nursing specialty as a PMHNP, I have made up my mind to join the APNA (American Psychiatric Nurses Association). I strongly believe that this association will be a source of knowledge and skills on mental health nursing as envisioned in its philosophy “commitment to health, mental health nursing, promoting recovery, and prevention of mental health issues, through identifying, managing, and preventing psychiatric disorders”. (APNA, 2020 a). One of the key requirements to join the APNA is an annual fee and members apply online. The association holds seminars and trainings from time to time, which provide a good platform to network and share knowledge with colleagues from different regions. Networking also helps to know of opportunities for professional growth (APNA, 2020 a). The association also has an eLearning center with resources that will be valuable when completing CEU trainings.Discussion: Examining Nursing Specialties Essay.

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.

Nadu Lawson

RE: Discussion – Week 10

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Being a nurse is one of the greatest accomplishments in my life. However, my goal is not to be a bedside nurse for my entire career. To do so, advancement in my career means more education. In fact, many nursing organizations emphasizes on the importance of education for advance practice. “The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), the national voice for academic nursing, believes that education has a significant impact on the knowledge and competencies of the nurse clinician, as it does for all healthcare providers” (Rosseter, 2019). Discussion: Examining Nursing Specialties Essay.

The advanced nursing practice have many specialties such as Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Adult Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Family Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Androus, 2020).Discussion: Examining Nursing Specialties Essay.

I’m pursuing the Family Nurse Practitioner program here at Walden University. Family Nurse Practitioner has specific duties of caring for patient population from birth through aging, perform exams on acute complains, performing routine physicals, preventive health maintenance, chronic condition management and Ordering diagnosis test or procedures (Androus, 2020).

I decided to become a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) because I can practice with a wide range of population. By becoming a practitioner nurse, I would like to volunteer in some Africa countries. I have this believe that with the FNP specialty, my practice will be extended to a wide range of population and save more lives compared to a practician in Mental Health or pediatric Nurse Practitioner.Discussion: Examining Nursing Specialties Essay.

I did not have any difficulty deciding for my specialty. I knew what I wanted to be as an advanced Nurse Practitioner. My choice for becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner is based on desire to be able to care for people with wide range of ailments. Since I would like to volunteer in Africa, I feel like acute and chronic diseases and health promotion have more toils on people in Africa. This does not mean that I deny the existence of mental health problems.   Discussion: Examining Nursing Specialties Essay.

There are several nurse organizations, but I’m mostly interested joining the Association of Family Practice PAs & NPs (AFPPANP).

AFPPANP seeks to provide a base for mentoring future Pas & NPs, promotes relevant continuing Education resources, and disseminates employment opportunities. Additionally, AFPPANP provides information relevant to the Family Practice discipline and subject matter experts to all interested parties, and advocates for PAs and NPs as Primary Care Providers and to be independently reimbursed for health care services provided by PAs and NPs to patients (AFPPANP, n.d.).Discussion: Examining Nursing Specialties Essay.

There are several levels of membership:

Affiliate, Associate, Fellow and Institutional membership of physician, student and sustaining. A Student member is a person enrolled in an accredited Advanced Practice Clinician program. Student members shall be entitled to the privilege of the floor but have no vote or hold any office except for their elected Student Representative. The Student Representative shall be elected by his or her peers and enjoy all rights and privileges including formal vote. The annual cost for student membership is $15 (USD). (AFPPANP, n.d.)

I am impressed by the selection of your nurse specialty since Americas aging population comprises one of the largest and growing population and most geriatric patients usually present with more than one illness that prompt care. Adult-Gerontology Acute Care nurses  actively take part in all levels of care  in acute care settings and work exclusively with  geriatric and adult patients, starting at adolescence (Becker et al, 2020).They are one of the most familiar face for long-term patients   who undergo routine medical visits since they have a holistic and wellness-based approach to medical care.  Adult-Gerontology Acute Care nurses  manage  a wide range of  chronic and critical conditions  using a targeted and  treatment-focused approach(Becker et al, 2020). The majority possess either a DNP or MSN degree with a good understanding of the processes of aging and unique challenges which come in late stages of life.Discussion: Examining Nursing Specialties Essay.

I might also call a rapid decision unit (RDU)a clinical decision unit. Getting a position in the emergency department or RDU is a good choice to help in managing adult geriatric patients who are ‘difficult-to discharge’ presenting with conditions such as arrhythmias, chest pain heart failure, TIA (transient ischemic attack), and syncope in the ED, which are common among adult geriatric patients. It is worth acknowledging that you ill add to one of the most significant healthcare workforces in the nation, and help to increase efficiency, reduce ED wait times, and promote quality and patient safety through protocol-based management close observation. Based on the selection of your nurse specialty, I would also recommend joining the American Association of Critical-Care Nurse which is the largest nrsing specialty organization with members exceeding 11,000 (American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, n.d.). Discussion: Examining Nursing Specialties Essay.