NURS 6003 Discussion Examining Nursing Specialties

NURS 6003 Discussion Examining Nursing Specialties

Sample Answer for NURS 6003 Discussion Examining Nursing Specialties Included After Question

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.

Submission and Grading Information

Grading Criteria

To access your rubric:

Week 10 Discussion Rubric

Post by Day 3 and Respond by Day 6 of Week 10

To participate in this Discussion:

A Sample Answer For the Assignment: NURS 6003 Discussion Examining Nursing Specialties

Title: NURS 6003 Discussion Examining Nursing Specialties

The health care system is overcrowded with more patients and insufficient health care providers, the need for advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) to fill this gap. Many areas in America are affected by the shortage of medical professionals. The shortage is based on limited medical schools and training facilities, and doctors tend to practice where they studied (Goral, 2016). Using Nurse practitioners will cover the health care gap, address the shortage of primary care physicians, reach out to more patients, and offer a cost-effective approach to both patients and the state (Liu et al., 2020). My desire to become an adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner (AGACNP) was drawn from growing up in a rural area with limited and insufficient health care opportunities. Also, working with a nurse practitioner who was a nurse, inspired me to further my education. Her patient interactions and involvement in the community outreach program were inspiring. My career choice as an AGACNP allows me to support and serve my community to treat both acute and stable patients of varying ages (13 and older).

It is easier said than done. It is not an easy pathway to be a nurse practitioner; the struggles and challenges that come with it can only be experienced, not imagined. The program requires commitment, self-discipline, time management, and devotion. It was easier in high school and college, where work, family, and school were not juggled together. Finding a balance with all these create a challenging process in completing schoolwork. Time management and self-discipline are my two most important driving forces in completing schoolwork promptly. Self-discipline is a characteristic needed in graduate education level given the level of academic demands is higher and the need to push beyond our limits. Another struggle is finding preceptor sites linked to my specialty. An increase in the number of nurse practitioners completing their educational programs poses a challenge for universities and health care organizations providing good training sites (Bazzell & Dains, 2017). My desire to practice in rural areas is problematic; they are limited to no facilities to complete preceptorship in these areas. There is an improvement in students’ clinical reasoning when a structured preceptor method and location are part of the clinical practice (Bazzell & Dains, 2017). Clinical experience in areas of interest helps promote community understanding and care needs (Brommelsiek & Peterson, 2020). The challenges do not stop my drive; knowing I can do good and change the lives of the few I encounter increases my passion to keeping pushing forward.

American nurses’ Association (ANA) is the largest nursing organization that is not limited to a particular state. This association offers its members unlimited research information on patient’s health wellness and recent updates or changes in the practice. It allows for nurse’s voice to be heard and promote changes in patient care. Another aspect is geriatric patients in rural areas have two or more comorbidities impacting their health, access to limited health care, and knowledge deficit on disease process and treatment plan (Amy et al., 2018). To enable me to understand the health challenges in these areas and gear me to meet their health care needs, joining Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association (GAPNA) will be a way to foster my care goals. The association focuses on health information on the geriatric population. As a member of both associations, I can access resources to expand my knowledge and expertise in meeting my patient care needs both the acutely ill and stable patients.

References

Amy Chanlongbutra, Gopal K. Singh, & Curt D. Mueller. (2018). Adverse childhood experiences, health related quality of life, and chronic disease risks in rural areas of the United States. ‐ Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 2018. https://doiorg.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1155/2018/7151297 

Bazzell, A. F., & Dains, J. E. (2017). Supporting nurse practitioner preceptor development. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 13(8), e375–e382. https://doiorg.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2017.04.013 

Brommelsiek, M., & Peterson, J. A. (2020). Preparing nurse practitioner students to practice in rural primary care. Journal of Nursing Education, 59(10), 581–584. https://doiorg.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.3928/01484834-20200921-08 

Goral, T. (2016, September 1). Prescription for the doctor shortage: a medical college finds an innovative way to bring physicians to underserved populations. University Business, 19(9), 8.

Liu, C.-F., Hebert, P. L., Douglas, J. H., Neely, E. L., Sulc, C. A., Reddy, A., Sales, A. E., & Wong, E. S. (2020). Outcomes of primary care delivery by nurse practitioners: Utilization, cost, and quality of care. Health Services Research, 55(2), 178–189. https://doiorg.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1111/1475-6773.13246

A Sample Answer 2 For the Assignment: NURS 6003 Discussion Examining Nursing Specialties

Title: NURS 6003 Discussion Examining Nursing Specialties

Nurse practitioners play a major role in fighting the shortages of healthcare providers in the United States.  When choosing which MSN program I wanted to take I found myself choosing between MSN-FNP and MSN- PNP, I have a passion for caring for children along with a passion for serving my community the best I can. According to Brown et al., pediatric nurse practitioners are educated  “to care for patients from birth to 21 years of age, providing anticipatory guidanceLinks to an external site., provision of immunizations, education and counseling, urgent care visits, wellness care, and/or managing acute or chronic health conditions” (2022). Finneran & Kreye discuss the growing demand for primary care providers, this is also true for my community (2019). The community I live in continues to have a growing and aging population and this leaves patients without primary providers which can cause patients to fall behind on their healthcare. Due to this I have chosen to pursue my MSN-FNP versus my MSN-PNP because FNP’s are able to serve a wider variety of patients, from pediatric to geriatric (Balestra, 2019).  This degree will better serve my community while still allowing me to care for some pediatric patients.

The organization that I have chosen is the Nurse Practitioner Healthcare Foundation (NPHF). Because the degree I want to pursue allows me to care for a large variation of populations I wanted a general organization that could give a wide variety of education and research. The goals of the NPHF are to further nurse practitioner leadership in healthcare, improve access to high quality care, facilitate interprofessional collaboration, fight health disparities, promote research, and to improve policies to improve healthcare and patient outcomes (Nurse Practitioner Healthcare Foundation, n.d.). I feel that this will greatly help me in caring for my community and improve patient care and outcomes when I begin my practice as an MSN-FNP.

References

Balestra, M. L. (2019). Family nurse practitioner scope of practice issues when treating patients with mental health issues. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 15(7), 479–482. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2018.11.007Links to an external site.

Brown, A.-M., Reyes, I., Zeno, R., & Whited, T. (2022). Alignment of pediatric nurse practitioner licensure, accreditation, certification, and education for employers. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 18(3), 316–319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2021.11.020Links to an external site.

Finneran, J. M., & Kreye, J. M. (2019). Empowering the novice family nurse practitioner: Promoting readiness to practice through immersion in an innovative educational strategy. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 33(5), 383–390. https://doi.org/10.1097/jxx.0000000000000336Links to an external site.

Welcome to the nurse practitioner healthcare foundation. Nurse Practitioner Healthcare Foundation Home | Nurse Practitioner Healthcare Foundation. (n.d.). Retrieved April 20, 2023, from https://www.nphealthcarefoundation.org/

A Sample Answer 3 For the Assignment: NURS 6003 Discussion Examining Nursing Specialties

Title: NURS 6003 Discussion Examining Nursing Specialties

For my specialty, I have chosen to pursue PMHNP. Before deciding on this specialty, I was deciding between FNP and PMHNP. The reason why it was hard for me to choose is that I didn’t want to lose all of my skills if I became a PMHNP. Upon researching the professions, I found that PMHNP is more specialized and I am more interested in becoming a specialist as opposed to a generalist as an FNP. FNPs have to know a wide range of conditions, whereas PMHNPs are specialized in psychiatric care (Walden University, n.d.). The main reason I chose to pursue PMHNP is because mental health is something that is very important to me. I feel strongly that it is possible for any individual to develop mental health conditions at any moment in their life. I remember a previous professor of mine telling our nursing class one day that there is a fine line between the people working in a psychiatric facility and the patients in a psychiatric facility. I agree with this and my goal as a PMHNP is to make sure I preserve my patients’ dignity and always treat them with respect. I would like to help destigmatize the way psychiatric care is viewed as well.

I also chose this specialization because I feel that my experiences in health care have prepared me for a career as PMHNP. I have worked on an inpatient psychiatry floor, in an ER working with psychiatric patients, as a case manager with individuals with disabilities, and as a legal intake nurse working with individuals physically and emotionally affected by malpractice and mass tort cases. Each of these experiences has provided me with a unique new perspective on ways to interact with patients. In each of my experiences, I have used some form of psychiatric care to care for my patients. I also would like to help bridge the gap in health care in my community since there is a disparity especially seen with minorities getting the psychiatric care that they need (Mongelli et al., 2020).

Joining a professional organization is a great way to network with like-minded professionals and also provide service to the profession (Echevarria, 2018). Membership is not only beneficial for the person joining the organization, but it is also beneficial for the organization itself. As an organization obtains new members, this can help to increase its credibility and improve networking options (Grothe-Hammer, 2020). A professional organization associated with my specialty is American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA). APNA is a source for nurses and nurse practitioners to obtain credit for continuing education, network, attend meetings, and engage with other professionals. In order to become a member, the individual must be a nurse, complete an application, pay a membership fee, and be accepted to the group. The website for APNA is https://www.apna.org, and the phone number is 855-863-2762 (American Psychiatric Nurses Association, n.d.). Once an individual is a member, they can participate in events within the organization.

References

American Psychiatric Nurses Association. APNA. (n.d.). Retrieved April 30, 2023, from https://www.apna.org/Links to an external site.

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

Grothe-Hammer, M. (2020). Membership and contributorship in organizations: An update of modern systems theory. Systems Research and Behavioral Science, 37(3), 482–495. https://doi.org/10.1002/sres.2683

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.

Walden University. (n.d.). Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). Retrieved April 30, 2023, from https://www.waldenu.edu/masters/master-of-science-in-nursing

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Name: NURS_6003_Module06_Week11_Assignment_Rubric

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

Click here to ORDER an A++ paper from our MASTERS and DOCTORATE WRITERS: NURS 6003 Discussion Examining Nursing Specialties

• Write a paragraph or make a Nursing Specialty Comparison table comparing at least two nursing specialties, including your selected specialization and second-preferred specialization.
• Write a 2-3 paragraph justification statement identifying your reasons for choosing your MSN specialization. Incorporate feedback you received from colleagues in this week’s Discussion Forum.
• Identify the professional organization related to the specialization you have chosen to focus on for this Assignment and explain how you can become an active member of this organization.
  Points Range: 77 (77%) – 85 (85%)
  A fully completed and detailed paragraph or comparison matrix table is provided that accurately and fully describes the selected and second-preferred specialization.

A clear and accurately justified statement describes in detail the reasons for choosing the MSN specialization with sufficient evidence of incorporating feedback from colleagues in this week’s Discussion Forum.

The response clearly identifies and accurately describes in detail the professional organization related to the specialization selected. The response clearly and accurately describes in detail how to become an active member of this organization.

Points Range: 68 (68%) – 76 (76%)
A partially completed paragraph or comparison matrix table is provided that partially describes the selected and second-preferred specialization.

A partially justified statement describes the reasons for choosing the MSN specialization with some evidence of incorporating feedback from colleagues in this week’s Discussion Forum.

The response partially describes the professional organization related to the specialization selected. The response partially describes how to become an active member of this organization.

Points Range: 59 (59%) – 67 (67%)
A vague or inaccurately completed paragraph or comparison matrix table is provided describing the selected and second-preferred specialization.

A vague or inaccurately justified statement describes the reasons for choosing the MSN specialization with vague evidence of incorporating feedback from colleagues in this week’s Discussion Forum.

The response vaguely or inaccurately describes the professional organization related to the specialization selected. The response vaguely or inaccurately describes how to become an active member of this organization.

Points Range: 0 (0%) – 58 (58%)
A vague and inaccurately completed paragraph or comparison matrix table is provided describing the selected and second-preferred specialization or is missing.

A vague and inaccurately justified statement describes the reasons for choosing the MSN specialization with vague and inaccurate evidence of incorporating feedback from colleagues in this week’s Discussion Forum, or is missing.

The response vaguely and inaccurately describes the professional organization related to the specialization selected. The response vaguely and inaccurately describes how to become an active member of this organization, or is missing.
Written Expression and Formatting – Paragraph Development and Organization:

Paragraphs make clear points that support well developed ideas, flow logically, and demonstrate continuity of ideas. Sentences are carefully focused–neither long and rambling nor short and lacking substance. A clear and comprehensive purpose statement and introduction is provided which delineates all required criteria.
Points Range: 5 (5%) – 5 (5%)
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity.

A clear and comprehensive purpose statement, introduction, and conclusion is provided which delineates all required criteria.

Points Range: 4 (4%) – 4 (4%)
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity 80% of the time.

Purpose, introduction, and conclusion of the assignment is stated, yet is brief and not descriptive.

Points Range: 3.5 (3.5%) – 3.5 (3.5%)
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity 60%- 79% of the time.

Purpose, introduction, and conclusion of the assignment is vague or off topic.

Points Range: 0 (0%) – 3 (3%)
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity < 60% of the time.

No purpose statement, introduction, or conclusion was provided.
Written Expression and Formatting – English writing standards:
Correct grammar, mechanics, and proper punctuation
Points Range: 5 (5%) – 5 (5%)
Uses correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation with no errors.

Points Range: 4 (4%) – 4 (4%)
Contains a few (1-2) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.

Points Range: 3.5 (3.5%) – 3.5 (3.5%)
Contains several (3-4) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.

Points Range: 0 (0%) – 3 (3%)
Contains many (≥ 5) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors that interfere with the reader’s understanding.
Written Expression and Formatting – The paper follows correct APA format for title page, headings, font, spacing, margins, indentations, page numbers, running head, parenthetical/in-text citations, and reference list.
Points Range: 5 (5%) – 5 (5%)
Uses correct APA format with no errors.

Points Range: 4 (4%) – 4 (4%)
Contains a few (1-2) APA format errors.

Points Range: 3.5 (3.5%) – 3.5 (3.5%)
Contains several (3-4) APA format errors.

Points Range: 0 (0%) – 3 (3%)
Contains many (≥ 5) APA format errors.
Total Points: 100
Name: NURS_6003_Module06_Week11_Assignment_Rubric

A Sample Answer For the Assignment: NURS 6003 Discussion Examining Nursing Specialties

Title: NURS 6003 Discussion Examining Nursing Specialties

Psychiatry was my last rotation as a student in nursing school. It was the department with the greatest human resource need, so I decided that contributing to the improvement of mental health nursing will be my mission. What continues to motivate me is that there seems to be an increasing need for mental health specialists, as stigma is reduced and more persons are seeking help. As such, my decision now, to pursue an advanced degree in mental health nursing is a natural progression.

The MSN program at Walden University is CCNE accredited (Walden, n.d.).  It is cost-effective, 100% online, has a detailed curriculum, and has very good reviews. I know of a few colleagues who have completed the program and are now practicing. Those were some of the factors that motivated me to choose Walden University.

The admission process was seamless. There was someone available to guide me each step of the way. The technology appeared intimidating at first but with practice, I recognized that it was very user-friendly.

The American Psychiatric Nurses Association has endorsed the ‘Criteria for Evaluation of Nurse Practitioner Programs’ of The National Task Force on Quality Nurse Practitioner Education (The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, 2012). I have applied for membership with the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. Going forward in my professional career, it is my intention to join other associated organizations and contribute to the development of the profession and service to humanity.

I began working in the emergency department a year into my career as a nurse.  When I began working there, some of the most helpful people were the nurse educators.  They assisted clinically and took the time to explain the reasons we performed different tests on people, gave them different medications, and assisted on how to perform detailed assessments.  The emergency department that I work in has a high acuity, as well as high volume, so for them to take the time to explain helped tremendously in my orientation process.  There was one educator in particular who was very hands on, answered any and all questions I had, and taught me how to think critically.  She was the person who helped me how to think like a critical care nurse, working in the high paced environment.

This was when I decided that I wanted to become a nurse educator.  I knew that before I pursued this career choice I would need to become an expert in the field.  Nurses with a high-level professional knowledge and skills are needed for appropriate education and training of nursing personnel (Satoh et al., 2020).  I worked on the floor as a staff nurse as well as a nurse preceptor to sharpen my skills, and to begin to learn how to teach newer nurses as they begin their journey in the emergency department.

One of the difficulties I found in making my decision was if I should continue to pursue the education track, or if I should look into the administration track.  Ultimately, I decided to go with the Masters of Nursing with a concentration in Education because I felt this was more suitable for my future career.  I have recently taken on the role of assistant nurse manager, but as a clinical role, I feel that the education track will help me be able to teach young nurses the way a nurse educator would.  It will also help me keep the staff engaged, facilitate learning, and assist others in developing their learning techniques.

My career goal are to excel in my new role as an assistant nurse manager, and to teach nursing students during their clinical rotations.  I can do both of these things by getting the most out of my education at Walden University.

A professional organization that will help me advance my career is the Emergency Nurses Association, or ENA.  The ENA is a professional organization that represents emergency nursing addressing issues relevant to emergency care, provides education, issues a peer-reviewed journal, and publishes professional guidelines (2021).  Joining the ENA is a simple process and is available for both nurses and nursing students.  The membership fee for a registered nurse is $115 annually.  One will have the option to pay in four installments or in full.  This organization will help as a nurse educator stay up to date with all of the latest research in emergency medicine.

References

Emergency nurses association (ENA). enaorg. (2021, December 3). Retrieved November 18,

2021, from https://www.ena.org/.

Satoh, M., Fujimura, A., & Sato, N. (2020). Competency of academic nurse educators. SAGE 

Open Nursing, 6, 237796082096938. https://doi.org/10.1177/2377960820969389