NURS 6003: Examining Nursing Specialties
Sample Answer for NURS 6003: 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.
Click on the Reply button below to reveal the textbox for entering your message. Then click on the Submit button to post your message.
A Sample Answer For the Assignment: NURS 6003: Examining Nursing Specialties
Title: NURS 6003: Examining Nursing Specialties
I have chosen to focus on the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) program. A lot of thought has gone into this decision. At first, I wanted to focus on the family nurse practitioner (FNP) route. However, after speaking with my student success advisor, she informed me that it sounded like the AGPCNP route was a better fit for me. I also completed the questionnaire on the Walden University website that helps determine which MSN specialization is right for you. The quiz identified that the AGPCNP program or the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program was best for me. Because I primarily would like to work with the adult population, I can focus my studies through the AGPCNP focus on this population. The AGPCNP focus will prepare me to guide the health and well-being of patients 13 years and older (Walden University, 2022)
I have gone back and forth on deciding which focus is best for me. I always thought obtaining my FNP would open many more opportunities. However, I know I do not have the desire to work with the pediatric population. I also started my nursing career in labor and delivery and am familiar with this population. However, it looks like focusing my studies on the AGPCNP specialization will allow me to work in Women’s Health if I desire. The AGPCNP focus will help me promote a more equitable system serving individuals with compassion and dignity (Walden University, 2022). The AGPCNP focus will prepare me to manage disease prevention, health promotion, health maintenance, and restore care in adolescents and adults (Walden University, 2022). I will be prepared to deliver quality primary care services and make an impact on the patients and community I serve (Walden University, 2022).
There are many professional nursing organizations I could join that are affiliated with the AGPCNP focus, including the National Gerontological Nurses Association, Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association, Coalition for Nurses in Advanced Practice, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, and American College of Nurse Practitioner, to name a few. According to Echevarria (2018), nurses should join professional organizations that best fit their goals. The Gerontologic Advanced Practice Nurses Association (GAPNA) represents the interests of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) caring for older adults (Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association, 2022). The GAPNA opens opportunities for APRNs in education, leadership, research, advocacy, networking, and improvements in evidence-based practice (Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association, 2022). The GAPNA provides educational resources and up-to-date information about the care of older adults; it also offers opportunities for networking (Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association, 2022). There are many membership benefits, including a subscription to the official Journal of GAPNA, quarterly newsletters, and access to legislative news (Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association, 2022). Membership also includes discounts on renewal fees, study materials, the American Nursing Credentialing Center Certification, conferences, and professional memberships (Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association, 2022). Membership fees are $100 annually, and members can join online (Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association, 2022). Students, registered nurses, APRNs, and retired nurses may become members. Students in advanced practice courses receive all the same benefits as APRNs; however, they do not have voting privileges (Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association, 2022). Students may also benefit from grants and scholarships (Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association, 2022).
References
Echevarria, I. M. (2018). Make connections by joining a professional nursing organization. Nursing, 48(12), 35-38.
Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association. (2022). Membership: Gerontological advanced practice nurses association (GAPNA). Membership | Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association (GAPNA). Retrieved October 24, 2022, from https://www.gapna.org/membership
Walden University. (2022). Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse practitioner (AGPCNP). Walden University. Retrieved October 23, 2022, from https://www.waldenu.edu/online-masters-programs/master-of-science-in-nursing/msn-nurse-practitioner-adult-gerontology
A Sample Answer 2 For the Assignment: NURS 6003: Examining Nursing Specialties
Title: NURS 6003: Examining Nursing Specialties
Behavioral Health Integration will advance our healthcare delivery system in the 21st century, and we are witnessing those events now. We must recognize and acknowledge what we, as nurses and PMHNPs, can bring to healthcare and strive to actively take the lead rather than follow behind (Kumar et al., 2020). Although we may need to go off the path to forge our ideas and innovations, getting back on track and sharing what we have learned and how to take action is essential.
Nurses and NP are the largest workforces in the US. They can impact the most significant number of individuals, families, and communities to promote, assess and manage complete health care, including physical and behavioral problems and disorders. Psychiatric NPs are poised, educated, and trained to work with inter-professional teams as equal partners to screen, assess and manage psychiatric and substance use disorders in primary care, acute care, and/or long-term care setting (Soltis, 2020). All nurses and APRNs need to be educated and trained to the highest level of their scope of practice in behavioral health and substance use disorders while in nursing education programs and/or as a lifelong process of continuing education once they are in the workforce.
References
Kumar, A., Kearney, A., Hoskins, K., & Iyengar, A. (2020). The role of psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners in improving mental and behavioral health care delivery for children and adolescents in multiple settings. Archives of psychiatric nursing, 34(5), 275–280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2020.07.022Links to an external site.
Soltis-Jarrett V. (2020). Integrating behavioral health and substance use models for advanced PMHN practice in primary care: Progress made in the 21st century. Archives of psychiatric nursing, 34(5), 363–369. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2020.07.026
A Sample Answer 3 For the Assignment: NURS 6003: Examining Nursing Specialties
Title: NURS 6003: 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