Mental health nursing specialty essay example

Mental health nursing specialty essay example

Discussion instructions

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.

NOTE PLEASE ( MY PROGRAM SPECIALITY IS MENTAL HEALTH) By Day 3 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.

Resource: 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: Mental health nursing specialty essay example Strengthening oncology nursing leadership in the context of professional oncology nursing organizations. Canadian Oncology Nursing Journal, 27(1), 2-4

Exploring Nursing SpecializationsThe influential report issued by RWJF (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation) in conjunction with the IOM (Institute of Medicine) underscores the pivotal role of nurses as full-time collaborators in shaping the future landscape of nursing practice and the broader U.S. healthcare sector. In a time marked by a notable surge in the prevalence of mental disorders affecting adults, children, and adolescents, the role of primary mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) stands as a paramount professional commitment. According to the World Health Organization, the annual estimated cost of mental disorders among individuals aged 24 years and younger amounts to a staggering $247 billion (Kumar et al., 2020). These costs are poised to escalate further with the rising incidence of mental disorders. Concurrently, there is a pressing demand for heightened acuity in addressing mental health issues, particularly in light of the escalating rates of ER visits for both fatal and non-fatal self-inflicted harm across age groups. Furthermore, the inadequate management of emotional, mental, and behavioral disorders yields enduring and adverse consequences for affected individuals, their families, and society at large. Given these considerations, I have opted to specialize in mental health, recognizing it as my preferred field of focus. This choice aligns with the vital role PMHNPs play in alleviating the burden of mental health disorders on individuals, families, communities, and society as a whole.

Mental Health as a Specialization

Mental health nursing is a specialized field where nurses collaborate with individuals, communities, and families facing psychiatric diagnoses. Nurses specializing in mental health can pursue roles as PMHNPs or clinical mental health nurse specialists and can further tailor their expertise to specific patient populations, including pediatrics or gerontology. To become PMHNPs, individuals must first complete a nursing diploma, Bachelor’s, or Associate program and successfully pass the RN licensing examination. Subsequently, acquiring RN psychiatric experience is crucial before pursuing PMHN certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). According to Kumar et al. (2020), the roles and responsibilities of PMHNPs are deeply rooted in therapeutic relationships and the nursing process. They encompass tasks such as diagnosing and managing acute and chronic mental disorders, delivering psychotherapy, educating both patients and families, facilitating care coordination, making necessary referrals, and interpreting diagnostic tests. In many primary healthcare settings, PMHNPs also offer video and telephone consultations, resource coordination, and collaborative efforts with other healthcare professionals. Furthermore, Moyo et al. (2020) emphasize that PMHNPs are highly collaborative, engaging with specialists from various healthcare fields, including nutrition, neurology, psychology, social work, and even the criminal justice system.

Challenges and Factors Influencing Choice

Selecting my nursing specialty presented a significant challenge as I deliberated between mental health and gerontology. My personal experiences played a pivotal role in this decision-making process. Having spent a substantial portion of my high school years caring for my elderly maternal grandmother, I gained profound insights into the nursing profession’s potential when dedicated to the care of aging individuals. Similarly, I served as an advisor, mentor, caregiver, and support system for my older sister when she was diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) following a tumultuous divorce after a 14-year marriage. These experiences prompted me to consider various factors, including my preferred work style, personality, work hours, work environment, salary prospects, and career outlook. Given my extroverted nature, I gravitate toward working within a closely-knit professional team in a clinical or hospital setting rather than providing in-home care. Mental health nursing aptly aligns with these preferences.

NRS-429VN Family-Centered Health Promotion Topic 1 Discussion Question 1

Professional Organizations Associated with Mental Health

The American Psychiatry Association (APA) stands out as a preeminent organization dedicated to advancing the field of psychiatry and mental health practice. Its mission encompasses promoting access to mental health disorder care, advancing psychiatry research, representing the psychiatry profession, and addressing the needs of its members. The vision of the APA is to lead the field of psychiatry in advocating for mental health as an integral component of overall health and well-being (American Psychiatric Association, n.d.). Importantly, the APA recognizes PMHNPs as essential contributors to the primary care workforce rather than viewing them as a specialized discipline. To become a general member of the APA, one must be a practicing psychiatrist who has completed a psychiatry residency training program and holds a valid license (American Psychiatric Association, n.d.). Additionally, nursing students specializing in psychiatry and related courses are granted free membership, providing access to a wealth of journal research articles and networking opportunities with professionals in the same field.

References

American Psychiatric Association (APA). (n.d.). APA’s Vision, Mission, Values, and Goals. https://www.psychiatry.org/about-apa/vision-mission-values-goals

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. [DOI] https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2020.07.022

Moyo N, Jones M, Cardwell R, Gray R. What Are the Core Competencies of a Mental Health Nurse? Protocol for a Concept Mapping Study. Nurs Rep. 2020; 10(2):146-153. Published 2020 Dec 7. [DOI] https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep10020018