Essay Sample on Nursing Education

Introduction

My passion for medicine, especially psychiatry, has influenced my quest for education to establish a successful nineteen-year career in the nursing profession. In this case, I first obtained my Licensed Practical nurse (LPN) diploma that enabled me to work as an LPN for ten years. Secondly, I undertook an Associate Degree in Nursing (ASN) and later completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). The degree programs permitted me to become a registered nurse (RN), a profession that I have practiced for nine years. Additionally, I have dealt with psych patients for the last six years in the emergency department.

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Describe the General Role of a Nurse Practitioner

A nurse practitioner (NP) is an independent, trained, and registered nurse who is responsible for providing primary healthcare, such as diagnosing, treating, and preventing diseases. Moreover, they can work in the inpatient and outpatient fields either independently or in a team (Dahrouge, 2014). They specialize in various medical specialties such as women health, family practice, and podiatrists. They can also sub-specialize in fields such as psychiatry, oncology, cardiology, and dermatology (Dahrouge, 2014). For individuals to become a nurse practitioner, they must have a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) and obtain a practicing license to become a registered nurse. Furthermore, they must have clinical experience as an RN after which they can undertake a masters degree program and excel in a state-issued NP licensing exam.

Describe the Roles and Responsibilities of the Population-Focused Nurse Practitioner Specialty

A Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner is an RN who works with families, communities, individuals, and patients evaluating their mental health and aiding them to cognitive wellness. Notably, PMHNP provides psychiatric mental health to individuals by diagnosing, developing a care plan, implementing nursing processes, and assessing their effectiveness (Wheeler & Haber, 2004). PMHNP also evaluates, diagnose, and treat persons with cognitive disorders r those that are predisposed to such complications using their therapeutic competencies such as psychotherapy and prescription of medicine.

Firstly, in diagnoses, PMHNPs interview individuals concerning complaints and symptoms to identify whether the psychiatric condition is emotional or psychologically based. They also determine whether patients have any physical illness contributing to their cognitive state. Moreover, they elucidate on the causes of the psychiatric complication such as family dysfunction, neurological trauma, genetics, social or cultural problems, or developmental issues. They are also responsible for determining the risk factors associated with their patient's cognitive disorders. Secondly, they are responsible for the treatment of disorders through a wide range of therapies (Wheeler & Haber, 2004). After identifying the causes and predisposing risks, the PMHNPs undertake individual or group counseling sessions with the patients. In this case, they assist patients to manage their feelings, moods, and behaviors, which are sometimes destructive or violent. Additionally, they can also use psychotropic drug therapy where they issue patents with prescription drugs and place them under psychiatric supervision (Wheeler & Haber, 2004). Notably, they also monitor and progress of individuals on medication. They also collaborate with other doctors and psychologists to enhance the mental wellness of their patients.

Discuss Your Short-Term Career Goals

Despite having a myriad of aspirations I want to achieve soon, my primary short-term goal is to complete my Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, which is one of the vital requirements for an individual to become a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner. The program provides individuals with multiple opportunities to develop their career. Alongside working under minimum supervision, an MSN holder is in an excellent position to make critical decisions concerning various illnesses. The program will equip me with the necessary skills, knowledge, and competencies essential in the advanced nursing role and achieving my long-term goals and objectives. For instance, the program will harness my educational development in fields such as mental and physical health assessment, integration, and implementation of care, diagnosis of cognitive disorders, psychotherapy, and consultation. On the other hand, the MSN degree will allow me to specialize in primary psychiatric care, where I will be responsible for marinating the mental wellness of the public. Moreover, I also intend to develop my leadership and management skills shortly, which will permit me to integrate with other physicians in the workplace. I acknowledge the ethical and legal requirements associated with a PMH-NP; therefore, developing a good moral base while undertaking the MSN will facilitate personal development plan.

Discuss Your Long-Term Career Goals

Healthcare effectiveness plays a vital role in the diagnosis, treatment, and recovery of a patient, especially those presented in a hospital's emergency department. In light of this case, my fundamental long-term goal is to become an established psychiatrist nurse practitioner in the emergency department. The situation will permit me to readily attend to patients to reduce the time patients spend while waiting for medical intervention. As an MHNP, I desire to streamline services at the ED by improving patient follow-ups and proper treatment. Moreover, I will be empathetic towards my patients by sharing their feelings and providing them with an effective care plan since most of them are burdened by rampart societal stigmatization. Notably, I also intend to be a nurse leader in the ED in the future. In this position, I will be able to push forward multiple policies and development agendas aimed at improving mental healthcare provision in a hospital.

Reference

Dahrouge, S., Muldoon, L., Ward, N., Hogg, W., Russell, G., & Taylor-Sussex, R. (2014). Roles of nurse practitioners and family physicians in community health centres. Canadian Family Physician, 60(11), 1020-1027. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4229163/#

Wheeler, K., & Haber, J. (2004). Development of psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner competencies: Opportunities for the 21st century. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 10(3), 129-138. DOI: 10.1177/1078390304266218