Discussion: Examining Nursing Specialties NURS 6003

It is critical for an organization’s performance to have effective nurse leaders and managers. Nurse leaders are frequently found on the clinical floor, where they supervise RNs and help with patient safety and advocacy (Post University, 2021). A nurse manager is frequently someone with decision-making authority and responsibility over large teams of nurses, who manages staff training, communicates with other managers, and employs evidence-based practice (Post University, 2021). Nurse managers and leaders must possess qualities such as patience, open-mindedness, compassion, and persuasiveness (Whitney, 2018). It would be difficult to be a strong leader or manager without a combination of these talents.

Our nurse manager would evaluate incident reports when I worked in postpartum. The nurse manager noticed an increase in the number of nurses reporting postpartum hemorrhages. So the nurse manager met with the nurse leaders to discuss what could be done. The nurse manager made the decision to use the post-partum bleeding scale. The nurse leaders were in responsibility of implementing and training the new scale, while the nurse manager examined the forms and incident reports to determine its efficacy.

READ ALSO: Discussion: Strategies for Academic Portfolios

RE: Discussion – Week 10

I have been a neonatal intensive care (NICU) nurse for nearly 14 years. One of my favorite aspects of my role as a bedside nurse is precepting nursing students for their internship and orienting newly graduated nurses. I enjoy reading and learning about new evidence-based practice guidelines to improve patient care and long-term outcomes for neonates and sharing with my coworkers. Teaching has become a passion and many coworkers said I should teach full time because I can explain things well and have a vast knowledge base of NICU nursing. My children are now grown and in college, so I decided now was the time to pursue my Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). As much as I love bedside care, I knew I did not want to be in administrative type position or locked in to 24-hour call shifts as a neonatal nurse practitioner. The idea of MSN in Nursing Education seemed the best fit with my love of teaching and career goals. After completing my MSN, I hope to continue in my role as a NICU clinical nurse educator and transition to a parent educator. Discussion Examining Nursing Specialties NURS 6003

We here often of the critical nursing shortage. Many reasons exist as to why nurses leave the bedside, but what about bringing new nurses to the profession? Qualified students try to get in nursing school and end up wait listed due to faculty shortages. Those students often choose a different profession. To combat this issue, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing lobbied for federal funding for faulty development programs (Shipman & Hooten, 2008). This contributed to my decision to pursue the specialty of nursing education with my MSN. I knew I would not have difficulty finding a position if I choose to become an academic instructor.

I love helping my coworkers learn more about NICU care and evidence-based practices. I also designed, implemented, and participate in our unit-based nurse mentor program. I developed a standardized orientation pathway for our newly graduated nurses to acclimate to their new career. I participate in multiple committees, such as developmental and unit council. Those are all great ways for clinical nurse educators to provide teaching formally and informally (Jenkins, 2008).

The first national organization to lobby for funding for nurse education research was the National League of Nurses (NLN). This professional organization focuses on nursing schools and faculty, and leaders in nursing education. After reviewing the benefits of the NLN membership, I discovered the cost is only $80 for graduate school students. One of the biggest benefits was free access to the publication ‘Nursing Education Perspectives” (NLN, n.d.)

I am excited to pursue my MSN with the specialty focus of nursing education. Teaching the next generation of nurses is so important to our professional. I look forward to the opportunity to inspire others to keep pushing nursing forward. Discussion Examining Nursing Specialties NURS 6003

References

Jenkins, P. (2008). The role of the nurse educator: Mentor, change agent, expert. Journal for Nurses in Staff Development, 24(5), 245-247. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.nnd.0000320686.49684.c6

National League of Nurses (NLN). (n.d.). Membership Services. Retrieved on November 2, 2020, from https://www.nln.org/membership

Shipman, D., & Hooten, J. (2008). Without enough nurse educators there will be a continual decline in RNs and the quality of nursing care: Contending with the faculty shortage. Nurse Education Today, 28, 521-523. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2008.03.001

You’ve most likely seen one or more of the many motivational posters about making decisions. A visual, such as a forked road or a street sign, is usually depicted, along with an inspirational quote.

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.

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. Discussion: Examining Nursing Specialties NURS 6003

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.

Standards of Practice: Examining Nursing Specialties

Nursing is a calling rather than a profession. I recall having an intuitive urge to give care for my family in the early years of my job, and I have always felt sympathy for the sick and suffering. The completion of my bachelor’s degree in nursing has helped me comprehend my emotions and given greater meaning and purpose to the care I provide to patients and their families. The nursing profession is extremely dynamic; we must continue to move forward with an organized strategy and persevere (Laureate Education, 2018). This has always been my guiding principle for moving forward and advancing in my work. The first decade of my profession represented a period of transformation. I explored the various facets of the nursing profession in search of the subspecialty that I am most passionate about. Discussion: Examining Nursing Specialties NURS 6003

Challenges. The journey in advancing my career has been long and interesting. It took me almost a decade to decide what field of specialty I really wanted to focus on. I started my career in the Philippines and I can say the work condition has made my choice challenging. There was shortage of staffing, and the workload was tremendous. This pushed the nurse turnover rate to be high because of poor working conditions. The turning point of my career was when I got active in joining nursing organizations. Echevarria (2018) said that professional organizations promote improvement in a profession and heightens the interest of the members it serves. When I worked in the operating room, the surgical organization I attended gave a lot of opportunities to learn and grow in that specialty. It was then that I realized the relevance of joining nursing organizations in further enhancing my knowledge and skills. Cherry, et al. (2019) supported this idea by emphasizing that professional organizations support nursing practice by improving nursing values and stimulate self-regulation. The article further said that the membership in an organization serves as an investment in professional development. My membership to professional groups has indeed propelled my career to greater heights, focusing on the field of specialty I am really interested in. Discussion: Examining Nursing Specialties NURS 6003

In the course of my career, I had numerous opportunities to provide education to students and colleagues. I soon realized that teaching and education is the field of nursing that I got really interested in. This drove me to work as a clinical instructor in a local nursing school, and that was the culmination of my specialty in Nursing education. The National League for Nursing (NLN) is one organization that fully supports my field of interest in nursing education. NLN seeks to improve nursing education by focusing on professional advancement activities, research, certification, and networking (National League for Nursing, 2019). The second half of my career has been spent specializing in teaching in the baccalaureate and graduate level. The mission and vision of NLN fully supports my personal goal to improve my teaching strategies. The organization currently has 40,000 individual and 1,200 institutional members from different nursing programs across the nation. This will give me a great opportunity to network with colleagues in the field of nursing education. The NLN website offers individual membership opportunities with a very minimal fee. Membership benefits provide opportunities for growth and promotes excellence in nursing education. I will work on being a member of this organization to further enhance my specialty in nursing education.

References

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.

Laureate Education (Producer). (2018). The Walden Journey to a Masters in Nursing: Standards of Practice [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

National League for Nursing. (2019). Nurse educator core competency. Retrieved from http://www.nln.org/professional-development-programs/competencies-for-nursing-education/nurse-educator-core-competency

RE: Discussion – Week 10

Online learning program for MSN is designed to assist students in the nursing profession make a difference in the field of health care. When selecting a profession, it is crucial to first consider the passion towards the course. It is also important to reassess your strengths, where you would like to see yourself in the next 5 years, and the group you prefer working with (Alquwez, 2020). In the discussion post written by Romeo, the author has made it clear the type of work setting he prefers. At Walden University, there are about eight distinct specializations. A practitioner can either work as a specialty nurse or nurse practitioner.

The desire to offer better care to family and patients is indeed a good mantra to start with. However, many people believe that nurse practitioners are limited to family practice only. That is not always the case with nursing profession (Vos, Boonstra, Kooistra, Seelen & Offenbeek, 2020). The university offers different nurse specializations. Each specialty offers the student an opportunity to take on extra responsibilities including examining patients, diagnosing illness, providing treatment, and prescribing medications. By choosing one of the specialty, Romeo has demonstrated the wish to focus on nursing education.

Regardless of the choice a person takes, specialization in the nursing profession is crucial as it helps to differentiate a practitioner in the field and aligns one’s interests with career goals. NLN is one organization that supports strategies for improving patient outcomes through effective collaboration and communication. The organization provides students with the opportunity to explore the most current health topics in collaboration with experts who serve as leaders in the healthcare system. Discussion Examining Nursing Specialties NURS 6003

References

Alquwez, N. (2020). Examining the Influence of Workplace Incivility on Nurses’ Patient Safety Competence. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 52, 3, 292-300.

Vos, J. F. J., Boonstra, A., Kooistra, A., Seelen, M., & Offenbeek, M. (2020). The influence of electronic health record use on collaboration among medical specialties. Bmc Health Services Research, 20, 1, 1-11.

Peer Response

Hello O…, I agree with your response to Romeo with the increased demand for primary care services across the country and the number of new primary care graduates dwindling. States may need to look for an alternative supply of primary care providers especially in rural and underserved inner city areas. The demographics and economics of these locations present exacerbating challenges like accessibility, quality, and cost to the U.S. healthcare system. (Barnes et al., 2018) To overcome the short supply of many locals want to utilize nurse practitioners (NP) as one method to alleviate these challenges. Evidence supports the notion that nurse practitioners provide care comparable to physicians in terms of quality, utilization, and satisfaction metrics.

One particular specialty where the implementation of a (NP) could make immediate impact to the area is home-based primary care practices. Some research data shows approximately 93% of Medicare spending is for beneficiaries with multiple chronic conditions (Poghosyan et al., 2019). Costs of poorly coordinated or delayed care for this vulnerable population are staggering—not just measured in dollars and cents but overall psychosocial burdens of poor health and diminished quality of life. A key to solve this dilemma is offering to fill Home-based primary care (HBPC) practices with (NP) which can offer an effective way to meet the needs of older adults who find it difficult, if not impossible, to leave home for medical care with an overall cost saving to Medicare. According to
(Wolff-Baker & Ordona, 2019) Nurse practitioners (NPs) provide more than 825,000 HBPC visits per year.

References

Barnes, H., Richards, M. R., McHugh, M. D., & Martsolf, G. (2018). Rural and nonrural primary care physician practices increasingly rely on nurse practitioners. Health Affairs, 37(6), 908–914. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2017.1158

Poghosyan, L., Timmons, E. J., Abraham, C. M., & Martsolf, G. R. (2019). The economic impact of the expansion of nurse practitioner scope of practice for Medicaid. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 10(1), 15–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2155-8256(19)30078-x

Wolff-Baker, D., & Ordona, R. (2019). The expanding role of nurse practitioners in home-based primary care: Opportunities and challenges. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 45(6), 9–14. https://doi.org/10.3928/00989134-20190422-01

Learning Resources

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: Strengthening oncology nursing leadership in the context of professional oncology nursing organizations. Canadian Oncology Nursing Journal, 27(1), 2-4.
Walden University. (n.d.). Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). Retrieved November 14, 2018, from https://www.waldenu.edu/masters/master-of-science-in-nursing
Document: Academic Success and Professional Development Plan Template (Word document)
Choose among the following to review your specialization’s Scope and Standards of Practice or Competencies:

American Nurses Association. (2015). Nursing informatics: Scope and standards of practice (2nd ed.). Silver Spring, MD: Author.
“The Scope of Nursing Informatics Practice: Functional Areas of Nursing Informatics” (pp. 18–39)
Nursing Education

Website: Competencies for the Academic Nurse Educator
National League for Nursing. (2019). Nurse educator core competency. Retrieved from http://www.nln.org/professional-development-programs/competencies-for-nursing-education/nurse-educator-core-competency
Note: The competencies for the Academic Nurse Educator do not encompass the competencies or scope and standards of practice for the Nursing Professional Developer. The set of competencies associated with that specific role within the Nurse Education specialization will be examined in future competencies throughout your specialization program of study.
Nurse Executive

Website: Nurse Executive Competencies
American Organization for Nursing Leadership. (2015). AONL Nurse Executive competencies. Retrieved from https://www.aonl.org/resources/nurse-leader-competencies
Public Health Nursing

Website: Public Health Nursing Competencies
Quad Council Coalition. (2018). Community/Public Health Nursing [C/PHN] competencies. Retrieved from http://www.quadcouncilphn.org/documents-3/2018-qcc-competencies/
American Nurses Association. (2013). Public health nursing: Scope and standards of practice (2nd ed.). Silver Spring, MD: Author.

Walden University MSN Core Nursing courses – Generic information for success:

1. Being graduate level adult learners – It is very unlikely that you will experience the quantity of or detailed guidance as in the announcements received in this course. Being so: Read the course announcements thoroughly and completely. Read the course announcements at least daily for any updates. Going forward the Instructors may post items at any time throughout the day or night. I have unfortunately received emails throughout this course with questions for which the information was previously addressed within the announcements. Again, reading the course announcements is imperative for your success.
2. The utilization requirement of APA within assignments will increase as you progress to courses that are considered “writing intense”. The APA requirement within discussions will remain as you experienced within this course. This course is not considered writing intense. Familiarize yourself with the correct usage of APA 7^th edition. It is within every graded item, within every Nursing course going forward. Familiarize yourself and utilize the Walden resources for APA assistance. I have diligently posted links to those resources several times during this course.
3. Use ONLY your Walden student email for communication with any Walden University representative. When communicating with your Instructor ALWAYS include your course number and section. Within this course I posted in the announcements numerous times your specific course number and section, as well asked that you include that information when emailing me. Sadly, I received emails that did not include this information, this delayed my assisting you as I had to request your course number and section. This alerts me that course announcements were not being thoroughly and completely reviewed. Going forward it is highly unlikely Instructors will respond to any email other than your Walden student email as email not in Walden origin routinely gets flagged as spam then deleted. Also be fully aware that Instructors required to respond to any email other than your designated Walden Student email.
4. Be mindful if you do not participate in any Walden course during the 1^st week (Day 1 through Day 7) – you will be removed from the course by Walden University regardless of your excuse. Your Instructor has no control over this – it is university policy!
5. The grading of any assignment cannot proceed by your Instructor unless you submit your assignments via SafeAssign, then in BlackBoard. Traditionally a -0- score will be awarded, with no resubmission availability. At the Graduate level, you are responsible for your work being submitted per instructions AND grading rubric parameters and due date/time. Again, I strongly encourage you to submit your assignments before Day 7 to ensure yourself sufficient time to seek assistance and correct the issue. Remember SafeAssign Drafts and SafeAssign are different!
6. For Discussions – There is a six (6) day period (Monday, Day 1 through Saturday, Day 6) allowed for the Discussion participation. No allowances for participation will be made outside of the six (6) Discussion active period. Any submitted post outside of the 6-day active discussion period will not be graded and you will receive a -0- score.
7. Faculty cannot accept or grade any assignment or discussion through email.
8. Do not wait until Day 7 to begin or submit your assignment. Assignments are due Day 7. At the Graduate level, you are responsible for your work being submitted per instructions, grading rubric parameters and due date and time. Being so = I strongly encourage you to submit your assignments well before Day 7 to ensure yourself sufficient time to seek assistance and correct any issue encountered. I have purposely made myself available to you each day including weekends and responded to you within 12 to 24 hours. Be mindful, Instructors are not required to respond to you on a daily basis. Going forward your Instructors will respond to your Contact the Instructor communications and emails within the required 48 hours’ time period.
9. As a graduate level student, Instructors will not reach out to you to ensure your assignments/discussions are completed and submitted correctly. As a graduate level adult learner, it is your responsibility to ensure that your discussions and assignments are completed and submitted timely and correctly. As an adult learner, you need to take the initiative and reach out to your Instructor immediately when you encounter an issue. You were offered an online orientation by Walden University – Did you participate in that orientation? If not, I strongly suggest you contact your advisor and make arrangements.
10. If you experience technical issues, please utilize your resources and contact the Walden Customer Care Team or Walden IT for assistance. Going forward you will encounter several PowerPoint presentations, Walden Templates within your future courses at Walden University, as well be required to submit multiple items with a single submission.
11. Understand the Time Zones at Walden University and the applicable conversion. Your course calendar is in Eastern Time as is the time/date stamp of submission/participation for your discussions and assignments. Going forward all of your future Nursing courses require that your Discussions, any Quiz or Assignment will continue to be due submitted in Mountain Time.
12. Have a computer and Internet backup plan. What will you do if your computer crashes or your Internet is not working?  Computer/Internet/work issues are your responsibility. Allowances will not be made due to these issues causing a lack of participation or missed deadline, rather a -0- score will be awarded. Save your work on a flash or hard drive. Know where you can go to access the Academic Skills Center as it is an excellent resource to assist in your success.
13. For Assignments – Only prior communication with AND Instructor approval will late assignments be considered for grading. Assignments submitted late will be deducted 4% daily until Day 5 OR may deduct the entire 20% regardless of time/day of late submission. This is at the discretion of each Instructor and will vary course-by-course. After Day 5, in any course, the assignment will be scored a -0-.
14. Be familiar with how to access and utilize the Walden resources. I posted the most useful and frequently utilized resources numerous times within the course announcements.
15. Ensure your discussions have a substance, depth and breadth, critical analysis, and reflection element within the grading rubric. In short – if your discussion Main Post does not closely compare to the discussion exemplar located within the course resources and announcements posted within this course your grade will be drastically reduced.
16. Know who and where to submit any documentation if necessary, for allowances for any late or missed assignments. Remember Instructors are not permitted to accept any medical documentation. Discussion Examining Nursing Specialties NURS 6003
17. Know who your advisor is and how to contact them.
18. Know where and how to locate your student feedback. This course is 6 weeks in duration – In Week 5 I received emails inquiring as to “I see my grade but don’t know why points were deducted” – It was sadly apparent the feedback being provided was not being reviewed by those students. Your numeric score and student feedback are in different locations – this was addressed in the course announcements. If you cannot locate or have not located your student feedback for discussions and assignments – I strongly encourage you to contact the Customer Care Team as you have missed a tremendous amount of information.

Student Resources: Here is a partial listing of Walden University resources that have been shared with you during this course. You will frequent these as you progress throughout your future courses. Again, I strongly recommend that you bookmark each of these for your future courses.

• SafeAssign
• library
• Walden Customer Care Team
• Walden IT
• Time Zones at Walden University
• Academic Skills Center
• Writing Center
• Walden Student Resources
• Integrity and Writing At Walden University
• Scholarly Ethics at Walden University
• APA citation at Walden University
• Peer-Reviewed Research
• Walden Library Databases
• Walden University Library Databases dedicated to Nursing
• Phi Nu
• http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/assignments/nursing
• http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/scholarly
• http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/assignments/nursing
• http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/scholarlyvoice/tone
• http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/scholarlyvoice/academicdiction
• http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/scholarlyvoice/writingconcisely
• http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/assignments/discussionpost/writing
• https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/paperreviews
• https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/multilingual
• https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/library/ask
• https://www.waldenu.edu/experience/support-services

RE: Discussion – Week 10 Initial Post

Inspired Choice

Throughout my nursing career, I have cared for adults and geriatric patients. I am currently in an administrative role and debated on focusing on Nurse Executive. I met with some nurse executives and weighed the pros and cons of our discussions. I decided on focusing my advancement on Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPC-NP).

One of the reasons that drove my decision to the AGPC-NP program was that I love direct patient care. The role I currently hold, lacks direct patient-care.  I also love managing a team and helping transform each individual to their full potential. I felt that if I persuaded my advancement in AGPC-NP, I would route my professional career to grow even further in the executive realm and continue my passion for direct patient care.

A professional organization I have found is the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). They have an array of resources for nurse practitioners but also students. This was very appealing to me. It isn’t easy to find a professional organization supporting younger nursing generations (Cherry, Caramanica, Everett, Fennimore, & Scott, 2019). The accessibility of multiple resources with current health care issues in one platform is attractive.

Nurses should seek membership in organizations that best support their professional and personal goals (Echevarria, 2018). The American Association of Nurse Practitioners believes in the importance of patient-centered health care. Its mission is to empower every NP in advance quality health care through practice, education, advocacy, research, and leadership (AANP, 2021). To become a member of AANP, you must fill an application. There are different membership categories: Nurse practitioner, student, licensed NP student, career starter, retired NP, and associate non-NP member. I would highly recommend that my colleagues take some time to view the AANP. Member benefits started with free continuing education, unyielding advocacy, networking opportunities, journal subscriptions, and exclusive discounts (American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 2021).

References

American Association of Nurse Practitioners. (2021). Membership. https://www.aanp.org/membership

Cherry, B. , Caramanica, L. , Everett, L. Q. , Fennimore, L. & Scott, E. (2019). Leveraging the power of board leadership in professional nursing organizations. JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration, 49

(11), 517-519. doi: 10.1097/NNA.0000000000000805.

Echevarria, I. M. (2018). Make connections by joining a professional nursing organization. Nursing, 48 (12), 35-38. doi: 10.1097/01.NURSE.0000547721.84857.cb.

Discussion: Examining Nursing Specialties

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.

RE: Discussion – Week 10 Initial Post

In this discussion board, my career choice, career difficulties, and choice of association affiliation will be discussed.

Family practice is the field of work I’ve chosen to pursue with my Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) (APRN). Licencing, accreditation, certification and education all fall under the APRN regulatory framework (APRN Consensus Work Group & the National Council of State Boards of Nursing ARPN Advisory Committee, 2008). I intend to work with rural families in Ohio after graduating from this program. Caring for people throughout their entire lives is something I really enjoy doing. Additionally, I have seven years of primary care nursing experience and feel that my colleagues have helped shape me into this position.

Self-doubt is the biggest obstacle I face. I can’t believe I’m actually a part of this thing. The tiniest of details lift my spirits. A former classmate recently contacted me to ask for advice about her grandson’s time in the neonatal intensive care unit. She asked me to check her ears last week because she was familiar with me and trusted my advice. I use examples like this to keep myself on track.

I intend to become a member of the Ohio Association of Advanced Practice Nurses (OAAPN). The mission of this organization is to promote the well-being of all Ohioans (Ohio Association of Advance Practice Nurses, 2021). There are many ways to give back to rural Ohio Appalachia, which is where I live and care for my neighbors (Ohio Association of Advance Practice Nurses, 2021). Members of the American Nurses Association (ANA) share the ANA’s commitment to career advancement, professional development, and advocacy, among other things (Echevarria, 2018).

So to sum up, I have a solid strategy in place and a strong network of people rooting for me! In order to keep improving, I need to keep up with my existing routine and believe in my own abilities.

References:

APRN Consensus Work Group & the National Council of State Boards of Nursing ARPN    Advisory Committee. (2008). Consensus model for APRN regulation: Licensure, accreditation, certification & education. nursingworld.org

Echevarria, I. M. (2018). Make connections by joining a professional organization. Nursing, 48 (12), 35-38.

Ohio Association of Advance Practice Nurses. (2021). oaapn.org

RE: Discussion – Week 10 Initial Post

Inspired Choice

Throughout my nursing career, I have cared for adults and geriatric patients. I am currently in an administrative role and debated on focusing on Nurse Executive. I met with some nurse executives and weighed the pros and cons of our discussions. I decided on focusing my advancement on Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPC-NP).

One of the reasons that drove my decision to the AGPC-NP program was that I love direct patient care. The role I currently hold, lacks direct patient-care.  I also love managing a team and helping transform each individual to their full potential. I felt that if I persuaded my advancement in AGPC-NP, I would route my professional career to grow even further in the executive realm and continue my passion for direct patient care.

A professional organization I have found is the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). They have an array of resources for nurse practitioners but also students. This was very appealing to me. It isn’t easy to find a professional organization supporting younger nursing generations (Cherry, Caramanica, Everett, Fennimore, & Scott, 2019). The accessibility of multiple resources with current health care issues in one platform is attractive.

Nurses should seek membership in organizations that best support their professional and personal goals (Echevarria, 2018). The American Association of Nurse Practitioners believes in the importance of patient-centered health care. Its mission is to empower every NP in advance quality health care through practice, education, advocacy, research, and leadership (AANP, 2021). To become a member of AANP, you must fill an application. There are different membership categories: Nurse practitioner, student, licensed NP student, career starter, retired NP, and associate non-NP member. I would highly recommend that my colleagues take some time to view the AANP. Member benefits started with free continuing education, unyielding advocacy, networking opportunities, journal subscriptions, and exclusive discounts (American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 2021).

References

American Association of Nurse Practitioners. (2021). Membership. https://www.aanp.org/membership

Cherry, B. , Caramanica, L. , Everett, L. Q. , Fennimore, L. & Scott, E. (2019). Leveraging the power of board leadership in professional nursing organizations. JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration, 49

(11), 517-519. doi: 10.1097/NNA.0000000000000805.

Echevarria, I. M. (2018). Make connections by joining a professional nursing organization. Nursing, 48 (12), 35-38. doi: 10.1097/01.NURSE.0000547721.84857.cb.

Name: NURS_6003_Module06_Week10_Discussion_Rubric

Name: NURS_6003_Module06_Week10_Discussion_Rubric

Great post! I admire your passion to work with the mental health population. It truly takes a special person to endure the demands of that field. I also like your plan to become a student member of the American Psychiatry Nurses Association. “Professional nursing organizations provide a great starting point in obtaining and maintaining specialty certifications” and can open a door of unlimited resources for your specialty field (Echevarria, 2018, p. 37). Becoming a member of a professional nursing organization like the APNA can also assist with networking opportunities with other APRNs in your specialty to start building relationships, as well as provide you with new opportunities for conferences and academic journals in the mental health field (American Psychiatric Nurses Association, n.d.). “One essential element for professional development is committing the time necessary to strategically engage in lifelong learning,” so beginning to develop your plan as a future psychiatric APRN by joining the nursing association as a student in the master’s program would absolutely put you ahead of the game (Cherry et al., 2019, p. 517). Good luck on your future endeavors and I look forward to possibly reading your discussions in another course.

References

Cherry, B. , Caramanica, L. , Everett, L. Q. , Fennimore, L. & Scott, E. (2019). Leveraging the Power of Board Leadership in Professional Nursing Organizations. JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration, 49 (11), 517-519. doi: 10.1097/NNA.0000000000000805.

Echevarria, I. M. (2018). Make connections by joining a professional nursing organization. Nursing, 48 (12), 35-38. doi: 10.1097/01.NURSE.0000547721.84857.cb.

Membership in the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. American Psychiatric Nurses Association. (n.d.). https://www.apna.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3293.