NURS 6003 Assignment: Academic Success and Professional Development Plan Part 4: Finalizing the Plan Module 6 | Part 4: Finalizing the Plan Sample

I have considered various options for my nursing specialty, including a close look at my selected (or currently preferred) and second-preferred specialty. I have also developed a justification for my selected (or preferred) specialty. Lastly, I have examined one professional organization related to my selected or preferred specialty and considered how I could become a member of this organization.

The results of my efforts are below.

Directions: Complete Step 1 by writing 2-3 paragraphs in the space below comparing the nursing specialty you have selected – or the one you prefer if your choice is still under consideration – to your second preference. Identify each specialty and describe the focus and the role that graduates are prepared for. Identify any other differentiators you feel are significant, especially those that helped or may help you reach a decision.

Complete Step 2 by writing a paragraph identifying and justifying your reasons for choosing your MSN specialization. Be sure to incorporate any feedback you received from colleagues in this week’s Discussion Forum.

Complete Step 3 by examining and identifying one professional organization related to your selected or preferred specialty. Explain how you can become a member of this organization.

Step 1: Comparison of Nursing Specialties

Use the space below to write 2-3 paragraphs comparing the nursing specialty you have selected – or the one you prefer if your choice is still under consideration – to your second preference. Identify each specialty and describe the focus and the role that graduates are prepared for. Identify any other differentiators you feel are significant, especially those that helped or may help you reach a decision.

My primary area of interest within the nursing profession is Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). The chosen specialty of comparison is the family nurse practitioner (FNP). PMHNP is a subspecialty of nursing concerned with the assessment, diagnosis, and management of mental health issues in patients of all ages.

PMHNPs provide holistic mental health treatment by coordinating efforts between patients, families, and other medical professionals (Delaney & Vanderhoef, 2019). Psychological and mental health illnesses, such as anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia, are just some of the many that PMHNP graduates are equipped to diagnose and treat. They could do their jobs anywhere from private practices to mental health clinics to hospitals.

Family nurse practitioners, on the other hand, treat patients of all ages and focus on disease prevention, wellness promotion, and the management of both acute and chronic conditions. FNPs have the knowledge and experience to evaluate patients, prescribe medications, order and interpret diagnostic tests, and determine treatment regimens (Owens, 2019). They also teach people how to take better care of themselves and how to prevent illness. Graduates of FNP schools are qualified to find employment in a wide range of medical facilities, including those providing primary care, outpatient care, and urgent care as well.

The emphasis/focus of each field is a key distinction between them. The main role of an FNP in care contrasts with the specialty care role of a PMHNP. PMHNPs and FNPs deal with distinctively different types of patients. FNPs treat patients of all ages who have a wide range of acute and chronic medical disorders, while PMHNPs focus primarily on those with mental health issues (Hodges et al., 2019). The context in which they do their work is also distinctive, contributing to another difference. Both PMHNPs and FNPs can practice in a variety of settings, including inpatient and outpatient care facilities. I can state that one’s personal preferences and professional aspirations should guide their decision between the two fields of study.

Step 2: Justification of Nursing Specialty

Use the space below to write a paragraph identifying and justifying your reasons for choosing your MSN specialization. Be sure to incorporate any feedback you received from colleagues in this week’s Discussion Forum.

For a variety of reasons, I decided to pursue a career as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). To begin, I feel strongly that mental health deserves the same attention as physical health. By becoming a PMHNP, I will be able to deal with people of all ages and give them the full range of services they need for their mental health (Kverno & Fenton, 2021). Secondly, I hope to have a positive impact by assisting people and families who are dealing with mental health issues because there is a rising need for mental health providers in our community.

Finally, my colleagues in this week’s Discussion Foru