Academic Success and Professional Development Plan

Academic Success and Professional Development Plan

I have identified and secured the participation of the following academic (at least two) and professional (at least two) individuals and/or teams to form the basis of my network. This network will help me to clarify my vision for success and will help guide me now and in the future.

Directions: Complete the information below for each member of your network. For more than four entries repeat the items below with details of your additional network member(s) in the ‘ADDITIONAL NETWORK MEMBERS’ section.

NETWORK MEMBER 1

 Name: Walden University

Title: Colleagues of PMHNP Cohort

Organization: Walden University

Academic or Professional:  Academic

Why I selected this individual and/or team and how they will support my success in the MSN program and as a practicing nurse:

 My selection of my colleagues is because we share the same interests, and goals and are relatable on this journey towards our MSN as PMHNPs. During my time an undergrad for my BSN, I built a bond with a small group of fellow nursing students. We were able to share ideas, strengths, weaknesses, and encouragement throughout our journey. Networking among fellow nurses within the same program you’re taking can be helpful when you need resources, a mentor, or in need of locating a preceptor in your area. Early collaborations between your peeps or colleagues can help to build leadership skills for the future and allow for success throughout your MSN program.

Notes:

NETWORK MEMBER 2

 Name: Pamela Oriaifo, DNP, MSN, PMHNP

Title:  APRN

Organization: Dept. of Veterans Affairs

Academic or Professional: Professional

Why I selected this individual and/or team and how they will support my success in the MSN program and as a practicing nurse:

Pamela Oriaifo has been a dear friend of mine for the past two years. Currently completing her DNP from Walden University, she inspired as well as encouraged me to go back to school and pursue my MSN in PMHNP. Mentoring me through a personal situation with mental health in my family. I was able to learn how to not only be a better person for myself but also a better nurse to my patients. She has been mentoring me and advising me on ways to be successful throughout my MSN program and in the future. Through her work with the VA in psych, I feel she would be an ideal preceptor with her vast knowledge and her work with the government.

Notes:

NETWORK MEMBER 3

Name: Capt. Rebecca Glesner

Title: Assistant Service Chief, SICU

Organization: Walter Reeds Medical Center

Academic or Professional: Professional

Why I selected this individual and/or team and how they will support my success in the MSN program and as a practicing nurse:

I selected this individual, because not only does she have her MSN as a Clinical Nurse Specialist, but she also has a background in Psych. I have found that asking questions and speaking with your leadership at work can open doors. Rebecca is a valuable resource for helping with preceptors in the future. By involving my leadership in my plans, show my commitment to higher education. Thus, allowing them to evaluate my current skill, dedication, and future assets to the mission of patient care as a PMHNP. Rebecca’s interactions with other interdisciplinary as well as my own, allow me to network within and show how valuable I could be in the future.

Notes:

NETWORK MEMBER 4

Name: Malcolm Parker

Title: Academic Success Advisor

Organization: Walden University

Academic or Professional:

Why I selected this individual and/or team and how they will support my success in the MSN program and as a practicing nurse:

Honestly, there is no better person than one whose purpose is to help you grow and succeed while you’re attending college. An Academic Success Advisor (ASA) can guide you on your path to success. By discussing your career goal aligned with personal strengths and weaknesses, an ASA can help you build a foundation while staying grounded. In the past, I found that speaking with my ASA weekly or monthly during my courses allowed me to build strategies for success, time management with resources, and prioritize assignments. The pursuit of an MSN degree isn’t easy, however with a strong mindset, mentorship,,p and support from all available resources Walden has to offer; getting your MSN will be well worth it.

Notes:

Module 2 | Part 2: Strategies to Promote Academic Integrity and Professional Ethics

I have analyzed the relationship between academic integrity and writing, as well as the relationship between professional practices and scholarly ethics. I have also identified strategies I intend to pursue to maintain integrity and ethics in my academic work while a student of the MSN program, as well as my professional work as a nurse throughout my career. The results of these efforts are shared below.

Directions: In the space below craft your analysis/writing sample, including Part 1 (The Connection Between Academic and Professional Integrity) and Part 2 (Strategies for Maintaining Integrity of Work).

 Part 1: Writing Sample: The Connection Between Academic and Professional Integrity

In the space below write a 2- 3-paragraph analysis that includes the following:

Explanation for the relationship between academic integrity and writing

Explanation for the relationship between professional practices and scholarly ethics

Cite at least 2 resources that support your arguments, being sure to use proper APA formatting.

Use Grammarly and Turnitin to improve the product.

Explain how Grammarly, Turnitin, and paraphrasing contribute to academic integrity

PART 2: Strategies for Maintaining Integrity of Work

Expand on your thoughts from Part 1 by:

Identifying and describing strategies you intend to pursue to maintain integrity and ethics of your 1) academic work while a student of the MSN program, and 2) professional work as a nurse throughout your career. Include a review of resources and approaches you propose to use as a student and a professional.

Module 3 | Part 3: Research Analysis

I have identified one topic of interest for further study. I have researched and identified one peer-reviewed research article focused on this topic and have analyzed this article.  The results of these efforts are shared below.

Directions: Complete Step 1 by using the table and subsequent space below to identify and analyze the research article you have selected. Complete Step 2 by summarizing in 2-3 paragraphs the results of your analysis using the space identified.

Step 1: Research Analysis

Complete the table below

Topic of Interest:	How PMHNP can successfully improve mental health care among our youth in educational settings.
Research Article: Include full citation in APA format, as well as link or search details (such as DOI)	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.2020.07.022
Professional Practice Use: One or more professional practices uses the theories/concepts presented in the article	Mental health providers are involved at the primary and secondary levels in the school systems.   Coordinated mental health programs within the school system.
Research Analysis Matrix Add more rows if necessary	Strengths of the Research	Limitations of the Research	Relevancy to Topic of Interest	Notes
	The use of qualitative studies which compare the experience of other NPs work with mental health and adolescents in multiple settings.	The limitation of this research is that PMHNP is present within the school system.	The role of PMHNPs in helping to facilitate mental health care among children and adolescents (Kumar et al., 2020).	The cost of mental disorders in youth under age 24 years old being among the most costly health conditions in childhood (Kumar et al., 2020)
	The descriptive research method looks at ages 10 to 24 when addressing youth mental health (Kumar et al.,2020)	The access to mental health services for those children and adolescents in need of care.	The lack of qualified specialized mental health providers.	Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-34 due to mental health disorders (Kumar et al., 2020).
			Current state regulations limit on scope of practice and physician collaboration resulting in limited mental health care provided by PMHNPs (Kumar et al., 2020).	PMHNP under the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) take a position of primary care it contrast to the traditional medical model (Kumar et al., 2020)

Step 2: Summary of Analysis

Craft a summary (2-3 paragraphs) below that includes the following:

• Describe your approach to identifying and analyzing peer-reviewed research
• Identify at least two strategies that you would use that you found to be effective in finding peer-reviewed research
• Identify at least one resource you intend to use in the future to find peer-reviewed research

Module 6 | Part 4: Finalizing the Plan

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

FNP and PMHNP are compared in several ways. To begin with, both are nursing practitioner specializations that accord nurses specific skills and expertise to advance their nursing roles. additionally, there are nursing advancement programs that require that one become an RN and complete the required number of clinical and practical hours to earn the certification. They, however, differ in several aspects. While FNP accords nurses the skills and expertise to provide primary care for diverse illnesses across the lifespan, PMHNP accords nurses the skills and advanced knowledge in neuropsychology, pharmacology, and advanced psychiatric assessment to enable them to provide care for persons with mental health illnesses. There are also slight variations in their scope of work. FNPs have a broader scope as they provide their health and nursing care services to all population groups and may find a role in different clinical settings, including hospitals, community clinics, private practice, and educational institutions, among others. PMHNPs, on the other hand, have a rather restricted scope as their role definition is restricted to mental health populations. In this respect, they may find a role in healthcare settings providing mental healthcare services only.

 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.

My area of specialization is psychiatric nursing. My resolve to pursue an MSN program in psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) was informed in part by the professional exposure I received as a professional nurse and my previous experiences with persons with mental health illnesses. As a professional nurse, I am privy to the apparent gap in mental healthcare. As Mongelli et al. (2020) note, access to high-quality mental health care remains poor in some communities due to the high nurse-to-patient ratios. I seek to contribute to positive changes in mental healthcare access in the country by joining the nursing workforce that addresses diverse mental health illnesses.

My previous experience with persons with mental health illnesses also informed my decision to pursue the PMHNP program. Growing up, I got to witness how persons with mental health illnesses are affected by their condition. Mental health illnesses cause profound suffering and functional disability to the affected persons (Chandra et al., 2024). while these conditions affect all populations, marginalized communities are disproportionately affected by these illnesses. In these communities, the rate of hospitalizations, and even deaths are high. I endeavor to impact these communities positively by adding to the workforce that specifically provides care to them. In this respect, I can leverage my skills and expertise to provide direct psychiatric care to these communities, as well as advocate for positive policy changes that enhance their access to high-quality mental healthcare. As Nsiah et al. (2019) report, nurses, as healthcare advocates maintain the mandate of voicing pertinent healthcare issues across communities. By working with other lobby groups, I believe I can make a difference in the lives of individuals from marginalized communities through advocacy.

Step 3: Professional Organizations

Use the space below to identify and examine one professional organization related to your selected or preferred specialty. Explain how you can become a member of this organization.

The AANP is a professional organization for NP students and active practitioners nationwide. Membership is open to all NP students and active NPs, with an initial fee due to become a member and a yearly membership fee.  As a member of the AANP, you can network with other practitioners and NP students around the world, get the most current information, and up to date on local events. The AANP has resources not only for students but also for NPs who want to become entrepreneurs and business partners within the healthcare field.  AANP showcases practitioners and their contributions to nursing practice through written articles, video speeches, and open discussions for Q&A. I feel that this is a valuable tool for an NP student looking for mentorship, future preceptors, and precepting sites, as well as just an opportunity to connect with practitioners within your field of practice.

References

Chandra, A., Sreeganga, S. D., & Ramaprasad, A. (2024). Mental Healthcare Systems Research during COVID-19: Lessons for shifting the paradigm post covid-19. Urban Governance, 4(1), 5–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ugj.2024.01.005

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.20190028

Nsiah, C., Siakwa, M., & Ninnoni, J. P. (2019). Registered nurses’ description of patient advocacy in the clinical setting. Nursing Open, 6(3), 1124–1132. https://doi.org/10.1002/

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To Prepare: I HAVE ATTACHED THE TEMPLET PLEASE FOLLOW. PLEASE

Review the scope and standards of practice or competencies related to your chosen specialty in the resources for this module.
Review the MSN specializations offered at Walden by viewing the module resource, Walden University. (n.d.). Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).
Examine professional organizations related to the specialization you have chosen and identify at least one to focus on for this Assignment.
Reflect on the thoughts you shared in the Discussion forum regarding your choice of a specialty, any challenges you have encountered in making this choice, and any feedback you have received from colleagues in the Discussion.

The Assignment:

Complete the following items and incorporate them into the final version of your Academic Success and Professional Development Plan.

With the resources specific to the MSN specialization and the Walden University. (n.d.). Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), shared in this module, write a paragraph or make a Nursing Specialty Comparison table, comparing at least two nursing specialties that include your selected specialization and second-preferred specialization.
Write a 2- to 3-paragraph justification statement identifying your reasons for choosing your MSN specialization. Incorporate feedback you received from colleagues in this Module’s Discussion forum.
Identify the professional organization related to your chosen specialization for this Assignment, and explain how you can become an active member of this organization.