Nursing Specialities

Nursing Specialities

A nursing specialty can be defined as a branch of nursing that focuses explicitly on a specific area of clinical nursing. With the constantly evolving nursing field, nursing practitioners have several environments to advance their education levels and practice constantly. Nurses work in varying hospital environments, most defined by the patients they care for and the type and level of care offered. There are several nursing specialties. The most popular nursing specialty is medical-surgery nursing, where nurses care for patients with several commonly observed conditions or recovering after surgery (Cuevas-Santos, 2019). This paper aims to compare the nursing specialties that I have considered, justify the reason behind choosing those specialties, and highlight a professional organization affiliated with the said specialty.

Comparing Nursing Specialities.

My first-choice first choice is a family nurse practitioner. A family nurse practitioner (FNP) is a registered advanced practice nurse who has received expert training in offering primary and exceptional care to patients of all ages. Becoming a family nurse practitioner takes two to five years (Norful et al., 2018). However, this depends on several factors, including the nurse’s current position in the nursing field and the number of credits transferable. To qualify as a nurse practitioner, one must complete a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. This is followed by passing the NCLEX-RN to qualify as a registered nurse, after which one pursues a Master’s Degree to qualify as a family nurse practitioner. Family nurse practitioners play a vital role in maintaining patient records, performing physical examinations, ordering or performing diagnostic tests, developing treatment plans, and administering primary care, among other roles.

My second-choice specialty is a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners are nurses who specialize in treating mental health conditions. These practitioners are involved in psychotherapy, prescription of medication, education of patients and caregivers about the patient’s condition, and play a critical role in the management of treatment plans (Delaney, 2017). To become a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner takes around six years or even longer. This also depends on several factors, including the individual’s educational background. Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners play a crucial role in aiding people to cope with psychiatric illness, enabling them to lead everyday lives.

Family and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners are advanced practice nurses trained and well-equipped to assess, diagnose, and treat patients of all ages. Several differences, however, emerge between the two specialties. The significant difference is the type of patients they are licensed and authorized to care for (Yang et al., 2017). FNPs deal with patients seeking care for physical illnesses. On the other hand, PMHNPs offer care to patients with psychiatric or psychological conditions. Both are intriguing specialties that are pretty lucrative and offer job satisfaction. I am more inclined towards becoming a family nurse practitioner since I prefer dealing with the physical component of the disease.

Justification for Choosing My Preferred Speciality.

Several factors were crucial in my choosing to specialize as a family nurse practitioner. One of the key reasons is that FNPS have greater autonomy and responsibilities. I learned that most duties of a family nurse practitioner overlap with those of a registered nurse. The FNP, however, has additional roles and responsibilities. As an FNP, I can diagnose and develop a patient’s treatment and supervise teams (Schumann & Tyler, 2018). Being a family nurse practitioner also offers job security and stability, provides greater fulfillment, and ensures I maintain a close relationship with my patients. After talking with a few of my classmates, some of whom have parents working as nursing practitioners, I was further convinced to specialize as a family nurse practitioner.

Professional Organization.

One critical professional organization related to my specialty is the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. It is vital to empower nurse practitioners to advance the quality of care delivered through practice, education, advocacy, research, and leadership (Crumley, 2020). To join this organization, one must have completed a nursing program and be certified by a nationally accredited certifying authority. The nursing practitioner is then required to pay a fee each year: fifty-five dollars for students, while nurse practitioners pay one hundred and twenty-five dollars. The fee is applicable even for nursing students, and membership dramatically reduces the cost of a nurse practitioner certification examination.

Conclusion.

In conclusion, there are several nursing specialties for nursing students to consider. Specialization is critical in increasing the depth of knowledge within a specific area. It is critical in enhancing an individual’s personal and professional development and provides enhanced job security and satisfaction (Harper & Maloney, 2017). Several professional organizations play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy nursing environment that addresses the patient’s and the nurse’s needs.

References

Crumley C. (2020). The Benefits of Active Engagement in Nursing Professional Organizations: A View From Here. Journal of Wound, ostomy, and continence nursing: official publication of The Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society, 47(6), 547. https://doi.org/10.1097/WON.0000000000000700

Cuevas-Santos C. (2019). Nursing Specialities and professional practice: current situation and future perspectives. Especialidades de Enfermería y ejercicio profesional: situación actual y perspectivas de futuro. Enfermeria Clinica (English Edition), 29(6), 357–364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enfcli.2019.10.002

Delaney K. R. (2017). Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Advanced Practice Workforce: Capacity to Address Shortages of Mental Health Professionals. Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.), 68(9), 952–954. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201600405

Harper, M., & Maloney, P. (2017). The Updated Nursing Professional Development Scope and Standards of Practice. Journal of continuing education in nursing, 48(1), 5–7. https://doi.org/10.3928/00220124-20170110-02

Norful, A. A., de Jacq, K., Carlino, R., & Poghosyan, L. (2018). Nurse Practitioner-Physician Comanagement: A Theoretical Model to Alleviate Primary Care Strain. Annals of Family Medicine, 16(3), 250–256. https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.2230

Schumann, L., & Tyler, D. O. (2018). Challenges and successes in specialty practice: Focus on emergency nurse practitioners. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 30(10), 543–545. https://doi.org/10.1097/JXX.0000000000000138

Yang, B. K., Trinkoff, A. M., Zito, J. M., Burcu, M., Safer, D. J., Storr, C. L., Johantgen, M. E., & Idzik, S. (2017). Nurse Practitioner Independent Practice Authority and Mental Health Service Delivery in U.S. Community Health Centers. Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.), 68(10), 1032–1038. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201600495

ORDER A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE

We’ll write everything from scratch

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 can become a member of this organization.

Nursing Specialities

The results of my efforts are below./////(The Choices are Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner )

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 (The Choices are Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner ). 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 that justifies 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 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.

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.

Step 3: Professional Organizations
Use the space below to identify and examine one professional organization related to your preferred specialty. Explain how you can become a member of this organization.