Psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) vs family nurse practitioner (FNP) specialty comparison
Psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) vs family nurse practitioner (FNP) specialty comparison
Examining Nursing Specialist
Comparison of Two Nursing Specialties
The nurse practitioner covers various specialties. My preferred nursing specialty is psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) and I will compare it with the family nurse practitioner (FNP) specialty. Both PMHNP and FNP specialties require master’s degree in nursing, normally MSN. In addition, both specialties have training and education required for the assessment of mental health disorders. However, PMHNPs have wide training in psychiatry to perform detailed assessments of mental health disorders in patients.  In addition, while the PMHNP is trained to provide psychotherapy, the FNP is supposed to collaborate with psychiatric practitioners for the provision of psychotherapy when indicated.  PMHNPs also treat mental aspects of psychiatric patients but this does not fall in the scope of practice of FNP (Bickford et al, 2015) Psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) vs family nurse practitioner (FNP) specialty comparison.
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Justification Statement for Choosing PMHNP
The reason for choosing the specialty is because as a PMHNP I will be able to work with psychiatric patients of all ages, I will also practice in various locations such as in-patient psychiatric facilities, state correctional facilities, psychiatric facilities, schools, and mental health centers. As a PHMNP, I will be able to assess, diagnose, and treat individuals with mental health disorders. This will encompass screening high-risk individuals for possible mental disorders in the future. The American Psychiatric Nurses Association indicates that PMHNPs can prescribe medications and provide psychotherapy, and at the same time play an active role in policy development, and help in healthcare reform (Chapman et al, 2019) Psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) vs family nurse practitioner (FNP) specialty comparison. Therefore, I will be able to advocate for people with mental health disorders and even influence policies that support addressing many issues that people with mental disorders face. This has always been my passion because mental health issue has been neglected for long, and also mental health patients normally face many issues in the society such as discrimination and stigmatization, which may prevent them from seeking proper treatment. In addition, as a PMHNP I will be able to practice and work in healthcare institutions, organizations, and communities as well. This specialty also enables a person to function as a consultant to link to clients and families, with complex mental health issues (Chapman et al, 2019) Psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) vs family nurse practitioner (FNP) specialty comparison.
Professional Organization
The organization related to my specialization as a PMHNP, is the Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA). APNA is a professional organization that is dedicated to the practice of mental health nursing, health promotion through identification of psychiatric issues, preventing mental health problems, and provision of care and treatment to individuals with mental disorders.
I plan to become an active member of the organization by joining the organization and always paying the required membership fee. As a member, I will connect with other members and benefit from experts’ knowledge of other members through discussion site, member bridge, and APMN’s networking and find opportunities for professional growth. In addition, I plan join the educational programs provided by APNA and always attend the conferences and seminars organized by the organization. Such conferences and seminars will help me gain knowledge and competency in my specialty (Quinn-Szcesuil, 2016) Psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) vs family nurse practitioner (FNP) specialty comparison.
References
Bickford, C. J., Marion, L., & Gazaway, S. (2015). Nursing: Scope and standards of practice, third edition—2015. Retrieved from https://www.augusta.edu/nursing/cnr/documents/seminar-files/pp8.28.pdf
Chapman S, Toretsky C & Bethany P. (2019). Enhancing Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Practice: Impact of State Scope of Practice Regulations. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 10(1), 35–43.
Quinn-Szcesuil, J. (2016). Why you should join a nursing association. Retrieved from https://dailynurse.com/join-nursing-association Psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) vs family nurse practitioner (FNP) specialty comparison