Discussion NURS6003 - Week 10

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Psychiatric mental health nursing is not for every nurse, but doing a nurse’s career you will care for a patient with psychiatric needs. I chose mental health as my nursing specialty because of job satisfaction. Nursing is a rewarding and diverse field that allows you to help patients manage their health in a number of ways. I also chose psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner versus family medicine nurse practioner because of the over saturation of nursing applying for this program. The demand for mental health services has increased significantly in recent years, primarily because more Americans have health insurance, and because the Affordable Care Act has several requirements on provision of mental health care. From 2014 to 2015, there was a 58 percent increase in mental health nursing jobs requiring an RN and a 17 percent increase in demand for psychiatric nurse practitioner jobs National Council for Behavioral Health. (2017). Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner is the fastest growing non-physician specialties in medicine today. Because of increased demand for mental health services and the diminishing stigma surrounding mental health conditions, a major void in psychiatric care exists, and nurses are in great demand to fill many of these mental health jobs. Finally, the stigma against individuals with mental illness as a whole, although it is improving, undoubtedly contributes to the negative perception of psychiatric–mental health nursing (Tambag, 2018).

 I plan to join the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA). A regular membership is available to those individuals who are registered nurses, pay dues, and are engaged in pursuits which further the purposes of the Association. Regular members may vote, serve on committees and seek election to the Board of Directors. A regular membership cost $135/ annually. Student membership is also available for members who are engaged in full-time study in a nursing degree program and show evidence of student status. These members may not seek election to the Board but may serve on committees/task forces. Student members who are registered nurses may vote. Through APNA, members are connected with a dynamic community of psychiatric mental health nurses, exceptional resources and programs, and opportunities to advance the PMH nursing profession.  Continuing education, networking, and professional growth is also a plus of becoming a member (American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 2020).

References:

American Psychiatric Nurses Association (2020). Retrieved from https://www.apna.org/i4a/ams/public/member_start.cfm?mbrAppID=2&pageID=3329

National Council for Behavioral Health. (2017). the psychiatric shortage: Causes and solutions. Retrieved from https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Psychiatric-Shortage_National-Council-.pdf

Tambag, H. (2018). Effects of a psychiatric nursing course on beliefs and attitudes about mental illness. International Journal of Caring Sciences, 11(1), 420–426.

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