Research the role of the Nurse Practitioner.
Select and describe an Advanced Nurse Practitioner role.
Why are you becoming a Nurse Practitioner?
Find one research article, expert opinion about the Nurse Practitioner role and summarize the article.
What does the Institute Of Medicine (IOM) say about the need of Nurse Practitioners?
Identify and describe the effects that you will have as an advanced practice nurse in terms of healthcare industry and patient outcomes.
I have selected the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) role.
The PMHNP is an APRN specialist who focuses on mental healthcare across the lifespan (children, adolescents, adults, and older adults).
Diagnosis and Management: Conducting comprehensive mental health assessments, diagnosing psychiatric disorders, and developing individualized treatment plans.
Psychopharmacology: Prescribing and managing psychotropic medications (e.g., antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers). This is a core function that sets them apart from most non-prescribing mental health professionals.
Psychotherapy: Providing various forms of therapy, including individual, group, and family psychotherapy, often integrating medication management with talk therapy.
Crisis Intervention: Responding to psychiatric emergencies and providing crisis stabilization.
The Nurse Practitioner (NP) is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) who has completed advanced education (master's or doctoral degree) and clinical training. NPs provide comprehensive, patient-centered healthcare across the lifespan and across various settings.
The NP role is critical because NPs are qualified to perform many of the same healthcare functions as physicians, including diagnosing and treating acute and chronic conditions, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, and prescribing medications. They often serve as Primary Care Providers (PCPs), particularly in rural and underserved areas.