NURS 6003 Examining Nursing Specialties
Walden University NURS 6003 Examining Nursing Specialties – Step-By-Step Guide
This guide will demonstrate how to complete the Walden University NURS 6003 Examining Nursing Specialties assignment based on general principles of academic writing. Here, we will show you the A, B, Cs of completing an academic paper, irrespective of the instructions. After guiding you through what to do, the guide will leave one or two sample essays at the end to highlight the various sections discussed below.
How to Research and Prepare for NURS 6003 Examining Nursing Specialties
Whether one passes or fails an academic assignment such as the Walden University NURS 6003 Examining Nursing Specialties depends on the preparation done beforehand. The first thing to do once you receive an assignment is to quickly skim through the requirements. Once that is done, start going through the instructions one by one to clearly understand what the instructor wants. The most important thing here is to understand the required format—whether it is APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.
After understanding the requirements of the paper, the next phase is to gather relevant materials. The first place to start the research process is the weekly resources. Go through the resources provided in the instructions to determine which ones fit the assignment. After reviewing the provided resources, use the university library to search for additional resources. After gathering sufficient and necessary resources, you are now ready to start drafting your paper.
How to Write the Introduction for NURS 6003 Examining Nursing Specialties
The introduction for the Walden University NURS 6003 Examining Nursing Specialties is where you tell the instructor what your paper will encompass. In three to four statements, highlight the important points that will form the basis of your paper. Here, you can include statistics to show the importance of the topic you will be discussing. At the end of the introduction, write a clear purpose statement outlining what exactly will be contained in the paper. This statement will start with “The purpose of this paper…” and then proceed to outline the various sections of the instructions.
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How to Write the Body for NURS 6003 Examining Nursing Specialties
After the introduction, move into the main part of the NURS 6003 Examining Nursing Specialties assignment, which is the body. Given that the paper you will be writing is not experimental, the way you organize the headings and subheadings of your paper is critically important. In some cases, you might have to use more subheadings to properly organize the assignment. The organization will depend on the rubric provided. Carefully examine the rubric, as it will contain all the detailed requirements of the assignment. Sometimes, the rubric will have information that the normal instructions lack.
Another important factor to consider at this point is how to do citations. In-text citations are fundamental as they support the arguments and points you make in the paper. At this point, the resources gathered at the beginning will come in handy. Integrating the ideas of the authors with your own will ensure that you produce a comprehensive paper. Also, follow the given citation format. In most cases, APA 7 is the preferred format for nursing assignments.
How to Write the Conclusion for NURS 6003 Examining Nursing Specialties
After completing the main sections, write the conclusion of your paper. The conclusion is a summary of the main points you made in your paper. However, you need to rewrite the points and not simply copy and paste them. By restating the points from each subheading, you will provide a nuanced overview of the assignment to the reader.
How to Format the References List for NURS 6003 Examining Nursing Specialties
The very last part of your paper involves listing the sources used in your paper. These sources should be listed in alphabetical order and double-spaced. Additionally, use a hanging indent for each source that appears in this list. Lastly, only the sources cited within the body of the paper should appear here.
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Sample Answer for NURS 6003 Examining Nursing Specialties
Choosing a sub-field of nursing practice, such as psychiatric nursing, needs serious thought and introspection. When it comes to mental health care, psychiatry nursing is a distinct and demanding subspecialty (Phoenix, 2019). This specialty appealed to me owing to its unique nature, the ability to make a big influence on people’s lives, and the continued need for mental health specialists. My choice, however, did not come without challenges.
My interest in and commitment to improving the lives of those struggling with mental illness led me to pursue a career in psychiatric nursing. Emotional and mental health have always been topics that fascinate me. Because of my interest, I plan to work in a field that helps others with their mental health (Phoenix, 2019). Furthermore, psychiatric nursing provides excellent opportunities for developing deep and lasting relationships with patients. I wanted a profession where I could make a meaningful difference in people’s lives, and helping them deal with and overcome mental health issues seemed like a good way to do so. Finally, there is a growing demand for mental health care, which means there are plenty of career chances in this area. Due to this need, there is stability in the workplace and opportunities for advancement. Working in psychiatry nursing allows you to help people of all ages with their mental health concerns, from young toddlers to the elderly (Phoenix, 2019). This variety keeps things exciting and challenging.
Stigma was a factor that complicated this decision. Negative stereotypes about mental health nurses exist in society. Fighting these misconceptions and raising awareness about the value of mental health care are both difficult tasks. It can be emotionally difficult to interact with people who have significant mental health issues. This field demands strong emotional resilience and self-care. Furthermore, psychiatry is an ever-evolving area, therefore mental health professionals need regular opportunities to learn about new developments in the field.
The American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) is a group of mental health nurses who work together as a profession. When it comes to nursing, APNA is an invaluable resource. The following are the minimum standards required for membership in APNA. To become a member of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, one must be credentialed as a registered nurse (RN), pay an annual membership fee (which may vary depending on one’s level of experience in the nursing profession), and pledge to uphold the APNA’s code of ethics and professional standards (American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 2023).
Members of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) have many opportunities for professional growth and development, including discounted rates for APNA events and publications, access to the Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, and the ability to participate in advocacy for mental health and psychiatric nursing issues.
Psychiatric nurses can benefit from becoming members of APNA because the organization serves as a resource for them and fosters a sense of camaraderie among its members. This can be useful for keeping up with the field, getting ahead professionally, and promoting better access to mental health services.
Decision on Specialty
One of the greatest benefits of choosing a career in nursing is the variety to change and advance, allowing numerous career paths. I knew from the4 beginning I would continue to advance my career as my goal requires steps. I am in my forties and I love floor nursing; however, I also love education and providing direct care which motivated me to get my MSN. In addition, to have the option of working from an office and having a set schedule is also in my career goals. Knowing where to start was not easy; however, researching what types of nurse practitioner programs there are helped to guide my decision. Each nurse practitioner program is area specific, such as neonatal or psychiatric for example. As I researched the different areas it allowed me to see what interested me and what did not. I have no passion for providing pediatric care or psychiatric care either, meaning this helped me to narrow my options. Knowing where to start was challenging, but with researching the different fields provided knowledge and an understanding that guided my decision.
I chose the Adult Gerontology Acute Care (ACNPC-AG) due to the areas of practice. I did not want to limit myself either. The ACNPC-AG involves providing care to acutely ill adults ages 13 and older, but not limited to emergency rooms, inpatient hospitals, or cardiology for example (Walden University, n.d.). This option allows me to provide care in a broad spectrum of ages and areas. Moreover, with the research knowing that after earning a degree in my area of focus I can change to a different sub-specialty later if I want to.
Professional Organization
Multiorganization memberships can pose financial challenges, according to Echevarria, (2018). Considering what to gain when seeking a professional organization that aligns with your own practice of care. According to Echevarria (2018), allows nurses to share solutions to common problems through networking, discussions, and advancing knowledge. Learning and professional growth are the two greatest career growth competencies that allow a nurse to grow, advocate, and fulfill one’s own goals (Cherry, Caramanica, Everett, Fennimore, & Elaine, 2019). Many nurses advance through their career by professional performance. Performance is demonstrated by engagement and continued education, such as joining an organization. Moreover, specialty certifications and continuing education opportunities are available and help to maintain required certifications. According to Cherry, Caramanica, Everett, Fennimore, & Elaine (2019), nurses share solutions to common problems and lead by significantly influencing the future of the nursing profession. I am currently a member of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). I joined after I graduated with my RN in 2019 to stay current and continue to advance my career. My career goal and passion to provide critical care is what has drawn me to join the AACN along with the numerous certifications that can be earned. My plan is to continue to achieve certifications to advance my career and open more opportunities for learning, advocating, and growing professionally.
References
Walden University. (n.d.). Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). Retrieved November 14, 2018, from https://www.waldenu.edu/masters/master-of-science-in-nursing
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Sample Answer 2 for NURS 6003 Examining Nursing Specialties
Healthcare is one of the rapidly changing and advancing sectors. As such the sector is driven towards the provision of quality services to its clients. The nursing profession is at the center of all the changes and implementations in healthcare institutions aimed at bettering the service quality to patients (Boehm et al, 2019: Kristensen et al, 2015). The responsibilities of nurses require them to continuously advance in terms of knowledge and skills developed (Price & Reichert, 2017). As a graduate nurse, a thorough thought process led me to enroll in an MSN program specializing in psychiatric nursing practice.
The choice to specialize in psychiatric nursing was challenging as there are several options, all aimed to better patient outcomes. My choice was motivated by an observation that I made over time as a nurse. There is a steady increase of mental health cases among both adults and children that took my attention. I am excited about helping patients with mental conditions and being a part of a team that works to eradicate or minimize mental health problems and their associated effects. Psychiatric nursing is a challenging field that requires dedication. I am ready to handle all the challenges involved. Besides, as an undergraduate, I spent most of my training sessions in the psychiatry unit because it felt more like what I wanted compared to other departments.
In the development of my professional career, I intend to join professional bodies and that will work to enable my application of psychological knowledge to better my practice. Specifically, I will join the American Psychiatric Association (APNA) because they play a role in the advancement of mental health nursing and practice (American Nurses Association, 2016). Joining this association will help me uphold and improve values such as integrity, transparency, and inclusivity among others that will help me to provide quality care for mental health patients. It may not be an easy journey to achieve my career goal, but I will put my effort into achieving the best.
References
American Nurses Association. (2016). Registered nurses leading innovative changes. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in nursing. https://ojin.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/Vol-21-2016/No3-Sept-2016/Registered-Nurses-Leading-Innovative-Changes.html
Boehm, L. M., Stolldorf, D. P., & Jeffery, A. D. (2019). Implementation science training and resources for nurses and nurse scientists. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 52(1), 47-54. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnu.12510
Kristensen, N., Nymann, C., & Konradsen, H. (2015). Implementing research results in clinical practice- the experiences of healthcare professionals. BMC Health Services Research, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-016-1292-y
Price, S., & Reichert, C. (2017). The importance of continuing professional development to career satisfaction and patient care: Meeting the needs of novice to mid- to late-career nurses throughout their career span. Administrative Sciences, 7(2), 17. https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci7020017
Sample Response for NURS 6003 Examining Nursing Specialties
Hi Solange and class, The responsibilities of nurses require them to continuously advance in terms of knowledge and skills developed (Price & Reichert, 2017).
Assume it is 2031 – how might the educational process for entry level nurses have been revised? Include a rationale for your decision.
I look forward to your ideas – thanks, Dr. Forrest
Sample Response for NURS 6003 Examining Nursing Specialties
Hi Solange, I agree with your post that the field of healthcare continuously changes. Provision of quality care remains a priority thus acts as a drive to the many changes. The nursing profession is the central platform of all the changes and implementations in healthcare institutions to improve the quality of services for the patients (Boehm et al., 2019: Kristensen et al., 2015). According to Price & Reichert (2017), the primary responsibility of nurses requires them to continue advancing their skills and knowledge in the field. Choosing to specialize in psychiatric nursing is challenging as it involves dealing with unstable-minded people and people who cannot express themselves without the help of others. Additionally, it is a specialization that needs a dedicated and willing person. With your undergraduate degree and experience in the psychiatry unit, blending into your profession will be easier. Joining professional bodies enables a nurse to employ their skills and knowledge to better their practice. For example, the American Psychiatric Association helps nurses uphold and improve values such as integrity and transparency (American Nurses Association, 2016).
References
American Nurses Association. (2016). Registered nurses are leading innovative changes. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in nursing. https://ojin.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/Vol-21-2016/No3-Sept-2016/Registered-Nurses-Leading-Innovative Changes.html.
Sample Answer 3 for NURS 6003 Examining Nursing Specialties
PMHNP is an excellent choice, recognizing that every person has a chance to overcome, better their life, and get shots to change their course. It is also a challenge because mental health nursing is diverse, inventive, unlike all other areas of nursing, and it is about humanistic attachment. Assessments of people with a mental health condition are not rendered with devices, and our stethoscopes are dismissed, but we must communicate a lot with our patients, listening to the words people say; also, observing how they say them, and often hearkening for what a patient does not say. Furthermore, it necessitates an enormous quantity of self-reflection. Also, befitting a psychiatric nurse practitioner can be a perfect alternative for people who desire to combine a holistic, relationship-building strategy to care delivery, satisfying individuals at difficult points in their lives and guiding them toward well-being.
Consequently, for any nurse wanting to become a nurse practitioner, the most excellent prerequisite is experience. The foundation of experience helps to know the distinction and disparity between psychiatric diagnoses and understand the unique language used in assessing people with a mental health condition. A skilled psychiatric nurse practitioner is self-aware, observes their expressions or lack thereof, and understands transference and countertransference issues that can arise in every situation.
Notably, the most vital advice is to find a suitable mentor, someone who can explain the highs and lows of this field.
An individual’s key components that would be excellent for this profession are an expert, sympathetic, non-judgmental person who is unafraid to ask hard questions and has a good grasp of psychiatric disorders and medication that can be valuable. Acquire a mentor, study hard, and arrange for a wild ride complete of ups and downs.
It was a fascinating post, Solange. Good luck in your path to becoming and PMHNP.
Sample Answer 4 for NURS 6003 Examining Nursing Specialties
Having worked in various psychiatric inpatient settings throughout my registered nursing career, I have chosen to pursue my Masters of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Psychiatric Mental Health. This decision was based on my experience as an LPN and RN combined. I have always been intrigued as to what goes on in a person’s mind when they are in a mental health crisis. With the current pandemic, more people stayed at home to prevent spreading the virus which had an impact on people’s mental health. Panchal et al. (2021) stated that 4 in 10 adults in the U.S. have reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder during the pandemic. This was an even more reason for me to pursue this specialty to help other people going through tough times with this pandemic.I did not have any difficulty in selecting this specialty. I have always enjoyed talking with patients, getting to know them and establishing a good rapport with them.
Nursing is an ever evolving profession. As nurses we need to be updated on current trends that impact our practice (Nock, 2017). That is why it is important to affiliate yourself with a professional organization. I intend to join the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. Joining the APNA will grow my professional network and help enhance my resume. Walden University’s mission is to transform scholar-practitioners so that they can affect positive social change (Walden, 2019). I believe that joining the APNA will contribute to this mission by staying up to date on current evidence-based practice which will benefit the patient population.
References
Nock, B. (2017, August 30). 3 Reasons to Join a Professional Nursing Organization. Gebauer.Com. Retrieved November 16, 2021, from https://www.gebauer.com/blog/reasons-to-join-professional-nursing-organization
Panchal, N., Kamal, R., Cox, C., & Garfield, R. (2021, July 20). The Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health and Substance Use. KFF. Retrieved November 16, 2021, from https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/issue-brief/the-implications-of-covid-19-for-mental-health-and-substance-use/
Social Change. (2019). Walden University. Retrieved November 9, 2021, from https://www.waldenu.edu/why-walden/social-change#abroad
Choosing a specialty took months of consideration prior to my starting at Walden University. I spoke with several different nurse practitioners that I work with and discussed at length my short- and long-term goals. I was torn between whether FNP or AG-ACNP was the specialty I should choose. I love critical care and emergency medicine, however I also know that one day I may want to “slow down”, have a family, and a better work/life balance rather than working 10-12 hours shifts all the time. Several of the NP’s I spoke to stated that FNP would be best for me as they are also FNP’s who are able to work in the emergency room but also have the flexibility to work in primary care or urgent care practices if they so choose (Walden University, n.d.). Having a strong network of support is imperative and joining a professional organization helps to encourage and expand one’s networking reach (Echevarria, 2018).
One professional organization in which I am looking to join is the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Not only do they provide networking chances, but they also have resources for continuing education opportunities (Membership, n.d.). Another reason I chose the AANP is that they do not restrict membership for practicing nurse practitioners, but also for nurse practitioner students, which they give a discounted rate. The current rate for certified practitioners is $150/annually whereas student is $55/annually.
Sample Response for NURS 6003 Examining Nursing Specialties
Hi Jim and class, ”Nursing is an ever evolving profession. As nurses we need to be updated on current trends that impact our practice (Nock, 2017)”.
Assume it is 2031 – how might the educational process for entry level nurses have been revised? Include a rationale for your decision.
I look forward to your ideas – thanks, Dr. Forrest
Personal interests, dreams and passion are the main factors that impact the decision made by nurses to pursue certain nursing specialties. You decided to specialize in the psychiatry field because you were interested in understanding how mental health affects the daily lives of people. You realized that the human mind affects the normal life of a person in society, and therefore, you wanted to explore more. The other factor that affects a person’s choice of specialty field is past experiences and events. Encounter or witness adverse events may trigger a person to specialize in a certain field (Tavares et al., 2021). A good example is the experience of nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic guided people in making career path choices where some decided to pursue mental health nursing, while others chose critical care nursing. Experiences of nurses in the community where people lack mental health services impact the specialization choice through established professional goals (Slemon et al., 2020). A person may aim to improve the quality of mental health services in the community in future, hence deciding to pursue mental health nursing. Role models such as preceptors and specialized nurses and the facility where a nurse works also influence the decision on the area to specialize. Market forces such as the demand for mental health nurses and the availability of mental health training institutions and resources are considered when choosing to specialize.
Reference
Slemon, A., Jenkins, E., Bungay, V., & Brown, H. (2020). Undergraduate students’ perspectives on pursuing a career in mental health nursing following practicum experience. Journal of clinical nursing, 29(1-2), 163–171. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.15074
Tavares, C. M. M., Pastor Junior, A. A., Paiva, L. M., & Lima, T. O. (2021). Innovations in the teaching-learning process of psychiatric nursing and mental health. Revista brasileira de enfermagem, 74(suppl 5), e20200525. https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2020-0525Links to an external site.
After much thought of what Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) specialty would best fit my dream career, I have chosen the family nurse practitioner (FNP) route. While making this choice, I went through the different specialties and found what I would enjoy or not enjoy in each realm of advanced practice nursing. At first, I had difficulty sorting all the different roles each specialty had to offer. After learning about each specialty and talking to people in these roles, I found that I was most passionate about family medicine. The FNP specialty especially struck me when I learned I could execute this role in various environments, work with different aged populations, and manage disease prevention and restorative care (Walden University, 2022).
One professional organization centered on the FNP specialty is the American Family Nurse Practitioner (AFNP) organization (American Family Nurse Practitioner, n.d.). This organization’s purpose “is to provide a gathering place for FNP’s to discover and share knowledge and information” (American Family Nurse Practitioner, n.d., para. 2). This organization also shares the latest news, practice resources, and advancements within our specialty (American Family Nurse Practitioner, n.d.). Although not geared toward a particular specialty, I am affiliated as a student FNP with the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). This organization is helpful by sending emails and a free nurse practitioner journal with the latest news within the general advanced practice registered nurse role, no matter the specialty (AANP, 2023). Both of these professional organizations have values that align with the American Nurses Association Nursing Scope and Standard of practice, which is a valuable component Echevarria (2018) mentions when joining a professional organization.
NURS 6003 6002 Using the Walden Library WALDEN
According to PubMed (2019), “PubMed is a free resource supporting the search and retrieval of biomedical and life sciences literature with the aim of improving health – both globally and personally” (p.1). Pub med contains a vast amount of biomedical literature pertinent to an array of different health sectors including: nursing (PubMed, 2019). From a subjective standpoint, PubMed is the most superlative database for utilization of individuals in any health-related field.
I consider PubMed to be the most superlative database for numerous reasons. PubMed contains a vast amount of content covering several different subject areas; PubMed is an extremely reliable database; PubMed contains information specific to health and medicine thus allowing users to avoid search results displaying irrelevant subject matter; and PubMed offers both basic and advanced search options, allowing users to find the most relevant information (Charles Sturt University, 2023). For the reasons outlined in the antecedent portion of this paragraph, I would recommend PubMed to my peers, especially when researching information related to specific medical diagnoses, procedures, and/or practices as this database provides prominent information in these categories of medicine and nursing.
Peer-reviewed Article: Effects of Probiotics and Prebiotics on Mental Health
The nursing specialty field that I am most closely associated with, as well as currently practice in, is psychiatry. Additionally, I am pursuing my graduate degree to become a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. With this being stated, the peer-reviewed article that I have chosen focuses on mental health; more specifically, the relationship between the microbiome present within the GI tract – primarily the colon – and the influence these “bugs” have on different mental health related diagnoses. According to Ansari et al. (2020), the addition of prebiotics and probiotics to ones diet has a direct correlation with improvement in various mental health related diagnoses: schizophrenia, alzheimers, autism, anxiety, depression, and more. This research article is of the highest level of evidence as it is a systematic review. In addition, this article was extremely painless to retrieve given the easy user interface provided by PubMed; again, I definitely recommend this research database to my fellow classmates.
References
Charles Sturt University. (2023). HIP202 research skills guide: PubMed. https://libguides.csu.edu.au/hip202/pubmed
PubMed. (2019). About – PubMed. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/about/
Ansari, F., Pourjafar, H., Tabrizi, A., & Homayouni, A. (2020). The Effects of Probiotics and Prebiotics on Mental Disorders: A Review on Depression, Anxiety, Alzheimer, and Autism Spectrum Disorders. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology, 21(7), 555–565. https://doi.org/10.2174/1389201021666200107113812