Respond to your colleagues’ posts by sharing your thoughts on their specialty, supporting their choice or offering suggestions if they have yet to choose. 

At least 2 references in each peer responses!

  

           Growing up, I played “nurse” with my pets, wrapping them in bandages while they patiently accepted their fate of being practice patients. This trend of care taking animals developed into having that same love of care taking for people. As long as I could remember, I knew I would be in a profession where I would dedicate my life to the wellbeing of humans and alleviation human suffering. In nursing school, I was torn between psych and pediatrics, and conveniently I was hired as a youth behavioral health nurse, combining my passions. Working as a nurse in psych has solidified my choice of nursing specialty in that I am focused on becoming a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP).

2.6 million youth between 12 and 17 have had a major depressive episode, with 3.3 million receiving treatment for behavioral disturbances (Ramirez, 2016). This statistic only represents a fraction of individuals of all ages suffering from mental illness. I have first-hand seen on numerous occasions, patients having to reside in the emergency department waiting for a bed. I did not struggle with the decision to pursue the PMHNP path because seeing the lack of providers has been a motivating factor, as well as my passion for psych nursing. A significant concern for individuals with mental health diagnosis is accessing mental health care providers that have the skills and knowledge to primarily address mental health, including medication management and psychotherapy (Ramirez, 2016). This lack of adequate services is where PMHNP is poised to fill this gap for these individuals obtaining sufficient care as well as making a significant difference in behavioral health care delivery (Chapman, Phoenix, Hahn, & Strod, 2018, p. S243).

To support my efforts in becoming a PMHNP, the American Psychiatric Nurse’s Association promotes personal enrichment as a psychiatric nurse practitioner who, in turn, elevates the quality of care provided to individuals (American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 2019a). Becoming a member involves paying a membership fee, but the membership includes networking, continuing education, and personal growth opportunities (American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 2019b).

The decision to become a nurse was instinct, but the decision to pursue the specialty of PMHNP is motivated by the undue suffering I see as a psych nurse with individuals not receiving adequate services due to stigma and lack of providers.

There are three approaches that can be used to study personality in a cultural context, the cultural-comparative approach; the indigenous approach; and the combined approach, which incorporates elements of both views. Answer the following questions:

• Which approach do you support?
• Why do you most support this particular approach?
• Give an example of how you envision this approach being used in a real-world context.

Secondly, go to your group discussion forum and introduce yourself to your group members.

Please be sure to validate your opinions and ideas with citations and references in APA format.

Estimated time to complete: 2-3 hours

 Respond to your colleagues by providing additional insights or alternative perspectives. 

Positive comment

                                Main Post

 

Mental  health disorders, even though suffered by many, remains stigmatized and  receives less attention than other health care issues (Swanton, 2016).   Many patients are not willing to disclose their mental health diagnosis  because of the fear of being looked down on or judged. There are also  limited mental health resources as well as some communities are not able  to gain some of these benefits due to insurance issues or the inability  to pay (Choi et al, n.d.).

             Two of the issues, that this writer believes need change are that of   the granting of FMLA leave to patients with diagnosed psychiatric  disorders and making treating options available to everyone. This writer  has worked with several clients who were having difficulties being  granted  FMLA or being denied. The FMLA is the Family and Medical Leave  Act. It works on behalf of those with medical and mental health  disorders who are unable to perform their job duties due to the  disability from the diagnoses (Wray et al., 2015).  Clients with  physical ailments may find it less difficult to be granted this paid  leave as their disorder is visible by the employer and those granting  the leave. When it comes on to mental health disorders, client tend to  run into several road blocks as their disorder is not readily visible. 

Many  clients explain that their request was denied or met several obstacles  as their diagnoses was not considered chronic or disabling. Many of the  clients argue that anxiety and depression make it difficult for them to  carry out their jobs that require them to come in contact with people.  The increased stress from interacting with others and trying to fit in  to the workplace can be debilitating but is rarely considered so by  employers. This is an area that needs attention and change. This writer  believes that Nurse Practitioners and other health care providers can be  an advocate for the client by providing thorough information on the  client’s illness that support the need for a leave.  The Nurse  Practitioner should be readily available to answer questions and educate  the employers on mental health disorders. In addition, the Nurse  Practitioner could advocate for change on a federal or state level by  writing congress or their elected leaders.

             Another issue that this writer believes need special attention is that  of making special procedures available to everyone. When treating mental  health disorders there are many treatments that would be beneficial for  a client, but the client will end up not receiving the treatment due  their inability to pay or insurance coverage (Wang & Xie, 2019).  This writer has worked with several client suffering with depression who  have exhausted the use of antidepressants but were not qualified for  ECT due to monetary reasons. The client is simply placed back on the  antidepressants with limited hope to treat their disorder. This issue is  also another social change issue that we as Nurse Practitioners could  propose to our elected leaders. The mental health community on a whole  is stigmatized and separated and this only separates them more by  causing a separation amongst themselves.

                                              References

Choi, N. G., DiNitto, D. M., & Marti, C. N. (n.d.). Relationship Between the Types of Insurance 

Coverage and Outpatient Mental Health Treatment Use Among Older Adults. JOURNAL 

OF APPLIED GERONTOLOGY, 35(12), 1343–1362.

Swanton, M. (2016). Mental Distress. InsideCounsel, 16(181), 26–28. Retrieved from 

ebscohost. com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=

23498644&site=eds-live&scope=site

Wang, N., & Xie, X. (2019). Associations of health insurance coverage, mental health problems, 

and drug use with mental health service use in US adults: An analysis of 2013 National 

Survey on Drug Use and Health. Aging & Mental Health, 23(4), 439–446.

Wray, T. B., Dvorak, R. D., & Martin, S. L. (2015). Demographic and economic predictors of 

mental health problems and contact with treatment resources among adults in a low-

income primary care setting. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 18(2), 213–222.

 

Respond to your colleagues by providing additional insights or alternative perspectives. 

POSITIVE COMMENT

                                              Main Post

 

How to Become a Social Change Agent for Psychiatric Mental Health

             Mental illness is a significant public health concern. Unfortunately,  society holds a negative attitude about mental illness (Casados, 2016).  The negative attitude impacts individuals on an interpersonal level,  through blaming and name-calling, and on an institutional level, through  employment discrimination (Casado, 2016). Shockingly, one study found  that 68% of Americans do not want mental illness being married into  their family, and 58% of Americans do not want people with mental  illness in the workplace (Dingfelder, 2009). Another study reported that  over 45% of people thought people with depression were unpredictable,  and 20% of people thought people with depression were dangerous  (Dingfelder, 2009).  The stigma associated with mental illness can make  psychological symptoms worse, and hinder treatment and recovery, which  can continue to compromise the individual’s mental health (Casados,  2016).

             The statistics described above are astounding to me. I agree entirely  with one of the statements in the article by Bennett (2015), which  states, “mental health is physical health; the two are inseparable”  (para. 2). I believe a way to bridge that gap is through a new concept  in health care called patient-centered care. Patient-centered care is  providing care that focuses on physical comfort and emotional well-being  (NEJM Catalyst, 2017). It is providing care that is collaborative,  coordinated, and accessible at the right time and in the right place  (NEJM Catalyst, 2017). Patient-centered care allows the patient and  their family to be a part of the care team and play a role in decision  making (NEJM Catalyst, 2017).  If society understood patient-centered  care, then I think mental health would not be stigmatized the way it is.  

             Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) can be a social  change agent by being a voice for our patients and utilizing  patient-centered care. Practicing care coordination and collaborating  with the patient, their family, and other healthcare providers is  essential. Society has a negative attitude about mental illness because  the majority of people do not understand it. Thus, providing education  to the community is also a key to breaking the stigma. 

How I Will Advocate for Change Within My Community

I  will advocate for change in my community by practicing patient-centered  care. I will do this by including the patient and their family when  discussing options and decisions. I will listen to the patient to  understand their preferences, cultural traditions, and socioeconomic  condition (NEJM Catalyst, 2016).  I will provide education within the  community to educate those who are unfamiliar with mental illness. I  will also work in rural areas to help those in underserved areas have  access to mental health care. 

 

        

                                                   References

Bennett, T. (2015). Changing the way society understands mental health. National Alliance on Mental Illness. Retrieved from https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/April-2015/Changing-The-Way-Society-Understands-Mental-Health

Casados, A. T. (2016). What makes mental illness stigma so hard to change and to study? Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice. Retrieved from https://www.div12.org/what-makes-mental-illness-stigma-so-hard-to-change-and-also-to-study/

Dingfelder, S. F. (2009). Stigma: Alive and well. American Psychological Association, 40(6), 56. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/monitor/2009/06/stigma

NEJM Catalyst. (2017). What is patient-centered care? Retrieved from https://catalyst.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/CAT.17.0559