Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner Discussion

My classmates response to me is bleow:

Topic: As a nurse practitioner, how might you become a social change agent for psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner . Include how you might advocate for change within your own community.

Virginia Henderson defined the function of a nurse as: “The unique function of the nurse is to assist the individual, sick or well, in the performance of those activities contributing to health or its recovery (or to peaceful death) that he would perform unaided if he had the necessary strength, will or knowledge; and to do this in such a way as to help him gain independence as rapidly as possible” (Henderson, 1966). Social change can be defined as a “progress, evolution or transition within a culture or society” (Your dictionary, n.d).

A Nurse practitioner was once a nurse who gets advanced training in nursing so they can operate independently while taking total care of their patient or clients. For straight 15 years in a row, nurses has been rated the most trusted Profession (Gallup, 2016). So the question is to be a social change agent for psychiatry mental health in the community who is best suited to do this job among all health care professional? If not the PNP then who and if not now then, when? According to Walden’s University the mission statement states that “Walden University provides a diverse community of career professionals with the opportunity to transform themselves as scholar-practitioners so that they can effect positive social change” (Walden University, 2015), social change is not just something we talk about—social change is who we are

We’ve learned through history so many times about how people with psychiatric mental health disorders have been stigmatized by family, sometimes healthcare providers and the society as a whole. With mental health law there has been a major progress allowing people with mental health to receive health care services but still there is considerable disparity in the care received and in the community altitudes (Mechanic, 2007). However, Bennet explained on how the stigma that comes with mental health can be removed. Emphasize is place on awareness and acceptance by the society as whole that mental health illness is as important as physical health (2015). Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner Discussion

Furthermore, Social change can only occur when those who are closer to the social problems develop solutions; as PNP we are closer to the problem and therefore our role is to create strategic measures that will help the community to be more aware of what mental health is. Dingfelder report that, focusing more on the positive things that a client living with mental health has achieved and capable of doing after receiving healthcare services is a key factor that can change people’s perception about mental illness (2009). Speaking up about the illness and allowing others to understanding mental health disorders as physical illnesses will help eliminate the stigma (Bennet, 2015) Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner Discussion

In conclusion, Plawecki, & Amrhein stated that the “fundamental within this relationship is the understanding that health care professionals will do everything within their power and expertise to alleviate the suffering of each patient they treat” (1999) therefore as a Psychiatry nurse practitioners who deliver front-line care in the community clinics, schools, hospitals, and other settings, we are obligated as a change agent to create awareness about mental health through teaching, providing education, and appraisal of what has being achieved by clients that received proper mental healthcare and support in the community and society as a whole

References

Bennett, T. (2015). Changing the way society understands mental health. National Alliance on

Mental Illness. Retrieved from http://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/April-2015/Changing-The-Way-Society-Understands-Mental-Health

Dingfelder, S. F. (2009). Stigma: Alive and well. American Psychological Association, 40(6),56.

Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/monitor/2009/06/stigma.aspx

Gallup. (2016). Americans Rate Healthcare Providers High on Honesty, Ethics. Retrieved from

http://www.gallup.com/poll/200057/americans-rate-h…

Mechanic, D. (2007). Mental health services then and now. Health Affairs, 26(6), 1548–1550.

Retrieved from http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/26/6/1548…

Plawecki, L. H., & Amrhein, D. W. (2009). Clearing the err. Journal of Gerontological Nursing,

35(11), 26–29. Retrieved from the Walden Library Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner Discussion databases. http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/…

Walden University Catalog (2015). Vision, Mission, and Goals. Retrieved from

http://catalog.walden.dedu/content.php?catoid=116&navoid=31735. March 1, 2015

Your dictionary. (n.d) Definition: Social change. Retrieved from

http://www.yourdictionary.com/social-change