Nurses can now specialize in specific fields. This happens after meeting education and experience needs. These steps allow focus on certain patients or areas. Within my MSN studies, I focus on mental health nursing. Upon meeting education and certification needs, I will practice as a PMHNP. A PMHNP is a nurse with advanced mental health education. (Chapman et al. 2018) state they perform similar duties to psychiatrists. This includes diagnosing patients. They also check physical health issues. Managing mental health problems is part of their role. 

Choosing mental health as a specialty presented challenges. Many people hold negative views of those with mental illness. I worried that as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, I would face difficulties within mental health settings. My decision was influenced by the need to provide better mental health care. Given the increase in mental health issues and inadequate treatment for patients, I felt a professional duty. I saw a chance to enhance the mental well-being of Americans. Nursing groups are formed to improve care. They also fight for professional control. These groups state nursing's core beliefs. (Cherry et al., 2019). Nurses benefit greatly from joining professional groups. Membership offers chances to connect with other nurses. It also grants access to learning tools. These include journals, meetings, online classes, and study materials. According to (Finley, 2019) mental health conditions impact nearly one in five Americans over age thirteen each year. This condition leads to annual costs of roughly $467 billion. These costs include both direct and indirect expenses. Many people with mental illness do not get professional help. Fewer than half of those affected receive treatment. 

Professional Organization of Choice 

The Association of Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses (AAPPN) is the professional group I am exploring. This association supports advanced practice psychiatric nurses. It strongly advocates for the field. It also promotes career growth. Members gain power through many scholarship programs (AAPPN Membership, n.d.). Advancing core skills such as communication, evaluation, therapy, and drug oversight requires ongoing learning (Hodges et al., 2019). Advanced practice psychiatric nurses incur a membership fee. This fee yields significant advantages. The AAPPN provides a strong network. Members gain ongoing education. They also access important resources. The organization advocates for its members. It also supports the mental health field. The organization also shapes policy. This advances the field. Membership dues vary by category. Clinical members pay $250 annually. This is $62.50 per quarter. Out-of-state members pay $150 yearly. That equals $37.50 quarterly. Emeritus members pay $100 a year. This breaks down to $25.00 quarterly. Student members pay $50 annually. They pay $12.50 each quarter (AAPPN Membership, n.d.) 

References: 

AAPPN Membership. (n.d.). Association of Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses. https://www.aappn.org/membership/Links to an external site. 

Chapman, S. A., Phoenix, B. J., Hahn, T. E., & Strod, D. C. (2018). Utilization and Economic Contribution of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners in Public Behavioral Health Services. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 54(6), S243–S249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2018.01.045 

Cherry, B., Caramanica, L., Everett, L. Q., Fennimore, L., & Scott, E. (2019). Leveraging the Power of Board Leadership in Professional Nursing Organizations. JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration, 49(11), 517–519. https://doi.org/10.1097/nna.0000000000000805Links to an external site. 

Finley, B. A. (2019). Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners meeting rural mental health challenges. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 26(1), 107839031988635. https://doi.org/10.1177/1078390319886357Links to an external site. 

Hodges, A. L., Konicki, A. J., Talley, M. H., Bordelon, C. J., Holland, A. C., & Galin, F. S. (2019). Competency-based education in transitioning nurse practitioner students from education into practice. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 31(11), 675–682. https://doi.org/10.1097/jxx.0000000000000327