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Assignment RN to APRN-NP Role

Michelle McDaniel

Herzing University

Psyquiatric Mental Health Nurse Practicum

Dr. KuWanna Deaver

September 17, 2023

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Assignment RN to APRN-NP Role

Transition from RN to APRN-NP

Becoming an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse-Nurse Practitioner (APRN-NP) involves

gaining more experience, new roles and responsibilities, and certification. An APRN-NP is a

registered nurse (RN) who has transitioned to a more advanced level of nursing practice. This

transition brings new opportunities for expanded responsibilities and professional growth.

As an RN, one must provide direct patient care and work as part of the healthcare team.

However, APRN can build upon their experiences and foundation to give a more advanced role

in healthcare after transitioning. The transition from RN to APRN-NP involves clinical training,

education advancement, and attending an advanced degree program.

To become an APRN-NP, specific critical steps must be taken into consideration. These

include determining the APRN-NP specialty, completing a doctoral or a master's degree from an

accredited program, passing the certification exam, and attaining state licensure.

Ethical Issues Challenge

As Moore describes in 2020, ethical issues can arise in any healthcare facility,

particularly when a nurse transitions from an RN to an APRN-NP, especially in the case of a

Psych NP. One of the ethical issues that may arise is ethical decision-making during crises. In

psychiatric care, there are instances where the Psych RN has to manage acute crises such as

aggression or suicidal ideation. An ethical issue may arise regarding patient safety, where a

psych NP has to balance the principles of autonomy, the least restrictive interventions, and

beneficence while still ensuring patient safety.

The ethical implications of psychopharmacology are significant concerns for psych Nurse

Practitioners who have the authority to prescribe drugs. To ensure evidence-based prescribing
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practices, they must understand the medication's side effects, patient impact, and

contraindications. This understanding also minimizes the risk of misuse or dependence on

psychopharmacology, making it a critical ethical responsibility.

Cultural competence and diversity could present ethical issues in psychiatric care, where

mental health providers work with patients from different cultural, religious, and ethnic

backgrounds. Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners (PNP) must be sensitive to cultural differences

among patients and ensure they are culturally competent (Üzüm et al., 2020). However, the

ethical issue arises when addressing cultural values, preferences, and beliefs that differ from the

standardized guideline or approach. Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners must strive for cultural

inclusivity, respect diverse perspectives, and promote cultural humility.

Autonomy and responsibility are potential challenges for Advanced Practice Registered

Nurse-Nurse Practitioners (APRN-NPs). As APRNs, they have more responsibilities dedicated to

meeting the needs of patients and improving the quality of care in the healthcare system. APRN-

NPs have increased autonomy, which raises ethical dilemmas, especially when making complex

decisions that may impact the patient's life.

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) play a significant role in

creating public awareness, altering public policies, and advocating for mental health issues and

trends. PMHNPs are positioned within the healthcare system to advocate for policy changes,

educate the public, and contribute to shaping mental health initiatives (Phoenix, 2019).

PMHNPs can collaborate with community organizations, healthcare providers, and public

health agencies to address mental health needs at the local level. They contribute to developing

supportive groups and initiatives for mental health wellness, reducing the prevalence of mental
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health disparities. Additionally, PMHNPs integrate mental health care services into primary care

settings through collaboration with other professionals to provide comprehensive care.

PMHNPs also contribute to research and data analysis related to mental health trends and

issues, improving mental health patient outcomes. They generate evidence that informs policy

decisions and improves mental health service delivery through research development and data

analysis (Phoenix, 2019). Moreover, PMHNPs identify emerging trends and evaluate the

possible interventions and their effectiveness, contributing to evidence-based guidelines and

recommendations. They can also participate actively in professional networks to develop

position statements, practice guidelines, and policy recommendations.

PMPHNP Preparations

The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) offers a national board certification

examination for PMHNPs (Wesemann, 2021). This certification validates a nurse's competency

to practice as a PMHNP by demonstrating that they have met the rigorous standards set by the

ANCC. Successfully passing the board certification exam shows that a nurse is ready to provide

safe and effective care as a PMHNP.

To ensure that PMHNP programs meet industry standards and prepare graduates for

professional practice, the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) approves

them based on established standards (Wesemann et al., 2021)—experienced and knowledgeable

faculty members practicing PMHNPs or mental health professionals staff PMHNP programs.

Moreover, PMHNP programs incorporate clinical experiences that provide hands-on training in

diverse psychiatric settings. The rotations allow the attainment of skills and knowledge required

to provide evidence-based care for mental health illnesses.

Conclusion
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Transitioning from the RN role, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners (PNPs) provide

comprehensive, evidence-based care to promote mental health. PNPs should maintain ethical

standards, seek guidance from ethical frameworks and decision-making models, and engage in

reflective practice to ensure patient-centered care. PMHNPs' unique expertise and experiences

enable them to drive positive changes and address the evolving needs of individuals with

psychiatric conditions. The PMHNP program curriculum, clinical training, faculty expertise,

accreditation standards, and ANCC PMHNP board certification provide a solid educational

foundation, practical experience, and competency validation, enabling graduates to deliver high-

quality psychiatric-mental health care to individuals across their lifespan. Transitioning from the

RN role, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners (PNPs) provide comprehensive, evidence-based care to

promote mental health. PNPs should maintain ethical standards, seek guidance from ethical

frameworks and decision-making models, and engage in reflective practice to ensure patient-

centered care. PMHNPs' unique expertise and experiences enable them to drive positive changes

and address the evolving needs of individuals with psychiatric conditions. The PMHNP program

curriculum, clinical training, faculty expertise, accreditation standards, and ANCC PMHNP

board certification provide a solid educational foundation, practical experience, and competency

validation, enabling graduates to deliver high-quality psychiatric-mental health care to

individuals across their lifespan.

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References

McInnis, A., Schlemmer, T., & Chapman, B. (2021). The significance of the np preceptorship

shortage. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 26(1).

https://doi.org/10.3912/ojin.vol26no01man05

Moore, A., Parks, K., & Mello, I. (2020). Transitioning from rn to aprn. Nursing Made

Incredibly Easy!, 18(2), 51–54. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.nme.0000653200.24252.06

Phoenix, B. J. (2019). The current psychiatric mental health registered nurse workforce. Journal

of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 25(1), 38–48.

https://doi.org/10.1177/1078390318810417

Üzüm, B., Akayoglu, S., & Yazan, B. (2020). Using telecollaboration to promote intercultural

competence in teacher training classrooms in turkey and the usa. ReCALL, 32(2), 162–

177. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0958344019000235

Wesemann, D. E., Dirks, M. S., & Van Cleve, S. N. (2021). Dual-track education for nurse

practitioners: Current and future directions. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 17(6),

732–736. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2021.01.024