’ Blogs, and respond
· Read a selection of your colleagues’ Blogs, and respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days by expanding upon their description of their clinical site, making connections to your own site, and offering suggestions for preparation.
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YesterdayMay 27 at 12:20am
Hello professor and peers,
The clinical site is a crucial environment where nurse practitioner (NP) students gain hands-on experience. It serves as the backdrop for applying theoretical knowledge to real patient care. However, finding suitable clinical sites can be challenging due to various factors, including competition among healthcare provider programs and limited availability of preceptors. My approved clinical site is Texas Advanced Behavioral Health (TABH) located in Arlington Texas. TABH is a private psychiatric and behavioral health outpatient clinic, specializing in the assessment, diagnosing, and treatment of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. My preceptor was chosen based on experience level and special skills, with a focus on the appropriate types of clients for the rotation.
Preceptors play a pivotal role in shaping NP students’ clinical education (Girotto et al., 2019). My preceptor in a DNP graduate, nationally certified and a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and the owner of her own behavioral health private practice since 2019. She has precepted many students and assist learners in acquiring new competencies required for safe, ethical, and high-quality practice. She provides useful and genuine feedback, set learning objectives, teach statewide protocols, and encourage critical thinking. She is actively engaged and open to questions for in-depth understanding, bridging the gap between theoretical learning and practical application.
Mental health encompasses emotional, psychological, and social well-being, influencing cognition, perception, and behavior. My area of practice specializes in assessing and treating individuals with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, and severe mental illnesses as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. DNP-prepared nurses typically work as APRNs providing the highest quality of care in clinical settings, or as nurse administrators or nurse executives in non-clinical settings. I am a DNP prepared nurse whose aim is to help improve access to care, health equity, and other healthcare challenges of today, particularly amongst the mental health population. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment for APRNs is expected to grow over 45% from 2020-2030 with annual median pay of $117,670 (Hickey & Giardino, 2021).
NP students face challenges in securing preceptors and clinical sites, but these experiences are essential for their growth. As they prepare for their chosen specialty, they must navigate the complexities of clinical education while building strong relationships with preceptors and gaining practical skills (White et al., 2021). Persistence and effective communication are key when seeking preceptors. Good luck with your clinical journey!
References
Girotto, L. C., Enns, S. C., de Oliveira, M. S., Mayer, F. B., Perotta, B., Santos, I. S., & Tempski, P. (2019). Preceptors’ perception of their role as educators and professionals in a health system.
BMC medical education, 19 (1), 203.
to an external site.
Hickey, J. V., & Giardino, E. R. (Eds.). (2021).
Evaluation of quality in health care for DNPs (3rd ed.). Springer Publishing
White, K. M., Dudley-Brown, S., & Terhaar, M. F. (Eds.). (2021).
Translation of evidence into nursing and healthcare (3rd ed.). Springer Publishing Company.
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Collapse SubdiscussionElycia Victoria Hernandez
YesterdayMay 27 at 5:15am
Hello everyone my name is Elycia Hernandez and I will be completing my practicum hours at an acute inpatient behavioral health hospital called Palms Behavioral Health in Harlingen Tx. My clinical site focuses on the treatment of those with mental health issues and offers continuum of care. My clinical site also offers outpatient services and is 24/7 offering treatment to adults, adolescents, and geriatric patients. My preceptor was chosen based of education and experience.
My preceptor offers a wide range of knowledge in my specialty of psychiatric mental health as he is both medical board certified and certified by the board of psychiatry and neurology. He also is certified for substance abuse and mental health services and offers his expertise as a medical director for various hospitals and clinics as well as has his own private practice.
Preceptors play a vital role in the development of nursing professionals, offering practical, real-world experience that complements theoretical learning. They provide guidance, support, and mentorship, helping new DNPs to develop confidence and competence in their clinical skills. Preceptors also facilitate the integration of evidence-based practices and professional standards into everyday patient care, which is essential for maintaining quality healthcare. Effective preceptorship programs enhance job satisfaction and retention rates among new nurses, thereby addressing critical workforce issues in healthcare settings (Smedley et al. 2020) .
A potential problem that I am considering to explore throughout this course is one of fragmented service delivery models in mental health care that present significant challenges, as they often lead to disjointed and inefficient care for patients with complex needs. According to a study by Kilbourne et al. (2018), fragmentation occurs when care is delivered by multiple providers without adequate coordination, leading to inconsistent treatment, increased risk of errors, and poor health outcomes. This lack of integration can be particularly detrimental for patients with severe mental illnesses, who frequently require comprehensive and continuous care across various services. There is a need for integrated care models that facilitate communication and collaboration among healthcare providers to improve the continuity and quality of care for mental health patients (Kilbourne et al., 2018). My hope is to collaborate with my preceptor and assess how this challenge can be addressed at this facility.
References:
Kilbourne, A. M., Beck, K., Spaeth-Rublee, B., Ramanuj, P., O’Brien, R. W., Tomoyasu, N.,& Pincus, H. A. (2018). Measuring and improving the quality of mental health care: a global perspective. World Psychiatry, 17(1), 30-38.
Smedley, A., Morey, P., & Race, P. (2020). Enhancing professional development through effective preceptorship. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 10(1), 34-41.
