Introduction
Nurses have become essential in providing high-quality treatment for patients in today’s ever-changing healthcare workplace. They not only help physicians with medical operations, but they also track patients’ vital signs and provide medication. Furthermore, nurses provide emotional support to patients and their loved ones, assisting them in coping with illness and the frequently intimidating hospital atmosphere. As the healthcare business evolves, nurses’ roles will become even more vital for guaranteeing that patients obtain the best possible care. In this paper, I will discuss my personal nursing and healthcare philosophy and a theoretical model that aligns with my values and future job as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner.
My future career in nursing as a graduate-prepared nurse will be as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (Psych NP). According to current professional definitions, a Psych NP is a registered nurse with a license with extensive education and experience in psychiatric-mental health nursing (American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 2023). This definition implies that I will have undergone specialized training to deal with a wide range of mental health conditions, such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, and schizophrenia, among others.
As a Psych NP, I will be in charge of evaluating and treating mental health illnesses, as well as delivering psychotherapy and prescription drugs. To offer the most effective treatment for my patients, I will need to make informed clinical judgments based on my extensive training and knowledge. This position necessitates comprehensive critical thinking and medical review, as well as the ability to collaborate with patients and other medical professionals. In addition to these tasks, I will need to stay current on innovations in psychotherapy. This requirement includes continuing education courses, visiting seminars and conferences, and reading journals and other materials.
Professional Organizations in Mental Health Nursing
Professional nursing organizations, such as the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, play an essential role in the growth and acknowledgment of the Psych NP position in healthcare. These organizations recognize the value of mental health treatment and the necessity for highly qualified and skilled mental health practitioners to care for individuals who have psychological disorders. Acknowledging the importance of the Psych NP job, the referenced organization continues to promote the development and expansion of mental health care. It works to guarantee that patients receive the best possible treatment (American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 2023).
As a Psych NP, I will be required to follow the organization’s professional and ethical requirements. These criteria are critical to ensuring that clients receive the best possible treatment and that the Psych NP job is acknowledged and respected in the field of healthcare. By adhering to these guidelines, I will be able to deliver compassionate, high-quality treatment to patients while also collaborating with other medical professionals in order to achieve the best potential outcomes for my patients.
Aside from my present position as a Psych NP, I am overjoyed to say that I am in the process of developing a multi-specialty facility in my neighborhood. The clinic intends to provide patients with a variety of healthcare services, including general care, mental health treatment, and specialist care, all under one roof. This all-encompassing approach to medicine will allow me to give patients comprehensive care and meet their numerous health issues in a timely and effective manner.
Furthermore, I want this neighborhood clinic to serve as a centralized location for all healthcare requirements, from basic check-ups to specialty treatments. The clinic will include cutting-edge medical technology, contemporary facilities, and a staff of highly competent and caring healthcare experts. With these resources at my disposal, I want to provide high-quality healthcare to all patients who come through my doors. This strategy for healthcare will substantially influence patient health outcomes and the general health of the neighborhood. Through my total approach, I can avoid chronic diseases and promote total well-being by treating both physical and emotional health requirements.
Philosophy of Holistic Nursing Care
As a nurse, my philosophy revolves around giving patients comprehensive treatment that covers both their physical and mental health requirements. While treating physical problems is vital, I feel that mental health is equally significant and should not be disregarded. According to Taylor et al. (2020), psychological and physical health are inextricably linked. A patient suffering from a physical disease, for example, may experience anxiety or sadness as a consequence of their condition (Taylor et al., 2020). As a result, it is critical to treat patients’ mental health requirements in addition to their physical wellness demands.
As a Psych NP, I seek to use my specialized education and training to identify and manage mental health illnesses, give counseling, and, when required, prescribe medication. However, I understand that medicine is not always the best solution for each individual. Therapy and lifestyle adjustments may be more successful in some circumstances. As a result, I take the time to become acquainted with my patients and their particular situations so that I may give specialized treatment that is suited to their specific requirements.
My ultimate objective is to assist my patients in attaining maximum mental health and improving their general state of life. A mix of medical therapy and empathy that treats the patient as an entire person rather than merely a collection of symptoms or diseases is the most excellent way to do this. I hope that by treating the whole person, I assist my patients in attaining long-term well-being and enjoyment.
Furthermore, the formation of a robust nurse-patient connection is the key to offering high-quality nursing care. Patients are more inclined to be forthcoming and truthful about their health issues if they create a connection based on mutual respect and confidence. This enables me, as the nurse, to give individualized care that meets each patient’s specific requirements and preferences. Furthermore, nurses must educate and empower their patients, presenting them with the knowledge and resources they need to make educated health decisions.
To give my patients the best possible treatment, it is critical to stay current on the newest discoveries in psychiatry. This includes taking additional instruction, attending conferences and seminars, and reading journals and other materials. By being up to date on the most recent studies and trends, I can guarantee that my patients obtain the most recent and effective therapies available.
Finally, it is the role of nurses to represent their patients in all facets of healthcare. This involves campaigning for their patients’ interests, ensuring they receive access to the necessary care, and pushing policies that benefit the community’s general health. As a Psych NP and prospective clinic owner, I am dedicated to delivering high-quality, comprehensive treatment to patients in my community, as well as collaborating with other healthcare providers to achieve the best possible results for all patients.
Biopsychosocial (BPS) Model Overview
As a Psych NP, my work is informed by a theoretical framework that stresses the importance of mental health in overall well-being. The Biopsychosocial (BPS) paradigm is the theoretical structure that corresponds to my philosophy and future function as a Psych NP. The BPS model is founded on the notion that biological, psychological, and social variables all contribute to defining an individual’s health state (Gillett & Bolton, 2020). According to the BPS model, health is more than just being free of sickness or illness; it is a full condition of mental, social, and physical health. (Gillett & Bolton, 2020). This indicates that being healthy requires not just being physically fit and disease-free but also having a happy mental state and a robust social support system.
In order to achieve this condition of well-being, the BPS model understands that mental health is equally as vital as physical health. A multitude of factors, including environment, genes, and life events, can have an impact on mental health (Gillett & Bolton, 2020). Neglecting one’s mental health can result in a variety of unpleasant outcomes, including despair, anxiety, and even physical sickness (Gillett & Bolton, 2020).
Aside from mental health, a positive social life is an essential component of the BPS paradigm. Humans are social beings, and strong bonds with others are critical to our general well-being (Gillett & Bolton, 2020). This encompasses not just personal relationships and familial ties but also an impression of belonging to a community or group of people. Thus, according to the BPS model, individuals must try to preserve their mental, social, and physical well-being to attain the highest level of wellness.
The primary assumption of the BPS model is the interconnection of the social, psychological, and biological elements in influencing a patient’s well-being. According to the concept, these components are not separate from one another but are intricately interwoven in a dynamic and complicated web (Gillett & Bolton, 2020). For example, a patient’s physiological symptoms may be impacted by their emotional state, such as stress or fretfulness, or their social setting, such as their living circumstances or support network. As a result, healthcare providers must analyze all three aspects and how they communicate with one another in order to deliver a genuinely thorough evaluation of a patient’s health.
Notably, the BPS model encompasses not just physical health concerns but also mental wellness and societal well-being. This is due to the model’s recognition that these areas are all interrelated and can have a significant influence on one another (Gillett & Bolton, 2020). Chronic physical discomfort or social exclusion, for example, may have a detrimental impact on a patient’s mental health. On the other hand, enhancing a patient’s mental health may result in improved physical health results and a more favorable social environment.
The BPS model’s major concepts include biological, psychological, and social aspects, all of which are interrelated and impact an individual’s total health condition. The physical components of health, such as heredity, bodily systems, and medical problems, are referred to as biological factors (Gillett & Bolton, 2020). Psychological variables encompass a person’s mental health and well-being on an emotional level, as well as how they think, feel, and act (Gillett & Bolton, 2020).
Social factors refer to a person’s context in society, which includes their connections, living situations, and resources (Gillett & Bolton, 2020). All three elements are interrelated and can substantially influence an individual’s well-being and health. The BPS model highlights the need to recognize the interdependence of these components in order to offer practical and comprehensive care.
Application of the BPS Model in Psychiatric Practice
In my work as a Psych NP, I use the BPS model to provide thorough and holistic patient treatment. I understand that mental and physical health are inextricably linked and that treating one without addressing the other may result in suboptimal health outcomes. As a result, I collaborate closely with my patients to identify and treat all the variables that may be related to their health problems. I make an effort to study my patients’ lifestyles and social aspects in addition to administering medicine and offering psychotherapy.
For example, I may inquire about their living arrangement, employment environment, and support system. By knowing these characteristics, I can make personalized recommendations to assist my patients in attaining optimal health outcomes. This might involve advising lifestyle changes, including exercise, food adjustments, or stress-reduction approaches (Gillett & Bolton, 2020). As a result, I take the time to clarify the reasoning behind any therapy suggestions and ensure that my clients understand their health situations completely. I help my patients attain long-term health and well-being by providing them with the information and resources they need to maintain their health.
Furthermore, I feel that the BPS model is especially significant in the field of psychiatry, where the link between mental and physical health is frequently disregarded. It is critical to recognize that physical manifestations can often accompany mental health illnesses, and the reverse is also true. For example, studies have shown that those who are depressed are more prone to suffer from chronic pain. Comparably, those who suffer from persistent pain are more prone to acquire depression (Honda et al., 2021).
These findings highlight the need for an expanded and successful approach to patient treatment, as provided by the BPS model. Healthcare practitioners can more successfully diagnose and treat individuals if they recognize the interdependence of these aspects. As a result, people who experience mental and physical health concerns may have better results and a higher quality of life.
In short, my personal nursing and healthcare philosophy is based on the concept of delivering comprehensive treatment that meets both the physical and emotional health requirements of patients. The BPS model, which emphasizes the interdependence of psychological, social, and biological elements in affecting health state, is the theoretical framework aligned with my beliefs and future position as a Psych NP. I strive to deliver compassionate, effective treatment that meets the particular requirements and circumstances of each patient by using an integrated approach to patient care and implementing the principles of the BPS model.
BPS Model in Broader Nursing Practice
In nursing practice, the BPS model has become a prominent framework. It has been used to recommend the management of people suffering from chronic diseases such as coronary artery disease and diabetes. The approach has been demonstrated to help healthcare practitioners understand the complex interactions between the biological, psychological, and social aspects of these patients. For example, Miaskowski et al. (2020) performed a study that revealed how the BPS model enabled healthcare practitioners to achieve better results while dealing with chronic disease patients. As a result, the BPS model is increasingly being used in nursing practice as a helpful tool to enhance patient outcomes and improve the standard of care offered.
Aside from that, the BPS model has been frequently utilized to design therapies for people suffering from mental illnesses. Based on this approach, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) methods for individuals suffering from anxiety and depression have been developed (Thorn, 2020). The BPS model is used in these programs to determine the psychological and social elements that contribute to the emergence of mental health problems. This strategy, according to Rafie et al. (2019), is helpful in addressing the complex interaction of psychological and social elements that impact mental health. In addition, the BPS model has been used to design therapies for various mental health issues, such as substance misuse and eating disorders (Rafie et al., 2019). Thus, the BPS model offers a framework for understanding the different elements that contribute to mental health issues and designing therapies that address these aspects by taking an integrated approach to mental health.
The BPS model is additionally employed in nursing research to explore the complex interplay of psychological, social, and biological factors in medical results. Oraison and Kennedy (2021), for example, evaluated the association between social support and bodily health outcomes in people with chronic diseases. The study discovered that social support was connected with improved physical health outcomes, highlighting the relevance of social aspects in overall health.
Similarly, Krause and Bowen et al. (2021) studied the association between emotional strain and physical well-being in cancer patients in their study. The study discovered that psychological stress was connected with impaired physical health outcomes, emphasizing the relevance of psychological components in total health. These studies highlight the BPS model’s use in nursing research by providing a complete framework for exploring the complicated interactions between the psychological, social, and biological factors involved in health outcomes.
As a result, the BPS model has been shown to be an effective and adaptable strategy in the field of nursing, and its applications are expanding as more research is undertaken. Overall, the BPS model has become a prominent framework in nursing practice and research because of its adaptability and efficiency in addressing the complex interplay of biological, psychological, and social aspects of health outcomes. Its uses are evolving as more research is undertaken, and it continues to be a powerful tool for enhancing patient outcomes and increasing the quality of treatment offered.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this nursing paper has covered my own nursing and healthcare philosophy as a Psych NP. The inquiry into the subject additionally investigated the BPS as a theoretical model that corresponds to my beliefs and the future role of the Psych NP. The BPS model stresses the interdependence of biological, psychological, and social elements in determining health and provides a framework for complete and successful patient treatment. The BPS model has been widely used in nursing practice, research, and care for various mental and physical health issues. Nurses may deliver empathetic, effective care that addresses each patient’s specific needs and circumstances by having a holistic approach to caring for patients and using the principles of the BPS model.
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