NURS 6660 PMH Nurse Practitioner Role I: Child and Adolescent

Cover Letter, Resume, and Portfolio

Toussaint Casimir

Walden University

NURS 6660 PMH Nurse Practitioner Role I: Child and Adolescent

February 3, 2019

 

Personal Philosophy Statement

Patient care is complex system that is delivered by a multidisciplinary team. Its success requires perfect harmony between the all the involving members. It is vital that the care we deliver as healthcare professional is patient – centered. Therefore, it is important to know the population that we are serving, its needs and its cultural background. In the United States more than any other country, healthcare providers should develop their cultural awareness and competence.

The stigma around the mental illness and the quality of treatment that mentally ill individuals receive have inspired me to become a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP). I have felt the necessity to stand up and do what is right as my contribution to fix this urgent issue. In our society, physical or medical diseases provoke empathy, but we demonstrate disdain for people impacted by mental conditions. Like we always say, “See it and fix it”. So, passivity is as wrong as the wrong doing.

As a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, I will have the opportunity to care for a multicultural population with different conceptions or point of view about mental health. It is my role and responsibility to understand the cultural differences and provide support to those in need. I have learned that in the healthcare system, we should not be judgmental.  My personal philosophy is to treat each and every patient as I would like to be treated. It is a moral obligation to use my knowledge to serve and educate individuals in my community. As a healthcare professional, I believe that I have the capability to change to way mentally ill individuals are viewed and treated. Through my philosophy, I will be able to advocate for holistic and empathic care for individuals with mental health conditions.

 

Self – Assessment

I have decided to transition from registered nurse (RN) to psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) to better serve my community. So, I have always said and believe that the more someone has the he/she can give. When I decided to go back to school to pursue my goal, I said to myself “I have to choose one of the best schools”. Finally, I have chosen Walden University that I believe meet my expectations. For my Practicum, I have chosen the Compass Health System which has been established in the South Florida since 1990, and it is well respected in the community. They offer their services through their offices and most of the hospital with mental health crisis. They are one the major teaching facilities in mental health in the South Florida.

I have selected preceptors who have been working with Compass Health System for several years. So, they acquired a very solid experience in the field. I have taken great advantage of their experience to strengthen my assessment skills to evaluate children adolescents and adults with mental health issues. Because they see patients in office and hospitals, I have been able to learn different approaches for individuals in crisis and non-crisis setting. I have built confidence in my ability to appropriately evaluate, diagnose and treat patient using pharmacologic therapy and non-pharmacologic therapy. I have no doubt in my mind that I am ready to deliver holistic and empathic care for individuals in my community regardless of their cultural background.

 

Personal goals

Short – term goals

• Become a certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.
• Join one of the institutions that aim to provide the best quality of care for mentally ill individuals in my community.
• Strengthen my ability to accurately diagnose mental health conditions and communicate effective with patients and/or significant others about the condition and all the possible treatment options.
• Become a voice for those in my community who are affected by mental health disorders.

Long – term goals

• Enroll in a doctorate program to complete my DNP as psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.
• Engage in the fight to change the way mentally ill individuals are viewed and treated in my community.

 

Achievements

• At the age of 24 I graduated with honor “Cum Laude” with a bachelor’s in agriculture from a prestigious school in the Dominican Republic.
• I worked for CECI in a joint project with the Haitian government for a period of 8 years.
• After entered to the United States in 2009, I decided to pursue my dream in the Healthcare System. And, I graduated in 2014 with “High Honor” with associate degree at Miami Dade College.
• I stated my career in nursing at the Memorial Healthcare System in a “Respiratory Specialty Unit”.
• In December 2015, I completed my bachelor’s degree in nursing.
• I transitioned to a Telemetry Unit at North Shore Medical Center.
• I have been working as psychiatric nurse for 2 ½.
• I am hoping to become certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner by the mid of this year.