Becoming a Practice Scholar
- Tell us about yourself.
- How do you feel about being a practice scholar?
- How do the competencies & sub competencies affect your perspective about your graduate education and continuing professional development priorities?
- What additional reflections would you like to share about this week’s material?
I am in a DNP program. I am currently a PMHNP for adolescents and children been one for about a year with 10 years of mental health experience and want to open my own practice
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Who are you?,
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How do you feel about being a practice scholar?,
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How do competencies and sub-competencies affect your perspective on graduate education and professional development?,
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What are your professional priorities for continuing growth?,
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What reflections do you have on this week’s material?
Comprehensive Response
1. Who I Am Becoming a Practice Scholar
I am currently a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) specializing in the care of adolescents and children. I have been practicing as a PMHNP for about one year, but my professional journey in mental health spans over a decade. My experiences across inpatient, outpatient, and community-based mental health services have given me a deep appreciation for the complexity of psychiatric care. My long-term goal is to open my own practice to provide accessible, holistic mental health services tailored to children, adolescents, and families.
2. Feelings About Being a Practice Scholar
Being a practice scholar is both motivating and empowering. As a DNP student, I see practice scholarship as an opportunity to bridge the gap between research and practice, transforming evidence into meaningful, real-world change. I feel a strong sense of responsibility to contribute to advancing mental health care through innovation, leadership, and advocacy. The role of a practice scholar positions me not only as a provider but also as a leader in shaping systems that improve access and quality of care.
3. Competencies, Graduate Education, and Professional Development
The DNP competencies and sub-competencies outlined by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) provide a framework for my educational and professional journey. They emphasize systems-based leadership, evidence-based practice, interprofessional collaboration, health equity, and quality improvement. These competencies shape my perspective by reinforcing that graduate education is not just about advanced clinical skills but also about developing the ability to lead, advocate, and innovate in healthcare. For my continuing professional development, this means prioritizing skills in quality improvement, policy advocacy, and culturally responsive care—all of which are essential for achieving my goal of running a successful, patient-centered practice.
4. Professional Priorities for Continuing Growth
As I advance in the DNP program, my priorities include expanding my leadership capacity, engaging in research translation, and developing entrepreneurial skills for private practice. I also want to strengthen my expertise in addressing health disparities, particularly for children and adolescents who often face systemic barriers to accessing mental health care. Building competency in interprofessional collaboration is another priority, as effective partnerships with schools, community agencies, and families are vital in child and adolescent psychiatry.
5. Reflections on This Week’s Material
This week’s material has reinforced the idea that the DNP-prepared nurse is uniquely positioned to serve as both a clinician and a social change agent. I was particularly struck by the emphasis on systems thinking—how small, evidence-based changes in practice can ripple outward to improve outcomes on a larger scale. It made me reflect on how my own role as a PMHNP can extend beyond one-on-one care to shaping programs and policies that impact entire communities. This perspective strengthens my motivation to pursue my DNP with a focus on blending clinical expertise, scholarship, and leadership in ways that directly support my long-term goals. Becoming a Practice Scholar
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