DNP

I have almost completed the Johns Hopkins, "Guided Care Nursing Program" (GCN)...
What a fabulous program!
I have enjoyed every minute of course work!
I am currently working with one of the Emergency Department Physicians where I am employed to create a Care Planning Program for patients with chronic health issues that cause recurrent hospitalizations...very exciting!

My original plan had been to complete the GCN certification program then to sit for the ANCC National Certification in Nursing Case Management...
I still intend to complete these 2011 goals.

My thought is that gaining formal education and credentials to couple with my personal experiences in Chronic Disease Management will really hone my expertise in the field.
Ultimately my life goal is to have a significant helpful impact on supporting individuals with chronic health issues.

In thinking about life... and life goals I did a bit of web searching...
Are there professionals that specialize in "Counseling" Individuals on how to best manage their chronic health issues???
Not just medically managing the disease, but actually supporting the person living life with a chronic health issue or issues... helping him/her navigate a life impacted by chronic issues...

There are some Professional Chronic Disease Self Management Support Resources (PCDSMR)out there...but the only PCDSMR a person could independently choose, call up, make an appointment, go to see, and potentially have insurance cover the fee for service was a Health Psychologist.

At first I thought... I want to be a "Health Psychologist"!
Then I began to think... what about Nursing???
In 2015 all Advanced Practice Nurses will be required to have a Doctorate Degree to enter the practice...
Besides, there are no specialty programs for Chronic Disease Management...
But...
Supporting Chronic Disease Self Management is definitely a behavioral/counseling intervention...

What about the
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing at
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) College of Nursing???

Just a thought...
It is a three year hybrid program... online classes, local clinical arrangement, and some on-site sessions in Tennessee...

I would love to tackle this program gaining the credentials necessary to provide PCDSMR to individuals who need help... and the ability to bill insurances for services rendered!

It might be magical thinking...I tend to forget the limitations that my AIP puts on me... but maybe???

I am always looking ahead...identifying options and opportunities to grow within my specific life situation... I stay flexible and open... but ceasing to grow would be synonymous with death in my dictionary.