Assign 1-WK4(A)

                              Practicum Journal Entry: Certification Plan
Psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioners currently have only one choice for certification, which is through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). The ANCC offers the “psychiatric/mental-health nurse practitioner (across the lifespan)” board certification (PMHNP-BC). In many states, board certification is needed as a prerequisite to being granted an NP license. Even if board certification is not a requirement for state licensure, it may be a requirement to receive privileges in various hospitals and other health care facilities. It may also be required by malpractice insurance providers prior to issuing coverage to NPs.
In this Practicum Journal Assignment, you will develop a plan, which will serve as the road map for you to follow to attain your certification.

                                            Learning Objectives
Students will:
· Analyze state restrictions or limitations for practice
· Compare PMHNP practice environments in various states
· Analyze clinical practice issues
· Create plans for passing national certification exams

                                  To prepare for this Practicum Journal
· Review the interactive nurse practitioner (NP) scope of practice law guide in 
  your Learning Resources.
· Review your state regulations and a neighboring state or state in which you  
   would like to practice.
· Reflect on how to approach relocating licensure from one state to another.
· Review certification exam requirements for PMHNPs.

            Write a 2- to 3-page paper in which you do the following: (Assignment)
· Describe the Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) 
   practice environment for your home state (Texas), highlighting restrictions or 
   limitations for practice.
· Compare the PMHNP practice environment in your home state (Texas) with a 
   neighboring state (Louisiana) or a state in which you would like to practice.
· Describe a professional and/or clinical practice issue a new PMHNP will need to 
  consider and address with the certification, licensure, credentialing, or relocation 
  process.
· Develop a checklist for passing the national certification exam, including a 
  detailed timeline that includes academic preparation (study plan), registration, 
  financial preparation, etc.

NB: for this Assignment (Journal Entries)
  
· Include references  immediately following  the content.
· Use APA style for your journal entry and references less than 5 years old.
  
PLEASE INCLUDE INTRODUCTION, CONCLUSION AND REFERENCES LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD

                                 Learning Resources
Required Readings
Barton Associates. (2017). Nurse practitioner scope of practice laws. Retrieved from https://www.bartonassociates.com/locum-tenens-resources/nurse-practitioner-scope-of-practice-laws/

American Psychiatric Association. (2016). Practice guidelines for the psychiatric evaluation of adults. Retrieved from http://psychiatryonline.org/doi/pdf/10.1176/appi.books.9780890426760