Modern doctors decide on the appointment of a particular drug or method of treatment, taking into account the opinion of the so-called key opinion leaders. They are specialists in a particular field of medicine and healthcare that influence medical practice. Becoming such an opinion leader in a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner plays a vital role in providing effective and efficient patient assistance.
Opinion leaders are not defined through demographic characteristics since they exist in all demographic groups but differ in their psychological traits and interests and have five common characteristics. Firstly, these people are distinguished by an active lifestyle. They have a very intense personal life and a wide range of different activities. A vast network of contacts is also an essential distinguishing characteristic of opinion leaders (Brown et al., 2017). Such people are interested in spreading helpful tips, willingly share their knowledge, experience and give advice. Bergström and Jervelycke Belfrage point out that “opinion leaders are perceived as central or even crucial to the news-gathering process” (2018, p. 583). After all, they show confidence when forming a trend; they usually get acquainted with new technologies before others.
Considering my current set of skills with what is inherent in the leader of public opinion, I need to develop my communicative abilities to expand the circle of communication and the network of contacts. Sociability is a trait of successful, energetic, and endearing people. To do this, I need to overcome my shyness, indecision, modesty. Thus, it would help if I stopped running away from communication, but on the contrary, strive for it.
I see myself being an opinion leader in the role of the psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner. Specific professional practices of nurses in psychiatry determine the emergence of specialized mechanisms and norms related to the need for supervision of patients while respecting their rights as these specialists have a significant contribution to healthcare (Chapman et al., 2018). In this area, it is necessary to provide the necessary assistance and support and become an opinion leader in helping the patient. This is because a psychiatric nurse, in comparison with other employees of a medical institution, spends the most time with the patient and perfectly knows the experiences associated with both the disease and social and other problems.
References
Bergström, A., & Jervelycke Belfrage, M. (2018). News in social media: Incidental consumption and the role of opinion leaders. Digital Journalism, 6(5), 583-598. Web.
Brown, S., Chen, L., & O’Donnell, E. (2017). Organizational opinion leader charisma, rolemodeling, and relationships. International journal of organizational analysis, 25(1), 80-102. Web.
Chapman, S. A., Phoenix, B. J., Hahn, T. E., & Strod, D. C. (2018). Utilization and economic contribution of psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners in public behavioral health services. American journal of preventive medicine, 54(6), 243-249. Web.