Nursing professional development plan essay example

NURS 6001, Section N-30, Foundations of Graduate Study

Professional Development Plan

As I begin my online graduate studies at Walden University, I hope to add new insight and accomplishments to my Professional Development Plan (PDP) while progressing through my program. My primary goal during my time at Walden is to complete the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Program, but in order to achieve this I know I must make strides and set additional goals along the way. Meeting each milestone will help me in reaching my ultimate goal. The purpose of this assignment is to provide educational and professional background as well as organize and examination both my personal and professional goals. Nursing professional development plan essay example.

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Education and Professional Background

My name is Rachel Brown, and I want to begin by sharing a little about myself. I currently live in Lawrenceville, Georgia where I moved to recently due to my husband’s promotion. I have two small children, who inspire me to work hard and do better. I credit them in motivating me to attend nursing school to begin with and even now in seeking to advance my nursing education and career Nursing professional development plan essay example. Education was instilled in me at a very early age, neither of my parents attended any college, I am the first person in my family to complete higher education. The pressure to continue education and succeed was always there and is most likely why I am who I am today.

I began my formal education in 2002 at Columbus State University. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science in 2007. Upon graduation, I decided not to attend physical therapy school but change my direction toward nursing. Within that year, I got married with the intent of going back to school but unexpectedly became pregnant with my first child. Having my son delayed my start in nursing school but the desire and drive were still there. I later began nursing school when my son was four months old. Nursing professional development plan essay example I attended the Technical College of the Lowcountry in Beaufort, South Carolina and graduated with my degree of Associate’s in Applied Science/Nursing in 2010.

My first start into nursing was as a triage nurse at a Psych and Behavioral Health Hospital. As a new graduate, it was very challenging, but the experience I gain there in four months was invaluable. We later moved to Athens, Georgia due to my husband’s job and I accepted a position as a registered nurse at a Long Term Acute Care (LTAC) facility. The experience, knowledge, and skill I obtained through working at the LTAC was immeasurable. Working with critically ill patients I developed excellent skill in head to toe assessments, became competent and skilled in placing IV’s, catheters, NG tubes, and became knowledgeable in wound care and other devices. Both of these positions gave me the experience and skills I have today that helped me obtain a better foundation of nursing assessment.

Currently, I work in the labor and delivery department where I have recently taken on the role as a charge nurse. I hold certification in basic life support (BLS), advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), neonatal resuscitation program (NRP), and intermediate fetal monitoring. I also plan to attend the advanced fetal monitoring course the next time it is offered at my facility. Nursing professional development plan essay example.

Professional Goals

My personal goal is to make a positive impact on those in my community and promote positive change. My professional goal is to obtain my Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in FNP. Walden’s School of Nursing (SON) mission statement advocates providing “academically rigorous…educational programs… for a diverse array of nursing professionals seeking enhancement of critical thinking skills, abilities to select and implement evidence-based practices, and core and specialty nursing knowledge in order to transform society” (SON, 2015). I am confident that the education I attain from Walden University will help me achieve my professional, personal, and academic goals. It will also help me to become a leader in my profession and community. Walden’s vision and mission correlate well with my goals, as one of Walden’s goals is “to produce graduates who are scholarly, reflective practitioners and agents of positive social change” (Walden University, 2015) Nursing professional development plan essay example.

Course Outcomes

Getting accustomed to online learning for the first time has been challenging. Navigating and becoming acquainted with classroom and library tool has also become a learning process for me Nursing professional development plan essay example. This course has provided many resources and tools to assist me in effectively communicating with others in my discussions, posts, and writing assignments. I have developed better time management skill and have learned to schedule accordingly.

The most valuable and useful objective of this course aims at developing me into a scholarly writer and becoming proficient in American Psychological Association (APA) style of writing. I have not had to write many papers, so this is an area in which I struggle. Walden has already provided me resources such as the Walden Library and Writing Center to assist me in these areas. Nursing professional development plan essay example. Using tools such as Grammarly and Turnitin also help me become a more scholarly and academically honest writer, providing feedback related to grammar, use of voice and citation similarities. I know I will only continue to progress and improve in each of these areas.

Practicum

The clinical practicum is a vital part of the FNP program in preparing to become a mid-level nursing professional and scholar-practitioner. One of the nurses I contacted when planning for the practicum was Jessica Swilley, who is a Nurse Practitioner at a local OB-GYN clinic. Dr. Sepesi an OB-GYN physician whom I work with in labor and delivery recommended Swilley as she works with him in his office. Dr. Sepesi has also offered to serve as a resource to myself and Swilley during my practicum Nursing professional development plan essay example. Swilley has been a preceptor in the past to other FNP students, one of whom recently graduated from Walden’s FNP program.

Summary

I am eager yet still nervous about the journey that lies before me in the next two years. I hope that as I continue the graduate program I will begin to gain the confidence to succeed and that the nerves will dissipate. I recognize that Walden has and will provide me the tools and resources I need to achieve all of the goals I have set before me. One of Walden’s SON goals is “to prepare professional nursing leaders who are empowered to promote social change for individuals, groups, and organizations locally, nationally, and globally” (SON, 2015). Nursing professional development plan essay example. I know that my motivation and determination will help me be successful in pursuing my MSN degree in FNP. I will then have made a positive change in myself and be able to go out and make a difference in my family, my profession, as well as my community.

References

Walden University. (2015). Vision, mission, and goals. Retrieved April 2, 2015 from

http://catalog.waldenu.edu/content.php?catoid=21&navoid=2450

Walden University School of Nursing (SON). (2015). About the school. Retrieved April 2, 2015 from http://www.waldenu.edu/colleges-schools/school-of-nursing/about Nursing professional development plan essay example