Discussion: Foundations of Professional Nursing and Networking Opportunities

NURS 6003 Discussion: Foundations of Professional Nursing and Networking Opportunities

Discussion: Foundations of Professional Nursing and Networking Opportunities

My name is C.. and i’m very excited to get started on this journey with all of you! I am currently working in the acute critical care field in a smaller in the suburbs of Philadelphia. I have been in ICU for about 5 years now and i have been extremely interested to further my education since day one, so finally getting into this is amazing and anxiety inducing too! Luckily, much of this course seems to aim at helping establish a network and outline those who can help you in

I have four brothers (two older, one younger) and we are all nurses in either Acute Intensive Care or Long Term Intensive Care. My parents are both nurses, too. My mother has been an ER nurse for thirty years now, and my father has been a nurse for the same amount of time. My father has always pushed for furthering one’s education (he holds many degrees himself, from Bachelors in nursing to MBA). He instilled the importance of “never-slowing down” and “always utilize education to help grow”, so while looking at the vision, missions, goals and social change for Walden, i had a good feeling about what i was signing up for.

Comparison to Walden’s Mission

While reading the “Visions” provided by Walden, it became apparent that their aim is to promote the greater good. Hoping to learn knowledge to help me grow in a professional setting will hopefully reflect the impact we all hope to make, which is promoting the greatest good to those we care for everyday. The “missions” section just reinforced this by outlining the importance of having an outlet that promotes growth in an individual, in this case via educational program. Walden’s mission to aid in the transition into knowledgeable and confident nurse who provide for a greater good lines up with the perfect with the roles my father tried to instill in me at a young age as previously discussed. Walden provides a series of goals for their program, but one of them specifically stood out to me. On their website, the final goal is “to produce graduates who are scholarly, reflective practitioners and agents for positive change” (Walden University, n.d.). This stood out because the second half is something I truly value. Change is a term thrown around too often without highlighting it’s impact, and hearing my father’s influence float around throughout my life, it’s important to note how strong change can be. Social change, from Walden’s perspective seems entirely driven on growth and development with the implication of application to a society for the greater good. The social change aspect really speaks to me, for it not only outlines the importance of this knowledge, but focuses primarily on applying the skills we will develop along the way. I hope to further my application skills through Walden to provide for these we come in contact with everyday. Walden provides University Outcomes that seemingly wrap up everything outlined previously in a flawless fashion. The second outcome is most relatable to my hopes and desires through this program, for it encompasses everything I’ve discussed. It states that the goal is to use knowledge obtained to positively impact the community, society, and profession. Following the words of my father, I hope this program helps me encourage those I come in contact with to grow, whether it be using my knowledge to provide for an individual or an entire community I work with.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The outreach that Walden gives their community is honestly amazing, and I look forward to experiencing it first hand. The world is an ever-changing surrounding, and the healthcare field is no stranger to that. As stated in an article entitled “Missions and Organizational Performance in the Healthcare Industry”, the author writes “the diverse characteristics of the healthcare market make it essential for employees on all levels to not only have a clear understanding of what they are trying to achieve, but also a feeling of support and involvement in determining the mission” (Forehand, A., 2000). This is something I strongly believe in, and feeling understood in my missions by Walden is crucial. Another article I came across refers to the value in an organizations vision stated “Successful organizations will be those that are steadfast in pursuit of their vision, unfailingly true to their mission and unwavering in adherence to their values” (MacLeod L.,2016). In Walden’s case, every point lines up coherently and I’ve found myself truly identifying with their clear vision. I believe in the success this organization will bring and look forward to finding enhanced methods to bring forth my personal goals outlined by my father in my younger years as well as grow with the values this institution has to offer!

                                                                                                References

Forehand, A. (2000). Mission and Organizational Performance in the Healthcare Industry. Journal of Healthcare Management, 45(4), 267.

MacLeod, L. (2016). Mission, Vision and Values Statements: The Physician Leader’s Role. Physician Leadership Journal, 3(5), 18–25.

Walden University. (N.d.). College of Nursing. Retrieved October June 5th, 2020, from