Discussion: Networking Opportunities

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NURS 6003 Discussion: Networking Opportunities

Discussion: Networking Opportunities

Becoming a successful nurse has been my dream. To realize this dream, I had look for the best nursing college that would adequately prepare me for real world nursing experience. I recently graduated with BSN. While in the University, I offered tutoring to students in different classes, which was the basis for my passion in teaching. My ultimate professional goal is to become a scholar-practitioner. Moreover, I intend to initiate a mentoring program for students and nursing practitioners to equip them in providing necessary support to their patients and clients. To succeed as a nursing scholar practitioner, I acknowledged that I needed to advance my education to realize my professional goals.

Currently, health care industry is characterized by massive technology.  Therefore, I wanted a universality that is technologically advanced to equip me with technological knowledge. The developments in technology have also transformed health care operations including nursing practice (Vogenberg & Santilli, 2018).  As such, it is imperative for all nurses to b technologically updated. Considering these factors, I settled for the Walden University.  The programs at the Walden University provide great flexibility and commitment to professional development (Walden University, 2020). As an aspiring scholar-practitioner, I intend to strengthen and be part of the change to upcoming nurses. This goal resonates with the mission statement of the university which is, “provide a diverse community of career professionals with the opportunity to transform themselves so that they can provide social change.” (Walden University – Acalog ACMS™, 2020). As a scholar, I intend to impart lifetime knowledge to my students and inspire more students to scale higher in nursing profession. Essentially, the University’s vision resonates with my professional goals since the knowledge I will acquired in this University will be spread to diverse aspiring nurses will work in different capacities as nurses.

Program Outcomes

As a scholar-practitioner, it is prudent to communicate effectively. Communication is among the learning outcomes of the Walden University (Walden University – Acalog ACMS™, 2020). Effective communication will help me know the manner of providing correct information and maintain a professional communication with my students and colleagues. The communication goal is imparted in MSN outcomes at the Walden and it will assist me in gaining more knowledge and efficiently educate students. As an aspiring scholar, my professional goals and beliefs resonates with the Mission, Vision, and Goals of Walden University.

References

Vogenberg, F. R., & Santilli, J. (2018). Healthcare trends for 2018. American health & drug benefits, 11(1), 48. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5902765/

Walden University – Acalog ACMS™. (2020). Vision, Mission, and Goals. Catalog.waldenu.edu. Retrieved from https://catalog.waldenu.edu/content.php?catoid=147&navoid=47257.

Walden University. (2020). Education for Good. Waldenu.edu. Retrieved 1 December 2020, from https://www.waldenu.edu/about.

My name is YY and I have been a nurse for 5 years. The only specialty I’ve worked in is ICU and I am so passionate about it that I have never been curious to try other specialties. I live in New Jersey, am recently married, and a new homeowner. My parents were both born and raised in Cuba,

therefore Spanish is my first language.  With my free time I enjoy bike riding with my husband at different parks throughout NJ. After COVID hit, I started to realize people in the community lack substantial education on their problems and are unaware of the importance of staying healthy.  I want to make a change by being a provider who takes the time to educate people and make them are aware of their health.

After several months of researching, I came across . Immediately what drew me in was the flexibility of classes being online and how everything is at the students’ pace. The part of Walden University’s vision statement that sticks out to me is “recognition as a preeminent 21st-century school of nursing,” (Walden University, n.d.). This vision statement encompasses my ideal learning environment as I proceed in my schooling with Walden. In today’s society, social media is huge in regards to networking (Wofford, P. 2018). Therefore, I will build my network with colleagues through social media and discussion posts. In regards to Walden’s mission statement, what stood out the most to me was “abilities to select and implement evidence-based practices, and core and specialty nursing knowledge in order to transform society,” (Walden University, n.d.). Walden’s mission statement and MSN learning outcome relate to my professional and academic goals because I will graduate with enough knowledge to be able to transform society with evidence-based practices and skills within the Hispanic communities.

I believe in order to be successful in any career, one must have a good foundation and have the ability to network. The videos produced by Laureate Education (2018), talk about a foundation being built off of many things such as collaboration and relationships. Being a nurse for 5 years I’ve built many relationships and met many professional mentors along the way who have inspired me to go back to school to be a nurse practitioner. To be able to succeed “it takes a village” as per Laureate Education (2018), therefore in order to succeed you need help from others. In other words, you take knowledge and advice from people who’ve been in your shoes to better yourself professionally.

In conclusion, I look forward to continuing my education, graduating, and making changes in Hispanic communities.

https://www..com/53950-2/

References

Laureate Education (Producer). (2018). The Foundation of Success [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

 

Laureate Education (Producer). (2018). The Walden Journey to a Masters in Nursing: Networking and Collaboration [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

https://www..com/53950-2/

Walden University. (n.d.) College of Nursing. Retrieved August 30, 2021, from https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/fieldexperience/son#s-lg-box-3837398

 

Wofford, P. (2018). 10 networking tips for nurses who the networking. Retrieved from https://nurse.org/articles/tips-for-nurse-networking/

My name is C.T and I am a new graduate Emergency Department Nurse. I recently just graduated in May and I have been working in my new role since July. While in school I provided tutoring to students in various classes which led me obtain a passion for teaching. My ultimate end goal is to become a nursing school and clinical instructor to undergraduate students. In addition, I plan to start a program for nursing students and new graduate nurses to provide support and advice to people in need. To be in the teaching profession, I knew that I needed to further my education to reach my professional goals.

Vision, Mission & Social Change

Walden University was referred to me by a colleague that also attended here and obtained her advanced practice degree. In doing my research of various programs, Walden’s program intrigued me because of the flexibility and dedication to professional development that they provided. As an aspiring professor, I want to uplift and contribute to change to upcoming nurses which relates to Walden University’s mission statement which is to “provide a diverse community of career professionals with the opportunity to transform themselves so that they can provide social change.” (Walden University, 2020) Being a professor, I want to instill lifelong knowledge to my students and leave an impression that motivates more students to want to become a professor just like me. There is a nursing school professor shortage and I want to help change that which will contribute to ending the nursing shortage we have today. Walden’s vision correlates with my professional goals because the knowledge I obtain from this school will help me spread what I know to other aspiring nurses that will eventually be working in various communities.

Program Outcomes

Being an educator and leader, you must be able to communicate effectively which of one Walden’s learning outcomes. Effective is essential in being an educator and setting an example for other students. At the end of this program, I want to be a Nursing Educator that knows how to give information correctly and have professional dialog with my students. Also, I would like to know how to effectively assess and plan different diagnoses to become more competent in different disease processes. (Walden University, 2020) This goal is instilled in Walden’s MSN outcomes and will help me become more knowledgeable and be able to efficiently educate my students. As a future educator, my beliefs and goals are very similar to Walden’s Vision, Mission, and Goals. Proving a better education to the community is my passion and enhancing my knowledge through Walden University will ensure that I am prepared in my mission.

References

2019–2020 Walden University Catalog. Vision, Mission, and Goals (March 2020). (2020). Retrieved August 30, 2020, from https://catalog.waldenu.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=172

2019–2020 Walden University Catalog (March 2020). (2020). Retrieved August 30, 2020, from

Walden University, (2020), Master of Science in Nursing, Nursing Informatics- in Nursing (MSN), Retrieved from 

As a Registered nurse for two years, my passion for becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner continues to grow. I have a plan to work with children and adolescents who encounter mental health illnesses. Walden’s mission is related to my academic goals of becoming a Nurse-Practitioner by being an institution with a diverse community. “Walden University provides a diverse community of career professionals with the opportunity to transform themselves as scholar-practitioners so that they can effect positive social change.” (2011). It is critical in the nursing field to have nurses and nurse practitioners adapt to different communities and people of different backgrounds. I found a great way to adapt to diversity is by educating yourself upon the different cultures. Being educated on a different cultural background also helps with providing high-quality patient care. With Walden University being a university that allows for a diverse community, it positively impacts our academic careers. 

“To provide an inquiry/action model of education that fosters research, discovery, and critical thinking and that results in professional excellence.” (2011). Research, critical thinking are daily components of being in the health care field. Researching helps advance the health care field by discovering new methods and exploring the reasoning behind different aspects. Critical thinking is the backbone of nursing. We are constantly critical thinking in complex situations to ensure our patients receive the quality care they deserve.

Walden MSN program outcomes and perspectives relate to my goal of becoming a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner by evaluating the health needs of diverse populations based on my nursing knowledge to help prevent illness and manage their health. As it is the year 2021, networking is critical in almost any and every field. I have learned how critical it is and how many positions I have been offered from the gift of networking.” “Both Yale University and Cornell University cite the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) when claiming that 70% of all jobs are found through networking.” (Schmidt, 2018)  Networking in the academic field of a Nurse Practitioner is a crucial component not only for the preceptorship aspect of being in the program but also for landing a position after graduate school. In addition, networking is a brilliant way to engage with people. “Tens of millions of people use the internet, and social media is where you can find potential partners, mentors, and collaborations.” (Wofford, 2018)

“Walden supports positive social change through the development of principled, knowledgeable, and ethical scholar-practitioners, who are and will become civic and professional role models by advancing the betterment of society.” (2011) In life, my dream is to positively impact adolescents and children who encounter mental health illnesses. I plan to contribute my knowledge and help children and adolescents live a quality of life without battling anxiety and depression. I believe helping children defeat mental health illnesses when they are young will improve their quality of life in the long run.

References

Schmidt, K. (n.d.). 5 reasons nurses should engage in professional networking. Retrieved October 12, 2018, from 

Walden university. (2011). 

Wofford, P. (2018, May 24). 10 networking tips for nurses who hate networking. 

 Establishing a Network and Progression

                           My name is C.M 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 community hospital 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 times of stress. 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

      

PEER RESPONSE 1

It’s wonderful to know that you are surrounded by so many nurses. In my family, there are very few nurses. You are to be commended for your strong desire to make a difference, whether on an individual or larger scale. You seem to have a positive attitude about nursing as well. In a high-pressure environment such as nursing this can be very beneficial (Jackson, Andrew, & Cleary, 2013). Although I am sure you have made many connections during your career, have you considered expanding your networking skills via social media? I am aware of some of the negativity that social media tends to bring to mind, especially when linked to nursing. However, social media can be used to advance careers as well as to find professional development resources (Reinbeck & Antonacci, 2019). Credible nursing organizations often have Facebook or Instagram pages that allow thousands of nurses to reach one another. You may also want to communicate with others and share what you know as a critical care nurse by starting a blog yourself (Wofford, 2018). Good luck to you as you complete your program.

References:

Jackson, D., Andrew, S., & Cleary, M. (2013). A reason, a season, or a lifetime? The importance

of positive collegial relationships and networks in establishing career sustainability and

resilience. Contemporary Nurse, 45(1), 2-3.

Reinbeck, D., & Antonacci, J. (2019). How nurses can use social media to their advantage.

Nursing, 49(5), 61-63.

Wofford, P. (2018). 10 networking tips for nurses who hate networking. Retrieved from

https://nurse.org/articles/tips-for-nurse-networking/

PEER RESPONSE 2

I really enjoyed hearing about your family, how great to have a family of nurses to support you personally and professionally. I could relate to your father always encouraging you to further your education and never slowing down. This same philosophy was held in my family, that you are a life long learner. “Lifelong learning will continue to be a critical element in the nursing profession as interprofessional practice unfolds in healthcare and as the role of the nurse changes to meet the needs of the nation….by becoming engaged in educational pursuits to provide the highest quality care. In this manner, nurses can help revolutionize healthcare” Decelle (July 2015).

I too was drawn to Walden’s outreach and I value the need to stay engaged with other professionals in a rapidly changing industry like nursing. Utilizing professional networking with both experienced and novice nurses is crucial, “Nurses can develop relationships with individuals who work in their desired fields or roles with the intent of gaining knowledge…. An invaluable resource for knowledge that can be instrumental in advancing the nurse’s career”, Schmidt (Nov 2018). I am looking forward to the support and growth that will occur within our cohort as we transitions to graduate prepared nurse.

DeCelle, G. (July 2015) Advanced degrees: Meeting the needs of nurses and patients. Nursing Management,Volume :46 Number 7 , page 19 – 21.

Schmidit, K. 5 Reasons Nurses Should Engage in Professional Networking [Blog Post]. Retrieved November 14, 2018, from  https://blog.bluepipes.com/5-reasons-nurses-should-take-professional-networking-seriously/

Hello Class! My name is Amy  and have been a Registered Nurse for over seventeen years. I began my journey in emergency medicine and continued in that setting for over a decade. During my later years of working in the emergency department, I transitioned to aesthetic medicine and truly found my calling. My initial steps of deciding to commit included loving helping others look and feel better, ultimately helping them to live happier lives. Two years after taking my first injectable course, I opened my own business called Glo Derma and have been living my dream ever since. I created an oasis in my community to provide a place that offers a rejuvenating environment to help others. In addition to operating Glo Derma, I am also a National Trainer and recently launched a training program for other medical professionals. As a side note, but honestly is my most proud accomplishment, I am a mother to five amazing children who I call the “Fab Five.”

Walden’s mission and goals stand true to curating a positive social change and producing practitioners for the common good (2021). This supports my foundation of wanting to continue to expand my knowledge in aesthetics, wellness, education, leadership, and community space. Since beginning my journey at Walden University, I have already learned so much in my classes and have been pushed out of my comfort zone on many occasions. I no longer feel that I am simply “checking all of the boxes” but know that I am doing this for a purpose and am proud to be a part of this program.

I have learned through my professional career that networking is one of the most useful tools in expanding outreach, knowledge and potential growth in one’s career. The vast majority of jobs are obtained through networking (Schmidt, K., 2020). Currently I am a member of the ANA (American Nursing Association), GAIN Network for Galderma, ISAPN (International Society of Plastic and Aesthetic Nurses), and have even created my own networking opportunities within my scope of practice. I have discovered that community over competition generally wins for everyone and finds a massive amount of value to that.

References

Walden University. (2021). Vision, Mission, and Goals. Walden University Catalog. Received from  

Schmidt, K. (2020). 5 reasons nurses should engage in professional networking. BluePipes. Received from  

RE: Discussion – Week 1

Networking Opportunities

Introduction

           My name is Jessica Prinz and I have been a registered nurse since 2004. My background is primarily in the emergency department and level 1 trauma, I left ER 5 years ago and since then I have held positions within internal medicine, plastic surgery, home health, and pain management. I live in Arizona and have two children. In my spare time, I enjoy working out, hiking, cooking, and spending time with my girls.

Walden’s Vision, Mission, and Goals

           As an emergency room nurse, I cared for mentally ill patients several times a day, every day, and I soon realized I had a passion for this vulnerable population and that is why I am seeking a PMHNP degree. I feel my mission is aligned with Walden’s “provides a diverse community of career professionals with the opportunity to transform themselves as scholar-practitioners so that they can affect positive social change”. (Walden, 2021). As a practitioner, I hope to decrease the stigma associated with mental health and hope to help more people come forward when in need, “positive social change results in the improvement of human and social conditions”. (Walden, 2021).

Goals and Outcomes

          Walden’s MSN Program Outcomes relates to my professional and academic goals of becoming a scholar-practitioner in that I want to be part of a medical profession that helps mainstream mental health promotion, intervention, and maintenance. This MSN program outcome reflects my goal, “Evaluate health needs of diverse populations for necessary teaching/coaching functions based on specialist nursing knowledge to restore/promote health and prevent illness/injury”. (Walden University, 2021).

Networking

Networking is important because it builds relationships and creates a network of individuals that support and mentor each other throughout a lifetime. You never know whom you will need or run into down the road. I support these relationships and hold them of high value. I completely agree with this statement found in the Blue Pipes article, “In other words, a connection may be able to offer direct help or put you in contact with someone who can directly help you, but you may be able to return the favor at some point”. (Schmidt, 2018).

References

Walden University. (2021). Master of Science in Nursing. MSN Learning Outcomes.

Walden University. (n.d.). Walden University catalog. Retrieved September 1, 2021, 

Schmidt, K. (n.d.). 5 Reasons Nurses Should Engage in Professional Networking [web log].   

My name is G . I am a Registered Nurse in the state of New Jersey. I am currently enrolled in the MSN ( FNP) program. In my quest to become a scholar-practitioner, I have found Walden University to be the most ideal choice for my current step in this career path. The goals and mission of Walden University align with my ideologies and desires. As a health practitioner, one ought to acquire knowledge that they can use to solve problems and make the world a better place. This defines the vision of Walden University (Walden University, 2011a). Its graduates should be released to the community with the ability to apply the knowledge instilled in them by the institution to advance the greater global good.

Walden’s mission statement emphasizes on the ability of the diverse professionals who graduate from the institution to effect positive change in the society (Walden University, 2011a). In health care, positive change is measured in terms of patient outcomes among others. As such, I intend to further my knowledge at Walden to better the outcomes of my patients albeit to effect positive change. Additionally, one of the goals of Walden University is to provide innovative programs that are at par with the current societal needs (Walden University, 2011b). For instance, as a health practitioner, I look forward to being able to provide the most current and effective management to my patients as opposed to relying on old and potentially outdated guidelines.

Evidence-based practice is cornerstone to nursing and other medical disciplines. At Walden, it is the goal of the institution to provide learning using diverse approaches including evidence-based practice (Walden University, 2011b). I look forward to meeting all the university outcomes as put out by the institution. Above all, I look forward to being able to impact positive change in the profession and the society at large after completing the program.

References

Walden University. (2011a). About the school. Retrieved from

Walden University. (2011b). Vision, mission, and goals. Retrieved from

My name is Alena Nichols. I have been nursing for 14 years. I have a background nursing in med-surgical and currently emergency nursing. My vision is to become a Family Nurse Practitioner. I believe nursing is more than a job, it’s truly a calling. Despite life’s unexpected challenges, I have remained focused on my life long goals. I have climbed the ladder in my medical career. I began as a Certified Medical Coder, Ward Clerk, LPN, RN, RN to BSN and now enrolled in the Master’s Program. It’s a great honor to look back an see how far I have come. I have suffered with a great deal of lost in my life, but I never lost hope on my vision in becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner. It reminds me of Walden’s Vision. As stated in Walden vision statement nursing, health, and related sciences will transform the provision of nursing services along the continuum of care and across the human life span to meet the needs of individuals and local and global communities (2021a).

I want to make a difference not only at my workplace, but my community. I was pleased to know that my mission mimics the mission at Walden University.  Walden’s mission is to provide the opportunity to transform a diverse community of career professionals to be scholarly-practitioners so they can effect positive social change (Vision, Mission, and Goals. 2021).  I am looking forward to succeeding and leading by example for others as well as my community.  I am also looking forward to social networking with my colleagues to enhance my learning experience at Walden. I have just began classes and I am already amazed at all the help and support that has been readily available from Walden University. This will truly be a great experience.  Best wishes to all…

Vision, Mission, and Goals. Vision, Mission, and Goals – Walden University – Acalog ACMS™. (2021, March). https://catalog.waldenu.edu/content.php?                                         catoid=153&navoid=49950.

Walden University. (2021a). About the school. Retrieved from

https://www.waldenu.edu/Colleges-and-Schools/College-of-Health-Sciences/15863.htm

Excellent discussion post. I, too, started in Labor and Delivery as that was always my dream job. I still love and miss L&D every day. However, childcare conflicts required me to transfer to a Monday-Friday office job that aligned with daycare hours. Luckily, I was placed at a pediatric primary care clinic, and I have truly loved it. Working in pediatrics has made me more aware of the desperate need for pediatric mental health practitioners. Currently, our patients have to travel over three hours for the closest pediatric mental health provider, and the wait to get them in can vary from one to two months. I think it’s terrific you are pursuing this career and wanting to bring positive social change to your facility. Positive social change improves human and social conditions by promoting the worth, dignity, and development of individuals and organizations (Walden University, 2021a). Walden’s PMH-NP program will adequately prepare you as a leader to deliver high-quality healthcare and bring about positive social change (Walden University, 2021b). 

 Networking is a great way to achieve your vision and goals. A tremendous professional nursing association you might consider joining if you are not already a member is the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA). The APNA is the largest professional organization for psychiatric-mental health nursing and could be an excellent resource to help you with wellness promotion of those with mental health issues, prevention of mental health problems, and with the care and treatment of children with psychiatric disorders (American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 2020).

 

References

 

American Psychiatric Nurses Association. (2020). About the American Psychiatric Nurses Association: An

 

Introduction. Retrieved June 5, 2021, from 

 

Walden University. (2021a). Introduction. Retrieved June 5, 2021, from 

 

 

Walden University. (2021b). Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). Retrieved June 5, 2021, from 

 

Discussion Post Week 1 – Nurse 6002

Working as a Program Director for a Mental Health Crisis Residential Program in California, it is my desire and goal to become a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner working with individuals undergoing mental health crisis throughout the state.  Having four years of experience working with patients who are uninsured with substance use, homeless & mental health issues, I have a passion to grow professionally to provide the best health care possible. Walden’s social change initiatives relate to my professional and academic goals stating “Walden supports positive social change through the development of principled, knowledgeable, and ethical scholar-practitioners, who are and will become civic and professional role models by advancing the betterment of society” (Walden, 2011).  Continuous education enables newly graduated Nurse Practitioners to helpfully and professionally influence their nursing careers and the communities they work with, as Walden affirms in their University Values “Three values – quality, integrity, and student-centeredness -are the core of the university and the touchstones for action at all levels of the organization” (Walden, 2011).

The Walden MSN program outcomes and perspectives relate to my nursing career, academic goals and becoming a scholar-practitioner by guiding, educating and demonstrating how nursing students can create organizational leadership skills, analyze evidence-based literature, effectively communicate and evaluate the health needs of diverse populations (Walden, 2011). These MSN program outcomes and perspectives assist nursing students to focus their learning on becoming leaders, changing the quality of patient care, managing technology and information and focusing their practice on the specific health needs of their communities.

As a relatively new nurse of four years nursing experience, I have come to realize just how important networking is to assist with achieving professional and academic goals.  Throughout nursing school networking tools such as social media platforms were invaluable with assisting students in large numbers communicate with each other. Social media forums such as Facebook and Instagram were easy, quick ways to reach out to fellow students when requesting any class information, thoughts or concerns.  Now as a career professional, networking is even more important. “A social network can be defined as a network of social interactions and personal relationships” (Schmidt, 2018). Professional networking can promote employee referrals as many facilities offer employees generous referral bonuses for recommending colleagues. Nurses can subscribe or join professional online associations which can lead to a job, a transfer to a different unit or career advancement. Networking with my fellow class mates at Walden University may assist me with questions or queries I have regarding the course material or assignments. Fellow student discussions may reveal interest in other career fields which I know little about, developing a professional network with other students may open my mind to new professional career scopes.

References

Schmidt, K. (n.d.). 5 reasons nurses should engage in professional networking. Retrieved October 12, 2018, from

Walden University. (n.d.) College of Nursing. Retrieved October 12, 2021 from

Walden University. (n.d.). MSN Learning Outcomes.  Retrieved October 12, 2021 from

It has taken me years to determine what, exactly, my goals were. I started as a young nurse working in women and children’s healthcare. At the time, all I wanted was to be a labor and delivery nurse. This was 30 years ago. Things change, we change and grow, and continue to learn about ourselves and our communities both local and global. In the end, my goal is to help bring about social change. This is something that Walden University also cares about.

” Walden University defines positive social change as a deliberate process of creating and applying ideas, strategies, and actions to promote the worth, dignity, and development of individuals, communities, organizations, institutions, cultures, and societies. Positive social change results in the improvement of human and social conditions.”

The importance of recognizing each individuals inherent worth is the cornerstone of everything I do as a nurse. I only recently obtained my MSN from Chamberlain University. It took two months of having that degree for me to understand that it wasn’t enough. That wanting to promote change would take more.  Ultimately, I have decided to pursue the role of PMHNP.  In this, I would like to focus particularly in the area of pediatrics.

I am fortunate to work on a small, community pediatric unit, which is currently developing a program tailored specifically to the needs of pediatric mental health patients. Our unit is going to be utilized as bed space for children waiting for placement. Currently, there is limited access to bed space in psychiatric facilities in our state. Because of this, children (and adults) are left in small rooms with no windows or comfortable beds in the emergency department. The process can take upwards of several weeks. Our goal is to allow mental health healing to begin before departure to a specialty facility. We have child life specialists, pediatricians, social workers, all available on our unit to assist these young patients during their stay. My hope is to create a position for myself as a mental health practitioner within the hospital.

Becoming a successful nurse has been my dream. To realize this dream, I had look for the best nursing college that would adequately prepare me for real world nursing experience.

My Goals and

According to Walden’s College of Nursing website, its vision is to “transform the provision of nursing services along the continuum of care and across the human life span to meet the needs of individuals and local and global communities (Walden University)”. This ambitious vision is set into action through Walden’s mission to “[seek] enhancement of critical thinking skills, abilities to select and implement evidence-based practices, and core and specialty nursing knowledge in order to transform society (Walden University).” When searching for a University to further expand my nursing knowledge and skills in order to provide the best nursing care possible, I wasn’t really sure where to start; or even exactly sure of what I was looking for. However, when I found Walden University through a mutual friend and Walden Alum, its mission and vision really hit home for me.

I should start by introducing myself. My name is Elizabeth. I was born and raised in Southern California. As a child, I did not really know what I wanted to be when I grew up. I did know, however, that I wanted to help people and make a difference in people’s lives. Through the years my passion for nursing became my calling and I set out to become a critical care nurse; where I personally felt that I could make the biggest difference. As a critical care nurse for half a decade, I began to really reflect on my career in the last 5 years and realized that I had hit a point in my nursing life where I had officially navigated from “novice to expert” (Benner).  Of course, in nursing there is always learning to be done, and I do not mean “expert” in a way where I know it all and there is nothing left to learn; but more of an “expert nurse [who] no longer relies on principles, rules, or guidelines to connect situations and determine actions” (Benner). I was able to get through my shift with enough critical thinking, nursing skills, and knowledge to feel 100% confident that I was taking care of my patients in the best way possible.  I hit a point where I felt that I was ready to learn more in order to be more for my patients’ and their families.

This was a ground-breaking moment in which for the first time in 5 years I felt lost in my career. So many different options in nursing; how would I possibly choose the right one? This is when I found Walden University and suddenly so many things became so much clearer. When I read Walden’s mission and vision which, in sum, strives “to meet the needs of individuals and local and global communities” and “transform society” through critical thinking, evidence-based practice, and specialized nursing knowledge I felt like it was calling out to me. Although I was not sure how I wanted to continue to expand my career in nursing, I knew that my goal and vision for my future was to further expand my nursing knowledge through evidence-based practice in order to promote my critical thinking skills to make a difference in the lives of the individuals and communities that I am blessed to work with. Being able to accomplish all of these things in addition to mastering Walden’s MSN learning outcomes, such as “exhibit[ing] ongoing commitment to professional development and value of nursing theories/ethical principles …”, in order to transform myself and create a positive social change at the individual, community and global levels, as Walden’s mission states, would make me feel truly accomplished as a nursing professional providing care to others.

Building relationships and Networking Opportunities

In addition to gaining all of the book knowledge and expanding my critical thinking skills from my courses at Walden, it is also crucial to begin to create relationships and a “social network” that would help make my goals more attainable. According to Schmidt, “a social network can be defined as a network of social interactions and personal relationships.” Building this network and establishing these relationships early on can help make a bigger impact in the long run. For example, taking the first step to achieve my career and educational goals all started through a mutual relationship that I established in the past. A previous coworker who attended Walden several years ago that I have kept in touch with, was the one who first directed me to the university when I felt like I was at crossroads in my nursing career; not knowing which path I wanted to take. Had I not kept this relationship, I may have never found Walden and may still be in the same lost place that I was just a few months ago.

In this same fashion, many professionals discover once in a life-time opportunities that they otherwise may never have known existed, such as nursing conferences, volunteer opportunities, and even employment opportunities. As a matter of fact, “both  and  …[claim] that 70% of all jobs are found through networking” (Schmidt). I look forward to further developing my networking skills at Walden and using these relationships in any way that I can in order to continue to help others and further enhance social change in a positive manner. As the old proverb goes, “there is power in numbers” and this could not be truer when it comes to building relationships and networking, especially in the health care industry.

References

College of Nursing Mission and Vision. Walden University. (n.d.). https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/fieldexperience/son#s-lg-box-3837398.

Dr. Patricia Benner. Nursing Theory. (2020, October 17). https://www.nursing-theory.org/nursing-theorists/Patricia-Benner.php.

MSN Learning Outcomes. Walden University. (n.d.). https://catalog.waldenu.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=179&poid=72167&returnto=65560.

Schmidt, K. (n.d.). 5 Reasons Nurses Should Engage in Professional Networking. BluePipes Blog. https://blog.bluepipes.com/5-reasons-nurses-should-take-professional-networking-seriously/.

Vision, Mission, and Goals. Walden University. (n.d.). https://catalog.waldenu.edu/content.php?catoid=179&navoid=65155.

Response

Rachel, I am very interested in learning more about your current position. A previous colleague of mine recently became a PMHNP. She is now working at a county hospital working with individuals needing detox with comorbidities. Therefore, she  has the privilege of working with several specialists on the medical floors. Needless to say she is learning a lot as a novice PMHNP. I am hoping to be able precept at that facility as I am very interested in that role. I am hoping to keep in contact with her as well as meet some of coworkers  for networking for a preceptor and learning experience. She has stated that she works in a very supportive environment. “Development of qualified faculty members and preceptors who represent the diversity of the population must be addressed  to adequately train PMNP to meet the demands of their future roles” (Kaas, 2020).

Kass, M. (2020) Will we be ready? Preparing psychiatric mental health nurses for future practice. Journal of the American Psychiatric  Nurses Association, 26(1), 112-119. https://doi.org/10.1177/1078390319878767

Name: NURS_6003_Module01_Week01_Discussion_Rubric

Excellent Good Fair Poor
Main Posting
45 (45%) – 50 (50%)
Answers all parts of the discussion question(s) expectations with reflective critical analysis and synthesis of knowledge gained from the course readings for the module and current credible sources. 

Supported by at least three current, credible sources. 

Written clearly and concisely with no grammatical or spelling errors and fully adheres to current APA manual writing rules and style.
40 (40%) – 44 (44%)
Responds to the discussion question(s) and is reflective with critical analysis and synthesis of knowledge gained from the course readings for the module. 

At least 75% of post has exceptional depth and breadth. 

Supported by at least three credible sources. 

Written clearly and concisely with one or no grammatical or spelling errors and fully adheres to current APA manual writing rules and style.
35 (35%) – 39 (39%)
Responds to some of the discussion question(s). 

One or two criteria are not addressed or are superficially addressed. 

Is somewhat lacking reflection and critical analysis and synthesis. 

Somewhat represents knowledge gained from the course readings for the module. 

Post is cited with two credible sources. 

Written somewhat concisely; may contain more than two spelling or grammatical errors. 

Contains some APA formatting errors.
0 (0%) – 34 (34%)
Does not respond to the discussion question(s) adequately. 

Lacks depth or superficially addresses criteria. 

Lacks reflection and critical analysis and synthesis. 

Does not represent knowledge gained from the course readings for the module. 

Contains only one or no credible sources. 

Not written clearly or concisely. 

Contains more than two spelling or grammatical errors. 

Does not adhere to current APA manual writing rules and style.
Main Post: Timeliness
10 (10%) – 10 (10%)
Posts main post by day 3.
0 (0%) – 0 (0%)
0 (0%) – 0 (0%)
0 (0%) – 0 (0%)
Does not post by day 3.
First Response
17 (17%) – 18 (18%)
Response exhibits synthesis, critical thinking, and application to practice settings. 

Responds fully to questions posed by faculty. 

Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas that are supported by at least two scholarly sources. 

Demonstrates synthesis and understanding of learning objectives. 

Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues. 

Responses to faculty questions are fully answered, if posed. 

Response is effectively written in standard, edited English.
15 (15%) – 16 (16%)
Response exhibits critical thinking and application to practice settings. 

Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues. 

Responses to faculty questions are answered, if posed. 

Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas that are supported by two or more credible sources. 

Response is effectively written in standard, edited English.
13 (13%) – 14 (14%)
Response is on topic and may have some depth. 

Responses posted in the discussion may lack effective professional communication. 

Responses to faculty questions are somewhat answered, if posed. 

Response may lack clear, concise opinions and ideas, and a few or no credible sources are cited.
0 (0%) – 12 (12%)
Response may not be on topic and lacks depth. 

Responses posted in the discussion lack effective professional communication. 

Responses to faculty questions are missing. 

No credible sources are cited.
Second Response
16 (16%) – 17 (17%)
Response exhibits synthesis, critical thinking, and application to practice settings. 

Responds fully to questions posed by faculty. 

Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas that are supported by at least two scholarly sources. 

Demonstrates synthesis and understanding of learning objectives. 

Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues. 

Responses to faculty questions are fully answered, if posed. 

Response is effectively written in standard, edited English.
14 (14%) – 15 (15%)
Response exhibits critical thinking and application to practice settings. 

Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues. 

Responses to faculty questions are answered, if posed. 

Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas that are supported by two or more credible sources. 

Response is effectively written in standard, edited English.
12 (12%) – 13 (13%)
Response is on topic and may have some depth. 

Responses posted in the discussion may lack effective professional communication. 

Responses to faculty questions are somewhat answered, if posed. 

Response may lack clear, concise opinions and ideas, and a few or no credible sources are cited.
0 (0%) – 11 (11%)
Response may not be on topic and lacks depth. 

Responses posted in the discussion lack effective professional communication. 

Responses to faculty questions are missing. 

No credible sources are cited.
Participation
5 (5%) – 5 (5%)
Meets requirements for participation by posting on three different days.
0 (0%) – 0 (0%)
0 (0%) – 0 (0%)
0 (0%) – 0 (0%)
Does not meet requirements for participation by posting on 3 different days.
Total Points: 100

Name: NURS_6003_Module01_Week01_Discussion_Rubric

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