NURS 6003 Discussion Strategies for Academic Portfolios
NURS 6003 Discussion Strategies for Academic Portfolios
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Building a brand and maintaining an academic portfolio is excellent for contributing to one’s success. “They are considered an essential tool in demonstrating professional accomplishments and documenting professional growth for various professions (Williams, & Jordan, 2007). I would include my transcripts in my portfolio. This will show the different courses I have taken and how well I have done in these courses. It will also provide them with an understanding of my level of education. I would also include my state of Michigan nursing license. This will provide them with the understanding that I am board-certified and qualified to perform as a licensed registered nurse. This will benefit achieving my professional developmental goals because they are steppingstones to furthering my academic level from a bachelor’s to a master’s degree.
The IOM report has significant influence on nursing education and leadership. Firstly, as equal partners, nurses are leaders and have increased power to advocate change and revise restrictive barriers to practice. Nurses are recognized as primary care providers in certain states and can lead in care provision among inter-professional and multidisciplinary teams (Shelton et al., 2020). The IOM report has improved nurses access to better and advanced education as it recommended an increase in Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) prepared-nurses to respond to the changing nature of healthcare provision. Through the recommendation and evidence-based practice (EBP) findings, many facilities introduced tuition reimbursement, instituted continuing education plans and promotions to incentivize nurses to attain higher educational qualifications.
My goals align with the university’s emphasis on social change on improving the human condition, cultures, society toward an impacting future. I plan to do that with my master’s degree working with patients with mental health illnesses being culturally sensitive, aligning with social change at Walden University. It is critical for health care providers to be culturally sensitive to provide high quality of care. As a Mental health NP, I will also be helping improve the mental well-being of individuals, which is another example of aligning with the university’s goals for social change. I plan to do that by ensuring patients are following their medical care treatment. I also ensure that they are receiving the level of care needed for patients’ success.
Professional strategies are techniques for achieving individual performance goals which include areas such as leadership, decision making, problem-solving, influencing, motivation, and navigating office politics that are often a strategic challenge for a career. Enrolling into Walden University to advance my education is one huge step of an individual performance goal towards my portfolio. Congratulations to all my colleagues for taking the initial step of enrolling at Walden University to advance our education.
However, as a Registered nurse and a wife of an entrepreneur in a healthcare business. The strategy for my portfolio is to gain a more active approach to professional networking. Nursing is a highly dynamic field. Patient care protocols are constantly evolving. New technology and medical advancements are developing at an ever-increasing pace (Schmidt n.d.). The scope of the nursing practice continues to expand as different diseases & viruses continue to erupt, for example, Covid-19, with new rules & regulations, and guidelines to adapt. Professional networking can be a big help in this endeavor. Developing professional relationships, attending professional conferences and utilizing professional networking websites, attending meetings and workshops. Professionally networking with other healthcare departments such as therapies, physicians, social workers, etc., all these serve to facilitate the exchange of ideas and information that are vital to keeping a nurse’s knowledge fresh and relevant. Building bonds with professionals of all types enhances an active networking approach which establishes a relationship that is mutually beneficial and more palatable. I plan to use professional networking on my academic activities, my accomplishments in my professional portfolio, and enhancing the family business.
NURS 6003 Discussion Strategies for Academic Portfolios
Another strategy I intend to incorporate into my portfolio is to approach someone whose career I admire. “A Guide.” Someone who can provide objective advice. “Success leaves clues,” as Tony Robbins often said. Studying and imitating the career paths of those who have already achieved enormous success. Engaging and shadowing a mentor who has been in your shoes and grown as a result of it. They would be able to answer your questions objectively. Engaging a mentor creates a soft counterforce to balance the sometimes-rock-hard path of professional growth (Robbins).
According to the Institute of Physics, in addition to developing new skills and understanding one’s career path, working with a mentor provides a sense of stability, constructive feedback, and an unbiased perspective on the mentee’s goals, strengths, and challenges. Mentorship provides a safe environment for exploring one’s weaknesses and practicing new skills without fear of being judged. Thanks to the week 7 assignment (Medtrek), which requires us to find our preceptor(s) sooner, I plan to explore the site more to become acquainted with the preceptorship goals.
Other strategies for academic activities and accomplishments that I could incorporate into my professional portfolio in order to achieve my optimal goal exist. I will not only have a mentor, but I will surround myself with positive people who share similar or identical goals in order to encourage and boost one another. Using Walden University’s Center for Social Change as a networking hub with three major commitments: empowering change-makers, building community, and elevating social change outcomes (Walden (n.d.), would strengthen and add to my developing skills.
References:
Schmidt, K. (n.d.). 5 reasons nurses should engage in professional networking
bluepipes.com/5-reasons-nurses-should-take-professional-networking-seriously Retrieved October 17, 2021
Robbins, K. 8 professional Development strategies Retrieved October 17, 2021
https://www.tonyrobbins.com/business
Zaniewski, A.M., Reinholz, D. Increasing STEM success: a near-peer mentoring program in the physical sciences. IJ STEM Ed 3, 14 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-016-0043-2
Walden University. (n.d.). Walden 2020 A Vision for Social Change. https://www.waldenu.edu/-/media/walden/files/about-walden/walden-university2017-social-change-report
NURS 6003 Discussion Strategies for Academic Portfolios
Discussion: Strategies for Academic Portfolios
In the realm of marketing, a successful branding strategy is one of the most important contributors to organizational success. A solid branding strategy can help add visibility and credibility to a company’s products.
Similarly, nurse-scholars can build a personal brand to add visibility and credibility to their work. You can begin building your brand by developing and maintaining an academic portfolio. Such an activity can help share the results of your efforts and contribute to your success. This Module’s Discussion asks you to consider and share strategies for building your portfolio.
Note: Unless otherwise noted, initial postings to Discussions are due on or before Day 3, and response postings are due on or before Day 6. You are required to participate in the Discussion on at least three different days (a different day for main post and each response). It is important to adhere to the weekly time frame to allow others ample time to respond to your posting. In addition, you are expected to respond to questions directed toward your own initial posting in a timely manner.
To Prepare:
• Reflect on strategies that you can pursue in developing portfolios or portfolio elements that focus on academic achievements.
• Review one or more samples from your own research of resources focused on portfolio development.
By Day 3 of Week 8
Post an explanation of at least two strategies for including academic activities and accomplishments into your professional development goals. Then, explain how those goals may align with the University’s emphasis on social change. Be specific and provide examples.
By Day 6 of Week 8
Respond to at least two of your colleagues’ posts by offering additional ideas regarding academic achievements to include or offering alternative ways of presenting the current achievements.
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Initial Post: Discussion – Week 8
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The growing need for more practitioners joining general and family practices calls for advanced practice nurses to establish and maintain work portfolios to present to future employers. Portfolios are considered an essential tool in demonstrating professional accomplishments and documenting professional growth for a variety of professions (Burns, 2018). Maintaining a robust portfolio of material evidencing professional development activities and how they have informed and influenced practice is therefore a mandatory requirement (Casey & Egan, 2010). Evidence used within the portfolio can undertake a personal review of where a practitioner currently is in terms of their development and consider where they want to be (Casey & Egan, 2010).
I plan on creating and maintaining a work portfolio so that I can become visible and credible to my future employers. A portfolio is used as a marketing tool that showcases an individual’s skills, achievements, and goals. My portfolio will list all current achievements, education, specialty certifications, career goals, and learning plan. The professional work portfolio aligns with Walden’s vision of social change. Walden describes the 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 (Walden, n.d.).
I also plan to use social networks such as LinkedIn to stay connected to other practitioners who also use the site to collaborate, educate, and stay informed. A social network allows everyone to participate in the discussion and contribute to the overall initiative (Barton, 2010). Joining nursing student groups such as Facebook and LinkedIn allow for formal and informal introductions and discussions in these groups that may benefit students. All academic and professional students may find this form of communication helpful and imperative in search of a job in the nursing field.
References
Barton, A. (2010). Using Technology to Enhance the Effectiveness of Social Networks to Promote Quality Patient Care. Clinical Nurse Specialist, 24 (1), 6-7.
doi: 10.1097/NUR.0b013e3181c4ac01.
Burns, M.K. (2018). Creating a nursing portfolio. Ohio Nurses Review, 93(3), 16-17.
Casey, D.C. & Egan, D. (2010). The use of professional portfolios and profiles for career enhancement. British Journal of Community Nursing, 15(11), 547-552.
Walden University. (n.d.). Field experience: College of Nursing: Student resources- Graduate courses. https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/ld.php?content_id=45260984
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Strategies for Academic Portfolios
A nursing portfolio is a collection of brochures highlighting a nurse’s accomplishments, experience, participation, and abilities (Burns, 2018). Burns (2018) explains the functions of nursing portfolios. Burns noted that a portfolio’s reason should contain self-promotion, evidence of the outcome, structure, and the individual’s intended direction. Through the portfolio, nurses will demonstrate their accomplishments, competencies, and ambitions to future employers. The professional portfolio will not replace a resume or curriculum vitae (CV), but it will augment them by highlighting a candidate’s professional achievements (Alfred, 2016).
Strategies
To include academic activities and achievements in my professional portfolio, I will describe the educational program coursework I have completed along with the degrees I have received, including the school name, dates attended, and study field (East, 2015). I will list all awards, distinctions, and professional growth experiences. I will include certificates of continuous education from agency, regional, state, and local programs. I will identify my certification number by identifying the certification, the certifying body, and the certification date, and I will ensure that it is current. Lastly, I will make it simple to update my portfolio with new information, if necessary; I will create an electronic portfolio. As my career progresses, I will revise my portfolio and present myself with my most recent accomplishments and objectives (Casey & Egan, 2010). As I market myself to prospective companies, I will provide all pertinent facts in a clean and straightforward fashion.
As I indicated at the beginning of this class, I work in a mental health facility, and my aim is to acquire a mental health nurse practitioner degree. Some people refer to mental health nursing as “another type of nursing,” or they ask me, “Why did you choose to deal with insane individuals?” This field of nursing is extremely stressful for patients, their families, and us nurses as well. Fortunately, I am passionate about working in mental health care. To create societal change is to alter how individuals perceive mental health nursing and mental disease. To achieve this, I provide my patients with comprehensive treatment by listening to them and responding to their needs. I advocate on their behalf and treat them without prejudice.
References
Theodore, L. (2016). enhancing one’s professional portfolio 87-88 in Radiation Therapist, 25(1).
Burns, M. K. (2018). Creating a portfolio in nursing. 16-17, Ohio Nurses Review, 93(3).
https://eds-b-ebscohost-com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?
Casey, D. C., and D. Egan (2010). Utilizing professional portfolios and profiles to advance one’s career. British Journal of Community Nursing, 15(11), pages 547-550. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjcn.2010.15.11.79625
East, R. (2015). Developing a portfolio for a nurse practitioner. ACORN: The Australian Journal of Perioperative Nursing, 28(4), 35.
I thoroughly liked reading your piece, which, in terms of techniques, approaches, and areas of particular concern – mental health – was remarkably similar to my own. There is a proverb that goes, “When you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” A nursing portfolio is a component of the blueprint that guides the student nurse from school to a professional career. When set out and accompanied by a plan for achieving them, goals lead to achievement. The key is to strive for excellence (Laureate Education, 2018). The nursing portfolio aligns with the good social change promoted by Walden University.
The objective of positive social change at Walden University is to produce graduate students who are ready and eager to reform society via their actions and projects that directly influence the concerns of regular people (Walden University, 2017).
References
The Laureate Education Corporation (2018). The Walden Path to a Master of Science in Nursing: Your Professional Development Strategy (Video file). Baltimore, MD Author.
https://class.content.laureate.net/7662f63590d86b02553e8d697c93fa05.html
The university Walden (2017). 2017 Report on Walden 2020: A Vision for Social Change https://www.waldenu.edu/-/media/walden/files/about-walden/walden-university-2017-social-change-report-final-v-2.pdf?rev=5ded98a6d84e4a0096d02c9ec0f458af&hash=3CBA4D20AF7FA7F23BC21D69B2A9EB37
Professional development is a concept for career-based nurses. In professional development, nurses take the steps necessary to advance their practice through education, volunteering, networking, attending seminars, and gaining credentials. Nurses should keep a portfolio to document their achievements to market themselves for professional organizations and jobs in professional development. Portfolios are a way of charting your progress and achievements in nursing. According to an article by Margaret Burns (2018), there are two different types of portfolios, one that showcases the nurse’s specific achievements and another that is broader than documents everything the nurse has accomplished. A specified portfolio of accomplishment is more conducive for job and professional organization applications, while the more common portfolio keeps track of the nurse’s clinical, educational, and volunteer experiences (p. 15).
For my undergraduate degree, a nursing portfolio was required to be completed before graduating. I constructed my portfolio on a website and included my background, current nursing position, future goals, and artifacts from each of my courses that people who reviewed my portfolio could read. I have used this portfolio during interviews, especially for travel nursing agencies, because it encompasses all of my time and experiences as a nurse.
Travel Nursing Experience
My first strategy for building a sound portfolio is to document my experience as a nurse. To do this, I have joined a travel nursing agency to become a temporary nurse at different facilities. I have a background in medical-surgical, intermediate, and critical care nursing so that I can float between these three disciplines at various facilities. This will help articulate my vast experience as a nurse when I become a nurse practitioner and apply for a job. Each hospital organization is set up differently, so I will learn their competencies, nursing workflow, and different management styles of disease processes. In future practice, I will be able to use these skills when I manage a patient’s plan of care. An article by Jan Daubener (2001) provides anecdotes from different travel nurses to explain the pros and cons of the career field. One account from a nurse demonstrated their increased competency and comfort level managing critical drips and ventilators in an ICU that differed from their home unit. As such, the nurse was adaptable and learned the processes at the new hospital he traveled to and was successful. As a result, he gained more experience and comfort level handling a different management style and could use this knowledge in future travel contracts. Traveling to new agencies means that I will have to be comfortable with not knowing everything and adapt quickly to new situations. This measurement of self-assessment relates to a critical aspect of nursing portfolio development.
In an article by Casey and Egan (2010):
Evidence used within the portfolio can be used to undertake a personal review of where a practitioner currently is in terms of their development and consider where they want to be. A SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis can be a simple but useful tool to analyze professional strengths, skills, knowledge, and ability) and weaknesses (areas for development.) These can then be considered in the context of the opportunities for development and the potential threats or barriers to development (p. 550).
Travel nursing will require me to constantly assess my current knowledge and experience level, narrow down what I need to improve, and then reflect on what I have learned. This skill will be used constantly in my future practice as a nurse practitioner.
Professional Certifications
My next strategy for constructing a solid portfolio of my nursing practice is to gain credentials or competencies in my chosen practice area. Currently, I am pursuing a specialization in acute care practice for adults and geriatrics. My eventual goal is to work as a nurse practitioner in endocrinology and diabetes management. One specific nursing credential I am actively trying to achieve is certified diabetes educator (CDE). This is awarded to nurses who have the required amount of hours managing and counseling patients on diabetes and successfully passing the proctored exam. If I have this credential, it will represent my interest and passion for diabetes management and supply me with the knowledge necessary to make critical decisions when managing this disease. According to an article presented on the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses (2019), certified nurses gain more respect, possess increased knowledge and competency, have more job opportunities, are more reliable and make fewer errors, decrease healthcare costs, and provide better patient outcomes, (pp. 2-3). By gaining a credential, shows my commitment to the profession and drive to advance my knowledge.
Social Change
My strategies to obtain my goals of nursing excellence relate to Walden University’s social change initiative. According to Walden University (2021), “ …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” (para. 6). My experience from different nursing facilities and my credentials from my CDE exam will allow me to have an advanced perspective on nursing. I will have more knowledge and experience caring for patients, be more credible based on my certifications, and be able to transition into the nurse practitioner role where I can use my knowledge to act ethically and advance the health of my community, thus creating positive social change.
Conclusion
Nurses use professional portfolios to showcase the critical aspects of their career journey as proof for career development. A strong portfolio will give a background of nursing experience, education level, credentials, and letters of recommendation so that employers and professional organizations can assess the nurse’s abilities. By gaining expertise from travel nursing and achieving certifications, I can add these to my portfolio as evidence of my nursing expertise to eventually create positive social change.
References
American Association of Neuroscience Nurses. (2019). Impact of nursing certification on nurses, healthcare employers and patients [PDF]. American association of neuroscience nurses. Retrieved October 17, 2021, from https://aann.org/uploads/Meetings/2020/WhitePaper_ACU_Certification.pdf
Burns, M. K. (2018). Creating a nursing portfolio. Ohio Nurses Review, 93(3), 16–17. Retrieved October 17, 2021, from https://doi.org/https://eds-b-ebscohost-com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=5&sid=4ee231f2-c0ff-440a-9d82-4c18e2e9ee28%40sessionmgr102
Casey, D., & Egan, D. (2010). The use of professional portfolios and profiles for career enhancement. British Journal of Community Nursing, 15(11), 547–552. Retrieved October 17, 2021, from
Daubener, J. (2001). A look at travel nursing: Two sides to the coin. Journal of Emergency Nursing, 27(5), 507–510. Retrieved October 17, 2021, from https://doi.org/10.1067/men.2001.118574
Walden University. (2021). Mission, vision, and goals. Walden University catalog. Retrieved 2021, from https://catalog.waldenu.edu/content.php?catoid=181&navoid=66193
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Your discussion on how you would go about developing your portfolio as a tool to grow your personal brand is quite thorough. In the discussion, you discuss three key activities that you would engage in to grow your portfolio: taking part in research projects, participating in professional conferences, and looking for opportunities to lead. Under these activities, you clearly illustrate how you would engage in them to bring about social change and improve medical care for those who need it. I want to add that a portfolio provides structured evidence that helps illustrate that you meet the standards of practice in nursing (Cope & Murray, 2018). As a re
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%) |