Discussion: Strategies for Academic Portfolios NURS 6003

Discussion: Strategies for Academic Portfolios NURS 6003

Walden University Discussion: Strategies for  Academic Portfolios NURS 6003-Step-By-Step Guide

This guide will demonstrate how to complete the Walden University Discussion: Strategies for  Academic Portfolios NURS 6003 assignment based on general principles of academic writing. Here, we will show you the A, B, Cs of completing an academic paper, irrespective of the instructions. After guiding you through what to do, the guide will leave one or two sample essays at the end to highlight the various sections discussed below.

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Whether one passes or fails an academic assignment such as the Walden University Discussion: Strategies for  Academic Portfolios NURS 6003 depends on the preparation done beforehand. The first thing to do once you receive an assignment is to quickly skim through the requirements. Once that is done, start going through the instructions one by one to clearly understand what the instructor wants. The most important thing here is to understand the required format—whether it is APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.

After understanding the requirements of the paper, the next phase is to gather relevant materials. The first place to start the research process is the weekly resources. Go through the resources provided in the instructions to determine which ones fit the assignment. After reviewing the provided resources, use the university library to search for additional resources. After gathering sufficient and necessary resources, you are now ready to start drafting your paper.

How to Write the Introduction for Discussion: Strategies for  Academic Portfolios NURS 6003                     

The introduction for the Walden University Discussion: Strategies for  Academic Portfolios NURS 6003 is where you tell the instructor what your paper will encompass. In three to four statements, highlight the important points that will form the basis of your paper. Here, you can include statistics to show the importance of the topic you will be discussing. At the end of the introduction, write a clear purpose statement outlining what exactly will be contained in the paper. This statement will start with “The purpose of this paper…” and then proceed to outline the various sections of the instructions.

How to Write the Body for Discussion: Strategies for  Academic Portfolios NURS 6003                     

After the introduction, move into the main part of the Discussion: Strategies for  Academic Portfolios NURS 6003 assignment, which is the body. Given that the paper you will be writing is not experimental, the way you organize the headings and subheadings of your paper is critically important. In some cases, you might have to use more subheadings to properly organize the assignment. The organization will depend on the rubric provided. Carefully examine the rubric, as it will contain all the detailed requirements of the assignment. Sometimes, the rubric will have information that the normal instructions lack.

Another important factor to consider at this point is how to do citations. In-text citations are fundamental as they support the arguments and points you make in the paper. At this point, the resources gathered at the beginning will come in handy. Integrating the ideas of the authors with your own will ensure that you produce a comprehensive paper. Also, follow the given citation format. In most cases, APA 7 is the preferred format for nursing assignments.

How to Write the Conclusion for Discussion: Strategies for  Academic Portfolios NURS 6003                     

After completing the main sections, write the conclusion of your paper. The conclusion is a summary of the main points you made in your paper. However, you need to rewrite the points and not simply copy and paste them. By restating the points from each subheading, you will provide a nuanced overview of the assignment to the reader.

How to Format the References List for Discussion: Strategies for  Academic Portfolios NURS 6003                     

The very last part of your paper involves listing the sources used in your paper. These sources should be listed in alphabetical order and double-spaced. Additionally, use a hanging indent for each source that appears in this list. Lastly, only the sources cited within the body of the paper should appear here.

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Discussion: Strategies for Academic Portfolios NURS 6003

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.

Discussion: Strategies for Academic Portfolios NURS 6003 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

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.

Another strategy I plan to add to my portfolio is to turn to someone whose career I admire. “A Mentor”. A person who can give objective advice. As Tony Robbins would often say, “Success leaves clues.” Studying a career path of those who have already achieved massive success and mimic their actions. Engaging and shadowing a mentor who has been in your position and grown from it. They would be able to answer your questions without judgment. It’s a matter of physics; engaging a mentor creates a soft counterforce to balance the sometimes-rock-hard path of professional growth (Robbins).

The Institute of Physics reports that, in addition to cultivating new skills and an understanding of one’s career trajectory, engaging a mentor also provides a sense of stability, constructive feedback, and an unbiased perspective on the mentee’s goals, strengths, and challenges. Mentorship is a safe space for exploring one’s weaknesses and practicing new skills without fear of reproach. Thanks to the week 7 assignment (Medtrek) that forces us to find our preceptor(s) earlier and I plan to explore the site more to familiarize myself with the preceptorship goals.

There are other strategies for academic activities and accomplishments that I could add to my professional portfolio in other to obtain my optimal goal. I will not only have a mentor but would surround myself with positive people with the same or similar goals to encourage and boost one another. Utilizing Walden’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 at Walden University.

Discussion: Strategies for Academic Portfolios NURS 6003 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

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

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 week’s Discussion asks you to consider and share strategies for building your portfolio.

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.

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By Day 3

Post an explanation of at least two strategies for incorporating academic activities and achievements into your professional development objectives. Then, explain how those objectives might be compatible with the University’s emphasis on social change. Provide specifics and examples.

Support the main post with three more recent, credible sources, and cite sources within the posting’s content and on a reference list in proper APA format.

Starting a master’s degree program is a perfect time to start building a professional portfolio. By doing this, you will have a portfolio of work ready to be presented to future employers, credentialing agencies, or future doctoral programs. The process of building your portfolio will encourage you to evaluate the contributions of your courses and clinical experiences to the development of knowledge and skills needed to be successful in your advanced nursing career.

I intend to use two strategies when developing my portfolio to ensure success. These strategies will develop a strong base that shows an attitude of confidence and competence. First, I will provide evidence of professional knowledge, skills, expertise, work experience, clinical experience, professional accomplishments, and scholarly work (Casey & Egan, 2013). Second, I will prepare documents that convey the significant worth of advanced practice nurses and their contributions and impact in the health care environment. This will include documents on standards and scope of practice, guidelines, procedures, professional development, references, job descriptions, and advanced practice documentation. The most positive impact will be presenting the portfolio in an organized and professional manner.

In reviewing samples, I found that no strict rules or techniques apply. Therefore, the advanced practice nurse should reflect on which factors are most important to the target audience or organization. An example of documents in a sample included their degree with graduation date, professional employment, licensure and certifications, research, courses, lectures, and presentations.  “This provided self-promotion, evidence of outcomes, structure and direction “(Burns, 2018).

Burns, M. K. (2018). Creating a nursing portfolio. Ohio Nurses Review, 93(3), 16-17.

Casey, D. & Egan, D. (2013). The use of professional portfolios for career enhancement. British Journal of Nursing, 15(11), 547-552.

Davis, C. (2015). Developing a professional nursing portfolio. Nursing made incredibly easy, 13(1), 4.

I like how you posted that as nurses we grow day by day in character. When reading the article by Margaret Burns I loved how she reported “nurses in Australia, are required to develop and maintain portfolios… and have an annual review process.” (Burns, 2017). How awesome would that be if every nurse had a portfolio that we could review as professionals and colleagues. A place where our personal growth in our careers were updated yearly. If I had time, I would write a project suggested proposal that as nurses in America we also made that a requirement. I have to admit I never knew about portfolios prior to class, all we ever did was update our resume’.

I also liked how you commented on making a difference in the community you serve in. I feel as a nurse we help shape many aspects of our community and sometimes even the world. “Without our voice, we risk having people who know nothing about what we do making decisions that go into law, which could negatively impact nursing, and ultimately, health care in our communities.” (Kurosaka, 2022). By joining our local nursing associations and attending conventions we help make decisions that will benefit our patients, our community and our profession. Plus, we can add this to our portfolio. 🙂

Burns, M. K. (2018). Creating a Nursing Portfolio. Ohio Nurses Review, 93(3), 16–17.

Kurosaka, A. T. (2022). The Importance of the Nurses’ Voice. Nephrology Nursing Journal, 49(4), 311–349. https://doi.org/10.37526/1526-744X.2022.49.4.311

Discussion: Strategies for Academic Portfolios NURS 6003

By Day 6

Respond to at least two of your colleagues on two separate days, offering additional ideas for academic achievements to include or alternative ways of presenting current achievements.

In each required response to classmates’ main post, provide support from at least two current, credible sources and cite per APA.

Submission and Grading Details

Criteria for Evaluation

To access your rubric, go to:

Discussion Rubric for Week 5

Day 3: Post and Day 6: Respond

Discussion: Strategies for Academic Portfolios NURS 6003

To take part in this discussion, please do the following:

Discussion for Week 5

Practicum Exam

It is critical that you understand the Practicum requirements for the Master of Science in Nursing program. This quiz is intended to help you become more acquainted with the Practicum Manual and the Practicum Requirements. It will cover many of the most important Practicum topics. However, it is critical that you continue to learn more about the Practicum Requirements after completing this course.

This quiz contains ten questions in two formats: true/false and multiple choice. Please retake the exam if your score is 8 or lower. You may retake the exam as many times as necessary to obtain the desired score. Your best score will be saved. Click “take test again” to retake the quiz (this does not appear as a hyperlink but works as a hyperlink when you click on the area).

Click on your score in the My Grades section to see the questions you answered correctly and incorrectly.

To Get Ready:

Examine the College of Nursing Practicum Manual, which is available on the Walden College of Nursing Field Experience website.

Week 9’s seventh day

Finish the quiz.

Submission and Grading Information

Submit Your Quiz by Day 7 of Week 9

To submit your Quiz:

Week 9 Quiz

Next Module

To go to the next module:

Module 6

Module 5 (Weeks 8–9): Professional Development Plan

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

Laureate Education (Producer). (2018). The Walden Journey to a Masters in Nursing: Your Professional Development Plan [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Learning Objectives
Students will:

Analyze strategies for including academic activities and accomplishments into professional portfolios
Develop professional development goals
Align professional development goals to Walden’s social change initiatives
Identify concepts and requirements for the MSN Practicum

One strategy to pursue in developing a portfolio would be to focus on academic achievements. This could include documenting my clinical rotations, presenting case studies and poster presentations, or publishing research papers. Another strategy could be to highlight leadership & management experience by showcasing managerial roles within various organizations or detailing committee work/leadership positions I have held. Additionally, emphasizing community involvement can demonstrate a dedication to helping others which can be an important attribute for future clinicians. Finally, highlighting professional development & continuing education shows a commitment to lifelong learning and growth which is essential for any clinician.

Developing a portfolio that showcases ones academic achievements and demonstrates their alignment with the University’s emphasis on social change may be strategic in pursuing admission to various learning institutions (Doeze et al., 2019). One of the elements in the portfolio/ goals focuses on community-based projects which emphasizes on the university’s goals or plans on social change. As an example, one of my recent community-based projects was developing a training curriculum for volunteers working with refugees. This experience was important to me because it demonstrated my ability to think critically about complex social issues and develop strategies for addressing them. The experience is also in line with the university’s emphasis on social change.

A university’s emphasis on social change can be a powerful impetus for portfolio elements that align with its mission. For example, a university may focus on experiential learning and civic engagement as key components of their undergraduate experience (Doeze et al., 2019). This focus is evident in the many opportunities students have to work with local organizations and businesses and to take part in meaningful community service projects. Graduates should thus be well-prepared to make a difference in the world. They should understand the importance of working collaboratively toward common goals.

Discussion: Strategies for Academic Portfolios NURS 6003 References

Doeze Jager‐van Vliet, S. B., Born, M. P., & van der Molen, H. T. (2019). Using a portfolio‐based process to develop agility among employees. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 30(1), 39-60. https://doi.org/10.1002/hrdq.21337

Due By
Assignment
Week 8, Days 1–2
Read the Learning Resources.
Compose your initial Discussion post.
Week 8, Day 3
Deadline to post your initial Discussion post.
Week 8, Days 4–5
Compose your peer Discussion responses. (Make sure to participate in the Discussion on three different days.)
Week 8, Day 6
Last day to post Discussion responses.
Week 8, Day 7
Begin to check your knowledge with the Quiz.
Week 9, Days 1–6
Continue to check your knowledge with the Quiz.
Week 9, Day 7 Final day to complete the Quiz.

Discussion: Strategies for Academic Portfolios NURS 6003 Rubric Detail

Select Grid View or List View to change the rubric’s layout.
Content
Name: NURS_6003_Module05_Week08_Discussion_Rubric

Grid View
List View

Excellent Good Fair Poor
Main Posting

Points Range: 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.

Points Range: 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.

Points Range: 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.

Points Range: 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

Points Range: 10 (10%) – 10 (10%)

Posts main post by day 3.

Points Range: 0 (0%) – 0 (0%)

Points Range: 0 (0%) – 0 (0%)

Points Range: 0 (0%) – 0 (0%)
Does not post by day 3.
First Response

Points Range: 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.

Points Range: 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.

Points Range: 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.

Points Range: 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

Points Range: 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.

Points Range: 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.

Points Range: 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.

Points Range: 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

Points Range: 5 (5%) – 5 (5%)

Meets requirements for participation by posting on three different days.

Points Range: 0 (0%) – 0 (0%)

Points Range: 0 (0%) – 0 (0%)

Points Range: 0 (0%) – 0 (0%)
Does not meet requirements for participation by posting on 3 different days.
Total Points: 100
Name: NURS_6003_Module05_Week08_Discussion_Rubric

Great initial post! Your insightful discussion highlights key strategies for nursing students building their academic portfolios, while emphasizing the alignment with the Walden University’s focus on social change.

Walden University’s mission is to empower students to take on challenges and dedicate themselves to fostering positive social change (Walden University, n.d.). Prioritizing social impact and volunteer work not only reflects the holistic nature of nursing but also highlights a commitment to the overall societal wellbeing. Your example of integrating case studies and research projects that showcase positive healthcare outcomes is admirable. Additionally, the incorporation of reflective narratives and portfolios adds a valuable layer to the portfolio, while providing a deeper understanding of personal growth and adaptability in different healthcare scenarios.

The concept of the “cake mix structure” for portfolio development is also intriguing. The “cake mix structure” is similar to a recipe for organizing your portfolio. It combines personal stories with concrete evidence. This approach lets you really dive into your own learning experiences, reflect on them, and show how you’ve grown (Anderson et al., 2009). Have you yet tried using this approach? I found it very inspiring. Thank you for all of your insights. I look forward to hearing more.

Sample Answer for STRATEGIES FOR ACADEMIC PORTFOLIOS NURS 6003

Dorothy Chudi-Agbaku  

RE: Discussion – Week 8  

In the competitive environment today, many businesses depend on creating a strong brand to give identity to their product in order to stand out among others (Jones, 2021).  In the same way, creating and maintaining an academic portfolio would assist an MSN scholar to model her personal achievements and show how credible she is at her work. Creation of nurses’ portfolio is necessary for promotion of self-competencies and accomplishments to future employer or current manager (Burns, 2018). According to Burns (2018), nurses’ portfolio is shown as evidence to the accrediting bodies, credentialing boards, and regulatory agencies, as well as for direction of the nurses’ attention to any area in the portfolio that needs attention. 

            There are different strategies for including academic activities and accomplishments into your professional development goals. E-portfolio is becoming popular strategy in use as most organizations and potential employers are currently using electronic documents to manage data. This can be done through the use of some social media like the LinkedIn or even creation of personal website. In this situation, information such as certifications or continuing education is edited into an electronic resume, paper documents are scanned into the program, a copy is saved in an electronic medium such as compact disc or the google doc, and the file is backed-up regularly (Burns, 2018). 

            Another strategy is ensuring that your information in the portfolio is discreet, verifiable, and concise. According to Burns (2018), the documents are collated, appearing in a chronological order starting with most recent with the demographic data on the cover page, updated regularly in a formal professional plain three ring binder portfolio. Considering the career goal and employment expectation, the works are summarized yearly. 

            Walden University is now 50 years and before now, she has always had the intension of focusing on fostering social change by promoting accessibility to advanced education, using research to solve imminent problems globally, and educating scholar practitioners in many fields beyond its 50 years anniversary (Walden University, 2017). As a student scholar, the goal is to acquire knowledge and expertise in advanced degree level, adding more strength to the portfolio and effecting a change in the society in alignment with Walden vision for a social change. My goal at the end of MSN program is that I would be one of the agents of social change in the society in accordance with Walden University vision. 

References 

Burns, M. K. (2018). Creating a Nursing Portfolio. Ohio Nurses Review, 93(3), 16–17. https://search-ebscohost-com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rzh&AN=134145921&site=eds-live&scope=site 

Jones, K. (2021). The Importance of Branding in Business. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2021/03/24/the-importance-of-branding-in-business/?sh=73b1586c67f7 

Walden University. (2017). Walden 2020: A Vision for Social Change 2017 Report. https://www.waldenu.edu/-/media/walden/files/about-walden/walden-university-2017-social-change-report-final-v-2.pdf?rev=5ded98a6d84e4a0096d02c9ec0f458af&hash=3CBA4D20AF7FA7F23BC21D69B2A9EB37 

Sample Response for STRATEGIES FOR ACADEMIC PORTFOLIOS NURS 6003

Dorothy, great information that you shared. I agree with what you had said about both academic and professional portfolios. It is known that there are many reasons to begin an electronic portfolio. The main reasons are self-promotion, evidence of outcomes, and structure and direction. Self-promotion would include your competencies and accomplishments. Evidence of outcomes would consist of accrediting bodies and credentialing boards of nursing competencies. You would want to put your educational background and current licensures here. Lastly, structure and direction are the collections of the documents in the portfolio to identify practice and needing attention. This is where goal setting should take place and be reevaluated every 6-12 months (Burns, 2018). Developing a portfolio is a professional requirement, especially for advanced practice registered nurses. Portfolio information is important to maintain your professional requirements and be sure they are up to date. This way, portfolios have the potential to be utilized as a tool that is easily accessible to help support career changes and meet professional obligations (Casey & Egan, 2010). 

References 

Burns, M. K. (2018). Creating a Nursing Portfolio. Ohio Nurses Review, 93(3), 16–17. 

Casey DC, & Egan D. (2010). The use of professional portfolios and profiles for career enhancement. British Journal of Community Nursing, 15(11), 547–552. 

Sample Response for STRATEGIES FOR ACADEMIC PORTFOLIOS NURS 6003

Dorothy,  

I love how you used a business and its marketing as an analogy to a nurse and their professional portfolio. I, myself used that same analogy when trying to understand how important the portfolio was and what I would be selling to the buy or consumer, in our case our higher ups. I did find when reading about the components to add to a portfolio or the sections that tend to get overlooked, a main one was the education. Many people take the education section literal and feel as if they are not qualified because a lack of degree. As i mentioned in my discussion post, I am not sure if you read but, according to Pete Kistler, many people miss out on opportunities when branding themselves because they feel that because they didn’t have the adequate education so they leave this area of their portfolio blank when in reality, Pete states that “Even if you haven’t obtained a formalized degree in a specific area, this is a great chance to showcase the steps you’ve taken to master your area of interest in addition to working in the field” (2018). I see now that you can capitalize off this by inputing continue education or even something as simple as a workshop. These two are considered a form of education and enhances ones knowledge that could help with competency in a job setting. 

References 

Kistler., P. (2018, June 20). 51 Items For Your Professional Career Portfolio + Examples. 

BrandYourself Blog | ORM and Personal Branding. https://brandyourself.com/blog/career/job-search-career/51-items-to-include-in-your-job-career-portfolio. 

Sample Answer for STRATEGIES FOR ACADEMIC PORTFOLIOS NURS 6003

Elizabeth Guzman  

RE: Discussion – Week 8 MAIN POST  

As children, one of the most popular questions that people commonly ask is, “what do you want to be when you grow up?”. At an early age, we are taught to start to think about our future, set goals, and create a plan to accomplish those goals. Unfortunately, many individuals do not realize that this process of dreaming, goal setting, and achievement should be a repeat process and should not stop just because you reached your goal. As a matter of fact, it should motivate you to realize that you accomplished your goal once and you can do it again. For example, in my younger years, many asked me the million-dollar question, and my response was always the same; I want to be a nurse. Retrospectively, I set a goal and accomplished it, so now it is time to develop more goals. It is time to look at the bigger picture and ask myself, what do I want to achieve as a nurse to contribute to my community and influence social change?  

This situation is where an academic and professional success plan comes into play. In essence, academic and professional success plans are theoretical drafts of your future on paper to begin to visualize your goals and strategically work to obtain them. “Development of an academic success and professional development plan will help ensure that you are prepared now and throughout your career to make the vision a reality” (Laureate Education, 2018a). For example, if you plan to be the chief nursing officer of your hospital, begin your academic success plan with that goal in mind and write the plan out, including what steps will be required to reach your goal (Laureate Education, 2018b).  

Personally, my academic success plan at this point consists of successfully completing the MSN program at Walden University, without having to repeat a course, to continue on my way to achieving my professional development goals. To be successful in accomplishing my academic success plan by completing the MSN program, I plan on devoting time and energy to learn the required material, complete the assignments to the best of my abilities, and ask questions whenever I can. I plan on incorporating tools, such as calendars, to carefully ensure that I do not miss an assignment and allow enough time to complete each project. Similarly, I plan to use my Walden academic advisor, instructors, and professional network as resources for any questions that may arise throughout the program.   

My professional development plan is more elaborate; It involves graduating with my master’s degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner and eventually working my way into the dermatology and aesthetics field. Since “all professional development plans should also include a provision to participate on an active level in a professional organization,” I plan to join the International Society of Plastic and Aesthetic Nurses (ISPAN) (Laureate Education, 2018b). Joining a nursing professional organization like ISPAN would ensure that I stay up to date with events in my nursing association to allow me to play an active role while also allowing me to network with nurses and APRNs in a similar field (ISPAN, n.d.).  

Another important piece that the professional development plan should include is opportunities for serving your profession and community, which coincides with Walden University’s commitment to social change (Laureate Education, 2018b). According to Walden’s MSN learning outcomes, one result of successfully completing the master’s program is contributing to “high-quality healthcare delivery, advancement of the nursing profession, and social change” (Walden University, n.d.). In order to promote Walden’s emphasis on social change as a nursing professional, I plan on completing a needs assessment in my community to identify areas that require improvement. Then, I plan on implementing ideas accordingly and volunteering locally to assist in making a difference in the community to promote social change. At this moment, I feel like I may be interested in working with the homeless population, as my area of southern California has a significant homelessness issue that seems to be growing due to the pandemic. Regardless of how I decide to promote social change, I know that I would get joy in knowing that I accomplished my goals and used my accomplishments to help others. However, none of it would be possible without first creating a “vision and a well-conceived plan of how to achieve that vision” through the use of academic and professional development plans (Laureate Education, 2018a). 

References 

International Society of Plastic and Aesthetic Nurses. ISPAN. (n.d.). https://ispan.org/. 

Laureate Education (Producer). (2018a). The Blueprint to Success [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author. 

Laureate Education (Producer). (2018b). The Walden Journey to a Masters in Nursing: Your Professional Development Plan [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author. 

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

Sample Response for STRATEGIES FOR ACADEMIC PORTFOLIOS NURS 6003

Great Post Elizabeth, 

              I agree that having a dream comes with a plan and a goal. Everyone’s dreams and goals might look a little bit different but all have to come with a plan to achieve those goals. I was in the same situation you were, that I undoubtedly wanted to be a nurse. Once completing that achievement, you bring a sense of completion and a whole new level of drive for a new goal. Some might choose to hone in on their nursing skills and specialize in their department, and some like us take to adding to our academic resume. It all comes with a goal and a dream. 

              It is important for medical professionals, especially advanced nurses to keep a portfolio to document necessary skills, knowledge and training that is needed to be competent in our field of study. “A well-constructed portfolio should show how learning has occurred as well as its application in practice.” (Casey & Egan, 2010). It documents that we have the necessary knowledge to practice and provide care competently and safely to our patients. 

Thank you for sharing, 

Crystal  

 References 

Casey, D., & Egan, D. (2010). The use of professional portfolios and profiles for career enhancement. Br J Community Nurs., 11, 547-8, 550-2. doi:10.12968/bjcn.2010.15.11.79625 

Sample Response for STRATEGIES FOR ACADEMIC PORTFOLIOS NURS 6003

Elizabeth, I thoroughly enjoyed your post and admired your future goals as you have it all figured out.  Boon (2021) wrote that learners learn through a series of processes from collaborative learning to deep learning, reflections, prior knowledge activation, and active seeking of information.  Learning is an ongoing process requiring learners to put on their metacognitive caps and delve deeper into the product and process of their learning.   

An e-portfolio is a learner’s tool that aids learners in triggering independent learning, allowing learners to register what they learn and reflect on their progress anywhere and anytime.  It also enhances the development of their self-directed skills.  Using an e-portfolio as a scaffolding too is part of self-directed learning processes, and it is not just dependent on examing the learners’ perception of their learning processes but requires careful orchestration of different domains of technologies. 

One of the outcomes of the Walden University, MSN program is to prepare its students to be able to implement specialist nursing roles and to promote quality improvement of patient-centered care (Walden University catalog n.d.), and it appears you have that plan in place by wanting to specialize in cosmetic aspect of health, and help the community and homeless people, as this will raise the standard and health outcomes for diverse populations. 

References 

Boon, K., S. (2021). E-portfolio implementation: Examining learners’ perception of  

usefulness, self-directed learning process, and value of learning. Australasian Journal of 

Educational Technology, 37(1), 68–81. 

Walden University (n.d.). Walden University catalog. https://catalog.walden.edu