NURS 6003 Discussion: Networking Opportunities
NURS 6003 Discussion: Networking Opportunities
NURS 6003 Discussion: Networking Opportunities
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.
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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.
NURS 6003 Discussion: Networking Opportunities References
Schmidt, K. (n.d.). 5 reasons nurses should engage in professional networking. Retrieved October 12, 2018, from https://blog.bluepipes.com/5-reasons-nurses-should-take-professional-networking-seriously/
Walden university. (2011). https://catalog.waldenu.edu/content.php?catoid=153
Wofford, P. (2018, May 24). 10 networking tips for nurses who hate networking. https://nurse.org/articles/tips-for-nurse-networking/
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It’s wonderful to see you advancing your career in nursing. Walden University appears to focus on the success of their students. I have heard wonderful things about the university from past students. After reading the University’s and School of Nursing mission and vision statements, I truly believe Walden will assist with my success as a nurse practitioner. I have heard the saying of “It’s not what you know, but who you know.”
Networking is a key component to get a desired position. I have obtained a couple of positions and have received offers from colleagues to shadow of precept me throughout the program. With current technology we can network with individuals worldwide via the web. (Wofford, 2018) briefly discuss social media, Facebook groups and sources such as Linked in that connect individuals with a large array of professions worldwide. I don’t tend to like this form of Networking as I’m very afraid of identity theft. However, they may offer a great service in the industry of nursing. (Schmidt,2018) elaborates how professional networking can easily be perceived as contrived and based on ulterior motives. This leads many as myself reluctant to initiate profession relationships for networking opportunity.
NURS 6003 Discussion: Networking Opportunities References
Wofford, P. (2018, May 24). 10 Networking tips for nurses who hate networking. Nurse.Org. Retrieved October 13, 2021, from
https://nurse.org/articles/tips-for-nurse-networking/
Schmidt, K. (n.d.). 5 Reasons nurses should engage in professional networking [Blog post]. Retrieved November 15, 2021,
from https://blog.bluepipes.com/5-reasons?nurses-should-take-professional-networking-serio
RE: Discussion – Week 1
Top of Form
My Goals and Walden University’s Mission and Vision
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.
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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 NURS 6003 Discussion: Networking Opportunitiesmy 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 Yale University and Cornell University …[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.
NURS 6003 Discussion: Networking Opportunities 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.
RE: Discussion – Week 1
You make a great point about Walden University’s commitment to promoting education world-wide. This is evidence of how much education is valued. Thanks for sharing
NURS 6003 Discussion: Networking Opportunities
Reply Quote Email Author
RE: Discussion – Week 1
I was much like you when it came to wanting to further my education but not knowing where to start. My main source of help was our number one networking technique in this day and age, social media. I believe social media is very powerful and can be great when used properly. “Today is the age of social media. There is no better time to be a nurse. With access to resources and tools, at the click of a tab, social media is quickly becoming the number one resource for professional networking. It is one of the most effective ways to build alliances” (Walker, 2018, para. 2 ). The above statement referenced by Walker, is something I am a firm believer in. I use Facebook and Instagram to build networking relationships with other nurses whom not only desire the same goals and dreams professionally but leisurely as well.
A simple hashtag #WaldenUniversity or #WaldenUniversityAlumni is what I used to connect with others to see how their experience was at Walden. I believe this same networking technique could be used not only professionally by a simple hashtag of a particular hospital you are interested in but also a hashtag of maybe a subject matter that you maybe struggling with and need study resources. Many nurses vlog on Instagram and provide various study guides and tools in a fun, learning way. I am always looking for ways to build relationships with other nurses as we are our own community.
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
Hello everyone. My name is Brandi Daniels. I am currently a RN serving active duty as a commissioned officer in the US Navy and work in the PACU. I decided to attend Walden University to pursue my Masters in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Walden University’s vision, mission and goals aligned with my desire and goal to be a critical asset to my community. The vision states that it aims to advance “the greater global good” (Walden University, 2019). The ability to have a positive effect on my patients and improve the overall health in the community I’m in help me to become a successful scholar-practitioner.
Additionally, Walden’s mission lines up with my goal to increase positive patient outcomes as the mission states that it aims to transform professionals to “scholar-practitioners so that they can effect positive social change” (Walden University, 2019). The goal “to produce graduates who are scholarly, reflective practitioners and agents of positive change” as well as the social change initiative that strives to result in the improvement of social conditions also aligns with my academic and professional goals.
The Walden MSN Program Outcomes and perspectives relate to my professional and academic goals and to becoming a scholar practitioner. One of the learning outcomes is to:
“implement specialist nursing roles to promote quality improvement of patient-centered care in accordance with professional practice standards that transform health outcomes for diverse populations” (Walden University, 2020).
With this outcome in mind, the promotion of quality improvement that is evidence based, allows me to provide higher quality of care from patients of all backgrounds and social/economic status.
Networking can play a big role in increasing positive patient outcomes. By networking with other healthcare professionals that have the same as well as different specialties, referring a patient to a reputable health care specialist may help improve the patient’s prognosis. Additionally, networking with certain individuals can help my academic success as they can be valuable resources for advice and mentorship. It can also help with future job procurement. According to Schmidt (2018), 70% of all jobs are found through networking. The phrase “it’s all about who you know” holds true in this aspect.
NURS 6003 Discussion: Networking Opportunities References
Schmidt, K. (n.d.). 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/
Walden University. (n.d.). College of Nursing. Retrieved October 5, 2020, from https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/fieldexperience/son#s-lg-box-3837398
Walden University. (n.d.). Walden University catalog. Retrieved October 4, 2019, from https://catalog.waldenu.edu
It’s great that you found your calling of being a Nurse. I’m sure your experience as CNA, medical assistant, and lab technician broadens your overall view of healthcare even more which will definitely help you in the future as you will be working with these healthcare specialties as a nurse practitioner. All of us chose Walden University as a choice of school due to the fact that our mission, vision, and goals align with the ones Walden University holds, which includes preparing the students “for the greater good” to help the communities in need (Walden University, 2020). As you’ve mentioned that you want to help the minorities in need, there is a huge number of disparities within communities when it comes to access to education, healthcare, mental health, and addiction medicine help.
I truly believe we can make a difference by becoming the providers within our communities as we hold a high sense of compassion that has been taught to us since the beginning of our nursing careers. As you’ve mentioned the importance of networking, I do want to mention that working on our networking at the beginning of our journey will help us transition to our new role easier. It all starts with our program advisor and extends to and beyond our clinical practicum. Expanding our networking to organizations, LinkedIn profiles, clinical preceptors during practicum, physicians and NP colleagues would greatly help up find the area where we can fit in and fulfill our vision and goal (Writers, 2020).
NURS 6003 Discussion: Networking Opportunities References
Walden University (2020). College of Nursing. Retrieved from
https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/fieldexperience/son#s-lg-box-3837398
Writers, S. (2020). Professional Networking in Nursing – 2019 NurseJournal.org. Retrieved from https://nursejournal.org/articles/networking/
I am Kathrine Deedon, I currently live in Dayton, Ohio and I have been practicing as a Registered Nurse in step down units for the past 12 years. I have an 8 year daughter and a 3 year old dog. My daughter is my motivation in everything that I do and I strive to be better for her and of course for myself. I have begun this journey to challenge myself and to progress in my Nursing career. I am excited to become a Family Nurse Practitioner. I have been at the bedside for 12 years and I have learned a lot. I believe that the wealth of knowledge and experience that I have gained from my practice definitely will help me to be the best Family Nurse Practitioner that I can be. I have a desire to help others in need and to provide a safe space for them.
My professional and academic goals are in sync with Walden’s vision, mission, goals and social change initiatives. For example, I believe that diversity is essential in achieving my goals. We all bring something different to the table and I believe that bringing our different ideas and perspectives can bring positive change. I also strive to be a life-long learner and furthering my education is one way I can continue that journey. Walden university will help me achieve my professional goals by preparing me academically with the tools and knowledge I need to become the best Nurse Practitioner that I can be.
My definition of success may differ from my classmates and colleagues but I think the foundation of success is similar across the board. I want to be able to graduate with my degree as well as pass boards so that I can ultimately practice as a family nurse practitioner once I graduate. Some of my examples of success include: learning something new from the class, passing the class and ultimately learning how I can use what is taught in my classes in my practice. Another example of success to me is when the lightbulb goes off in my head and I get the Eureka! moment. Also, success to me is for my daughter to see me graduate and receive my degree.
I find that it is very important to network with other professionals in my field to be able to succeed because the field of nursing is always changing. As a healthcare professional, I believe that our ultimate goal should be to provide high-quality care to our patients. We cannot do this alone and we must work together. Specifically I think that it is important to network with other Nurse Practitioners, Physicians Assistants and Medical Doctors so that I can learn what they have gone through to get where they are at in their career. They have a wealth of knowledge that I find to be valuable and beneficial to my learning. Healthcare is fluid and books can only prepare so much.
We need hands-on experience to be able to learn, grow, and succeed in the field of nursing and healthcare. By networking, we can build the relationships we need with with other members of the healthcare team. The relationships that I form can ultimately help me with finding someone who is willing to teach me and take me under his or her wing during my practicum. I will be able to form rapport and trust between myself and other leaders in healthcare. Networking is essential in becoming the Family Nurse Practitioner that I strive to become.
Humans by nature thrive on relationships and I think that networking will also help me along in my journey because I will also build friendships along the way. I know that I will benefit from networking and being able to bounce my ideas back and forth between my colleagues. I also believe that there is strength in numbers.
| 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 |
|---|
I am very excited for you to pursue a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) career, and I wish you the very best of luck!
Your article references psychotherapy and how it is underutilized in PMHNP practice. The abstract talks about how the reduced use of this skill has potentially led to an under-emphasis in the PMHNP curriculum. This prompted me to search Walden’s curriculum and see whether it would be a skill we would acquire. Reviewing the course catalog, it appears that we will have opportunities to learn about this skill in psychotherapy with individuals and with groups and families (Walden University, n.d.).
I am thrilled to have the opportunity to learn and study psychotherapy in the future. I feel that one new area our learning may address is telepsychotherapy. Markowitz et al., report that as practitioners, the differences between treating patients with psychotherapy via video or phone rather than in person may be alarming. The researchers reported concerns that these forms of therapy can impede emotional engagement and lead to an under-display or underreporting of symptoms or behaviors by the client (Markowitz et al., 2020).
Regarding the article you found and coming from a place of wanting to learn more about suggestions or strategies for improving database searches, I have a question for you. I could not find access to the full text, which I feel happens often for me. Do you have any tips on how to do this when searching in a database? I have honestly encountered this issue a few times for articles I would like to read and utilize. I was able to find something called ResearchGate, and I was able to make an account. I requested permission to read the full text, but I do not know how long this will take. When I created my account with ResearchGate, it brought up a few prompts to verify my identity. There were many articles by several people who go by M. Ham, and I was asked to select myself as the author of the work in question or decline that I was the author. It was definitely something you could skip, but I got a kick out of seeing how many M. Ham’s that exist and wondered if I would ever have research published.
This inspired me to learn more about ResearchGate, an investor-funded start-up and global community to connect researchers who share and put forth science (ResearchGate, n.d.). One of their dreams is that world leaders look to scientific advisors before corporate donors, and I feel that my heart and professional goals resonate with that. Have you heard of ResearchGate?
Happy Week 4, Cheryl!
NURS 6003 Discussion: Networking Opportunities References
ResearchGate. (n.d.). About researchgate. https://www.researchgate.net/about
Markowitz, J. C., Milrod, B., Heckman, T. G., Bergman, M., Amsalem, D., Zalman, H., Ballas, T., & Neria, Y. (2020). Psychotherapy at a Distance. American Journal of Psychiatry, 178(3), appi.ajp.2020.2. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.20050557
Walden University. (n.d.). Catalog search – Walden University – Acalog ACMSTM. Catalog.waldenu.edu. https://catalog.waldenu.edu/search_advanced.php?cur_cat_oid=196&search_database=Search&search_db=Search&cpage=1&ecpage=1&ppage=1&spage=1&tpage=1&location=33&filter%5Bkeyword%5D=PMHNP
Professional networking opportunities emphasize development of relationships and interactions among nurse practitioners and scholars. I have been a registered nurse (RN) with a BSN and my intent is to specialize as a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner. Having a family and trying to advance one’s education can be complex but I believe that my resolve to go back to school is critical in changing my career advancement and attaining requisite qualifications to improve the quality of care outcomes. My goal is to specialize in psychiatric mental health as nurse practitioner to help individuals, households, and communities as well as the health system deal with the opioid epidemic and associated mental health issues. Through this, I can bring social change to families and patients. After reflection on furthering my education in nursing, I realized that getting a master’s degree as a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) will offer the education, knowledge and skills that I require to serve the population (ANCC, n.d). Therefore, my academic and professional goals entail getting a master’s degree and probably getting a terminal degree like Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) to position myself as a psychiatric-mental nurse practitioner who can practice independently. Through the incorporation of personal and professional values like compassion, empath, integrity and hard work, I will offer patient-centered care for better outcomes.
Getting the right school is essential to meet my professional goals. The Walden University’s School of Nursing (SON) (n.d) vision and mission statement inspires me to understand that I can attain these goals. The school’s vision is having a unique learning community where knowledge is considered valuable when it allows graduates to develop solutions to critical society problems to advance the greater global good. As a master’s student, the knowledge and skills I acquire in through this university and its nursing school should be applied to effect change in communities in different areas of healthcare provision.
The MSN program outcomes and perspectives relate to my professional and academic goals as they expect one to acquire skills as an advanced nurse practitioner to implement change in their communities. The program’s perspectives include having social change and deployment of skills to generate local solutions to local challenges (Walden University, n.d b). These relate to my goals of providing quality care to families and developing interventions based on evidence-based practices. As I become a scholar-practitioner, it implies that I should show more dedication and commitment because of the challenges of the combination. As such the MSN program outcomes and perspectives will help me understand what is expected and what lies ahead for effective adjustments.
Networking is important as it allows one to interact with goals, share best practices in care, and get the motivation and inspiration to pursue professional and career development paths. Networking will help me achieve my professional and academic goals through interaction with colleagues to develop inter-professional and multidisciplinary collaborations (AANP, n.d). Through the collaborations I will enhance approaches to patient situations and offer the best optimal care interventions.
NURS 6003 Discussion: Networking Opportunities References
American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) (n.d). Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse
Practitioner (Across the Lifespan) Certification (PMHNP-BC). https://www.nursingworld.org/our-certifications/psychiatric-mental-health-nurse-practitioner/
American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) (n.d). The Importance of NP Networking
and How to Get Involved. https://www.aanp.org/news-feed/the-importance-of-np-networking-and-how-to-get-involved
Walden University (n.d.) Social Change. https://www.waldenu.edu/why-walden/social-change
Walden University (n.d.b). Walden and Social Change.
https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/social change/mission
I agree with you 100% Mr. Onyemaechi. What inspired me to think about advancing my knowledge in nursing with specialty in psychiatric is the need of mental health professionals and also the desire to give back to the community. As I stated in my introduction, I worked with mental retardation and mental illness at MHMR of Tarrant County in Fort Worth, TX for 5 years. With my experience at MHMR mental health clinics, there was a shortage of nurse practitioners. When I decided to move and work at Texas Health Resources, I told them that I am planning to go back to school for mental health as a nurse practitioner and I will be back to work with them when I have the knowledge and qualifications for that position. I am still networking with doctors, nurse practitioners, and clinic managers whom I worked with.
Attending Walden University, whose mission is to educate diverse professionals with a goal to transform them into immediate solutions to the challenges of the society, I have confident that I will reach my goal to serve the greater global good in my nursing practice. In order to reach my goals and be successful, I consider networking as my tool to use wherever I go. As a student at Walden University, effective networking with faculty and staff will be an essential element for me to complete my MSN program.
My Goals and Walden University’s Mission and Vision
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 Yale University and Cornell University …[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.
When I graduated with my Associates Degree in Nursing, I was not aware of the impact that nurses have to change something in the community they live in. When I took my BSN I had a course where it teaches community nursing, I was surprised reading about the changes nurses made throughout the community for example, I read that a nurse put together a campaign to add a side walk with an entry for handicap people because her patient was wheelchair bound and unable to go around in the community due to this issue. This nurse advocated for her patient, and they were able to add the sidewalk, so her patient can go out for activities in the community, even though he is wheelchair bound, by doing this he was able to improve his quality of life. Now, I am aware that as nurses we can make a big difference in the communities we live in and around the world.
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