NURS 8002 AACN Competencies And The Walden Mission, Vision, And Outcomes

Discussion 2: AACN Competencies and the Walden Mission, Vision, and Outcomes.

Competent leadership is an essential component in nursing training and professionalism. Leadership development has been a bedrock of Walden University programs and services. The special attention accorded to leadership development is crucial in influencing students under nursing training to become leaders in their profession to contribute to high-quality healthcare delivery. Healthcare organizations provide a positive social service, and nurses should be instrumental change agents in these institutions so that healthcare becomes more accessible to everyone.

The American Association of College of Nursing (AACN) is a quintessential organization within the academic nursing community that advocates for advancing diversity and inclusivity. Its position statement regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion in nursing academics reflects Walden University’s core interests. America is increasingly becoming a multicultural diverse society, and it is projected that immigrants will account for a higher percentage of U.S population growth (Biggerstaff & Skomra, 2020). Moreover, discerning ways of caring for a culturally diverse society is crucial for implementing well-being and positive health outcomes (Zaccagnini & Pechacek, 2021). The Walden University inclusivity in the admission process is crucial for developing culturally competent nurses at the forefront of implementing social justice in various organizations and hospitals of practice. Receiving enlightenment on different cultural values and communication styles is crucial in reducing unconscious racial bias and promoting positive health outcomes in patients.

Applying a positive social change is one of the core values that Walden University roots for. As it is succinctly stated, incorporating social change encompasses the graduate’s ability to generate creative ideas, strategies, and actions that would promote worth and dignity across a spectrum of individuals, communities, organizations, and cultures. The will to help other people has been the core foundation for pursuing a nursing degree. Therefore, I plan to incorporate social change with the knowledge gained from the School of Nursing’s rigorous training by putting that knowledge into practice. As a family nurse practitioner working in a clinic setting, I constantly endeavor to encourage families to strengthen their health or sickness relationships by providing truthful information, being dependable, and providing emotional support to the patients. According to Hafskjold et al. (2017), expressing emotional affections promote a caring relationship based on mutual trust and support. I underscore to my patients the fact that they should be physically and emotionally affectionate to each other during illness to help them cope successfully and promote positive health outcomes.

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References

Biggerstaff, M. E., & Skomra, T. S. (2020). Nurses as immigrant advocates: A brief overview. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 25(2). https://ojin.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/Vol-25-2020/No2-May-2020/Articles-Previous-Topics/Nurses-as-Immigrant-Advocates-A-Brief-Overview.html

Hafskjold, L., Sundling, V., van Dulmen, S., & Eide, H. (2017). The use of supportive communication when responding to older people’s emotional distress in home care — An observational study. BMC Nursing, 16, 1–12. https://doi-org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1186/s12912-017-0220-8

Jongen, C., McCalman, J., & Bainbridge, R. (2018). Health workforce cultural competency interventions: a systematic scoping review. BMC Health Services Research, 18(1), 232. https://doi-org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1186/s12913-018-3001-5

Zaccagnini, M. & Pechacek, J. M. (2021). The doctor of nursing practice essentials: A new model for advanced practice nursing (4^th ed.). Jones & Bartlett.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) set forth a set of standards, the DNP Essentials, that define the foundational competencies that should be acquired and focused throughout a DNP degree program’s curriculum. Additionally, the DNP Essentials represent those competencies and areas that will inform your areas of practice as a DNP-prepared nurse. Take special note that in addition to your personal and academic motivations for pursuing a DNP degree, you will be required to demonstrate and enact these essentials in your daily practice.

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For this Assignment, review the AACN DNP Essentials document and reflect on the competencies presented. Reflect on your personal and academic goals and consider how those goals align with both Walden University’s mission and vision and with the AACN DNP Essentials.

To prepare:

Review The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice (AACN, 2006) in this week’s Learning Resources and reflect on the competencies presented.
Review Walden University’s mission, vision, and university outcomes.
Reflect on your professional and academic goals. Consider how Walden’s mission and vision as well as the AACN’s perspective may fit with your goals. How might you incorporate a commitment to social change into your academic and professional plans?

The Assignment: (2–3 pages)

Explain how your academic and professional goals align with Walden’s vision, mission, social change message, and university outcomes and the AACN DNP Essentials. Be specific.

NURS 8002 Week 3 Assignment

An institution’s vision and mission are strong statements or declarations of its purpose, values, and future. They are the core values, objectives, and aims that guide the institution toward success. A well-crafted vision and mission statement motivates the students to create academic goals.The purpose of this assignment is to describe how my goals align with Walden’s vision, mission, social change message, social determinants of health, and university outcomes.

How Academic and Professional Goals Align with Walden’s and AACN DNP Essentials

My academic goal is to generate knowledge that will guide and improve mental health care delivery by Psychiatry Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs). I aim to research healthcare delivery strategies to improve mental health outcomes. My professional goal is to improve mental health outcomes among persons diagnosed with mental health conditions and alleviate the stigma linked to mental health in our communities.

Walden’s vision aligns with my academic and professional goals since I seek to utilize the knowledge gained and generated during the study program to address challenges faced in the delivery of mental health care (Walden University, n.d.). Besides, I plan to use the knowledge gained to address mental health challenges patients face in accessing healthcare and improve their outcomes. The mission aligns with my goals since I seek to promote positive social change by improving mental healthcare delivery and health outcomes for persons with mental health conditions.

Walden fosters positive social change by nurturing principled, knowledgeable, and ethical scholar-practitioners who will better society (Walden University, n.d.). Thus, my goals are consistent with Walden’s message for social change since I plan to develop and implement strategies to promote the dignity of persons with mental health challenges and reduce the stigma they face. Furthermore, my goals are consistent with Walden’s outcomes since I will foster positive social change where I work by improving care delivery by PMHNPs.

AACN Essentials outline that DNP-prepared nurses should possess wide and deep knowledge gained from sciences. They should exhibit the translation of scientific knowledge promptly and efficiently to help patients with their daily needs (AACN, 2006). My goals align with this essential since I will apply my scientific knowledge to research strategies to improve mental health care, thus helping patients get better health outcomes.

Explain how you plan to incorporate social change throughout your program of study and in professional practice. Be sure to include how social change may contribute to your practicum/field experience and your role in professional practice.

Reminder: The College of Nursing requires that all papers submitted include a title page, introduction, summary, and references. The Sample Paper provided at the Walden Writing Center provides an example of those required elements (available at https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/templates/general#s-lg-box-20293632). All papers submitted must use this formatting.

Florence Nightingale considered nursing to be a science and an art, therefore she introduced and promoted holistic health which included the mind, body, and spirit as essential components of nursing care (AACN, 2021). She also believed that environmental influences (social, political, and economic), had a great impact on a person’s recovery from illness or injury (AACN, 2021). Health and healing, the well-being of the whole person, plus interactions with the environment and other humans became the focus of nursing’s committed, collective efforts to serve society (AACN, 2021). Over the years, nursing has undergone ideological changes, but the need to preserve the ethical, conceptual, and theoretical concepts as the foundation of the discipline has remained ever the same (AACN, 2021). Therefore, the higher education of nurses is imperative. Core competencies have been established so that each level of nursing education measures up to the expectations that have been put into place for that specific area of study (AACN, 2021). This means that competency-based education is directly linked to performance where in knowledge and action give meaning to theory (AACN, 2021).

The AACN Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education (2021), defines the 10 Domains or areas of competency in nursing and what is expected at each level (BSN, MSN, & Doctoral), along with featured concepts that compliment professional nursing practice such as clinical judgement, compassionate care, and communication skills (AACN, 2021). Walden’s Vision, Mission, and Goals Statement fully supports the AACNs nursing competencies in that it strives for higher education in order to improve the human and social condition by transforming scholarly practitioners who can serve as social change agents (Walden University, 2021). Walden provides for diversity in the student population, preserving the worth and dignity of individuals, while fostering an environment that promotes ethical and critical thinking for the betterment of society (Walden University, 2021). The AACN and Walden University believe that health policy and population health should be centered around equity, diversity, and inclusion. This absolutely relates to both my personal and professional goals and my view of what ethical and holistic nursing entails. I believe all humans should have access to healthcare, not just the wealthy. I also believe we have a lot of work that needs to be done to make that happen across the board. There are a lot of different opinions out there about how it can or should be done, but I think all agree on one point, it isn’t going to be an easy task.

As graduates of Walden University and students of AACN policy, it becomes our duty to act as the social change agents we have been discussing. We hear a lot about improving care delivery to patients and achieving optimal outcomes, but what does that really mean to the novice NP? I plan to make a concentrated effort to become involved in quality improvement efforts at whatever facility I find employment as an AGACNP. By joining committees and becoming a critical decision maker, I can effect positive change and fight against social injustice (Boucher, McMillen, & Gould, 2015). I plan to remain a lifelong learner and use my bedside experience combined with my higher education as an APN to promote intellectual debate and stimulate others to think outside the box by publishing what I hope will be insightful articles and perhaps even a book or two as time goes by. I have a lot to say about the nursing profession and that is one way I can get it out there. As nursing moves into the 21^st century, complex choices and options will continue to evolve (O’Grady, 2001). As a graduate of Walden University, I feel I will be well equipped to keep up with the changes and I’m looking forward to completing my DNP education at Walden.

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DISCUSSION 2 RESPONSE

Health care needs for every population change from time to time. The situation requires well-trained nurses with a high level of judgment and critical thinking. Additionally, the institution is built with the socio-cultural and moral responsibility of the community. The learner’s initial post singled out a culturally sensitive nurse who respects the culture and lifestyle of a community (Gates, 2018). That is a relevant quality of a baccalaureate-trained nurse. An advanced practice registered nurse works collaboratively with different teams to achieve a high-quality patient outcome.

An institution like Walden University can initiate a socio-cultural change to support the growth of its environment. It can share its values and beliefs with the authorities of the community to share a common interest. The university can raise an educated and sound generation of graduates in nursing practice and other fields to initiate positive change in the health sector (Lawrence et al, 2018). A well-trained nursing workforce of master and doctor of nursing practice is important for bridging the gap between the minority and the privileged group. The nurse works in the community to diagnose and treat conditions that result in poor lifestyle or diet.

The practitioner conducts appropriate health education and disease prevention strategies for high-risk individuals. The main goal and objective of a highly trained, clinical, and competent nurse are to empower the young generation of novice nurses to find direction for career progress (Mackay et al, 2017). Take part in conferences, talks, and mentoring strategies promotes unity and passion for the profession. Therefore, the American Association of Colleges of nursing should have the mandate to promote educational advancement and career progression to Doctor of nursing practice levels.

What’s Coming Up in Module 2?

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In the next module, you will analyze the roles and expectations associated with the DNP-prepared nurse. You will also examine the alignment between the AACN DNP Essentials and your practicum/field experience and Doctoral Project requirements.

Looking Ahead: Week 5 Assignment

In Week 5, you will select at least 3 AACN DNP Essentials that most align to the completion of a Doctoral Project. You will also explain how the AACN DNP Essentials you selected will relate to the completion of a practicum/field experience.

Although you will submit the Week 5 Assignment by Day 7 of Week 5, it is highly encouraged that you reflect on the AACN DNP Essentials you consulted this week and review the requirements to begin your preparation for completing the Week 5 Assignment this week.

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Building on what you have said, I would add that the AACN has worked hard to refine NP Core Competencies so as to reflect the most up to date requirements for the current state of healthcare (Chan, Lockhart, Schreiber, & Kronk, 2020). The goal is to ensure that DNP students gain highly specific skills sets that evolve from Competency Based Education (CBE) as set forth by the Domains of Nursing or observable and measurable aspects of performance that allows the student to demonstrate competent, fully functional abilities in order to provide safe, quality care to a wide variety of patient populations, while promoting social justice and equality in medicine (Chan et al., 2020). Graduates of DNP programs possess the evidenced-based knowledge, practical experience, and professional attitudes necessary to advocate and facilitate changes that will shape future healthcare policies (Mullin, 2019).

The attainment of social justice and equity in healthcare is a lofty goal, but it doesn’t have to be “pie in the sky”. DNP graduates need to cultivate leadership skills that entitle them to pull up a chair and sit at the big table where the crucial decisions that affect nursing and medical practice are rolled out (Mullin, 2019). This will allow nursing representatives to have an influential voice in political decision making and social change policies where it has the greatest impact on professional nursing (Mullin, 2019). DNP graduates should be the gold standard in Advanced Nursing Practice because as leaders in the field there is no area of institutional, local, state, regional, and federal politics where knowledge of health policy, expert experience in evidenced-based research, and influential advocacy in practice cannot serve to promote proactive development and implementation of social change policy for the betterment of society and population health (Mullin, 2019).

Two nursing organizations that are full service professional organizations the DNP student can join so as to advance political abilities and become agents of social change are the American Nurse’s Association (ANA) and the International Council of Nurses (ICN) (Matthews, 2012).

Thank you for your excellent post

References

Chan, T. E., Lockhart, J. S., Schreiber, J. B., & Kronk, R. (2020). Determining nurse practitioner core competencies using a Delphi approach. J Am Assoc Nurse Pract, 32(3), 200-217. doi: 10.1097/JXX.0000000000000384.PMID: 32132457.

Matthews, J. (2012). Role of professional organizations in advocacy for the nursing profession. OJIN: The Online Journal of Nursing, 17(1). Manuscript 3. doi: 10.3912/OJIN.Vol17no01Man03.

Mullin, M. H. (2019). Chapter 5: DNP involvement in healthcare policy. In Chism, L. A. (4^th Ed). Doctor of Nursing Practice: A Guidebook for Role Development and Professional Issues (131-156). Burlington, MA. Jones & Bartlett.

This is insightful Edwige, Bottom of FormAccountable Care Organizations (ACOs) are groups of doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers who come together to provide coordinated care to their patients (Colla & Fisher, 2018). The goal of ACOs is to improve the quality of care while also reducing costs. One way that ACOs achieve this goal is by sharing information about their patients (Meyer et al., 2017). This allows the providers in the ACO to work together to come up with a plan for each patient that meets their individual needs. ACOs can also use this information to track how well they are meeting quality and cost goals (Lewis et al., 2019). ACOs are funded in part by Medicare and Medicaid. However, they are also open to patients who have private insurance. ACOs have been shown to improve the quality of care while reducing costs. For example, a study published in Health Affairs found that ACOs were associated with improvements in quality of care and reductions in spending on Medicare patients.

References

Colla, H., & Fisher, E. S. (2018). Moving forward with accountable care organizations: some answers, more questions. JAMA internal medicine, 177(4), 527-528. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.9122

Lewis, V. A., Schoenherr, K., Fraze, T., & Cunningham, A. (2019). Clinical coordination in accountable care organizations: A qualitative study. Health care management review, 44(2), 127. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5461217/

Meyer, C. P., Krasnova, A., Sammon, J. D., Lipsitz, S. R., Weissman, J. S., Sun, M., & Trinh, Q. D. (2017). Accountable care organizations and the use of cancer screening. Preventive medicine, 101, 15-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2017.05.017

Rubric Detail

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Name: NURS_8002_Module1_Assignment_Rubric

	Excellent 90%–100%	Good 80%–89%	Fair 70%–79%	Poor 0%–69%
Explain how your academic and professional goals align with Walden’s vison, mission, social change message, and university outcomes and the AACN DNP Essentials. Be specific.	45 (45%) – 50 (50%) The response accurately and clearly explains in detail how their academic and professional goals align with Walden’s vision, mission, social change message, and university outcomes. The response accurately and clearly explains in detail how their academic and professional goals align to the AACN DNP Essentials. The response includes relevant, specific, and appropriate examples that fully support the explanations provided for each of the alignments described.	40 (40%) – 44 (44%) The response accurately explains how their academic and professional goals align with Walden’s vision, mission, social change message, and university outcomes. The response accurately explains how their academic and professional goals align to the AACN DNP Essentials. The response includes relevant, specific, and accurate examples that support the explanations provided for each of the alignments described.	35 (35%) – 39 (39%) The response inaccurately or vaguely explains how their academic and professional goals align with Walden’s vision, mission, social change message, and university outcomes. The response inaccurately or vaguely explains how their academic and professional goals align to the AACN DNP Essentials. The response includes inaccurate and irrelevant examples that may support the explanations provided for each of the alignments described.	0 (0%) – 34 (34%) The response inaccurately and vaguely explains how their academic and professional goals align with Walden’s vision, mission, social change message, and university outcomes, or it is missing. The response inaccurately and vaguely explains how their academic and professional goals align to the AACN DNP Essentials, or it is missing. The response includes inaccurate and vague examples that do not support the explanations provided for each of the research designs, or it is missing.
Explain how you plan to incorporate social change throughout your program of study and in professional practice. Be sure to include how social change may contribute to your practicum/field experience and your role in professional practice.	32 (32%) – 35 (35%) The response accurately and clearly explains in detail plans for incorporating social change throughout the program of study and in professional practice. The response accurately and clearly explains how social change contributes to proposed practicum/field experiences and for the role of a DNP-prepared nurse in professional practice.	28 (28%) – 31 (31%) The response accurately explains plans for incorporating social change throughout the program of study and in professional practice. The response accurately explains how social change contributes to proposed practicum/field experiences and for the role of the DNP-prepared nurse in professional practice.	25 (25%) – 27 (27%) The response inaccurately or vaguely explains plans for incorporating social change throughout the program of study and in professional practice. The response inaccurately or vaguely explains how social change contributes to proposed practicum/field experiences and for the role of the DNP-prepared nurse in professional practice.	0 (0%) – 24 (24%) The response inaccurately and vaguely explains plans for incorporating social change throughout the program of study and in professional practice, or it is missing. The response inaccurately and vaguely explains how social change contributes to proposed practicum/field experiences and for the role of the DNP-prepared nurse in professional practice, or it is missing.
Written Expression and Formatting – Paragraph Development and Organization: Paragraphs make clear points that support well-developed ideas, flow logically, and demonstrate continuity of ideas. Sentences are carefully focused—neither long and rambling nor short and lacking substance. A clear and comprehensive purpose statement and introduction is provided which delineates all required criteria.	5 (5%) – 5 (5%) Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity. A clear and comprehensive purpose statement, introduction, and conclusion is provided which delineates all required criteria.	4 (4%) – 4 (4%) Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity 80% of the time. Purpose, introduction, and conclusion of the assignment is stated, yet is brief and not descriptive.	3.5 (3.5%) – 3.5 (3.5%) Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity 60%–79% of the time. Purpose, introduction, and conclusion of the assignment is vague or off topic.	0 (0%) – 3 (3%) Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity < 60% of the time. No purpose statement, introduction, or conclusion was provided.
Written Expression and Formatting – English writing standards: Correct grammar, mechanics, and proper punctuation	5 (5%) – 5 (5%) Uses correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation with no errors.	4 (4%) – 4 (4%) Contains a few (1 or 2) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.	3.5 (3.5%) – 3.5 (3.5%) Contains several (3 or 4) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.	0 (0%) – 3 (3%) Contains many (≥ 5) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors that interfere with the reader’s understanding.
Written Expression and Formatting – The paper follows correct APA format for title page, headings, font, spacing, margins, indentations, page numbers, parenthetical/in-text citations, and reference list.	5 (5%) – 5 (5%) Uses correct APA format with no errors.	4 (4%) – 4 (4%) Contains a few (1 or 2) APA format errors.	3.5 (3.5%) – 3.5 (3.5%) Contains several (3 or 4) APA format errors.	0 (0%) – 3 (3%) Contains many (≥ 5) APA format errors.
Total Points: 100

Name: NURS_8002_Module1_Assignment_Rubric

NURS 8002 AACN Competencies and the Walden Mission, Vision, and Outcomes