STRATEGIES FOR ACADEMIC PORTFOLIOS NURS 6003

STRATEGIES FOR ACADEMIC PORTFOLIOS NURS 6003

STRATEGIES FOR ACADEMIC PORTFOLIOS NURS 6003

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).

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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.

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

There are many strategies for incorporating academic activity and accomplishments into my professional development goals. First, it is essential to adopt a goal evolution mindset. As we grow and learn, our goals will evolve. Academic activities and accomplishments should constantly contribute to professional development goals. It is essential to determine what steps must be taken to achieve professional development goals (Walden University, LLC, 2018). Modern-day advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) must develop a portfolio of evidence of professional development activities and achievements and how they contribute to professional practice as a visual representation of their experience, strengths, abilities, and skills (Casey & Egan, 2013). The benefits of portfolios include skill development, promoting active learning, improved clinical competency, and improved academic assessment and achievement (Dehkordi & Ghiasvandian, 2019). The portfolio will represent who I am, what I am passionate about, and the strengths I have obtained during my education at Walden University.

A strategy I could use to include academic activities and accomplishments in my professional development is to join professional nursing organizations. It is crucial to serve the community and profession (Walden University, LLC, 2018). I could connect with various professional organizations to participate in activities aligned with my career goals (Hannans & Olivo, 2017). Professional organization bring nurses together and empowers nurses to have a voice (Walden University, LLC, 2018). Nurses can also become certified in areas that may contribute to their professional development goals. The American Nurses Credentialing Center outlines steps for APRNs to expand their focus to meet expanded practice roles (Melander et al., 2020).

Another strategy is to record specific moments where I used my education and research to change a patient’s life. Casey and Egan (2013) suggested regularly accounting for incidents that have occurred in practice and using these instances in a portfolio, showcasing the application of knowledge learned. Collecting patient accounts evidencing competence in advanced practice will highlight academic activities contributing to professional development goals. Portions of my portfolio will highlight educational activities and accomplishments contributing to my professional development goals (Casey & Egan, 2013). I could specifically select evidence highlighting a skill I have obtained throughout my education. Nurses can also attend seminars and apply the knowledge learned in practice (Casey & Egan, 2013). I will attend conferences specific to my areas of interest, including aesthetic nursing, healthcare access in underprivileged communities, and healthcare policy. Clear ideas of education and certification must help you meet your professional development goals (Walden University, LLC, 2018).

Walden University is committed to social change by empowering change-makers, building communities, and maximizing social change outcomes (Walden University, 2022). Serving the community will align the University’s social change goals with my own. I want to affect positive change by improving access to care, especially in underserved and underprivileged communities, minimizing the healthcare disparity gap. I also want to promote social change through healthcare policy. By joining professional organizations that promote my development in these areas, I will develop from a student to a change-maker. The knowledge I gain throughout the Walden University program will assist me in making that possible.

STRATEGIES FOR ACADEMIC PORTFOLIOS NURS 6003 References

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

Dehkordi, L. M., Ghiasvandian, S. (2019). Application of Portfolio in Nursing Education and Assessment of Learning. Journal of Medical Education and Development, 14(2), 136–143.

Hannans, J. & Olivo, Y. (2017). Craft a positive nursing digital identity with an ePortfolio. American Nurse Today, 12(11), 48-49. Retrieved October 13, 2022, from https://www.americannursetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/ant11-Digital-Identity-1017a-1.pdf

Melander, S., Hardin-Pierce, M., & Howard, P. B. (2020). Meeting the challenges of expanded practice through postgraduate APRN certification. Nurse Practitioner, 45(6), 8–10. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NPR.0000666212.83911.d3

Walden University. (2022). Social Change. Walden University. Retrieved October 16, 2022, from https://www.waldenu.edu/why-walden/social-change

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

Strategies for Academic Portfolios

In the realm of marketing, a successful branding strategy is one of the most important contributors to organizational success. A solid branding strategy can help add visibility and credibility to a company’s products.

Similarly, nurse-scholars can build a personal brand to add visibility and credibility to their work. You can begin building your brand by developing and maintaining an academic portfolio. Such an activity can help share the results of your efforts and contribute to your success. This Module’s Discussion asks you to consider and share strategies for building your portfolio.

Note: Unless otherwise noted, initial postings to Discussions are due on or before Day 3, and response postings are due on or before Day 6. You are required to participate in the Discussion on at least three different days (a different day for main post and each response). It is important to adhere to the weekly time frame to allow others ample time to respond to your posting. In addition, you are expected to respond to questions directed toward your own initial posting in a timely manner.

To Prepare:

• Reflect on strategies that you can pursue in developing portfolios or portfolio elements that focus on academic achievements.
• Review one or more samples from your own research of resources focused on portfolio development.

By Day 3 of Week 8

Post an explanation of at least two strategies for including academic activities and accomplishments into your professional development goals. Then, explain how those goals may align with the University’s emphasis on social change. Be specific and provide examples.

Thank you for sharing your insight on portfolios and highlighting one’s attributes. I like how you mentioned GPA. Although I do not think that GPA should be used as a way to determine which nurse is more competent, rather it should as you mentioned be used to highlight the strengths of the nurse as well as set them a part from their Colleagues. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing, (2022, The Impact of Education) believes nurse clinicians are greatly impacted by education in terms of knowledge and competency. They further stated that a BSN prepared nurse is valued for their versatile ability to lead, critically think, as well as ability to practice in many settings, and are recognized by many different entities. I honestly do not think we realize how much we actually do, until we write it down. Now I understand why portfolios are so important to have and keep up with.

Cope & Murray, (2018, Abstract) stated that professional portfolios are a resource used to maintain evidence of educational background as well as meeting professional requirements. Portfolios are also a way to organize important documents and allow for highlighting one’s strengths, learning needs, and is a way to begin planning on how to address identified needs. Being as though we have entered into the Masters level, it is understood that we are well prepared, but now it is time to keep a diary, so to speak, but in the form of a portfolio so that way we can share with others our journey, and where we plan to take it- very far is my hope. Have a great evening and great post.

By Day 6 of Week 8

Respond to at least two of your colleagues’ posts by offering additional ideas regarding academic achievements to include or offering alternative ways of presenting the current achievements.

Click on the Reply button below to reveal the textbox for entering your message. Then click on the Submit button to post your message.

Kara,

I really enjoyed your post! I found to be well put together and it offered a lot of useless points related to this weeks topic.  I agree that the development of an eportforlio is essential to an advanced providers career developed.  Hannans and Olivo (2017) discuss that traditional resumes may become a thing of the past and they predict eportfolios as being a requirement for job candidates in the future.   Hannans and Olivo (2017) also discuss that prospective employers may attempt to research a canidate online before hire and it could look ill part on the candidate to not have an online portfolio established on some time of social media platform.  I never thought of this myself until reading that article.

I too think that it is really important for future and current advanced practitioners to become a member of an organization related to their field/speciality.  My background as a nurse is Emergency room and I myself have been a member of the ENA for several years.  I enjoy being a member because they send routine emails about conference, training, and continuing education oppurtunies in my speciality.  This will be extremely important for us as advanced practice nurses in order to stay up to date with current research and data.  According to Crumley (2020) “Professional nursing organizations (PNOs) play a critical role in maximizing the influence of our nursing profession on health systems and policy, through support of patient safety, the socioeconomic welfare of nurses, and professional practice” (p.1).

STRATEGIES FOR ACADEMIC PORTFOLIOS NURS 6003 References

Hannans, J. & Olivo, Y. (2017). Craft a positive nursing digital identity with an ePortfolio. American Nurse Today, 12(11), 48-49. Retrieved October                   17, 2022, from https://www.americannursetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/ant11-Digital-Identity-1017a-1.pdf

Crumley, C. (2020). The Benefits of Active Engagement in Nursing Professional Organizations: A View From Here. Journal of Wound, Ostomy &                     Continence Nursing, 47(6), 547. https://doi.org/10.1097/WON.0000000000000700

Hannah,

I share a similar experience with you being involved in an organization within my nursing specialty. I have been practicing in the ICU for the last five years and have held a membership with the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN). Like the ENA, the AACN provides numerous opportunities for continuing education and professional development/advancement. In 2017, the Health Education England department identified four pillars of advanced practice nursing (Reynolds & Mortimore (2021):

• Clinical practice
• Leadership and management
• Education
• Research

These are four great components to model a professional portfolio on. Memberships in organizations such as the ENA and AACN support each one of these pillars, as well. The AACN website even provides the option to print your transcripts for each continuing education course or webinar, adding more material to a professional portfolio (AACN, n.d.).

STRATEGIES FOR ACADEMIC PORTFOLIOS NURS 6003 References

Reynolds, J., & Mortimore, G. (2021). The ascent to advanced practice: challenges, support and opportunities. British Journal of Nursing, 30(2), 106–108. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2021.30.2.106

American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (n.d.) Retrieved October 21, 2022, from https://www.aacn.org

The field of nursing requires adaptation to a constantly changing group of patient issues. As we advance our careers academically, nurses are increasingly asked to consider their role beyond the simple clinical issues they face in the workplace. Aside from work-related discipline, nurses are often left with few ways of measurably distinguishing themselves from their counterparts aside from work experience. Many of us has heard “no one cares about your Grade Point Average (G.P.A.) once you start working” in their time. While the accuracy of that statement is debatable, it is revelatory in that it highlights the diverse array of qualities expected from a nurse beyond their academic competency and work experience.

In researching this assignment’s topics, I came across an article that discussed an idea very similar to the nurse-familiar concept of evidence-based practice. The term discussed, social entrepreneurship, is defined as using pragmatic and results-oriented methods to bring about social change in the business world (Altman & Brinker, 2016). Comparatively, nurses seeking to further their careers must focus on ways of highlighting similar attributes to express their value effectively to prospective employers. With the goal of better nurses and better patient outcomes in the forefront, it is imperative that nurses take this part of their roles just as seriously as they do any other.

A modern approach to this challenge is to develop and maintain a professional portfolio. Asking me to maintain any sort of portfolio has been somewhat of a challenge. Compounding that fact, I wasn’t the best student early in nursing school and struggled a lot with non-school related issues that made it hard for me. I found the cake mix structure explained in the article The use of professional portfolios and profiles for career enhancement to be an ideal approach for me to take in developing my portfolio (Casey & Egan, 2013). This concept utilizes a reflective narrative to tie evidence together which enables a greater focus on the personal learning journeys, reflection, and the development of personal qualities (Casey & Egan, 2013). This approach will allow me to highlight the volunteer work I have done that relates to my focus on social change. A focus that I am very glad aligns with Walden’s aim provide me with the tools I need to address the immediate solutions of critical societal challenges (Walden University, 2022).

The quality I would most like to get across in my portfolio would be adaptability. I would like to feature my continual self-reflection on clinical and academic experiences in the forefront (Mcmillan et. al, 2014). To highlight my own skills, I find that an e-portfolio would be my best bet as it provides a structure for planning the way my career progresses (Mcmillan et al, 2014). With the little psych experience I currently have, developing and maintaining an e-portfolio and utilizing the aforementioned “cake mix structure approach” as an asset of self-reflection will give me more control over the way my value as a nurse is expressed.

STRATEGIES FOR ACADEMIC PORTFOLIOS NURS 6003 References

Altman, M., & Brinker, D. (2016). Nursing social entrepreneurship leads to positive change. Nursing Management, 47(7), 28–32. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.numa.0000484476.21855.50

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

McMillan, L. R., Parker, F., & Sport, A. (2014). Decisions, decisions! E-portfolio as an effective hiring assessment tool. Nursing Management, 45(4), 52–54. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.numa.0000444882.93063.a7

Walden University. (n.d). Social Change. Retrieved from https://www.waldenu.edu/why-walden/social-change

I really enjoyed your post! I found to be well put together and it offered a lot of useless points related to this weeks topic.  I agree that the development of an eportforlio is essential to an advanced providers career developed.  Hannans and Olivo (2017) discuss that traditional resumes may become a thing of the past and they predict eportfolios as being a requirement for job candidates in the future.   Hannans and Olivo (2017) also discuss that prospective employers may attempt to research a canidate online before hire and it could look ill part on the candidate to not have an online portfolio established on some time of social media platform.  I never thought of this myself until reading that article.

I too think that it is really important for future and current advanced practitioners to become a member of an organization related to their field/speciality.  My background as a nurse is Emergency room and I myself have been a member of the ENA for several years.  I enjoy being a member because they send routine emails about conference, training, and continuing education oppurtunies in my speciality.  This will be extremely important for us as advanced practice nurses in order to stay up to date with current research and data.  According to Crumley (2020) “Professional nursing organizations (PNOs) play a critical role in maximizing the influence of our nursing profession on health systems and policy, through support of patient safety, the socioeconomic welfare of nurses, and professional practice” (p.1).

STRATEGIES FOR ACADEMIC PORTFOLIOS NURS 6003 References

Hannans, J. & Olivo, Y. (2017). Craft a positive nursing digital identity with an ePortfolio. American Nurse Today, 12(11), 48-49. Retrieved October                   17, 2022, from https://www.americannursetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/ant11-Digital-Identity-1017a-1.pdf

Crumley, C. (2020). The Benefits of Active Engagement in Nursing Professional Organizations: A View From Here. Journal of Wound, Ostomy &                     Continence Nursing, 47(6), 547. https://doi.org/10.1097/WON.0000000000000700

Read More Articles: ASSIGNMENT: ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN PART 2: STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE ACADEMIC INTEGRITY AND PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

As a student it is important to know of strategies for incorporating academic activities into professional goals.  When it comes time to search for a job, potential employers may request, research, and inquire about a candidate’s scholarly activities.  Academic activities make a student stand out from the crowd and demonstrate that the candidate values their programs mission and goals.  An eportfolio is a great way for students to track, organize, and broadcast their academic and professional experiences and skills.  Hannans and Olivo (2017) discusses eportfolios for nurses as being the full picture of who you are professionally in your field of work.  Hannans and Olivo (2017) also discuss how eportolios may become a requirement in the future to prospective job candidates, so they state, “why not be ahead of the game” (p.2).

One strategy I aim to use to build some academic activities into my professional development is to join the nurses honor society as Walden University.  Sigma Theta Tau is an international nurse’s honor society and nursing students at Walden University are automatically invited to join the organization at different times throughout the year.  The nursing honor society at Walden University has a mission to “support the learning, knowledge, and professional development of nurses committed to making a difference in health worldwide” (Walden University, n.d, para. 1).  The honor society aims at educating and empowering a generation of nurses who will lead using their knowledge and services to create a work of improved health for the people (Walden University, n.d).  This mission and vision that the society portrays relates well to my professional goal of being able to provide care as a nurse practitioner in my rural area of living, closing some of the care gaps the people face.

Another strategy I have for incorporating an academic activity into my professional development is to join the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) organization.  The mission of the AANP is to empower all nurse practitioners to “advance accessible, person-centered, equitable, high-quality care for diverse communities through practice, education, advocacy, research, and leadership” (AANP, n.d, para.1).  According to Crumley (2020) nurses have many benefits from joining organizations related to their field, interest, and specialties.  Professional organizations can provide nurses and advanced practice providers networking and educational opportunities (Crumley, 2020).  Professional organizations also advocate for nurses to be able to provide the best services to patients and their communities (Crumley, 2020).  Joining one of these organizations helps me to stay up to date on education opportunities and to be involved in a community of individuals whose goal is to support patients and their communities.

Walden University emphasizes social change for all their degree programs.  The social change specific to the field of nursing is to create practitioners who are community based and active in trying to create a positive change for humans and social conditions (Walden University, n.d).  My goal of becoming a nurse practitioner aligns with Walden’s belief of partnering with communities to create social change.  I plan to work as a family nurse practitioner in my rural area community.  Many people in my community have a hard time finding or getting access to family medicine providers.  I will serve my community by offering care to the underprivileged.  Another goal of mine is to be a continuous learner.  By being affiliated with honor and organizational societies, I will be able to stay engaged in new learning and education opportunities for my field. This will align with Walden’s social change practices by allowing me to provider the most up to date and patient centered care available to my community.

STRATEGIES FOR ACADEMIC PORTFOLIOS NURS 6003 References

AANP. (n.d).  Strategic Focus. Retrieved from https://www.aanp.org/

Crumley, C. (2020). The Benefits of Active Engagement in Nursing Professional Organizations: A View From Here. Journal of Wound, Ostomy &                     Continence Nursing, 47(6), 547. https://doi.org/10.1097/WON.0000000000000700

Hannans, J. & Olivo, Y. (2017). Craft a positive nursing digital identity with an ePortfolio. American Nurse Today, 12(11), 48-49. Retrieved October 13, 2022,                   from https://www.americannursetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/ant11-Digital-Identity-1017a-1.pdf

Walden University. (n.d). Sigma Theta Tau: Home. Retrieved from https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/student-organizations/sigma-theta-tau

Walden University. (n.d). Social Change. Retrieved from https://www.waldenu.edu/why-walden/social-change

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.

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.

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

Thank you for sharing your insight on portfolios and highlighting one’s attributes. I like how you mentioned GPA. Although I do not think that GPA should be used as a way to determine which nurse is more competent, rather it should as you mentioned be used to highlight the strengths of the nurse as well as set them a part from their Colleagues. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing, (2022, The Impact of Education) believes nurse clinicians are greatly impacted by education in terms of knowledge and competency. They further stated that a BSN prepared nurse is valued for their versatile ability to lead, critically think, as well as ability to practice in many settings, and are recognized by many different entities. I honestly do not think we realize how much we actually do, until we write it down. Now I understand why portfolios are so important to have and keep up with.

Cope & Murray, (2018, Abstract) stated that professional portfolios are a resource used to maintain evidence of educational background as well as meeting professional requirements. Portfolios are also a way to organize important documents and allow for highlighting one’s strengths, learning needs, and is a way to begin planning on how to address identified needs. Being as though we have entered into the Masters level, it is understood that we are well prepared, but now it is time to keep a diary, so to speak, but in the form of a portfolio so that way we can share with others our journey, and where we plan to take it- very far is my hope. Have a great evening and great post.

            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. 

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

An academic portfolio involves a summary of major activities and accomplishments, giving an account of the extent and nature of an individual’s contributions and their role and achievements. Based on Chae & Lee’s (2021) journal titled Exploring the strategies for successfully building e-portfolios in medical schools, I found strategies for including activities and accomplishments in my professional development goals in my professional portfolio. The strategies are growth and development and evidence-based practice.

​Growth and development is an essential strategy for my professional development goals because a professional portfolio involves complex processes of collaboration and self-evaluation. This strategy will play a significant role in adding activities and accomplishments because, as a nurse, there are numerous growth opportunities. Growth and development can include knowledge acquisition, attainment of goals, and academic progress. For instance, as a registered nurse, my growth can involve plans to do a Master’s in Nursing, find a job opportunity in the emergency department, and improve my clinical nursing skills. Also, I can grow and develop by expanding my competencies in the area of practice through learning skills such as; nurse leadership, nursing research, and patient assessment (Ciesielkiewicz, 2019). This will help to take part in promoting high-quality healthcare services to those in need.

​Evidence-based practice is a strategy that relies on existing evidence. This makes it potential to attain the set goals because evidence-based practice (EBP) has been evaluated and ascertained to optimize the expected outcomes. Thus, this strategy is significant for developing and showcasing my expertise. A perfect example of EBP is infection control, which is essential because we live in unpredictable times (Berbegal-Mirabent et al., 2021). The COVID-19 pandemic can back this. Thus, this practice can promote health education among patients to consider preventive measures to avoid contracting highly contagious diseases. Thus, these strategies will play a key role in including activities and accomplishments in my professional development goals.

​Social changes have profound and long-term impacts on cultural and social institutions. Thus, the usefulness of these strategies, growth, and development, as well as EBP in my professional development goals, will contribute to improved knowledge and skills and offer the appropriate direction to promoting a healthy society. My University is focused on social change because it intends all of its efforts to be towards shaping a better world. Therefore, the attainment of my professional development goals through growth, development, and relying on the EBP, the University’s emphasis on social change will align with my strategies.

As a future PMHNP, it is imperative to maintain credentials, compassion, skills, and education while making room for improvement and innovation. Creating a portfolio is one way to track and showcase accomplishments and expertise. Doing so also exhibits abilities to “meet the complex needs of families and the demands of professional practice” (Williams & Jordan, 2007) by managing small tokens from “thank you” cards by patients to appreciation emails from supervisors. In a digital world with increasing technological development, Leahy and Filiatrault (2017) suggest that “paper resumes and portfolios are gradually becoming less popular,” and a survey showed most recruiters would visit the link to an ePortfolio if provided when considering students for employment. It appears that just like paper charting, managing paper portfolios is becoming obsolete.

One strategy to include academic activities and accomplishments in my professional development goals is to promote and maintain a professional image on social media and other platforms such as LinkedIn. It is not uncommon for employers to search prospective employees’ social media accounts to gain insight into their character. The last thing that should be visible to any professional network is a link reflecting a negative image. Platforms such as LinkedIn provide opportunities for connecting professionally to better align with individual goals. Additionally, creating an ePortfolio allows “opportunities for professional development, critical reflection, and lifelong learning” and may encourage “knowledge in areas such as healthcare policy, current healthcare trends, and research” (Hannans & Olivo, 2017).

Another strategy is to explore and attend workshops and find volunteer or mentoring opportunities to gain new experiences and knowledge, and learn new techniques to add to my portfolio. Amidst COVID, many of these have been virtual, allowing nurses to learn at their own pace. With new learning opportunities come creative approaches to practice, the adoption of new ideas for caring for others, and overall well-rounded providers.

Maintaining and promoting a professional image through social media and pursuing opportunities for advancement result in positive social change by developing “principled, knowledgeable, and ethical scholar-practitioners, who are and will become civic and professional role models by advancing the betterment of society” (Walden University, n.d.). There is also the possibility of influencing a larger population to promote social change with these strategies due to networking with like-minded scholar-practitioners.