Action Plan for Continued Competence Essay
In this assignment you will be completing the section of the Capstone Nurse E-Portfolio that focuses on continuing competence. Reflect on and then answer the following questions.
Provide a synopsis of your review of initial, mid-course, and final entries of Nurse E-Portfolios for all courses that includes what you found surprising, what you found concerning, and how you have progressed (knowledge, skills, and abilities) since the first course taken.Action Plan for Continued Competence Essay
Describe your plans in your first year to maintain your competence as a professional nurse.
Describe your plans in the following three years to maintain your competence as a professional nurse.
What you would you like to be doing as a professional nurse 10 years from now and what competencies you will need to accomplish these goals/activities.
Introduction
This paper discusses my professional goals and my future career plan as a nurse in the healthcare field. This discussion will also include a description of the skills, abilities, and knowledge that I currently possess, those that I need to change and the steps that I will take in order to change them to accomplish my career goals. A step by step explanation of the plans needed to maintain competence as a professional nurse currently, in 3 years’ and 10 years’ time is also discussed.
Synopsis of Nurse E-Portfolio Entries for the Nursing Program
After graduating from high school, I gained entry into college to pursue a Bachelor of Science in nursing which is the most preferred entry-level position by most employers in the nursing career. It is through this degree that I will become a registered nurse and be able to work in pediatric facilities, long-term care facilities or palliative care. I was however surprised to learn that there exist three paths that one can choose from to become a nurse. Learners can get an associate degree, a bachelor’s degree or a diploma from a school of nursing. Besides, nurses are not only limited to caring for patients, but they can also freely shift to other careers such as administration, entrepreneurship or education. Alternatively, one can decide to work for legal firms and insurance companies as consultants.Action Plan for Continued Competence Essay
So far, I have gained adequate skills in taking comprehensive health histories, dispensing medications, prescribing treatments, monitoring and observing patients and giving public health education to patients. My proficiency in these areas has been supported by background knowledge on how to conduct physical examinations, an understanding of the pathophysiology of different conditions, signs, and symptoms of different medical illnesses and the appropriate dosing and medications used in the management of different illnesses. As a result of interacting with colleagues and friends from different areas, I have developed strong interpersonal and communication skills, collaborative skills, and cultural competency.
First-Year Plans To Maintain Competence as a Professional Nurse
In order to maintain my competence as a professional nurse, I will ensure to improve my understanding of the professional regulations and legal requirements that guide the profession of nursing. It is important to get this information prior since this career will be a lifetime experience in different areas of clinical practice. This knowledge will also influence my ability to make clinical decisions which abide by the professional ethical guidelines. As a result, I will be able to take responsibility and remain accountable for my actions, decisions, and behavior in training and active practice. Besides, I will be able to execute my roles as a nurse with a lot of professionalism. To achieve this, I will enroll as an active member in nursing professional associations, most preferably, the American Nurses Association (ANA).
One-Three Year Plans To Maintain Competence as a Professional Nurse
In order to maintain my competency as a professional nurse, I will advance in my profession to the next level. Lifelong learning positively impacts increased professional knowledge in emerging evidence-based practice which improves clinical competence (Coffey et al., 2016). Besides, to fully engage in activities related to leadership and professional development, it is mandatory for an individual to commit to competencies in health management and evolving skills. Therefore, after completing my BSN program and actively practicing for two years, I will enroll for a Masters in Nursing Degree whose only requirement for admission is a BSN. This Masters will serve as my professional gateway to developing my nursing career as an educator as well as preparation for leadership roles in the areas of nursing education and nursing research. Through the MSN program, I will be equipped with innovative, intelligence and resilience skills, which are critical for nurse educators (Bagley et al., 2018).Action Plan for Continued Competence Essay
Ten-Year Plan to Maintain Competence as a Professional Nurse
Upon completion of my MSN in Nursing, I will practice as a Nurse educator for approximately 4-5 years after which I will enroll for a Doctor in Nursing Practice program. The DNP program needs a personal commitment to attain the highest nursing practice levels. Through this program, I will be able to engage in nursing research and influence policy to transform nursing practice at different levels. Its curriculum imparts knowledge on quality improvement, evidence-based practice, and systems leadership (Udlis & Mancuso, 2015). Therefore, the DNP program simply provides the avenue to be able to translate research evidence to nursing practice. Upon completion of my studies, I will be able to influence healthcare policy in the training of nurses, clinical practice, financial management, and budgets. Transitioning from BSN-DNP level as part of my career goal and maintaining competence can also be attributed to the changes that currently exist in the delivery of care and the emerging needs in care (Udlis & Mancuso, 2015). Continuous learning promotes the ability to identify areas in practice that need improvement and the application of knowledge to solve issues in practice.Action Plan for Continued Competence Essay
References
Bagley, K., Hoppe, L., Brenner, G. H., & Weir, M. (2018). Transition to Nursing Faculty: Exploring the Barriers. Teaching and Learning in Nursing, 13(4), 263-267.
Coffey, S., Zitzelsberger, H., Graham, L. L., Lindsay, G. M., Anyinam, C., & Vanderlee, R. (2016). Meaningful Lifelong Learning in Nursing Education: Barriers, Facilitators, and Outcomes.
Udlis, K. A., & Mancuso, J. M. (2015). Perceptions of the role of the doctor of nursing practice-prepared nurse: Clarity or confusion. Journal of Professional Nursing, 31(4), 274-283. Action Plan for Continued Competence Essay