Nursing Career Development

Nursing Career Development

Ashley Wolfe's Personal Career Development Plan

1. Personal Goals A. Long Term Goals i. My long term goal is to obtain my Master of Science degree in Nursing. I plan to accomplish this goal within the next five to six years. ii. My long term goal is to obtain a position as a Nurse Practitioner at a hospital or clinic, preferably in an oncology setting. I plan to accomplish this goal within the next five to six years.

B. Short Term Goals i. My short term goal is to obtain my Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing at Jacksonville University. This goal will be accomplished within the next one to two years. ii. My short term goal is to pass my current classes with a grade of A.

2. Selection of a Mentor A. Chelsea Jenkins, ARNP i. Chelsea Jenkins works as a Nurse Practitioner under an Emergency Medicine Doctor in the Emergency Department at Duncan Regional Hospital in Duncan, Oklahoma. 3. Title of Chosen Role: Acute Care Nurse Practitioner A. I would like to obtain my Bachelors of Science degree in Nursing and then my Masters of Science degree in Nursing so that I may practice as an acute care Nurse Practitioner. This will be accomplished by staying committed to my education and accomplishing the above mentioned goals.

B. Degree Level i. Master's of Science in Nursing or Doctorate in Nursing

C. Role Responsibilities i. provide nursing and medical services to individuals, families and groups accordant with their practice specialties ii. diagnose and manage acute episodic and chronic illnesses iii. emphasize health promotion and disease prevention iv. order, conduct, supervise, and interpret diagnostic and laboratory tests v. prescribe pharmacological agents and non-pharmacologic therapies vi. teach and counsel patients vii. serve as health care researchers, interdisciplinary consultants and patient advocates

D. Licensure/Certification Requirements i. The requirements for a nurse practitioner to practice are that the nurse obtains a Master's Degree in nursing or Doctor of Nursing, a certification from a professional association, and be licensed in the state the nurse wishes to practice in.

E. Process i. The first step towards becoming a nurse practitioner is to earn a BSN or bachelors of science in nursing degree. The average amount of time it takes to earn this degree is around 4 years, however those who participate in a fast- track/accelerated nursing program may complete their degree in about 3 years. In order to enter the nursing program students must first acquire their GED or High School Diploma, successfully pass the nursing prerequisites of the college/university they joined and gain acceptance into the nursing program. ii. The second step towards becoming a nurse practitioner is to obtain RN certification. Once the certification is passed and the license is proceed registered nurses are now legally certified for work. iii. The third step towards becoming a nurse practitioner is to gain some work experience. Some schools may prefer/require potential candidates to gain 1 – 2 years of work experience within a chosen field they are interested in specializing in. Keep in mind that some programs may allow registered nurses to jump directly into the nurse practitioner program through a fast-track/bridge program. iv. The fourth step towards becoming a nurse practitioner is to obtain a Master's of Science in Nursing or a Doctor of Nursing and choose a nurse practitioner school. Once a registered nurse has chosen his/her field of specialty and acquired the education/training necessary to enter the nurse practitioner program they will spend another 2 – 4 years earning their Masers of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. The minimum level of education a certified nurse practitioner is able to have is a MSN degree, which generally takes 2 – 3 years to complete. Nurses who go on to earn the DNP may be able to open their own clinics, apply for the highest level management positions within the nursing field, go on to become professors and provide high level legal counsel to judges and attorneys. v. The fifth step towards becoming a nurse practitioner is to obtain certification. Upon completion of the nurse practitioner program candidates may then be able to apply for certification in order to become a certified nurse practitioner. Depending on the state and certification process potential nurse practitioners may be required to gain 6 – 12 months of work experience before they can apply for their certification.

F. Role Availability and Salary i. Given the growing shortage of primary care providers, it is inevitable that more patients will be seen by practitioners with less training than physicians, and it is virtually certain that DNP graduates will provide a number of services that have traditionally been viewed as being solely within the domain of physicians, often within fully integrated practice settings throughout the health care delivery system (Mundinger). ii. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nurse Practitioners in the state of Oklahoma earned an average base salary of $94,868 and enjoyed an average total income of $104,040.

4. Pros, Cons, and Liabilities A. Pros and Cons i. Being an NP is a wonderful opportunity to help individuals achieve their optimal potential health. Pros: The job is diverse, ever-challenging, and ever- changing. The cons: the job is diverse, ever-challenging, and ever-changing. The level of stress, especially for novice clinicians, can be very high, as a decision which you make may significantly impact a person's health and well-being. This can result in continuing high levels of anxiety. It is a position which requires a great deal of autonomy, decision-making ability, logical reasoning, and the ability to reach a conclusion on what to do under what may be difficult circumstances. B. Liabilities i. Nurse practitioners are at the forefront of a paradigm shift occurring in today's healthcare industry. Ten years ago, nurse practitioners did not assume a prominent role in patient care. However, as policymakers address the goal of making healthcare accessible in all of our communities, they increasingly focus upon the nurse practitioner. Today, physician groups, hospitals, aging services organizations, and other healthcare providers call upon the services of nurse practitioners to maximize quality while maintaining affordability in patient care. As nurse practitioners assume a larger role in the healthcare industry, related legal and regulatory issues also intensify. As a result, nurse practitioners now occupy a central role in malpractice litigation. A threshold issue in such litigation often is the express regulatory authority of a nurse practitioner to render certain types of patient care. With respect to scope of practice, however, states differ dramatically in the professional activities that nurse practitioners may perform (American Association of Nurse Practitioners).

5. Potential for professional growth A. A nurse practitioner requires greater overall educational requirements and licensiing, the potential for growth in this job remains high.

6. Study Plan A. An effective study plan is one that allows the student time to study and retain information and also allows the student a small break in between to absorb the information being studied. I have dedicated five days of the week during the times of 1200 to 1300 and 2000 to 2300 to study.

7. Time Management Plan A. In order to succeed at time management and online schooling a study plan has to be in place. Online students have a strong need for structure. Prior to the class starting the syllabus has been reviewed and based on the due dates a study plan has been created. I have designated appropriate study times but must commit to them. I will make it a daily routine to sign into the classroom. This will allow me to stay current on my studies will allow for the experience to be a lot less overwhelming. I will be able to maximize my time by knowing what is due ahead not just the current week assigned.

8. Stress Reduction Plan A. My plan for stress reduction is to attempt to build a social network. A common source of stress for many online students results from a feeling of being disconnected from the class because the other students and instructor are not visibly present. Additional sources of stress include not being able to find the needed materials, posting a question that is not immediately answered, or feeling that you do not know how to relate to other students. All of these factors can contribute to a sense of isolation. I plan on overcoming this stress by being active in the discussion threads. As you learn to collaborate with other students, you will feel more like you are a part of the class. Being enrolled in an online program the expectations may become overwhelming. The professors expect the student to find the course materials, complete the assigned readings, submit your assignments on time, and remain actively involved in class discussions. This can become overwhelming if it seems that there are too many tasks to complete each week. I have developed a planned schedule which is a good way to organize my tasks and is a proactive form of stress management. Developing a schedule becomes more effective when you also have a time management plan in place to help you utilize that schedule. Instead of just planning what needs to be accomplished each week, I can also allocate time to complete each task. Sticking to the allotted time will help with stress reduction. Stress rises when I feel as if I am pressured to get my work caught up. I have also allocated down time. This is applicable to my days off from work when I have more hours in the day to juggle around. My downtime would include going for a walk, playing with my dogs, tending to house work, and watching TV.

References:

American Association of Nurse Practitioners. (2008). Understanding Nurse Practitioner Liability: CNA HealthPro Nurse Practitioner Claims Analysis 1998-2008. Retrieved from http://international.aanp.org/Content/docs/UnderstandingNursePractitionerLiability.pdf

Mundinger, M., & Guadagnino, C. (2008). Growing role of nurse practitioners. Retrieved from http://www.lifeupenn.org/growing role of nurse practitioners.pdf