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.
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ToggleBY 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.
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Module 5 Discussion post Week 8
Module 5 Discussion Post Week 8
An academic portfolio is a record of a person’s achievements, developments, and significant activities, which include contributions and roles throughout their academic journey. This portfolio can be a vital tool in building a professional portfolio and reaching professional goals (Cope & Murray, 2018). To integrate my academic portfolio into my professional development, I can employ strategies like including electronic copies of my academic transcripts, certificates for participation, and my nursing license. These documents will substantiate my academic journey and display my competence in various aspects of nursing. Additionally, certificates for participating in community service can illustrate my engagement in voluntary work. Lastly, my nursing license is crucial in demonstrating that I’m a certified and qualified nurse. These strategies will support my professional development goals by validating my qualifications and advancing my academic achievements.
The university’s commitment to social change revolves around creating and implementing ideas and strategies that enhance the value and growth of individuals, organizations, and communities. My professional development goal aligns with this university’s focus on social change, as I aim to fully practice nursing competencies and provide culturally sensitive care (Claeys et al., 2020). Cultural sensitivity is essential in a healthcare setting serving a diverse population. It contributes to the well-being of patients, organizations, and communities, thereby positively impacting social change. Implementing nursing competencies, which encompass the knowledge, skills, and values acquired, is vital for addressing complex issues and improving patient care. By effectively utilizing these competencies, positive outcomes can be achieved for patients, organizations, and communities, further promoting social change.
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References
Claeys,A., Berdai-Chaouni, S., Tricas-Sauras,S., & De Donder, L. (2020). Culturally sensitive care: Definitions, perceptions, and practices of health care professionals. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 32(5), 484-492. https:doi.org/10.1177/1043659620970625
Cope, V., & Murray, M. (2018). Use of professional portfolios in Nursing. Nursing Standard, 32(30), 55-63. https://doi.org/10.7748/ns.2018.e10985
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Collapse SubdiscussionJessica Naber Hi Amy! Thank you for your post. I think you are spot on with what to include in your portfolio. You mentioned educational activities, licensures, and community service. These are all excellent! I think it will be important to provide examples and descriptions as well. For example, if you have a specific certificate or course that you have taken, it would be good to describe what that entails. Additionally, if you have done volunteer activity, it is good to describe how many hours, in what setting, and what you learned from it.
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Collapse SubdiscussionJeffy Jess Joseph Greetings Amy. I agree that an academic portfolio lists an individual’s professional development, academic history, and major achievements like participation in research and journal writing (Burns, 2018). Therefore, one needs to be very strategic when writing an academic portfolio since it helps improve an individual’s professional visibility. One must gather all their academic certificates, testimonials, and licenses to prove credibility. Professional and work history should also be clearly outlined, and the roles and responsibilities well-stated. Moreover, the university is focused on social change, which should guide every student to study to change their lives and that of society. Change starts with an individual and then with society. Therefore, an academic portfolio must address issues that involve the student participating in social change or their goals toward social change.
References
Burns, M.K. (2018). Creating a nursing portfolio. Ohio Nurses Review, 93(3), 16-17.
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Collapse SubdiscussionClaire Nancie Lubin Hi Amy,
Great input on academic portfolio. I liked how you mentioned it’s a fundamental tool to achieving one’s professional goals. Assadi et al. (2021), stated in their article that using the academic portfolio method can help nursing students gain better insight and understanding their profession. I think this is a valid point as the academic portfolio highlights one’s academic achievements. Portfolios can be used for different purposes, for one it allows you to look at your academic and professional growth overtime (Horton et al., 2019). This allows students to look at their portfolio and see what they have accomplished thus far and evaluate different areas of where they would like to see themselves go in the nursing field.
References
Assadi Hoveyzian, S., Shariati, A., Haghighi, S., Latifi, S. M., & Ayoubi, M. (2021). The effect of portfolio-based education and evaluation on clinical competence of nursing students: A pretest–posttest quasiexperimental crossover study. Advances in Medical Education and Practice, Volume 12, 175–182. https://doi.org/10.2147/amep.s231760
Horton, S. L., Drake, D. J., Kershaw, P. A., & Murray, N. A. (2019). The academic portfolio: Validation of the learning journey. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 9(11), 26. https://doi.org/10.5430/jnep.v9n11p26
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Collapse SubdiscussionBeverly Britton Hello Amy,
Your focus on the academic portfolio was well-written. The point that intrigued me was that one of your goals was to practice culturally sensitive care to enhance social change. Research shows that patients from minority groups often receive poor-quality care (Claeys et al., 2021). Hence, there is a need for nurses to practice cultural sensitivity to enable them to accommodate patients from minority groups and provide them with quality care. A key strategy to practicing culturally-sensitive care is using various techniques to collaborate with patients and families. According to Brooks et al. (2019), the techniques to enhance collaboration include being respectful and supportive to enable good interactions.
References
Brooks, L. A., Manias, E., & Bloomer, M. J. (2019). Culturally sensitive communication in healthcare: A concept analysis. Collegian, 26(3), 383-391.
Claeys, A., Berdai-Chaouni, S., Tricas-Sauras, S., & De Donder, L. (2021). Culturally sensitive care: Definitions, perceptions, and practices of health care professionals. Journal of Transcultural Nursing: Official Journal of the Transcultural Nursing Society, 32(5), 484–492. https://doi.org/10.1177/1043659620970625Links to an external site.
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Collapse SubdiscussionJeandy Diaz Diaz Gomez Hi Amy,
I enjoyed reading your post and completely agree with you in regards cultural sensitivity. Walden’s mission statement reads, “Walden University mission provides a diverse community of career professionals with the opportunity to transform themselves as scholar- practitioners so that they can affect positive social change (Walden University Catalog, n.d.) ”. Walden’s 2022 A Vision for Change further expands on designing a community where applied knowledge and expertise to solve critical societal challenges and “empower students to make a difference by confronting those challenges where they live, their professions, and on a global scale” (Walden University, 2022). Under its 2023 Vision for Change, Walden’s fourth goal illustrates a spirit of continuous improvement and aligns with my goals also.
References
Walden University. (2022). Social Change Report. Retrieved from https://www.waldenu.edu/-/media/walden/files/about-walden/walden-university-2017-social- change-report-final-v-2.pdf
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Collapse SubdiscussionZheman Guly Module 5 discussion post : Strategies for an academic portfolio
One strategy for developing an academic portfolio or a portfolio element that focuses on academic achievement is gathering evidence for learning. A student must carefully choose the drafts to use in the portfolio depending on their profession or career. For example, in the case of a nursing student, one may choose to include a research paper they wrote within their course of study or evidence for practical involvement that is a prerequisite in nursing and other medical courses. A careful selection of articles in the portfolio shows the academic and professional accomplishments and competencies developed during the study.
Secondly, one can include evidence indicating personal and professional growth. This is shown in employment history or case histories and exemplars demonstrating competence (Davis, 2015). Narratives reflecting the nursing practice are also important. For example, a nursing student can choose to include evidence of times they handled patients, participated in collaborative and teamwork activities, and opportunities they played the leadership role. This is meant to show professional growth and goals one has set to achieve in the future.
One resource I found about developing a professional portfolio is a journal article titled “The use of professional portfolios and profiles for career enhancement” by Deborah C Casey and Dominic Egan. This resource provides that although the structure and presentation of a portfolio will vary according to the individual’s preferences, experiences, and career goals. Some standard information and documentation to consider for inclusion should include Biographical information, Educational background, Employment history with a brief description of roles and responsibilities, and professional qualification certificates (Casey,2010). This resource is of great use to me when developing an academic portfolio. It will serve as a guide using the samples provided.
Reference
Casey, D. C; Egan, Dominic (2010). The use of professional portfolios and profiles for career enhancement. British Journal of Community Nursing, 15(11), 547–552. doi:10.12968/bjcn.2010.15.11.79625
Davis, C. (2015). Developing a professional nursing portfolio. Nursing Made Incredibly Easy!,13(1) doi:10.1097/01.NME.0000457285.39465.5c
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Collapse SubdiscussionAmy Sprayberry Zheman,
I concur with you that gathering evidence for learning is important. However, I believe that evidence should be gathered from a variety of sources in order to show breadth and depth of learning. For example, one could include research papers they have written for class, blog posts they have written, presentations they have made, or any other form of original writing. Additionally, it is important to showcase one’s creativity and innovation in order to demonstrate that they are capable of thinking outside the box and come up with new ideas (Atta-Darkua et al., 2020).
Additionally, I think it is important to have a portfolio that reflects your personal style. This means that you should include pieces of art, photographs, or any other pieces of personal decoration that reflect who you are and what you enjoy (Ziakas, 2019). It is also important to showcase your skills in a variety of areas, not just one specific area. This will show that you are versatile and capable of handling a variety of tasks.
The use of journal articles in academic portfolio nursing is increasingly being seen as a beneficial way for nurses to demonstrate their scholarly writing and research skills (Atta-Darkua et al., 2020). A journal article can be used as a tool to showcase one’s ability to write clearly, concisely, and effectively. Additionally, a journal article can be used to demonstrate your knowledge of current nursing research and practice.
Overall, I believe that portfolios are an important way to demonstrate one’s skills and accomplishments. They can be a source of pride for nurses and should be used to enhance one’s career prospects. However, someone should be sure to use them in a way that is helpful and constructive, not damaging or false.
References
Atta-Darkua, V., Chambers, D., Dimson, E., Ran, Z., & Yu, T. (2020). Strategies for responsible investing: Emerging academic evidence. The Journal of Portfolio Management, 46(3), 26-35.
Ziakas, V. (2019). Issues, patterns and strategies in the development of event portfolios: configuring models, design and policy. Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events, 11(1), 121-158.
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Collapse SubdiscussionJessica Naber Great job, Zheman. I really like your ideas about exemplars. If you are a student and say you are in a research course, include a research paper that you have written that showcases your ability. If you have experience in a certain clinical setting, you can describe those interactions with patients and reflect on strengths and weaknesses. You mentioned leadership roles, and I think that is critical to include. If you have had an experience where you led a group or showed great leadership skills, include that! Future employers will really value that information.
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Collapse SubdiscussionJeffy Jess Joseph Hello Zheman. Thank you for sharing your discussion on strategies to use to build an academic portfolio. Burns (2018) states that academic portfolios summarize an individual’s personal and professional growth and academic achievements. Therefore, I agree that one must use different strategies to develop the best academic portfolio to help one become relevant and visibly career-wise. It is essential to state the various academic achievements and the schools and courses one has studied. One can also describe their professional background, experiences, gained skills, and any publications they have authored or co-authored. Lastly, I agree that the academic portfolio should not miss the following details biographical data, academic background, employment history, and professional qualifications and certifications.
References
Burns, M.K. (2018). Creating a nursing portfolio. Ohio Nurses Review, 93(3), 16-17.
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Collapse SubdiscussionYanet Medina Module 5 Discussion Response 1
Great post Zheman,
Considering having a portfolio that reflects your personal style is essential. This means that you should include photographs, or other personal decorations that reflect your personality and interests. It is also important to demonstrate your abilities in a variety of areas, rather than just one, his demonstrates your adaptability and ability to handle a wide range of tasks. The utilization of journal articles in an academic portfolio is viewed as a valuable tool for nursing staff to display their research and writing skills. One’s capacity to write properly, clearly, and efficiently can be demonstrated by publishing a journal. In addition, a journal article can be used to demonstrate your familiarity with contemporary nursing practices and research.
I agree with you in that collecting evidence for learning is critical. However, to demonstrate the depth of learning, I believe evidence should be gathered from a variety of reputable sources. For example, research papers, blog posts, or presentations could be included. Furthermore, it is critical to demonstrate one’s ingenuity and creativity to showcase one’s personal style and creative ways.
Great. Post
Reference:
Burns, M.K. (2018). Creating a nursing portfolio. Ohio Nurses Review, 93(3), 16-17.
Ziakas, V. (2019). Issues, patterns and strategies in the development of event portfolios: configuring models, design and policy. Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events, 11(1), 121-158.
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Collapse SubdiscussionPamela Jean May Hello, Zheman. I enjoyed reading your post regarding the development of portfolios for one’s profession. I agree with the standard of topics you have listed for inclusion. While researching for this assignment, I found much more than I had previously considered regarding what elements to include to further enrich the portfolio. You listed some of these such as case histories and exemplars that demonstrate competence that as suggested by Casey and Egan (2013). In addition to these, Burns (2018) suggested the inclusion of such elements as professional memberships, awards and recognitions, scholarly works, poster presentations, community service, and letters of recommendation. By providing such information a potential employer, college, and peers can get a more accurate picture of who that person in the portfolio is professionally and personally. Portfolios can be tailored to those to whom they are being presented too, or in the case of a digital portfolio, may include much more. It is my intention to have both a digital portfolio on a website as well as a Word-type document that can be sent paper-form or electronically.
References
Burns, M. (2018). Creating a nursing portfolio. Ohio Nurses Review, 9(3), 16-17. Retrieved from https://eds.s.ebscohost.com/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=1&sid=33753712-568d-4400-bf30-48aa314ca846%40redis
Casey, D.C., & Egan, D. (2013). The use of professional portfolios and profiles for career enhancement. British Journal of Community Nursing, 15(11), 547-552. Retrieved from https://eds.s.ebscohost.com/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=1&sid=ff7e35ad-d1e1-4dbf-9c2c-5740ff904b2f%40redis
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Collapse SubdiscussionBeverly Britton Hello Zheman,
Your discussion was concise and well-written. The point that resonated with me was that an academic portfolio is important for storing academic qualifications. Vazquez-Calatayud et al. (2021) explain that nurses should practice continuous professional development to improve their skills and competencies needed to improve care quality. After continuous learning, nurses are awarded certificates or licenses, and including them in an academic portfolio shows potential employers the evidence of learning. According to Cope and Murray (2018), academic portfolios are also important since they help show the strengths and learning needs of nurses. Nurses can evaluate themselves and determine where they should improve.
References
Cope, V., & Murray, M. (2018). Use of professional portfolios in nursing. Nursing Standard, 32(30), 55–63. https://doi.org/10.7748/ns.2018.e10985Links to an external site.
Vázquez-Calatayud, M., Errasti-Ibarrondo, B., & Choperena, A. (2021). Nurses’ continuing professional development: A systematic literature review. Nurse Education in Practice, 50, 102963. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2020.102963Links to an external site.
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Collapse SubdiscussionJeandy Diaz Diaz Gomez Hi Zheman,
Excellent post and very informative. Portfolios are essential, especially for us nurses in advanced roles such as nurse practitioners. Concerns and questions regarding competence and qualifications for practice, the lack of standardized educational preparation, and potential new regulations for APRNs are reasons having and maintaining up-to-date professional portfolios is essential. APRNs should carefully analyze “how they currently demonstrate that their practice is safe and effective. Some recommendations for indicating competence in advanced practice within a portfolio are documentation of education and training”(Casey DC, & Egan D. 2010) in advanced skills such as diagnostics, results of practice audits, documentation reviews, patient perspectives, peer reviews, feedback from colleagues, and notes from clinical supervisions (Casey DC, & Egan D. 2010).
An individual development plan that clarifies strengths, identifies opportunities for improvement, and determines learning needs are essential strategies and performance tracking and ongoing professional development evaluation to accomplish one’s goals and contribute to social change. “A necessary tool in one’s career growth and development is a well-constructed portfolio that can help support career changes, meet professional body requirements, attest to academic ability, and ultimately assist practitioners in implementing and promoting best practices” (Casey DC, & Egan D. 2010).
“What’s important to include in the professional development plan is the connection between evidence-based practice and theory. It should also include areas for serving one’s community and profession. This aligns well with Walden’s commitment to social change. All professional development plans should also include a provision to participate, on an active level, in a professional organization” (Laureate Education, 2018).References
Casey DC, & Egan D. (2010). The use of professional portfolios and profiles for career enhancement. British Journal of Community Nursing, 15(11), 547–552.
Laureate Education (Producer). (2018). The Walden Journey to a Masters in Nursing: Your Professional Development Plan [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author. Retrieved from https://cdnfiles.laureate.net/2dett4d/managed/WAL/NURS/6003/05/WAL_NURS6003_05_B _EN.pdf
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Collapse SubdiscussionJeffy Jess Joseph NURS 6003: Strategies for Academic Portfolios
An academic portfolio is essentially a carefully organized collection of documents that showcase an individual’s professional development, accomplishments, and academic journey. Burns (2018) defines it as a compilation of various records that serve as proof, demonstrating what someone has achieved in their professional and academic life. For a professional nurse, having an academic portfolio is crucial. I can employ two key strategies to build and develop my academic portfolio: a focus on professional growth and development and the incorporation of evidence-based practical knowledge and skills.
One significant component of an academic portfolio is a clear and well-structured account of one’s academic growth and development over the years, highlighting various academic and professional milestones. For instance, I can document my journey from starting as a practical nurse to advancing my education and earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Subsequently, I continued my studies and completed a Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Nursing Leadership and Management. Presently, I am pursuing further education to become an advanced practice nurse with a specialization in Family Health. This educational journey has taught me the importance of consistently striving for my goals, and it has become evident that achieving academic and professional growth often requires stepping out of one’s comfort zone. Furthermore, achieving growth and development necessitates an ongoing commitment to expanding one’s skills, knowledge, and competencies in areas like evidence-based practice, nursing leadership, and nursing research, among others.
The second strategy I plan to employ in developing my academic portfolio is to outline the evidence-based skills and competencies I have acquired over the years. Nursing, being a science, demands the use of evidence-based practices to address the daily nursing challenges encountered (Kuivila et al., 2020). Therefore, as part of my professional development goals, it is imperative for a nurse to be well-versed in the essential evidence-based practices. One example of such critical practices includes infection prevention strategies, like hand-washing, mask-wearing, and the use of gloves. As I work towards becoming an advanced Family Nurse Practitioner, I am determined to develop professionally and align my goals and strategies with Walden University’s focus on social change. I firmly believe that by achieving my professional development goal of becoming an advanced Family Nurse Practitioner, I will be equipped with the necessary evidence-based skills to contribute to addressing various social issues, in line with the principles emphasized by Walden University (Walden University, 2020). Consequently, through my education and practice at the University, I will be well-prepared to offer solutions to the global challenges related to social change.
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References
Burns, M.K. (2018). Creating a nursing portfolio. Ohio Nurses Review, 93(3), 16-17.
Kuivila, H. M., Mikkonen, K., Sjögren, T., Koivula, M., Koskimäki, M., Männistö, M., … & Kääriäinen, M. (2020). Health science student teachers’ perceptions of teacher competence: A qualitative study. Nurse education today, 84, 104210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2019.104210Links to an external site.
Walden University. (2020). Social change. Retrieved October 18, 2020, from https://www.waldenu.edu/why-walden/social-changeLinks to an external site.
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Collapse SubdiscussionJessica Naber Hi Jeffy. You mentioned including in your portfolio evidence of professional growth and development as well as outlining evidence-based skills and competencies you have acquired. I think these are all critical to include. You would definitely discuss your academic journey and your experiences in nursing as you have progressed, learned, and developed. Additionally, being practical and discussing what you know and are skilled at is very important. Great post!
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Collapse SubdiscussionZheman Guly Module 5 Discussion Response
One of the catchy statements in your post is that an academic portfolio is “a document with organized records on professional development, achievements, and academic experiences.” There is an aspect of the organization and now the records. This statement completely describes an academic portfolio, and it was impressive of you.
In summary, any well-crafted academic portfolio should resemble an overview of their education, licensure, and employment history with supporting documents, e.g., copies of college or graduate school transcripts, licenses, continuing education units, in-service attendance, awards, annual performance appraisals, dates of promotions, and letters of recommendation from current or previous employers or colleagues (Davis, 2015). If need be, one can choose to include also personal documents, e.g., case histories and exemplars that demonstrate competency, narratives reflecting one’s nursing practice. In a particular article, the author insisted on including detailed summaries of patient case histories in which one played a significant role in positive clinical outcomes (Davis, 2015). The author added that one might also want to add a list of professional growth and skill competencies they plan to complete to attain their long-term career goals. As you pursue your career to become a family health advanced nurse practitioner, I find it essential to consider these ideas. They will describe and portray you in the most desirable way to your peers, employers, and educational faculty if you wish to study further.
References
Davis, C. (2015). Developing a professional nursing portfolio. Nursing Made Incredibly Easy!
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Collapse SubdiscussionZulay Lantigua Ruano Hello Jeffy,
I concur with your perceptive analysis of the significance of an academic portfolio within the nursing profession. An academic portfolio serves as a powerful instrument for documenting and illustrating one’s professional growth and development, as well as exhibiting one’s evidence-based knowledge and competencies (Assadi Hoveyzian et al., 2021). To further enhance the portfolio, I would recommend incorporating any relevant continuing education courses, certifications, or professional memberships, which would serve to demonstrate the nurse’s dedication to ongoing professional advancement. Furthermore, it is crucial to highlight the importance of reflective practice in the development of an academic portfolio and how it can be utilized to identify areas for improvement and growth (Artioli et al., 2021). Reflective practice can also be employed to demonstrate the nurse’s cognitive abilities and their ability to introspect on their own practice. In summary, an academic portfolio can be a valuable asset in advancing one’s career and showcasing a nurse’s commitment to ongoing professional development.
ReferencesArtioli, G., Deiana, L., De Vincenzo, F., Raucci, M., Amaducci, G., Bassi, M. C., Di Leo, S., Hayter, M., & Ghirotto, L. (2021). Health professionals and students’ experiences of reflective writing in learning: A qualitative meta-synthesis. BMC Medical Education, 21(1), 394. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-021-02831-4Links to an external site.
Assadi Hoveyzian, S., Shariati, A., Haghighi, S., Latifi, S. M., & Ayoubi, M. (2021). The effect of portfolio-based education and evaluation on clinical competence of nursing students: A pretest-posttest quasiexperimental crossover study. Advances in Medical Education and Practice, 12, 175–182. https://doi.org/10.2147/AMEP.S231760Links to an external site.
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Collapse SubdiscussionAmy Sprayberry Jeffy, an academic portfolio summarizes a person’s significant activities and accomplishments, documenting the nature and extent of the contributions and personal roles and achievements. It comprises several documents that act as evidence to illustrate an individual’s professional and academic achievements (López-Crespo et al., 2021). The portfolio should contain different elements that depend on the purpose for which it is being used. In addition to the strategies you mentioned in the discussion, making a compelling personal statement that outlines your academic and professional growth through the years to attain the required qualifications is critical. It will help articulate the grounds on which the application is based. It will also help provide an overview of the application and give a clear and succinct statement on the qualifications attained for the application. For instance, mentioning the highest academic qualification and work experience will help provide a clear and concise personal statement.
Some other aspects, such as being involved in research documentation and presentation, will also build on the portfolio. Since nursing requires the use of scientific-based evidence in guiding professional practice, personal involvement in publishing evidence-based research may help improve the image and weight of the portfolio. In addition, having basic knowledge and competencies in technology and computer-based applications will also improve the portfolio. Healthcare institutions use computer-based applications to document patient details and enable faster records retrieval through electronic health records (Mitchell & Kan, 2019). This will also be vital in using other advanced technological applications, such as telehealth and telemedicine, to provide patient care.
References
López-Crespo, G., Blanco-Gandía, M. C., Valdivia-Salas, S., Fidalgo, C., & Sánchez-Pérez, N. (2021). The educational e-portfolio is preliminary evidence of its relationship with student self-efficacy and engagement. Education and Information Technologies. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-021-10827-2Links to an external site.
Mitchell, M., & Kan, L. (2019). Digital Technology and the Future of Health Systems. Health Systems and Reform, 5(2), 113–120. https://doi.org/10.1080/23288604.2019.1583040Links to an external site.
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Collapse SubdiscussionPamela Jean May Hello, Jeffy. I can relate to several elements of your post. I too have various continuing education journeys leading up to where I am today as a master’s degree-prepared nurse. I began at the associate level and decided on two occasions, once for a bachelor’s degree and another for my master’s degree, to return to school to pursue higher education. I agree that these are important to include in one’s professional portfolio. This highlights our growth as a nurse and our commitment to the profession by wanting to continue to grow so that we have more to offer those we impact as nursing professionals. I always think of Benner’s novice to expert continuum and how one continually goes back and forth on that line related to pursuing a new area that he or she has yet to have experience in. I may include something related to this in my portfolio as well. If you have considered a digital portfolio, a good site to check out is Squarespace. It lets you personalize every element of the portfolio. Hannaans (2017) encourages the development of a digital portfolio in order to have some control over what potential employers and peers find about you on the internet through a name search. I feel like this is a great idea, and intend to pursue doing just that, as well as having a printable Word-type version.
References
Hannans, J. (2017). Craft a positive nursing digital identity with an ePortfolio. American Nurse Today, 12(11), 48-49. Retrieved from https://www.myamericannurse.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/ant11-Digital-Identity-1017a-1.pdf
Squarespace. (n.d.). Create your website. Retrieved from https://www.squarespace.com/websites-start/?channel=pbr&subchannel=go&campaign=pbr-go-us-en-core_squarespacealone-e&subcampaign=(squarespace-alone_squarespace_e)&&cid=15698980512&aid=130361054086&tid=kwd-1988643730&mt=e&eid=&loc_p_ms=9013650&loc_i_ms=&nw=g&d=c&adid=571893406304&channel2=pbr&subchannel2=go&gclid=CjwKCAiAzp6eBhByEiwA_gGq5JLHqP1geVOyzMNtZN2-gU9DkjDn0Lh8jfv77r45pDVuZIr0uBWi-hoCdlMQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
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Collapse SubdiscussionShantae Smith Hello Jeffy,
Thank you for your insightful discussion. I agree with you that the essence of a professional portfolio is to highlight the knowledge and skills that one has gathered over the years. One of the ways through which that is possible is to present the educational qualification. Advancing one’s education is one of the ways of gaining knowledge and skills in any profession. For instance, as you have highlighted, the master’s program in nursing enhances once knowledge and skills in areas such as leadership and research (Heinen et al., 2019). These can be documented in the professional portfolio. Participating in evidence-based practice and quality improvement initiatives can also improve a student’s portfolio. Clinical practice offers a nursing student an opportunity to gain skills in various facets of healthcare provision. While undertaking clinical practice, students can strive to incorporate both evidence-based practices and quality improvement initiatives in the clinical setting. This can improve the outlook of a student’s portfolio. Participating in activities organized by professional organizations can also be essential in helping students gain leadership skills (Poorchangizi et al., 2019). This can also be captured in portfolio.
References
Heinen, M., van Oostveen, C., Peters, J., Vermeulen, H., & Huis, A. (2019). An integrative review of leadership competencies and attributes in advanced nursing practice. Journal of advanced nursing, 75(11), 2378-2392.
Poorchangizi, B., Borhani, F., Abbaszadeh, A., Mirzaee, M., & Farokhzadian, J. (2019). Professional values of nurses and nursing students: A comparative study. BMC medical education, 19(1), 1-7.
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Collapse SubdiscussionClaire Nancie Lubin Hi Jeffy,
In your posted you cited that an academic portfolio is made of various documents that show one’s academic and professional achievements. I too also believe this is one of the many benefits of having an academic portfolio. Nursing as a science is constantly evolving. As nursing professionals, we are not limited to the different areas we can one practice in, but also specialize in. It shows professional requirements that have been met. Assadi et al. (2021), mentioned academic portfolios “increase students’ awareness of their strengths, weaknesses, and limitations.” Having the academic portfolio outlines all the different areas one has been in. Using the portfolio enables nurses to identify improvements that can be made. The portfolio also can be rewarding and help promote self-confidence. Research have shown students who use portfolios present higher levels of self-efficacy (Lopez- Crespo et al., 2021). Academic self-efficacy leads to better performance as students reflect on their capabilities.
References
Assadi Hoveyzian, S., Shariati, A., Haghighi, S., Latifi, S. M., & Ayoubi, M. (2021). The effect of portfolio-based education and evaluation on clinical competence of nursing students: A pretest–posttest quasiexperimental crossover study. Advances in Medical Education and Practice, Volume 12, 175–182. https://doi.org/10.2147/amep.s231760
López-Crespo, G., Blanco-Gandía, M.C., Valdivia-Salas, Fidalgo, C., & Sanchez-Perez, N. (2021). The educational e-portfolio: Preliminary evidence of its relationship with student’s self-efficacy and engagement. Education and Information Technologies 27, 5233–5248 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-021-10827-2
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Collapse SubdiscussionDestiny Quarnetta Comer Response 1
Hello Jeffy,
I truly enjoyed reading your post. The following statement stands out to me the most, ” This journey has taught me to always work towards my goals, and I have learned that for a nurse to obtain academic and professional growth, one must leave their comfort zone. Moreover, for growth and development, one must be ready to expand their skill, knowledge, and competencies regarding evidence-based practice, nursing leadership, and nursing research, among others”. I couldn’t agree more with you. It is so important for nurses to expand in their skillsets, and to remain up-to-date on evidence based practices, because those areas are critical for building a quality and impressive nursing portfolio. According to the nerdynurse.com, evidence-based practice is a conceptual framework for all clinical decisions that combines the most up-to-date research evidence with the values and beliefs of each of our unique patients. In nursing, you must examine research, examine findings, and base your decisions on what you discover. It’s a strategy that has been acknowledged as among the best for delivering safe medical treatment in hospitals across the nation. The cornerstone of all nursing interventions is evidence-based practice, which combines clinical knowledge with research findings to give patients the best care possible. An article written by a professor at Marquette University states the following, “Portfolios are considered by some to be a “portable mechanism for evaluating competencies that may otherwise be difficult to assess, such as practice-based improvements, use of scientific evidence in practice, professional behavior and creative endeavors” (Byrne; 2019). Again, thank you for sharing. Your post was very insightful.
References:
Marquette University E-publications@marquette. (n.d.). Retrieved January 21, 2023, from https://epublications.marquette.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1688&context=nursing_facLinks to an external site.
Writing portfolio. The Nerdy Nurse. (2022, March 4). Retrieved January 20, 2023, from https://thenerdynurse.com/writing-portfolio/
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Collapse SubdiscussionYanet Medina Module 5 Discussion Response 2
Great Post Jeffy,
I really enjoyed your post. I agree with your insightful assessment of the importance of an academic portfolio in the nursing profession. An academic portfolio can be utilized to document and demonstrate one’s professional development and advancement as well as to demonstrate one’s evidence-based knowledge and skills (Assadi Hoveyzian et al., 2021). Including any relevant ongoing professional development courses, or certifications. The portfolio demonstrates the dedication of a nurse or any healthcare provider to ongoing professional growth.
Academic portfolios should also include a summary of the applicant’s education, licensure, and employment history with documents required, such as copies of university or graduate degree transcripts, licensing, continuing education, awards, annual performance evaluations, dates of promotions, and recommendation letters from colleagues, previous or current employers.
Reference:
Davis, C. (2015). Developing a professional nursing portfolio. Nursing Made Incredibly Easy!
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Collapse SubdiscussionYanet Medina Strategies for Academic Portfolios
Strategies for Academic Portfolios
Professional portfolios detail essential materials that carefully describe and account for individual knowledge, competencies, and skills alongside their professional growth, enhancing the reflection of their achievements. It also allows the employer to analyze the individual’s skills and competencies to determine their ability for a particular position within the organization (Mokhtar et al., 2017). Therefore, every student in different professions, including nursing, should prepare academic portfolios as an essential step to their professional graduate roles, which provides their prospective employers with a first impression of their professional qualifications.
Having strategies to include in academic activities and accomplishments is vital to facilitate easy transitioning to professional graduate roles and developmental goals. One of the strategies I intend to use to enhance my professional portfolio is the ability to exercise self-assessment skills. Self-assessment is vital in evaluating individual strengths and weaknesses in their professional career and developmental goals (Mokhtar et al., 2017). Knowing one’s strengths and weaknesses while updating and working on the weak areas will enable effective goal setting and inclusion of academic accomplishments and activities. Therefore, I will use self-assessment to develop well-organized academic portfolios that carefully outline my accomplishments and scholarly activities during my nursing education.
Secondly, I purpose to utilize and create an online professional portfolio to facilitate professional growth and development. Online platforms provide an effective means of storage for all academic documents and activities, which is vital as having permanent storage in case the physical, and technical devices get damaged or acquire viruses. This would prevent the constant worry of being unable to access and retrieve particular documents for organizing the professional portfolio. Besides, having constant access to an online portfolio allows effective assembling and organization of various academic activities and accomplishments, such as work histories, community involvement, and various recommendations by experts in the field (Ahmed & Ward, 2016). Hence, it is a strategy that could contribute effectively to the transition process to a student’s professional roles and goals.
The university’s emphasis on social change is to create a platform that would enable the students to contribute to solving various societal issues. Hence, students are equipped with various resources to facilitate their community problem-solving strategies. A robust professional background that identifies strengths and weaknesses in a particular professional will facilitate positive social change, which aligns with the university’s emphasis.
References
Ahmed, E., & Ward, R. (2016). Analysis of factors influencing acceptance of personal, academic, and professional development e-portfolios. Computers in Human Behavior, pp. 63, 152–161.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563216303703
Mokhtar, M., Shuib, A., & Mohamad, D. (2017). A Goal Programming Model for Portfolio Optimisation Problem in Fuzzy Environment. Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology, 25(2).http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/resources/files/Pertanika%20PAPERS/JST%20Vol.%2025%20(2)%20Apr.%202017/18%20JST%20Vol%2025%20(2)%20Apr%202017_JST-0059-2016_pg593-606.pdf
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Collapse SubdiscussionJessica Naber Yanet, I believe you are the first student who has mentioned self-assessment, and I think that is a very intuitive and wise response for a strategy you can use. In using self-assessment or self-reflection, you can determine what strengths you have and what you need to work on. This is helpful for you and it is helpful for employers to see that you have this ability. Thank you!
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Collapse SubdiscussionNicole Scott Yanet, I agree with your self assessment skills. I think it is important as a nurse to review and evaluate what you excel in and what needs work. This will allow you to reach out to your educator at work to ask about certain skills you are in need of learning or wanting to learn. Taking the initiative to assess your own skills lets management know you want to provide excellent nursing care. Developing self assessment skills are thought to positively impact education and promote learning( Scartabello et al., n.d.).
I also believe in self assessment on past experiences will help the nurse grow and maintain knowledge and skills. Self assessment is suggested to prevent routine rituals which would allow the nurse to provide individual specialized care. The portfolio will show the nurses best work and to show educational growth as well (Mollahadi, et.al, 2018).
Mollahadi, M., Khademolhoseini, S. M., Mokhtari-Nouri, J., & Khaghanizadeh, M. (2018). The Portfolio as a Tool for Mentoring in Nursing Students: A Scoping Review. Iranian journal of nursing and midwifery research, 23(4), 241–247. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijnmr.IJNMR_195_17
Scartabello, Abate, & Slimak. (n.d.). International Journal of ePortfolio. Impact of a Portfolio Program on Self-Assessment Skills Involving General Longitudinal Outcomes. https://www.theijep.com/pdf/IJEP304.pdf
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Collapse SubdiscussionZulay Lantigua Ruano Hello Yanet,
Thank you for the informative post. Overall, your post offers helpful tips for building an academic portfolio that can be used to transition into graduate-level professional roles. You recommend, in particular, using self-assessment techniques to assess personal strengths and weaknesses, developing an online professional portfolio to support professional growth and development, and emphasizing community involvement and problem-solving techniques in line with the university’s emphasis on social change.
One additional strategy that could be considered is to include examples of professional development activities such as workshops, conferences, and continuing education courses that demonstrate a commitment to staying current in the field and expanding one’s knowledge and skills (Mlambo et al., 2021). This will demonstrate to the employer that you are actively trying to advance your skills and stay current in your field. Additionally, including feedback or evaluations from supervisors or other professionals in the field can also be a powerful way to demonstrate your abilities and skills (Gnepp et al., 2020). This kind of feedback can be a more tangible way for an employer to understand the impact of your work and how it aligns with the position they are looking to fill. Summarily, creating a portfolio would not only focus on self-assessment but also takes into account the input from the assessors and seek to translate it into better professional development.
ReferencesGnepp, J., Klayman, J., Williamson, I. O., & Barlas, S. (2020). The future of feedback: Motivating performance improvement through future-focused feedback. PloS One, 15(6), e0234444. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0234444Links to an external site.
Mlambo, M., Silén, C., & McGrath, C. (2021). Lifelong learning and nurses’ continuing professional development, a metasynthesis of the literature. BMC Nursing, 20(1), 62. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-021-00579-2Links to an external site.
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Collapse SubdiscussionCindy Larsen Hi Yanet,
Self-assessment is very important. Of equal importance to employers is Emotional intelligence. It plays a significant role team building and being effective in almost all forms of communication and interactions in any work place (Lebeck & Chighizola, 2018) . Self- assessment and self-awareness are the first steps to a deeper understanding of ones thoughts, strengths, weaknesses, emotions, behaviors, needs, and drives which in turn helps them recognize and understand those thoughts and feelings of other individuals around them (Purushothaman, 2021). One can enhance their self-awareness by receiving feedback from others and through the act of introspection (self-reflection). The human mind can be a powerful tool when it is being used and channelized in the right way.
LEBECK, B. W., & CHIGHIZOLA, N. R. (2018). Emotional Intelligence and its Effect on Performance Outcomes in a Leadership Development School. Journal of Values Based Leadership, 11(2), 223–235. https://doi.org/10.22543/0733.62.1223
Rajagopalan Purushothaman. (2021). Emotional Intelligence. Sage Publications Pvt. Ltd.
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Collapse SubdiscussionShantae Smith Hello Yanet,
Thank you for your insightful discussion. Indeed, a professional portfolio is essential in highlighting the skills and expertise that one has gathered throughout the years. One of the benefits of a portfolio is that it tracks one’s proficiencies (Madden et al., 2019). When a student develops a portfolio, they can determine their strengths. A student can also determine areas of deficiencies or where to improve upon. This can guide the steps that a student takes to improve one’s portfolio. Regarding specific steps that a student that can take to improve their portfolio I would like to add the importance of volunteering to provide healthcare services to diverse populations. For instance, a nursing student can volunteer in the community clinics. This offers the student an opportunity to gain skills and experience in healthcare delivery to diverse populations (Carey & Kies, 2022). Students can also improve their portfolio through undertaking certification programs to garner various skills in healthcare delivery.
References
Carey, S. K., & Kies, J. M. (2022). Unexpected Learning Opportunities for Nursing Students. AJN The American Journal of Nursing, 122(1), 44-47.
Madden, K., Collins, E., & Lander, P. (2019). Nursing Students’ Perspectives on ePortfolios: Themes and Preferences Compared with Paper-Based Experiences. International Journal of ePortfolio, 9(2), 87-96.
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Collapse SubdiscussionZheman Guly Module 5 Discussion Response 2
I have had an opportunity to read through your post. It is not only detailed and informative but also attractive to the readers. The basic idea of an academic or professional portfolio is that it should describe knowledge, competencies, and skills alongside professional growth and achievements that one has attained in the course of study. In addition to an academic portfolio’s essential components, one can add information on case histories and exemplars that demonstrate competency, narratives reflecting one’s practice. Nurses may even include detailed summaries of patient case histories in which one played a significant role in positive clinical outcomes. Therefore, there are various ways to create a professional portfolio. Still, the essential thing is to choose selectively the information to include and ensure that the portfolio is updated accordingly. As indicated, academic portfolios increase students’ awareness of their strengths, weaknesses, and limitations (Assadi Hoveyzian et al., 2021). I am impressed with your decision to create an online portfolio accessible anytime using digital devices. Research shows that “creating and maintaining an academic portfolio in paper-based or web-based formats can be cumbersome and time-consuming” (Puneet Bhargava, 2015). Hence the emphasis on creating and maintaining a digital academic portfolio. The article cited provides a clear guide to creating an e-portfolio applicable across specialties.
References
Assadi Hoveyzian, S., Shariati, A., Haghighi, S., Latifi, S. M., & Ayoubi, M. (2021). The effect of portfolio-based education and evaluation on nursing students’ clinical competence: A pretest-posttest quasiexperimental crossover study. Advances in Medical Education and Practice, 12, 175–182. https://doi.org/10.2147/AMEP.S231760Links to an external site.
Puneet
Bhargava, c. a. (2015). Academic Portfolio in the Digital Era: Organizing and
Maintaining a Portfolio Using Reference Managers. J Digit Imaging, 28(1), 10-17.
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Collapse SubdiscussionClaire Nancie Lubin I think one of the most crucial things someone can do to emphasize their academic achievements and activities is to include them in their professional portfolio. According to Philipsen et al., (2018), the practice of building a professional portfolio can help someone further their own professional development. Personally, I find having an eportfolio to be quite useful. At the moment, I use LinkedIn to host a small eportfolio. it is important to maintaining a professional account on the internet so that when interested employers search your name, they may see your potential rather than simply your personal image uploads (Meister & Willyerd, 2019).
In light with the Universities social change moto, my professional objectives are in line with societal change because nursing is continuously evolving. It is essential that I keep up-to-date on information and skills so that I can provide my community with excellent patient outcomes. I do think that these tactics will improve my professional practice in relation to my career aim. Continued education is a great way to advance one’s professional development. Employing academic pursuits for self-improvement enhances your knowledge and education, which supports ongoing professional advancement (Zerey, 2018). This can be seen in what I am undertaking right now, which is completing my master’s program. I discover that I am studying and learning things that I can apply to the way I practice nursing every day. I am confident that as I progress through my educational plan, I will learn new things and, as a result, develop professionally. I believe that after this program is over, it will be imperative to keep learning and progressing intellectually and professionally by attending conferences and continuing your education. One needs to be willing to keep evolving and never stop growing in order to be an effective change agent.
References
Meister, J. C., & Willyerd, K. (2021). The 2020 workplace: How innovative companies attract, develop, and keep tomorrow’s employees today. HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
Philipsen, B., Tondeur, J., Pynoo, B., Vanslambrouck, S., & Zhu, C. (2019). Examining lived experiences in a professional development program for online teaching: A hermeneutic phenomenological approach. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 35(5), 46-59.
Zerey, Ö. G. (2018). Attitudes and perceptions of efl instructors regarding self-directed professional development. International Journal of Language Academy, 6(1), 49-66.
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Collapse SubdiscussionJessica Naber Claire, I think staying up-to-date and current with nursing practice is an excellent way to strive for meeting the university’s social change initiative. It is important to understand the political and social climate that we are working in and patients are living in and/or returning to in order to give the best care. Additionally, knowing the most up-to-date skills, practices, and research will help us to best meet patients’ current needs.
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Collapse SubdiscussionJessie Nakazwe Claire,
You brought up some good points in your post, with this generation being a social media generation it is vital to point out that it can also be used to enhance ones professional profile. linked in is certainly a favorite of mine as well, and I have come across job applications that asked if I had a linked in profile, it just shows how employers are also using social media to recruit and more like pre interview their potential employees. which is reminiscing of my nursing school days when our professors would emphasized on keeping a clean social media because you never know who’s watching, it sounded like a joke then, but having had my experience with job hunting, I appreciate it now.
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Collapse SubdiscussionNathan Moise Helo Claire,
One of the most important characteristics of healthcare is that it is constantly evolving. And with the constant evolution, as nurses we find ourselves in a unique position where we have to adapt to the changes that occur in the profession and this includes ensuring that we care constantly developing our skills in order to evolve and grow into the profession (Rubio-Navarro et al., 2019). In line with social change objectives set out by Walden, it goes without a doubt that the trajectory of these objectives will change in a few years to come, depending on the need in the world. Therefore, we may use opportunities like continuing education and mentorship to adapt to these changes. Continuing education and mentorship will ensure that there is exposure to new trend and new skills that can be used to further contribute to revolutions in the profession (McMahon, 2021).
References
McMahon M. F. (2021). Lifelong Learning. Journal of trauma nursing : the official journal of the Society of Trauma Nurses, 28(6), 339–340. https://doi.org/10.1097/JTN.0000000000000612
Rubio-Navarro, A., Garcia-Capilla, D. J., Torralba-Madrid, M. J., & Rutty, J. (2019). Ethical, legal and professional accountability in emergency nursing practice: An ethnographic observational study. International emergency nursing, 46, 100777. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ienj.2019.05.003
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Collapse SubdiscussionCindy Larsen Hi Claire,
I am really interested in creating a ePortfolio. I also use social media to keep up to date with a lot of things nursing related. 83% of nurses use some form of social media to stay engaged with nursing information, developing information, employment, seminars, workshops, education, etc. (Wang et al., 2019). I know that I have personally used social media to see new trends, employment, and workshops for nursing. Even though I am not currently seeking employment with anyone, I like to see what is out there and where the need seems to be. There also can be misleading or disinformation out there that we need to be careful of. Social media and the media in general take advantage of and manipulate news and propagate ideas to their own benefit and cause much distrust (Marwick & Lewis, 2017).
Fredericks, S., Au Duong, J., & Lamaj, P. (2020). Using Social Media to Network, Converse, and Build Community Within Graduate Nursing Education. Online Journal of Nursing Informatics, 24(3), 8.
Marwick, A., & Lewis, R. (2017). Media manipulation and disinformation online. New York: Data & Society Research Institute. https://datasociety.net/library/media-manipulation-and-disinfo-online/
Wang, Z., Wang, S., Zhang, Y., & Jiang, X. (2019). Social media usage and online professionalism among registered nurses: A cross-sectional survey. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 98, 19-26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2019.06.001
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Collapse SubdiscussionDestiny Quarnetta Comer Hello Claire, I enjoyed reading your post. It was very insightful and informative. I never considered using a professional eportfolio such as Linkedln, but reading your post has really shown the importance and potential benefit of creating an eportfolio for professional purposes. According to mycomputercarer.edu, due to the fact that so many recruiters and hiring managers already use LinkedIn, you will find a job more quickly. Incredibly, 90% of recruiters under 45 believe that LinkedIn is most useful for screening applicants during the employment process. Thus, having a well-maintained and active LinkedIn profile will greatly improve your chances of being found by numerous businesses trying to hire individuals based on their abilities and expertise. In other words, rather than you actively searching for and contacting each firm, potential employers will get in touch with you if they believe you will be a good fit for their business. Moreover, 75% of those who recently changed professions used LinkedIn to help them make a decision about their careers. I also agree with the statement you made about nursing continously evolving. This is so true, and we must do all that we can to stay up-to-date, and to ensure that we aren’t falling behind, and that we can provide the best quality care to all patients.
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Collapse SubdiscussionDestiny Quarnetta Comer References for response to Claire:
4 reasons why to use linkedin for your professional success. ComputerCafe. (2022, November 25). Retrieved January 22, 2023, from https://www.mycomputercareer.edu/news/4-reasons-linkedin-important-professional-success/Links to an external site.
Adrian JohansenAdrian Johansen is a writer and a researcher living in the Pacific Northwest. (2021, November 2). The evolving role of nurses in today’s Labor Landscape. Daily Nurse. Retrieved January 22, 2023, from https://dailynurse.com/the-evolving-role-of-nurses-in-todays-labor-landscape/
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Collapse SubdiscussionNatasha Shelton Building a portfolio
As a healthcare professional I have used my resume to depict my past and present experiences. I’ve spent hundreds of dollars working with a professional resume writer to help me with my resume to ensure that I captured all the pertinent information to the highest possibilities in order to secure that promotion or new job. Portfolios have been used in several professions to represent the individual’s accomplishments, achievements, capabilities, past experiences and so forth. As a healthcare professional my portfolio can be a resume or curriculum vita (CV). There are two kinds of professional portfolios: growth and development and best work. A Growth and Development Portfolio depicts evidence of the nurse’s education and achievements to plan continuing education and professional development, whereas a Best Work Portfolio is a collection of materials from the Growth and Development Portfolio for a specific purpose such as a promotion, award or an evaluation. An individual will choose to create a portfolio for promotions, evidence of outcomes, and to provide structure and direction (Burns, 2018).
Paper resumes or portfolios may be a thing in the past due to the new era of digital information. You no longer have to go out and purchase expensive resume paper to print your resume on and dare your kids to use the left over paper as their construction paper for their next coloring project. My resume is saved on my computer and all I have to do is upload a copy of it to a portal or website and when I go for an interview (if the interview is in person) I can simply print out a copy of my resume. But we as professionals not only need to be able to show off our skills as a healthcare professional we also have to be mindful of our digital fingerprints that we may leave for potential employers to find. The use of social media and other websites allows others to see whichever side of you that you choose to put out there, whether good or bad. Potential employers are also looking at those sites to see if an individual is posting something that they feel can be damaging to the individual’s credibility. A study discovered that only 56% of hiring managers said they would expect to use ePortfolios in the future largely due to the novelty of digital communication and inexperience with ePortfolios. Millennial recruiters may be more comfortable using ePortfolios because they have grown up using technology, whereas employers who have been recruiting for 10 or more years may have a process that works and not perceive any benefits of applicants’ ePortfolios ( Leahy & Filiatrault, 2017). None the less as potential nurse practitioners we should attend to our digital identities to ensure that we are seen in a positive light by potential employers, academic institutions, colleagues, and patients (Hannans & Olivo, 2017).
Natasha,
ReferencesBurns, M. K. (2018). Creating a Nursing Portfolio. Ohio Nurses Review, 93(3), 16–17.
Hannans, J. & Olivo, Y. (2017). Craft a positive nursing digital identity with an ePortfolio Links to an external site.. American Nurse Today, 12(11), 48–49. Retrieved November 14, 2018, from https://www.americannursetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/ant11-Digital-Identity-1017a-1.pdfLinks to an external site.
Leahy, R. L., & Filiatrault, A. (2017). Employers’ Perceptions of the Benefits of Employment Electronic Portfolios. International Journal of EPortfolio, 7(2), 217–223.
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Collapse SubdiscussionJessica Naber Hi Natasha. Thank you for bringing up both the Growth and Development and Best Work styles of portfolio. Has anyone had experience with one of these specifically? Does anyone have an opinion on which would be more valuable?
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Collapse SubdiscussionJessica Palacios Great input, Natasha. I didn’t consider different types of portfolio formats. I only thought of the growth and development format. From what I’ve learned, the best work portfolios can benefit healthcare professionals who are more accomplished. On the other hand, growth and development portfolios are better suited for early career professionals, as they help track progress and plan for future education and professional development. Both types of portfolios help reflect on progress and showcasing capabilities to potential employers and other stakeholders. Additionally, given the trend toward digitalization, having an online version of the portfolio is essential.
In response to Dr. Nabers’ question, I only considered one portfolio style before. I wish I had understood the importance of having one earlier. However, I am now creating one and believe the growth and development style will be more beneficial to me at this stage of my career. According to Hannans, A. & Olivo, R. (2018), digital identity and e-portfolio development are essential for nursing education and practice. As per the research conducted by CGS (2015), research experience is key for employers hiring new graduates, and NACE (2016) leadership experience is a key ingredient for career success. Both are valuable, but It’s important to consider the intended audience and purpose of the portfolio and to present the information clearly and professionally.
References:
Hannans, A., & Olivo, R. (2018). Digital identity and e-portfolio development for nursing education and practice. Journal of Professional Nursing, 34(6), 456-463. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2018.06.005Links to an external site.
Council of Graduate Schools (CGS). (2015). Research experience is key for employers hiring new graduates. Retrieved from https://www.cgsnet.org/research-experience-key-employers-hiring-new-graduatesLinks to an external site.
National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). (2016). Leadership experience: A key ingredient for career success. Retrieved from https://www.naceweb.org/career-readiness/leadership-experience-a-key-ingredient-for-career-success/Links to an external site.
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Collapse SubdiscussionZulay Lantigua Ruano The studies that individuals undergo are usually focused on professional development. Translating academic achievements into professional fields is therefore needed for most students when they eventually join the professional fields. One strategy for including academic activities and accomplishments in professional development goals is to set specific, measurable, and time-bound goals related to academic performance (Segarra & Gentry, 2021). For example, a nursing student might set a goal to achieve a 3.5 GPA in their nursing courses by the end of the semester or to complete a research project on a specific topic related to nursing practice. By setting these types of goals, the student can track their progress and measure their success, which can be beneficial for both their academic and professional development (Gamage et al., 2021). Another strategy for including academic activities and accomplishments in professional development goals is to actively seek out opportunities for leadership and community engagement (Flaig et al., 2020). For example, a nursing student might become a member of a student nursing association, or volunteer at a local health clinic to gain practical experience in the field. By taking on leadership roles and participating in community service, the student can develop valuable skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving, which are essential for success in the nursing profession.
These goals align with the University’s emphasis on social change by providing nursing students with the skills and experience they need to become leaders in the field of healthcare and to make a positive impact on their communities. By achieving academic excellence and participating in community service, nursing students can work towards addressing healthcare disparities and promoting health equity, which are key aspects of social change.
For example, A nursing student with a 3.5 GPA in their nursing courses will have a better chance of being selected for a graduate program, which will lead to a better chance of obtaining a higher position, better pay, and more opportunities to make a positive impact on the community. Similarly, a student who volunteers at a local health clinic will gain practical experience in the field and develop valuable skills, which will enable them to better understand the healthcare needs of their community and work to improve the quality of care for all individuals.
ReferencesFlaig, J., Alam, A., Huynh, J., Reid-Hector, J., & Heuer, A. (2020). Examining how formal leadership development programs positively influence hospital leaders’ individual competencies and organizational outcomes – an evidence-based literature review. Journal of Healthcare Leadership, 12, 69–83. https://doi.org/10.2147/JHL.S239676Links to an external site.
Gamage, K. A. A., Dehideniya, D. M. S. C. P. K., & Ekanayake, S. Y. (2021). The role of personal values in learning approaches and student achievements. Behavioral Sciences, 11(7), 102. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs11070102Links to an external site.
Segarra, V. A., & Gentry, W. A. (2021). Taking ownership of your career: professional development through experiential learning. BMC Proceedings, 15(Suppl 2), 5. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12919-021-00211-wLinks to an external site.
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Collapse SubdiscussionJessica Naber Zulay, I absolutely love what you said about setting “specific, measurable, and time-bound goals” and tracking progress. You are so right that this strategy can be beneficial for academic and professional development, and I believe including this goal-setting and progress-tracking in your portfolio can be incredibly rewarding and valuable. Future employers would be impressed that a potential employee sets goals and realistically tracks them. I also like your idea of seeking out leadership and community engagement. Participating meaningfully in these types of experiences are beneficial to both you and the community/people involved, not to mention this is a skill that many employers would find important.
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Collapse SubdiscussionJessica Palacios Academic Portfolio Strategies
As a nursing graduate student, one strategy for including academic activities and accomplishments in my professional development goals is to create a learning portfolio. This portfolio can include a variety of evidence demonstrating my learning progress and achievements throughout my studies, such as written papers, completed projects, relevant coursework, and clinical experiences. This not only allows me to reflect on my growth and progress, but it also serves as a valuable tool for showcasing my capabilities to potential employers (Casey & Eagen, 2010).
Another strategy for including academic activities and accomplishments in my professional development goals is actively participating in networking and professional development opportunities. Joining professional organizations and attending conferences and workshops allows me to stay current with new developments in the field, connect with other healthcare professionals, and gain new skills (Ahmed & Ward, 2016). Additionally, participating in these opportunities demonstrates my commitment to ongoing professional growth and development, which can be highlighted in my professional portfolio.
Both of these strategies align with Walden University’s emphasis on social change. Creating a learning portfolio provides a comprehensive view of my abilities as a nurse while participating in networking and professional development opportunities allow me to connect with other healthcare professionals and collaborate on projects to address social issues, such as improving patient outcomes and addressing healthcare disparities (Davis, 2015). I can create positive social change within the healthcare system by consistently striving for growth and development in my field.
References
Ahmed, E., & Ward, R. R. (2016, January 1). [PDF] analysis of factors influencing acceptance of personal, academic and professional development e-portfolios: Semantic scholar. Comput. Hum. Behav. Retrieved January 15, 2023, from https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Analysis-of-factors-influencing-acceptance-of-and-Ahmed-Ward/3683e2106972a9d5baad648b99e81aab7fca0e5c
Casey , D., & Eagen, D. (2023). The use of professional portfolios and profiles for Career Enhancement. British journal of community nursing. Retrieved January 17, 2023, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21079561/
CCU/CVICU Clinical Nurse • Heritage Medical Center • Shelbyville. (n.d.). Developing a professional nursing portfolio : Nursing made incredibly easy. LWW. Retrieved January 15, 2023, from https://journals.lww.com/nursingmadeincrediblyeasy/Fulltext/2015/01000/Developing_a_professional_nursing_portfolio.1.aspx
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Collapse SubdiscussionJessica Naber Jessica, I really like your ideas of including papers/projects/coursework in your portfolio as well as participating in networking and professional development. The inclusion of your work exemplars from school will show employers what you are capable of and that you can put in the time and effort to succeed. Additionally, the networking and professional development opportunities that you take will be mutually beneficial. You will gain confidence, relationships, and professionalism ideally, and those around you will learn from you as well. Future employers will be glad to see evidence of the skill of working with others and professionalism.
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Collapse SubdiscussionNatasha Shelton Jessica,
The history of the CV was designed to be a self-marketing portfolio to demonstrate accomplishments, meaning the course of one’s life. The CV lists accomplishments in broad areas of a professional’s career including scholarship, education, research, service, and practice. The difference a CV and a resume is academic institutions use the CV to assess an individual’s qualifications and assign rank (instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, or professor), whereas the resume is to convey unique qualifications in response to an advertised position (Hicks et al., 2020).
As we progress through our master’s prepared program we need to determine which portfolio we will use to represent our accomplishments, whether it be through an eportfolio, CV or resume. Like you said we need to make sure that we include networking events in our professional development along with nursing organizational affiliations. All these things on an individual’s portfolio, resume or CV shows potential employers your commitment to advance learning. We will be moving from one level of nursing to an higher level of nursing with obtaining our advanced practice degree and at first our resume’s will lack the years of experience we once had as a bedside nurse, therefore we will need to be able to include our academic acknowledgements and practicum experiences, or organization affiliations to speak on our behalf. We also can represent ourselves through business cards, resume’s, eportfolios, and a professional photograph.
Joining a nursing organization is another way to show professional development through continued education units (CEUs) and policy advocation. Nursing organizations serve as a critical platforms for policy advocacy—the practice of engaging in political processes to initiate, enact, and enforce structural and policy changes to benefit populations (Chiu et al., 2021).Natasha, References Hicks, R. , Berg, J. & Roberts, M. (2020). Business documents of the advanced practice registered nurse: Curriculum vitae, resume, and biosketches. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 32 (9), 610-615. doi: 10.1097/JXX.0000000000000453. Chiu P, Cummings GG, Thorne S, Schick-Makaroff K. Policy Advocacy and Nursing Organizations: A Scoping Review. Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice. 2021;22(4):276-296. doi:10.1177/15271544211050611 -
Collapse SubdiscussionJoshua Allen Stephens Hi Jessica, I agree with you about keeping the portfolio and listing all your accomplishments, it is a great way to keep track of all your awards and certifications especially when you’re looking for new jobs or speaking with potential employers. It will also make things easier as we all move on in our careers with advanced degrees.
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Collapse SubdiscussionCindy Larsen Two strategies for including academic activities and accomplishments in professional development goals will be using an ePortfolio and Professional Platforms for networking and personal branding.
First, an ePortfolio is a virtual learning space where students can reflect on their educational journey and demonstrate their accomplishments to potential employers (Janssens et al., 2022). It is a way to document, collect, store, share, and showcase acquired knowledge, skills, abilities, professional development, and related information electronically (Di Silvestro & Nadir, 2021). These portfolios offer self-reflection and allow for a more profound learning opportunity to self-evaluate the impact and growth one’s education has had on their personal and professional life (Di Silvestro & Nadir, 2021).
Second, a professional network platform, such as Linkedin, Meetup, Xing, and Udyomitra, can help tremendously with professional branding. It is just another method to connect with potential employers or other professionals of interest. Individuals can share their professional interests, aspirations, and achievements, display details related to their qualifications, skills, and work experience, and hopefully, receive job and career opportunities (Ruparel et al., 2023). It also helps professionals see what is available, as career opportunities often present themselves here. If anyone is interested in learning how to hone how to use such a site to be most productive, I suggest reading But it is work: My perspective on social media by J. Bell, which gives all sorts of tips and tricks on how to “get noticed.”
Walden University’s focus on creating and supporting a positive Social change aligns with the use of these strategies in that the use of ePortfolios and social platforms are where all individuals are welcome to develop, share and connect together for professional and personal betterment. I believe that this too is how we can come together to learn, inspire, and motivate others within the same profession and seize opportunities that would advance the common good. Technology is a big part of social change and happens quicker in technologically advanced societies thorough innovation, learning and discovery. There is a wealth of knowledge at our fingertips and it is simple and quick to research subjects of interest and even through accidental learning when we pass by an article that may catch our eye.
Di Silvestro, F., & Nadir, H. (2021). The Power of ePortfolio Development to Foster Reflective and Deeper Learning in an Online Graduate Adult Education Program. Adult Learning, 32(4), 154–164. https://doi.org/10.1177/1045159520977735
Bell, J. (2021). But it is work: My perspective on social media. Medical Writing, 30(1), 6–11.
Janssens, O., Haerens, L., Valcke, M., Beeckman, D., Pype, P., & Embo, M. (2022). The role of ePortfolios in supporting learning in eight healthcare disciplines: A scoping review. Nurse Education in Practice, 63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2022.103418
Ruparel, N., Bhardwaj, S., Seth, H., & Choubisa, R. (2023). Systematic literature review of professional social media platforms: Development of a behavior adoption career development framework. Journal of Business Research, 156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.113482
Walden University. (2020). Social change. Retrieved October 18, 2020, from https://www.waldenu.edu/why-walden/social-change
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Collapse SubdiscussionJessica Naber Cindy, I really latched on to what you said about professional networking platforms and “getting noticed.” These platforms are still relatively “new” to those of us who are Gen Xers, and I am really fascinated by branding and selling yourself via platforms such as Linkedin, Meetup, etc. I think these platforms can be so valuable for employers and employees alike. They allow future employees to showcase experiences, characteristics, accomplishments, self-reflection ability, and even creativity. If any of you have used any of these platforms, I would love to hear your experience. I have a Linkedin account, but haven’t done a lot with it.
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Collapse SubdiscussionNicole Scott Hi Cindy, I am totally new to the whole professional network platform. I know about these types of resources for marketing oneself for a potential job. I really never knew a lot about it for social net working but I will definitely look into now. I enjoyed reading the article about Linkedin. It made me think about what keywords I would use to make my profile more noticeable. I want to describe my abilities in my portfolio to have my experiences be noticed by a possible employer. Adding my skills, knowledge and professional development will help with obtaining that new job as an APRN.
Bell, J. (2021). But it is work: My perspective on social media. Medical Writing, 30(1), 6–11.
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Collapse SubdiscussionSarah D Surber We’ve all had a resume, but never have I created a portfolio. After this week’s readings, it is something to consider. Creating the portfolio would include several things. Academic activities that I would incorporate would include High school and college transcripts, clubs and organizations that I was part of or even areas I volunteered in. Accomplishments would also include the goals I accomplished from a young age into adulthood with my career as well. Accomplishments could involve student council, leadership in any area of your career, and receiving nominations or promotions. The article Creating A Nursing Portfolio, by Margaret Burns lists in detail many options of things that could be used in a portfolio. I would start with the demographic page, table of contents, education information with transcripts, all certifications and licenses I have, awards and promotions, all continuing education courses, letters of recommendation, references (personal and professional), and a personal analysis (Burns, 2018). I feel that my professional experience of being in a leadership role, and my history of precepting students and new employees would be valuable information for my portfolio. There is no wrong way to create your portfolio. It is an expression of your story. “Individual portfolios will therefore be unique in terms of content and presentation, reflecting the specific professional biography of that health professional (Casey&Egan, 2010). ”
- Burns, M. K. (2018). Creating a nursing portfolio Links to an external site.. Ohio Nurses Review, 93(3), 16-17.
- Casey, D. & Egan, D. (2013). The use of professional portfolios for career enhancement Links to an external site.. British Journal of Nursing, 15(11), 547–552.
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Collapse SubdiscussionShantae Smith Great Post Sarah,
Your post was truly knowledgeable and concise. It is great that you stated that there is no right or wrong way to create your personal e-portfolio. Nevertheless, you referred to different clubs, and the organization to include in your portfolio is a notable example. Academic activities and accomplishments are essential to a student’s portfolio (Al-Madani, 2019). Portfolios are a wonderful way to stand out from other candidates in this job market. I feel that most portfolios do not contain personal items, most of the time we are focused on professional and academic growth and development we tend to leave out our personal effect as nurses. Individual portfolios will therefore be unique in terms of content and presentation, reflecting the specific professional biography of that health professional (Casey&Egan, 2010) Most nursing portfolios should show evidence of professional growth, as on the reflection as a nurse. Let me ask do you think portfolios accurately record nurse’s achievements?
References
Al-Madani, M. (2019). Exploring Undergraduate Nursing Students’ Perceptions About Using Portfolios in Nursing Education. Int J Nurs Health Care Res, 4, 081.
Casey, D. & Egan, D. (2013). The use of professional portfolios for career enhancement Links to an external site.Links to an external site.
Links to an external site.British Journal of Nursing, 15(11), 547–552.
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Collapse SubdiscussionMeagan Jones Great post Sarah!
I love how you mentioned your history of precepting and how that speaks to your professional development. Mentoring requires patience, confidence, leadership, and being knowledgeable in your field. I too have been a mentor and preceptor in many previous positions and have always enjoyed helping mold and guide students and new nurses in those positions. While we may not have thought about this previously, in those selfless moments we are also gaining rewards that can be documented in a portfolio. One of the ways to show your success as a mentor is to demonstrate that your pupils have gone on to lead successful careers. Document who you have taught over the years and show what they have accomplished and what academic appointments they have obtained (Little-Wienert & Mazziotti, 2017).
References
Little-Wienert, K., & Mazziotti, M. (2017). Twelve tips for creating an academic teaching portfolio. Medical Teacher, 40(1), 26–30. https://doi.org/10.1080/0142159x.2017.1364356
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Collapse SubdiscussionIeshia Lysania Stevens Week 5 Discussion Response 2
Hi Sarah, Incorporating leadership roles and preceptor experience into the development plan is a great strategy to showcase one’s strengths. In addition, getting an early start on a portfolio allows for the opportunity to ensure that all certifications are up to date. A portfolio is an expression of one’s professional journey. Showcasing one’s professional and academic achievements requires supporting current evidence. Burns (2018) recommends reassessing a portfolio every six to twelve months and providing verifiable information to reinforce credibility. In today’s job market, versatility is imperative to success. An e-portfolio offers another platform to “display a unique showcase of visual integration of knowledge, skills, and capabilities” (Leahy & Filiatrault, 2017. p. 218). I enjoyed reading your post. Thank you for sharing.
Reference
Burns, M.K. (2018). Creating a nursing portfolio. Ohio Nurse Review, 93(3), 19-17.
Leahy, R., & Filiatraut, A. (2017). Employees’ perceptions of the benefits of employment
Electronic portfolios. International Journal of ePortfolio, 7(2), 217-223.
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Collapse SubdiscussionShantae Smith Strategies for Academic Portfolio
Change occurs over one professional career. A portfolio is a collection of materials collected to document one’s competencies and skills that one has gathered over the years. In academics, a professional portfolio presents the activities a student has undertaken during a program. The essence of an academic portfolio is to show the skills that a student has gained. For instance, when I look at my career statement, it has my short-term goals, and one of them was to attain my MSN as PMHNP. At the beginning of any program, objectives are set. An academic portfolio can indicate whether the program objectives were met (Al-Madani, 2019). Having a portfolio can guide students in what needs to be undertaken to complete the program objectives. Academic activities and accomplishments are essential to a student’s portfolio (Al-Madani, 2019). They detail educational activities and what the student learns from the academic activities. Accomplishments are the achievements and awards that one may get as a student.
One of the strategies that can be adopted regarding academic activities in the professional development goals is being involved in research and quality improvement activities. As a PMHNP student, one can undertake research-based activities as part of the coursework. In addition, nursing students may be required to undertake clinical practice roles under a preceptor. A nursing student can strive to participate in quality improvement initiatives at clinical practice sites. Actively participating in these roles can be imperative in building skills and knowledge applicable when a nursing student graduates (Frank-Meeks, 2020). Such activities and the crafts garnered can be captured in the academic portfolio. A student can also participate in professional organizations and student leadership while in school. Taking part in school leadership, unions, and professional organizations allow students to understand politics’ essence in developing policies (Abbasinia et al., 2020). This can be integral in advocating for patients and communities and a nurse. Being part of student leadership and earning awards because of participating in professional organizations can be captured in academic and professional portfolios.
The mentioned goals align with the University’s emphasis on social change. Walden University emphasizes professionals’ role in positive social change through advocacy and delivering quality services as I continue to develop my skills and earn a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. Over the next decade, my professional goals include developing my clinical practice as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and completing my Doctor of Nursing. Additionally, I plan to participate in committees that enhance the Nurse Practitioner role in the healthcare system and become an advocate for comprehensive and evidence-based care in mental health. Nurses, for instance, are expected to advocate for the rights of patients and community members. The goals I have highlighted are in line with the University’s expectations. Participating in professional organizations and student leadership allows me to participate in social change.
References
Abbasinia, M., Ahmadi, F., & Kazemnejad, A. (2020). Patient advocacy in nursing: A concept analysis. Nursing ethics, 27(1), 141-151.
Al-Madani, M. (2019). Exploring Undergraduate Nursing Students’ Perceptions About Using Portfolios in Nursing Education. Int J Nurs Health Care Res, 4, 081.
Franks-Meeks, S. (2020). Participation in nursing research: We can do better. Nursing2020, 50(1), 1–3.
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Collapse SubdiscussionJoshua Allen Stephens Hi Shantae, I agree with you and Walden University and your commitment to advanced mental healthcare in this country. Mental health care is an essential part of our overall health care, and at the moment, it is lacking not only funding but in practitioners that can help the community.
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Collapse SubdiscussionNicole Scott It is important for a portfolio to include growth and development. This kind of portfolio can include nursing skills and achievements. I believe including specific skills you have acquired and maintained for a specific nursing area is important. I know many hospitals have competency skills every year for the nursing staff to participate and be checked off. Keeping accurate notes on the specific skills you have acquired will assist in obtaining a new job (Burns, 2018).
Maintaining an e-portfolio is an excellent idea for future employment. This e-portfolio is a major advantage for many nurses. It shows writing skills, maintaining websites and design skills to employers. E-portfolios are being used for advancement in clinical ladder programs as well (McMilan, et.al, 2014).
Designing a portfolio for advancement in a nursing career is a smart idea. It showcases nurses specific skills and interests to employers. “It provides insight into clubs, memberships, activities, and professional and personal values.” (McMilan, et.al., 2014).
I am committed professional development in my nursing career thru Walden University. I will have professional delivery of nursing care to an adverse population with excellent communication with patients (Walden, n.d.).
Burns, M. K. (2018). Creating a nursing portfolio Links to an external site.. Ohio Nurses Review, 93(3), 16-17.
McMillan, L. R., Parker, F., & Sport, A. (2014). Decisions, decisions! E-portfolio as an effective hiring assessment tool Links to an external site.. Nursing Management, 45(4), 52-54.
Walden University. (n.d.). Walden University catalog Links to an external site.. Retrieved October 4, 2019, from https://catalog.waldenu.edu
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Collapse SubdiscussionSarah D Surber I was one who never thought of making an e-portfolio. I thought a resume was really all that was needed. Our readings this week showed me that we can put our professional and personal information into one portfolio keeping it in one place and still having the ability to share only what we want to share. Burns lists two different types of portfolios, growth and development and best work (Burns, 2018). The growth and development one I feel relates closely to my resume. It lists all details of my education and professional life information. I do keep a folder with accomplishments and such that fit the best work portfolio, but never thought to keep them together. Good luck developing your portfolio. I know I’ve been inspired to create one for myself.
Burns, M. K. (2018). Creating a nursing portfolio Links to an external site.. Ohio Nurses Review, 93(3), 16-17.
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Collapse SubdiscussionJoshua Allen Stephens Discussion Module 5
A professional development goal for nurse practitioners is to create a portfolio that accurately reflects their skills and experience. This portfolio should be tailored to the individual’s specific needs and regularly updated to reflect any changes in their professional development. According to (East 2015), a portfolio should include a professional profile, a list of qualifications, a list of professional achievements, a list of professional activities, a list of professional memberships, a list of publications, a list of presentations, a list of awards, and a list of references. Additionally, the portfolio should include a statement of professional goals and objectives, a statement of professional values, and a statement of professional interests. Creating a portfolio is an essential part of professional development for nurse practitioners. It allows them to showcase their skills and experience to potential employers and demonstrate their commitment to their profession.
Additionally, it can help them to identify areas for improvement and to set goals for their professional development. Furthermore, it can help them stay organized and track their progress over time.
As a new mental health nurse practitioner student, my professional development goals are to become a leader in mental health care. I want to provide the highest quality of care to my future patients while also advocating for social change in the mental health field. I plan to stay current on the latest research and evidence-based practices, as well as by participating in professional organizations. I also plan to become a mentor to other nurses so that I can help them to develop their skills and knowledge in mental health as I learn them myself. My professional development goals align with Walden University’s emphasis on social change (Walden 2020). I plan to use my knowledge and experience to advocate for better mental health care for all. I want to be a leader in the field and use my newly gained knowledge to speak out about the need for improved access to mental health services and more resources and support for those with mental illness. I also plan to use my platform to educate the public about mental health issues and to help reduce the stigma associated with mental illness. By doing this, I hope to help create a more inclusive and supportive environment for those with mental illness.
References:
East, R. (2015). Developing a nurse practitioner portfolio. ACORN: The Journal of Perioperative Nursing in Australia, 28(4), 35.
Walden University. (2020). Social change. Retrieved October 18, 2020, from https://www.waldenu.edu/why-walden/social-changeLinks to an external site.
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Collapse SubdiscussionIeshia Lysania Stevens Module 5 Discussion Post
Emerging advanced nurse practitioners venturing to start their careers will have no work experience. Strategies for including activities and accomplishments in one’s development goals are essential in building a portfolio. Two methods involve documenting clinical competencies and early portfolio preparation. The demonstrated competencies, skills, and clinical hours are all the experience a new practitioner can present when seeking first-time employment. Therefore, documented evidence of skills acquired throughout practicum courses and recommendations are imperative to maintain. Burns (2018) explains that showing competencies, clinical experiences, and descriptions of work assignments to prospective employers are self-promotion used by nursing students and novice nurses with minimal work experience when creating portfolios. Another strategy is compiling documents early and continually throughout the nurse practitioner courses. With continuous monitoring and adjustments throughout the program, one can stay abreast of the requirements and minimize the stress of having to search and backtrack and the end of the student-practitioner journey. Utilizing regulatory guidelines to gather evidence early in the course allowed for a slowed process, gained understanding, and better preparation (East, 2015).
Walden University’s emphasis on social change is an initiative that is inspiring and provides a global platform to promote social change. The multicultural and international melting pot of students worldwide all share one common ground: Walden University. Listening to how other scholars worldwide became change agents within their communities inspired me to take a closer look at my environment to see where I can make a difference
Reference
Burns, M.K. (2018). Creating a nursing portfolio. Ohio Nurse Review, 93(3), 19-17.
East, R. (2015). Developing a nurse practitioner portfolio. ACRON: The Journal of Perioperative Nursing
In Australia, 28(4), 35.
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Collapse SubdiscussionJessica Naber Ieshia, excellent points here. You mentioned that new nurse practitioners have no work experience as nurse practitioners when job-seeking, and I hadn’t really thought about it from that perspective. It is essential, because of that, to showcase your skills, competencies, time invested, work experiences, etc. I also think that taking time to explain what you have done in a short narrative way will be valuable so future employers can really see who you are and what you bring to the table.
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Collapse SubdiscussionMeagan Jones Great post Ieshia. I love how you mentioned that as a new nurse practitioner, there won’t be any work experience but one way to help develop is through creating a portfolio detailing the tools and accomplishments you have completed. Creating an academic portfolio may appear daunting at first but with careful advanced preparation, organized evidence collection of your educational work, proof of scholarship, and thorough documentation of self-reflection and change, you can produce a successful product that accurately represents your educational beliefs, accomplishments, and growth throughout your career (Little-Wienert & Mazziotti, 2017). This is great and also speaks to mentorship in developing a portfolio, imagine how many first time NPs would be inspired by veteran and new grad NPs when they discover that even documenting competencies is a start and that it’s never too early to start building their portfolio.
References
Little-Wienert, K., & Mazziotti, M. (2017). Twelve tips for creating an academic teaching portfolio. Medical Teacher, 40(1), 26–30. https://doi.org/10.1080/0142159x.2017.1364356Links to an external site.
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Collapse SubdiscussionSarah D Surber I couldn’t agree more. Sometimes I forgot others may have decided to become an NP from a completely different career. I have been a nurse and have some skill set and some experience that could go to NP positions that I apply for. Building a very good portfolio would be important with a nursing background, but especially important for someone with no medical background. “Electronic portfolios (e-portfolios) are a way for a potential nurse hire to showcase talents and skills, and draw attention to his or her uniqueness for those responsible for hiring (McMillan, et al., 2014).” The goal is to make yourself stand out. Showcase your best features through the portfolio. I am looking forward to creating mine.
McMillan, L. R., Parker, F., & Sport, A. (2014). Decisions, decisions! E-portfolio as an effective hiring assessment tool Links to an external site. Nursing Management, 45(4), 52-54.
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Collapse SubdiscussionAnna Sheba Thomas Hello Ieshia,
I loved your idea of using a portfolio to sell a new, aspiring practitioner who has no prior experience working as a nurse practitioner. They may use this as a platform to demonstrate their abilities, skills, and clinical hours. Therefore, a portfolio is a wonderful approach to keep track of the abilities obtained in practicum early on and continuously as we progress through the program. The Journal of Perioperative Nursing in Australia makes this point quite clearly by ICN Pierre Theraulaz, “Your hard work and newly acquired skills will be vitally important to the health of populations in your countries and add to the strengthening of nursing everywhere”.
References:
Burns, M. K. (2018). Creating a Nursing Portfolio. Ohio Nurses Review, 93(3), 16–17
East, R. (2015). Developing a nurse practitioner portfolio. ACORN: The Journal of Perioperative Nursing in Australia, 28(4), 35.
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Collapse SubdiscussionJessica Palacios * 2nd Attempt: Corrections made to APA formatted in-text citation / references
As a nursing graduate student, one strategy for including academic activities and accomplishments in my professional development goals is to create a learning portfolio. This portfolio can include a variety of evidence demonstrating my learning progress and achievements throughout my studies, such as written papers, completed projects, relevant coursework, and clinical experiences. This not only allows me to reflect on my growth and progress, but it also serves as a valuable tool for showcasing my capabilities to potential employers (Casey & Egan, 2010).
Another strategy for including academic activities and accomplishments in my professional development goals is actively participating in networking and professional development opportunities. Joining professional organizations and attending conferences and workshops allows me to stay current with new developments in the field, connect with other healthcare professionals, and gain new skills (Ahmed & Ward, 2016). Additionally, participating in these opportunities demonstrates my commitment to ongoing professional growth and development, which can be highlighted in my professional portfolio.
Both of these strategies align with Walden University’s emphasis on social change. Creating a learning portfolio provides a comprehensive view of my abilities as a nurse while participating in networking and professional development opportunities allow me to connect with other healthcare professionals and collaborate on projects to address social issues, such as improving patient outcomes and addressing healthcare disparities (Davis, 2015). I can create positive social change within the healthcare system by consistently striving for growth and development in my field.
References
Ahmed, E., & Ward, R.R. (2016). Analysis of factors influencing acceptance of personal, academic and professional development e-portfolios. Comput. Hum. Behav., 63, 152-161.
Casey, D. C., & Egan, D. (2010). The use of professional portfolios and profiles for career enhancement. British journal of community nursing, 15(11), 547–552. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjcn.2010.15.11.79625
Davis, C. (2015). Developing a professional nursing portfolio. Nursing Made Incredibly Easy!, 13(1), 4. doi: 10.1097/01.NME.0000457285.39465.5c
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Collapse SubdiscussionBeverly Britton Hello professor and class,
Academic portfolios are important in enhancing nurses’ personal brands, which can help them get employment opportunities and hold leadership roles in their practice. One of the strategies to include academic accomplishments in professional development goals is by advancing my education. According to Brunt and Morris (2022), continuous learning is a significant tool for professional development, which is critical in improving the quality of patient care and organizational outcomes. Through continuous learning, I can acquire certifications that I can include in my academic portfolio and help me attain my professional development goals. Mlambo et al. (2021) explain continuous learning helps promote provision of quality care and significantly reduce patient harm.
Another strategy that I can implement is to attend educational seminars and webinars related to my nursing practice. Whether organized by my healthcare organization or nursing associations, attending them can contribute to professional development since the education could improve my nursing skills. Some educational sessions also offer certifications, which I can add to my portfolio to show my competency in various nursing aspects. Another strategy to improve my academic portfolio and attain my professional development goals is to join various nursing associations and get certifications that could advance my career and nursing skills. According to Coelho (2020), certifications by nursing associations are associated with various clinical outcomes, such as reducing patient falls and hospital-acquired infections.
Walden University emphasizes enhancing social change. I believe my goals are consistent with the University’s mission since I ensure that I gain numerous skills in the nursing field to increase my capacity to contribute to positive social change. For instance, by increasing my academic qualifications, I have become more knowledgeable in ways to address population health problems, contributing to positive social change. My professional development goals also involve creating a rich social capital with other nurses, and interacting with them can help me gain expertise in solving various societal health problems.
References
Brunt, B. A., & Morris, M. M. (2022). Nursing professional development. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.
Coelho P. (2020). Relationship between nurse certification and clinical patient outcomes: A systematic literature review. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 35(1), E1–E5. https://doi.org/10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000397Links to an external site.
Mlambo, M., Silén, C., & McGrath, C. (2021). Lifelong learning and nurses’ continuing professional development, a metasynthesis of the literature. BMC Nursing, 20(1), 62. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-021-00579-2
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Collapse SubdiscussionJessica Naber Beverly, great points throughout here. One big focus of your strategies seems to be continuing education, whether it is formal classroom learning, seminars, webinars, or certifications. I think this is so important for you, for future employees, and for your patients. We all know that learning never ends in nursing and health care in general. In order to stay current and be the best practitioners we can be, continuous learning is one of our most important strategies! Well-said.
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Collapse SubdiscussionNatasha Shelton Beverly,
I’m glad to hear you mention attending seminars and/or webinars related to your nursing specialty because I think this is not thought of as much as other things when it comes to building your portfolio. In my early part of my nursing career I would only attend a seminar or listen to a webinar if it was mandatory at my job, but now I try to attend as many as possible to advance my knowledge and skillset. If I didn’t know how to perform a certain thing I would just get another nurse to show me how to do it, relying on that individual’s knowledge in performing that task. I live in a state that doesn’t require nurses to have a certain number of CEUs, unless you have a certain specialty, like other states. Multiple states require a specified number of contact hours of education for relicensure to ensure that nurses are current in their practice. Also, if you work at an organization that is considered to have Magnet status it is proof of the organization’s commitment to continued learning for professional nurses (Kowalski, 2021).
Attending training sessions whether in-person or online is beneficial to increasing the lifetime learning journey. A study showed that the combination of didactic and simulation sessions yielded an increase in confidence among medical-surgical nurses by reducing anxiety, providing resources and accommodation of training sessions. Continuing education can lead to fewer worries and greater confidence in the nursing care not only to specialty nursing but to non-specialized nursing as well (Bagley et al., 2018).
Natasha,
References
Kowalski, K. (2021). Creating Relevant Continuing Education Through Certification Requirements. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 52(11), 495-496. https://doi.org/10.3928/00220124-20211008-01Links to an external site.
Bagley, Kimberly A, DNP, RN, AGPCNP-BC,A.G.A.C.N.P.-B.C., C.C.R.N., Dunn, Sarah E, MSN,R.N., A.G.N.P.-C., Chuang, E. Y., M.D., Dorr, V. J., M.D., Thompson, J. A., PhD., & Smith, Sophia K,PhD., M.S.W. (2018). Nonspecialty Nurse Education. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 22(2), E44-E51. https://doi.org/10.1188/18.CJON.E44-E51
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Collapse SubdiscussionIeshia Lysania Stevens Module 5 Discussion Response 1
Hi Beverly, I agree with including academic accomplishments in one’s professional development goals. Burns (2018) recommends showcasing academic and professional achievements with objective supporting documents that can be verified. This a great way to provide supporting evidence of work ethic, perseverance, and commitment to continuous learning. The certifications acquired with continuous learning provide a higher level of skill, understanding, and tangible evidence of one’s hard work. Attending seminars and webinars is another strategy you mentioned to contribute to professional development. In addition to improving nursing skills, this strategy is an excellent opportunity to network and interact with like-minded professionals. Fernandez (2022) explains that professional networking through workshops and seminars is a great way to be proactive in one’s career, promote self-care, and open doors to professional growth and new jobs. The compilation of strategies discussed in your post provides a wealth of evidentiary supporting information to add to one’s professional development plan and a plethora of knowledge that can be applied to the global social change platform Walden university provides. Thank you for sharing.
Reference
Burns, M.K. (2018). Creating a nursing portfolio. Ohio Nurse Review, 93(3), 19-17.
Fernandez, A. (2022, June 16). The benefits of networking for nurse practitioners. American
Association of Nurse Practitioners. Retrieved January 18, 2023, from
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Collapse SubdiscussionAnna Sheba Thomas Hello Beverly, I appreciate the way you identified academic portfolios as “self-branding “tools which will open doors for employment and put them in positions of leadership in their field. I concur with your plan to tie academic success to professional growth objectives through furthering education and participating in seminars and conferences advances professional development and enhance abilities. By going to seminars and conferences in the past, I personally learned a great deal, and this helped me apply that information to my nursing work as well. In order to maintain the level and quality of service, companies must be able to fund staff for certain conferences related to their area.
References:
Coelho, Paulo MSc, BSN, RN, CPHQ. Relationship Between Nurse Certification and Clinical Patient Outcomes: A Systematic Literature Review. Journal of Nursing Care Quality 35(1): p E1-E5, January/March 2020. | DOI: 10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000397
Mlambo, M., Silén, C., & McGrath, C. (2021). Lifelong learning and nurses’ continuing professional development, a metasynthesis of the literature. BMC Nursing, 20(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-021-00579-2
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Collapse SubdiscussionNathan Moise Hello Beverly,
As you consider the strategies needed for professional development, I would like to recommend the use of mentors. Mentors are individuals that are senior in one’s profession, and they are instrumental for professional growth because the mentor and coach tehri followers and empower them with the skills necessary to navigate one’s professional life (Ranzenhofer et al., 2020). When it comes to mentorship, you have more power to dictate what you wish to gain through the mentorship relationship. Furthermore, mentorship and also provide growth way beyond professional guidance and this is because mentors are also likely to provide personal growth as well, thus facilitating the growth of an all-round professional (Gulla et al., 2019).
References
Gulla, C., Flo, E., Kjome, R. L. S., & Husebo, B. S. (2019). Implementing a novel strategy for interprofessional medication review using collegial mentoring and systematic clinical evaluation in nursing homes (COSMOS). BMC geriatrics, 19(1), 130. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-019-1139-6
Ranzenhofer, L. M., Wilhelmy, M., Hochschild, A., Sanzone, K., Walsh, B. T., & Attia, E. (2020). Peer mentorship as an adjunct intervention for the treatment of eating disorders: A pilot randomized trial. The International journal of eating disorders, 53(5), 497–509. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.23258
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Collapse SubdiscussionJessie Nakazwe An explanation of at least two strategies for including academic activities and accomplishments into your professional development goals.
A professional portfolio is defined as evidence of the skills, achievements and professional experience of an individual (East, R., 2015). Professional portfolios are divided into two; one shows the individual’s education and achievements and the other shows actual field work completed by the individual for the purpose of a promotion or recognition for a specific position. (East, R., 2015).
Some of my professional development goals while here at Walden include but are not limited to: expanding my nursing skill set, learning and developing confidence for leadership roles, expanding my healthcare knowledge to gain competency for the roles I will be taking up in the near future. Two ways I plan on including my academic achievements into my professional goals, one is by using the knowledge I acquire here at Walden to enhance my competency as a nurse therefore, giving good quality nursing care to my clients. The other would be to gain academic achievement and create an opportunity for me to advance on the clinical ladder (Burns, M. K., 2018). This will allow me to be part of the change and help reduce the provider shortage, especially in mental health.
Explain how those goals may align with the University’s emphasis on social change. Be specific and provide examples.
As mentioned above, my ultimate professional goal is to serve with compassion and competence. Walden believes that positive social change is achieved when knowledge is put to use for greater good, by applying the knowledge acquired to improve the human and social conditions. (Walden University., n.d.). Educating the community on mental health and the resources available to them, is one of the many ways I plan on using the knowledge I acquire and make a positive social change.
References
Burns, M. K. (2018). Creating a nursing portfolio Links to an external site.Links to an external site.. Ohio Nurses Review, 93(3), 16-17
East, R. (2015). Developing a nurse practitioner portfolio Links to an external site.Links to an external site.. ACORN: The Journal of Perioperative Nursing in Australia, 28(4), 35.
Walden University. (n.d.). Walden University catalog Links to an external site.Links to an external site.. Retrieved October 4, 2019, from https://catalog.waldenu.edu
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Collapse SubdiscussionJeandy Diaz Diaz Gomez Hi classmates and professor ,
Creating a portfolio is very important, it helping us to concentrate on professional goals or objectives. The portfolio serves as a constant reminder and what counts is what you can demonstrate. Developing portfolio elements that concentrate on early-stage academic accomplishments would allow one’s career summary to be strong as it should be, thus strengthening the career summary to identify one as a professional as it covers the arears important to one’s career level and job target.Strategies that can be followed in the creation of portfolio elements that concentrate on my academic achievements are: highlighting my academic achievements, talking about special training and qualification courses that I have taken and completed, talking about my leadership skills during team work at school, thus filling my professional portfolio documents with all my achievements, keeping them in place and ready to go for updating my resumes as I pursue a higher position in any job interviews. When this is stored electronically it would be much easier to update also known as the ‘E-portfolio.’ Moore, K. (2019) states, “E-portfolios are both a product and, more importantly, a process. An e-portfolio is a collection of work (evidence, artifact) in an electronic format that showcases learning over time. It can include just about anything that can be uploaded.” He further examines several tools, tips and strategies that can be used in developing an E-Portfolio which are, ‘Files of various formats (text, pictures, video, etc.), Evidence related to courses taken, programs of study, etc., Writing samples that might include several drafts to show development and improvement, Projects prepared for class or extracurricular activities, Academic records and achievements, Evidence of creativity and performance, both personal and professional, Evidence of extracurricular or co-curricular, activities, including examples of leadership, Evaluations, analysis, and recommendations’ These can also be very useful guide in building my e-portfolio and ready for updating as I continue to achieve academic and professional achievements. In conclusion, developing a good portfolio is an excellent way of letting the world know that we are an achiever, and not just a doer, a good portfolio must be result based, what one has achieved, and not just task-based. Norris, T. L.; Webb, S. S.; McKeon, L. M.; Jacob, S. R.; and Herrin-Griffith, D. (2012) notes, “Development of a portfolio is an effective strategy used by clinical nurse leaders (CNLs) to inform prospective employers of their specialized skills in quality improvement, patient safety, error prevention, and team work. The portfolio provides evidence of competence relative to the role of clinician, outcomes manager, client advocate, educator, information manager, systems analyst/risk anticipator, team manager, healthcare professional, and lifelong learner.” (Page 47). Employers want to know what we have contributed, how we have make a difference, or how we can make a difference, all these will add great value to our portfolios.
Reference
Moore, K. (2019). Tools and Tips for Helping Students Create E-Portfolios. Computers inLibraries, 8, 33.
Norris, Tommie L.; Webb, Sherry S.; McKeon, Leslie M.; Jacob, Susan R.; Herrin-Griffith, Donna. (2012). JOURNAL OF NURSING ADMINISTRATION; 42; 1; p47-p51.DOI: 10.1097/NNA.0b013e31823c18e3.
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Collapse SubdiscussionPamela Jean May The development and presentation of an academic portfolio can assist the nurse in both academic and career advancement. It can also serve to simply network when not actively seeking career advancement. Presently, in the United States, portfolios can be a chosen added element to information nurses use to market themselves in seeking academic and/or career advancement. However, as Burns (2018) points out, in other areas of the world, such as Australia, the nurse’s professional portfolio is required to be maintained as evidence of continued professional development. The profession of nursing, nationwide, may very well be moving toward this in the future. It would be prudent for nursing students to be well-versed in the development of such during their academic career to best prepare for the future of their nursing profession. For many nurses, the two coexist. For example, this nurse has been a professional nurse for over twenty years, however, she began her career as an associate-degree-prepared nurse, and over the years, as her career grew, she grew academically as well by continuing education to become a bachelor’s degree-prepared nurse and onto becoming a master’s degree-prepared nurse. Currently, she is academically working to become an advanced practice nurse. Therefore, professional and academic careers exist concurrently.
There are various methods to develop an academic and/or professional portfolio. There can be paper versions as well as electronic versions. Hannans (202?) states that people likely have an existent digital footprint that can be found by searching persons’ names on the internet, and oftentimes the results are social media content or nothing at all. Hannans suggests that it is better to create a positive digital portfolio in which the professional has control over the contained content, than leaving a search result open to the possibility of social media or no result. As society is moving more toward a digital operating system, the development of an electronic portfolio in addition to a paper version would be most ideal. This will allow for information to be disseminated in more distant areas that are not as readily accessible to other means, aligning with Walden University’s (n.d.) goals of social change across the globe. The intention of this nurse is to prepare both paper and digital portfolios. The paper version will resemble that of a resume with titles, headings, and subheadings if applicable. Likely a Word document will accomplish such. Regarding the digital portfolio, this nurse has explored various avenues and has decided on starting with Squarespace (n.d.) to customize the electronic portfolio. Personalization to include embedded hyperlinks is capable on this site. It is the intent of this nurse to include elements suggested by Burns such as, but not limited to resume; transcripts; link for reference requests; licenses and certifications; professional memberships; awards and recognitions; scholarly work; poster presentations; community service; letters of recommendation; strengths; areas for improvement and goals.
Burns, M. (2018). Creating a nursing portfolio. Ohio Nurses Review, 9(3), 16-17. Retrieved from https://eds.s.ebscohost.com/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=1&sid=33753712-568d-4400-bf30-48aa314ca846%40redis
Hannans, J. (2017). Craft a positive nursing digital identity with an ePortfolio. American Nurse Today, 12(11), 48-49. Retrieved from https://www.myamericannurse.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/ant11-Digital-Identity-1017a-1.pdf
Squarespace. (n.d.). Create your website. Retrieved from https://www.squarespace.com/websites-start/?channel=pbr&subchannel=go&campaign=pbr-go-us-en-core_squarespacealone-e&subcampaign=(squarespace-alone_squarespace_e)&&cid=15698980512&aid=130361054086&tid=kwd-1988643730&mt=e&eid=&loc_p_ms=9013650&loc_i_ms=&nw=g&d=c&adid=571893406304&channel2=pbr&subchannel2=go&gclid=CjwKCAiAzp6eBhByEiwA_gGq5JLHqP1geVOyzMNtZN2-gU9DkjDn0Lh8jfv77r45pDVuZIr0uBWi-hoCdlMQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Walden University. (n.d.). Social change. Retrieved from https://www.waldenu.edu/why-walden/social-change
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Collapse SubdiscussionNathan Moise Nice post Pamela,
A professional portfolio is known as evidence of the skills, achievements, and professional experience of an individual (Moran, J., 2016). Strategies that can be followed in the creation of portfolio elements that concentrate on my academic achievements are: highlighting my academic achievements, talking about special training and qualification courses that I have taken and completed, talking about my leadership skills during team work at school, thus filling my professional portfolio documents with all my achievements, keeping them in place and ready to go for updating my resumes as I pursue a higher position in any job interviews. Mlambo et al. (2021) When this is stored electronically it would be much easier to update, also known as the ‘E-portfolio.’ Moore, K. (2019.
REFFERENCES:
David, A. (2021, June 15). The benefits of networking for nurse practitioners. American
Association of Nurse Practitioners. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
Walden University. (n.d.). Walden University catalog Links to an external site. Links to an external Links to an external site.site. Retrieved October 4, 2019, from https://catalog.waldenu.edu.
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Collapse SubdiscussionNathan Moise One vital strategy for including academic activities and accomplishments in my professional development is identifying my past strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for growth. The growth opportunities include professional experiences such as in-house training, seminars, and webinars attended, and professional training conducted by professional bodies such as the American Heart Association (Jourdan et al., 2021). I will also include my strengths during my training, such as teaching junior colleagues, conducting research, writing publications, articles, and presentations, working in a team, and providing leadership. I will write my strengths and past accomplishments in a portfolio and a resume that will be used in interviews and creating a job card.
Another strategy for including academic activities and accomplishments in my professional development is ensuring that I have advanced my education in the nursing program. I intend to take part in more research and write more publications. I will also become certified in my domain of nursing practice. As a certified nurse, I will offer more benefits to patients, their families, and the healthcare organization (Jourdan et al., 2021). Certified nurses can provide care with more confidence and ensure better patient experiences (Jourdan et al., 2021). I will offer evidence-based care to the patients, which includes infection control or giving oxygen to patients with chronic obstructive lung disease. Infection control is achieved through thoroughly washing my hands, wearing gloves and masks appropriately, and maintaining the sterile field in surgical procedures.
My goals align with the university’s emphasis on social change. Social change aims to improve the human condition, addressing diverse cultures and societies (Jourdan et al., 2021). Advancing my education enables me to understand better about holistic nursing care. Holistic nursing care includes an individual’s physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual aspects (Jourdan et al., 2021). I will focus on all the domains of an individual and improve patient experiences and outcomes. The research I will conduct will help me understand the diverse cultures encountered during my practice and how to deal with them.
References
Jourdan, D., Gray, N. J., Barry, M. M., Caffe, S., Cornu, C., Diagne, F., El Hage, F., Farmer, M. Y., Slade, S., Marmot, M., & Sawyer, S. M. (2021). Supporting every school to become a foundation for healthy lives. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2352-4642(20)30316-3
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Collapse SubdiscussionJessica Naber Nathan, I agree with you that using the portfolio to emphasize some of your experiences is vital. I like how you mentioned teaching, research and publications, presentations, teamwork, and leadership. If I was on the hiring end, and I saw a portfolio that emphasized these experiences, I would definitely want to consider that person. Most every nursing position would be glad to have someone with leadership and positive teamwork experience, and the teaching, research, and presentations showcase a lot of talent as well. Thank you for bringing up those specific experiences, and for all of you, be sure you emphasize these in your portfolio if you have been part of those situations.
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Collapse SubdiscussionMeagan Jones An academic portfolio is one of many ways to network, collaborate, and detail all successes, growth, and educational accolades. They are considered an essential tool in demonstrating professional accomplishments and documenting professional growth for a variety of professions (Burns, 2018). It’s become a great tool especially for those in the medical field. One strategy to create and build an academic profile is to prepare in advance-starting by reviewing your Resume/CV, have an outline, gathering all documents and materials. Creating an academic portfolio may appear daunting at first but with careful advanced preparation, organized evidence collection of your educational work, proof of scholarship, and thorough documentation of self-reflection and change, you can produce a successful product that accurately represents your educational beliefs, accomplishments, and growth throughout your career (Little-Wienert & Mazziotti, 2017). Another strategy would be providing mentorship. Individuals who have served as mentors in healthcare have reported more personal satisfaction, greater salaries, greater promotion rates, and stronger subjective career success compared to individuals who have not provided mentorship (Little-Wienert & Mazziotti, 2017). Nothing speaks more about your success as a person, mentor, and leader, than to see that your mentees have gone on to become leaders and have gained their own academic successes and accomplishments in the process. Documenting these in your portfolio and the role you played in guiding or inspiring them to do so speaks volumes.
While developing an academic portfolio looks great for individual gain and professional development, it is important that in deciding factors for continuing education, your professional goals and development, align with that of the school or university of your choice. Walden’s Center for Social Change is a networking hub with three major commitments: empowering change-makers, building community, and elevating social change outcomes (Walden University, 2020). These personally align with my goals because of my commitment to planning and preparation with any situation and my overall joy associated with mentorship. In everything that occurs day to day or that I have accomplished professionally, it all had to be planned before execution. I’m also a person that has looked for a strong mentor/leader for inspiration and guidance in my professional journey. I also am aware of what it took in my journey to get to where I am, the mistakes along the way, and the ways I was able to push through adversity for personal or professional gain. I feel empowered sharing my “story”-the good, the bad, and the ugly, and love to watch individuals from all walks of life and with their own “stories” push past and become the best version of themselves. Walden’s social change desire is just that, planned, organized, and executed, and as stated above they empower change-makers or developing new leaders through mentorship and opportunities to expand into a variety of communities.
References
Burns, M. K. (2018). Creating a nursing portfolio Links to an external site.. Ohio Nurses Review, 93(3), 16-17.
Little-Wienert, K., & Mazziotti, M. (2017). Twelve tips for creating an academic teaching portfolio. Medical Teacher, 40(1), 26–30. https://doi.org/10.1080/0142159x.2017.1364356Links to an external site.
Social Change. Walden University. (2020, July 20). Retrieved January 18, 2023, from https://www.waldenu.edu/why-walden/social-change
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Collapse SubdiscussionJessie Nakazwe Meagan,
I enjoyed reading your post. great point about becoming a mentor and that enhancing your portfolio. I can imagine showing your leadership skills in that form would certainly impress your potential employers, and as you mentioned it also has a positive impact on you as person when a mentee is successful. building a portfolio, I believe can be likened to building ones personal brand, therefore, our personal lives also have a significant impact on our portfolio especially for us nurses. with social media being so commonly used, one more than a third of recruiters are checking their potential employee’s social media ( Cotriss, 2023).
References
Cotriss, D., (2023). Keep It Clean: Social Media Screenings Gain in Popularity. retrieved from: https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/2377-social-media-hiring.html
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Collapse SubdiscussionAnna Sheba Thomas Module 5 Discussion post – Strategies for academic portfolio
Making a portfolio is a smart move that allows a professional to include all of their engagement, activities, and academic accomplishments into their professional development plan. Since it was required at work, I’ve created a professional portfolio each year. I’ve been able to assess both my professional and personal improvement thanks to it. Multiple elements make to a professional portfolio. The introduction includes a biodata/resume, educational background, certificates, job history, professional short- and long-term smart objectives, attended lectures, seminars, and conferences, any research, presentations, projects, honors/rewards, letter of recommendation and reflective thinking. These elements all contribute to a clear understanding of our development and the measures we need to take to get better. When one reflects back on the accomplishment, it also provides satisfaction. Sherrod explained that “In nursing, the professional portfolio provides a record of your professional development where you can list personal and professional goals, growth, and achievements”.
Getting a professional certificate or degree in a relevant subject is another method for professional advancement. The goal of professional education is to increase the specific abilities required for a certain career. Improved abilities from ongoing education can be used to apply for a promotion or change occupations in the future. To support their workers’ development, several firms provide professional development opportunities. The professional abilities are enhanced as a result of this. Certain higher degrees call for conducting study and presenting the results to others, which aids in changing things and professional growth.
The correct education is beneficial for both professional and personal development. Behavior modifications are the end effect. This behavior modification aids in bringing about a constructive societal development. Individual people of a society have personalities that are similar to aspects of the culture. The development of a social personality enables a person to adapt to their surroundings and thrive while working with others. Because it emphasizes acts that advance the value of people and communities, this is consistent with Walden University’s emphasis on social change.
References:
Burns, M. K. (2018). Creating a Nursing Portfolio. Ohio Nurses Review, 93(3), 16–17.Professional development. https: //hr.buffalostate.edu
Robbins, Tony. (2019, January 22). 8 effective professional development strategies | Tony Robbins. tonyrobbins.com. https://www.tonyrobbins.com/business/professional-development-strategies/
Sherrod, Dennis RN, EdD. (n.d.). The professional portfolio: A snapshot of your career.
https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/social-change/mission Links to an external site.Walden University. (2020). Social change. Retrieved October 18, 2020, from https://www.waldenu.edu/why-walden/social-changeLinks to an external site.
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Collapse SubdiscussionJessica Naber Anna, you make some excellent points here. I am glad that your workplace has required the portfolio from you. It forces you to keep up with your experiences and accomplishments, some of which you may not have remembered. Additionally, it forces you to make long-term and short-term goals and evaluate yourself and reflect upon your professional life. Have any of the rest of you had to do this for work and had similar experiences?
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Collapse SubdiscussionJessica Palacios Hi Anna,
I agree with your statement that creating a professional portfolio is a smart move for any professional. It allows individuals to document their engagement, activities, and academic accomplishments to assess their professional and personal growth better. Answering Dr.Nabers question, I have never personally had to make a portfolio for work or previous employer, as it was never a requirement, but it is a great idea. It can help employees keep a clear career path. A portfolio can also be a valuable tool for setting and achieving professional goals and presenting oneself as a well-rounded and dedicated professional to potential employers. Sherrod (2018) stated, “In nursing, the professional portfolio provides a record of your professional development where you can list personal and professional goals, growth, and achievements,” which makes it even more important to have one.
Anna, It sounds like you have developed an excellent portfolio for yourself, and keeping up with it each year demonstrates an ongoing commitment to professional growth. It can benefit you when applying for promotions or new job opportunities. According to a Healthcare Financial Management Association study, “employers view continuing education as a commitment to the profession and personal and professional growth” (O’Neil, 2018). Another study by the Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing states that “employers view continuing education as a way to improve job performance, patient outcomes, and the overall quality of care” (Suresh, 2019).
References:
O’Neil, J. (2018). Why continuing education is important for healthcare professionals. Healthcare Financial Management Association. https://www.hfma.org/content/why-continuing-education-is-important-for-healthcare-professionalsLinks to an external site.
Suresh, K. (2019). The Importance of Continuing Education for Nurses. Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 50(2), 63-68. https://doi.org/10.3928/00220124-20190117-01Links to an external site.
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Collapse SubdiscussionDestiny Quarnetta Comer Module 5 Discussion
An organizational product’s exposure and credibility are enhanced by the brand strategy. The success and the public perception of career development are both influenced by the professional portfolio of consistent accomplishments and results. Another area where exposure and reputation are essential for success is in professional growth. Having goals and strategies for the gradual acquisition of academic knowledge and experience through participation in short courses, seminars, workshops, symposiums, and colloquia that support career accomplishments is the first step in creating a legacy in professional growth. All of these educational events should be filed away and properly documented to establish a career portfolio. Additionally, specialization is achieved through the choice, reflection, and project of academic hobbies. The finest tactics to use in the action phase, when these objectives are put into practice for professional development, are setting short-term and long-term goals that will drive the mission to acquire academic skills, experience, and mentorship.
Research
Research will be one of the first strategies to be taken into consideration while creating the professional development goals. I’ll organize my research projects into a portfolio in a particular order, with the weakest project coming last and the best one coming first. This logic technique has extraordinary beginning reasoning but a “knock-out” conclusion. With the knowledge that the viewer is frequently most affected by the most recent project, I should include the most recent so the lasting impression will be that of the highest caliber practitioner (Vedel, & Geraldi, 2020). Once more, the projects I’ll place in the center will serve as a bridge. Collaborations, contributions to multidisciplinary research, scholarships and awards, and contributions to scholarly publications would all fall under the category of research, in my opinion. As my research contributions and collaborations show how successfully I can work with colleagues toward good social change, this is in line with the university’s aspirations for social change.
Service
A service strategy will provide evidence to support the leadership experience, such as involvement and active leadership in university, department, or disciplinary committees. For instance, I will list my contributions to a report-writing committee on a campus where I participated. Recognitions or special honors of any kind will be listed under service. As part of my service efforts, I’ll also offer group research outside of the university (Ahmadi-Javid, Fateminia, & Gemünden, 2020). The goal of every service, from leadership within the institution to workshops to groups outside the university, is to have an impact on social life. As a result, they are consistent with the university’s focus on social transformation.
References
Ahmadi-Javid, A., Fateminia, S. H., & Gemünden, H. G. (2020). A Method for Risk Response Planning in Project Portfolio Management. Project Management Journal, 51(1), 77-95.
Burns, M.K. (2018). Creating a nursing portfolio. Ohio Nurses Review, 93(3), 16-17.
Vedel, J. B., & Geraldi, J. (2020). A ‘stranger’in the making of strategy: A process perspective of project portfolio management in a pharmaceutical firm. International Journal of Project Management.
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