The identification of the program of study and professional development plan (PDP) is critical when pursuing graduate study. The PDP and the program have to be in line with the personal and professional goals (Thompson, 2011). This assignment will be highly significant in describing my educational and professional background and look keenly into the professional and personal goals about my course and the practicum.
Educational and Professional Background
My name is XXXX, and I wish to begin with a brief description of my personal life. I currently reside in XXXX. I am married, I have children, and I work in a neonatal intensive care unit with premature babies. I have an undergraduate training from a local university. I started my profession early, and I have managed to progress well with it together with family without challenges in finding a job. It has always been my goal to advance in knowledge and skills in the profession for me to handle better responsibilities. Finding time to go back to school for my masters has been a difficult process since it has always been challenging to combine my responsibilities as a parent and a nurse.
I have always enjoyed my career as it fulfills my purpose for service to humanity. I enjoy the profession every day I wake up to work. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in 1994. Following my interest in the course, I always worked hard for improvement, which made me achieve an outstanding (GPA). The hard work and interest for more knowledge helped me in professional and personal growth to a highly competent practitioner.
I am currently working in the neonatal intensive care with premature babies in the hospital. I have continually developed skills in handling newly born babies. My experience in the field allows me to detect complications in a child especially when born prematurely. I have a certification by National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN) and basic training on Tracheostomy for infants, Cardiac Assessment in the Neonatal Population, as well as the Retinopathy of Prematurity Screening Examination. I have the training and certification in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), which affirms my responsibilities as a nurse.
I have diverse experience as a practitioner thus I have become flexible, proficient, as well as I have gained extensive knowledge on the career. My range of expertise includes counseling for nursing mothers and first-time mothers, nursery attendance, and family health. I wish to acquire skills on telemetry, cesarean section, recovery, as well as research-based projects. I have taken charge of various roles in the department as a leader, preceptor, educators, as well as admission and discharge expert (Morgan & Torres, 2012). I am always attracted to new challenges in nursing premature babies. Being involved in a number of responsibilities in nursing the premature babies, I found need to advance my career in nursing.
Professional goals
My personal goal is to ensure any patient who needs my care receives outstanding help for proper health. My professional goal is to attain my Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with the specialty in the family nursing practitioner. The graduate level program is highly significant as it will help me in imparting the society (Casey & Egan, 2010).
Through the specialty, I will make it easy for newborn babies to survive despite their immaturity. I will help families raise healthy children through proper care and respect for family values. As a professional, I will reach the society through outreach programs with education and training on how to have an outstanding family. I will also offer exposure to healthy living for all members of my community. I am convinced I will achieve my professional goals and change the society.
Studying at my capacity as a wife and a mother is challenging but it equally has massive lessons. The course has exposed me to acquire adequate skills that would be significant for me as an online student. Although the online platform is complex, I have learned how to navigate through it and access the necessary resources useful to me. I have learned how to manage time while studying online since some tasks have to be undertaken on time, and I have to sustain excellent performance. Further, I will gain technological expertise significant in handling online activities. The exposure will be useful when working on other online activities in the future, which may include professional undertakings.
Although I have learned a number of things through this course, there are areas that I would wish to improve. Being an online student, I am not used to writing requirements for the United States. I need to improve on professional writing through enhancing my English skills. English is my second language; thus, I have to learn several elements regarding its use. I plan to read different periodicals and research papers to equip myself with the relevant English skills for professional writing. I will practice writing through undertaking my assignments with extensive seriousness so as to improve on my skills and application of my knowledge.
Practicum
The practicum is an extensively significant section of the Master’s degree. I dedicated to practicum in family nursing practitioner when my application to Walden’s nursing program was approved. Although practicum will come in two years, I need a preceptor who is a senior in my department with clear knowledge and expertise in the family nursing practice. My outstanding relationship with the senior nurses gives me an opportunity to be mentored accordingly so as to achieve the desired excellence.
In my practicum experience, I will develop as well as implement a family training program on quality living with major solutions to health problems. I will engage a team of nursing graduates and new employees to develop a program that will educate the family members on proper health care. I will extend knowledge on family care through the program. A lot of people do not understand family health and the factors that would lead high-quality living for a family.
Summary
I am confident of the responsibilities that await me. I have been well prepared through my undergraduate education and experience to undertake the Master’s Degree in Nursing with a specialty in the family nursing practitioner. Having graduated in Nursing, Walden will offer additional knowledge and expertise that will act as tools required to make an impact in my community. I will improve my English skills through practice in reading periodicals and research papers as well as practice in writing. I look forward to an interesting moment learning online. I will improve on several elements like time management, resources utilization, and other technological advances. I look forward to becoming an expert in my field through the Masters degree at Walden University.
References
Casey, D., & Egan, D. (2010). The use of professional portfolios and profiles for career enhancement. British Journal of Community Nursing, 15(11), 547–552.
Morgan, P. D., & Torres, S. (2012). Opportunities as a nurse practitioner: Your questions answered. Retrieved from http://www.minoritynurse.com/article/opportunities-nurse-practitioner-your-questions-answered
Thompson, T. (2011). Electronic portfolios for professional advancement. Clinical Nurse Specialist: The Journal For Advanced Nursing Practice, 25(4), 169–170.
