Reply with 2 references

ood evening Lashonda,

Great job with your post!  You made a great point about professional development to include with your portfolio.

Given this, have you considered how you can also teach others and help them grow professionally?  Any thoughts about how can you do this? 

Thanks,

Harper

The Discussion in which she responded to:

Discussion Post

It is essential to document academic activities and accomplishments in pursuing professional development. Not only does this enhance our professional competencies, but it also contributes to the broader societal good. Therefore, different strategies should be used to incorporate academic achievements into professional development goals for an individual to get career opportunities and effect change.

The first strategy is developing a professional nursing portfolio. This is a comprehensive record of skills, nursing experiences, achievements, and professional development (Charlotte Davis, 2015). The portfolio includes evidence of participation and reflection in teaching, scholarship, and contributions to the community. By regularly updating this portfolio, a nurse can provide a clear picture of their professional growth. For instance, a nurse might include certifications, awards, or evidence of continuing their education in the portfolio.

Another strategy would be continuous learning and skill development. Mlambo et al. (2021) define the vital aspect of keeping a nurse’s knowledge and skills current as continuing professional development. In nursing, professional development involves expanding our skill set, which can be achieved by learning new academic concepts, methodologies, or technologies relevant to the field.  For example, a nurse-scholar can learn new skills in patient care management to improve their skills and boost their portfolio.

Wakefield et al. (2021) outline that Nursing is a well-positioned profession that can partner with other sectors to address social and health problems. Therefore, incorporating academic activities and achievements in the nursing academic portfolio is a step towards effecting societal change. This aligns with the university’s emphasis on social change and involves applying our academic knowledge and skills to address societal challenges. Therefore, nurse-scholars should be on the frontline in solving societal health issues. For instance, if our professional goal is to improve patient outcomes, we can align this with social change by researching public health issues or developing healthcare policies. This approach ensures that our professional development contributes to the betterment of society, thus aligning with the university’s mission of transforming scholar-practitioners to effect positive social change.

References

Charlotte Davis, B. S. N. (2015). They were developing a professional nursing portfolio. Nursing made Incredibly Easy. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NME.0000457285.39465.5c

Mlambo, M., Silén, C., & McGrath, C. (2021). Lifelong learning and nurses’ continuing professional development, a meta-synthesis of the literature. BMC Nursing, 20, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-021-00579-2

Wakefield, M., Williams, D. R., & Le Menestrel, S. (2021). The future of nursing 2020-2030: Charting a path to achieve health equity. National Academy of Sciences. https://doi.org/10.17226/2598

Reply1 with reference:

Module 5 Discussion

Initial post.

Atrhur 

                Until becoming a Walden University student, I never heard of an ePortfolio. I have always used resumes when applying for a job and found a one-page resume formidable. Putting all your academic and professional achievements onto one page is challenging. After reading the resources, I realized that an ePortfolio is more informative than a resume. Professionalism should be pertinent on and off the court. A reputable ePortfolio creates a positive self-image and prevents leaving an ugly footprint (Hannans & Olivio, 2017).

                When building an ePortfolio, one can view it as constructing a home. The foundation would be composed of education and achievements with a framework of professional accomplishments (Burns, 2018). An ePortfolio can help keep track of training and education. It is vital to stay on the right path to becoming a contributor to making a positive social change (Walden, 2019).

                The strategies I will use to build an ePortfolio include gathering diplomas and certificates and putting them in chronological order. I will join a psychiatric mental health organization, increase networking, and gain other certifications relevant to Mental Health Nursing (Burns, 2018). I will also gather other strategies from co-workers who have created their portfolios.

                Keeping a record of educational and professional accomplishments can guide you on the right path. An ePortfolio can be the perfect tool for a potential employer to use. According to Chambers and Wickersham (2007), an ePortfolio is a collection of one’s education and professional achievements. It is a showcase of one’s best work.

                Nursing portfolios can give the potential employer an excellent view of your highest achievements and can make those achievements easily accessible. Many resources are available to me at my place of employment and will help me build a great ePortfolio. I have talked to co-workers who are younger than I am, and they are familiar with ePortfolios. My coworkers have portfolios of their work, and they have allowed me to view them.

                Maintaining records of education and professional achievements is essential to moving forward. As a US Army veteran of twenty-four years, an ePortfolio runs parallel to a military personnel file. I will create an ePortfolio and continue using it to track my academic and professional developments.

REFERENCES

• Burns, M. K. (2018). Creating a nursing portfolioLinks to an external site.Links to an external site.. Ohio Nurses Review, 93(3), 16-17.

Walden Library (n.d).Chambers, S. M., & Wickersham, L. E. (2007). The Electronic Portfolio Journey: A Year Later. Education, 127(3), 351–360.  

Hannans, J. & Olivo, Y. (2017). Craft a positive nursing digital identity with an ePortfolioLinks 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.pdf

Walden University. (n.d.). Walden University catalog links to an external site. Retrieved October 4, 2019, from https://catalog.waldenu.edu

REply 2

Robert Rashad 

Manage Discussion Entry

According to the Arizona College of Nursing (2022), nursing portfolios are a collection of career experiences and a visual demonstration of your skills. Portfolios showcase your knowledge, abilities, and progress as an individual, a student, and a professional. I think every nurse has a unique journey and their portfolio could be documentation that reflects that path. 

One main strategy to include in my portfolio would be my scholarly work. I attended an accelerated 14-month post baccalaureate nursing program while being a newlywed with newborn twins. After being out of school for almost a decade, I took on the challenge of nursing school that included a rigorous 5–6-day work course with 8 hours of classroom studies and 12-hour clinical rotations. Despite all the external factors, I managed to graduate cum lauded and with high honors. I plan to continue to use a combination of hard work and dedication to ensure that I complete this practitioner program and become a competent practitioner that aids in improving patient outcomes. 

My second strategy would be to include my current nursing certifications. By obtaining certifications, it shows that you are dedicated to equipping yourself with the ample amount of knowledge needed to perform your nursing duties at a high level. As an ER nurse I’ve managed to obtain CEN, TNCC, and NIHSS as additional certifications. Certifications allow you to be more marketable to institutions looking to hire or advance you.

One reason that I decided to become a nurse after being a clinical informaticist for years was that I felt as if I had more to give. I felt as if I could be an asset to the nursing profession with my fueling desire to help and learn. According to Walden (n.d.), their mission is to create a learning community where knowledge could be applied to solve key societal challenges. Their vision: to empower students to make a difference by confronting those challenges where they live, in their professions, and on a global scale (Walden, n.d.) As an ER nurse much of our patient population consists lower the socioeconomic class. In many instances we become primary, secondary, and tertiary providers in the ED. I come from said background, so to be able to provide care to that specific population group is very rewarding. 

References

Barbara Halle. (2023, October 11). How a nursing portfolio can elevate your career. Arizona College. https://www.arizonacollege.edu/blog/how-a-nursing-portfolio-can-elevate-your-career/#:~:text=Think%20of%20a%20nursing%20portfolio,a%20student%2C%20and%20a%20professionalLinks to an external site..

Walden University. (n.d.). Walden University catalogLinks to an external site.. Retrieved January 14, 2024, from https://catalog.waldenu.edu