Nursing Professional Development Plan - Essay Example

Professional Development Plan (PDP) al Affiliation Professional development plan Introduction I have been a nursing student in this institution for a period that has been enough for me to believe that I am in the right place. This has, therefore, led me to having a mind-set that allows me to set professional goals and to plan for my professional development. To me, my professional development started when I joined the college of nursing with the aim of becoming a professional nurse who will provide quality care and uphold the professionalism of this career. It, therefore, means that my current position is a step that I identified before I joined the course. Over time, I have been able to relate with the profession well enough to allow me aspire to develop my career. However, I know that any further development in my career will be based on the basics which have to be completed (Price, Mcgillis Hall, Angus, & Peter, 2013). I have also learnt so much in classwork for the time I have been in the course to the extent that I am now capable of choosing among the various career developments that the profession offers. Educational and Personal Background I have been in the nursing profession since 19879 in Cuba. The motivation for joining the profession was the passion for helping people who are in need of healthcare and the sick. I have since then joined professional organization and committees. This earned me certificates in ICU, hospice and palliative nursing. I have never engaged in political or leadership position. However, my involvement in community service although I am yet to get involved in research. I obtained my RN license back in 2005 and worked in the profession in several capacities. I have worked as a medical-surgical nurse in the hospital set-up and gained immense experience in general nursing care from 2005 to 2006 at Kindred Hospital, Miami. I have also worked in a hospice setting, and obtained enough experience in the care of the sick in this setting, both as a hospice nurse and also as a hospice case manager since 2012 at Metropolitan Hospital and Season Hospice Miami respectively since 2006. My Goals My main goal, which is short-term, is to complete my basic degree in nursing (BSN) program within the next one year. Within the same period, I wish to have retired as a hospice nurse and get involved in professional activities as part of my professional development and in community service in my church. I however do not intend to get involved in any political activities. This is important because I will require the basic nursing training to develop in the profession. It is also in the basic degree that a professional foundation is laid from which I can choose a specialty that I will pursue in the master program (Hoekstra, 2011) Beyond the one year, my long-term goals are to start a master program immediately after I complete my BSN; continue getting involved in the Hospice This nursing activities and other professional activities that will earn me certifications and also develop me professionally. Since I want to develop in the profession, it will be very crucial for me to consider a postgraduate course in the profession. I choose to pursue a master in nursing sciences. My third goal, which should be met first since it is short term is to identify a program related to hospice nursing that I will pursue in the postgraduate program. This is important in that with my career plans being to keep working in a hospice setting, and I will have to select a related program before I can apply for admission in college for a master program (Adeniran, Bhattacharya, & Adeniran, 2012). My involvement in the community service will also continue. Further, I have no intention of getting involved in any political activities. Strengths and Area of Improvement Throughout my career in nursing, I have had a lot of experience in the provision of nursing care. As such, I have become competent in various fields and practices. These are regarded as my strengths in the profession. However, there are still areas in my profession and life that I need to improve. My strengths include being able to submit thorough daily documentation; manage caseload effectively while maintaining autonomy and proper focus on patient needs; excellent skills in developing and maintaining relationships with patients, families, as well as the community representatives; and efficient in the assessment of hospice patient physical, spiritual and psychological dimensions of care. However, I can also identify an area of challenge that needs improvement. Although I adjust well to new situations, I have a problem adjusting to new groups and new people. I believe in professional development, I am about to meet many people and unless I am able to adjust to new groups, it might become am challenge to achieving my goals. Barriers to Achieving the Goals Besides the areas that require improvement, the achievement of the goals identified is faced with various barriers. First, there is the financial factor. In as much as I may be determined to pursue a master program, there is so much money required. With the financial obligation to pay my college loans, I might be forced to look for a job after I complete my BSN. This will mean that my goal to get a master degree immediately will be impeded. It also means that if I get a job, there are chances that I will experience a different line in nursing which might make me drop the idea of doing hospice care nursing (Black, & Chitty, 2014). Action Plan For effective professional development, I intend to follow an action plan that will enable me achieve my goals. This action plan is to ensure that I keep in pace with all that I am doing and that my activities will guide me towards this achievement. Goal: Completing my BSN program. I need to complete my current program in nursing within the next one year. To achieve this, I need to have focused attention on my education and reduce involvement in other activities that are not contributing to this. Step 1. Get fully involved in learning and educational needs. This is to be completed in 2015. Step 2. Join learning groups to enable sharing of ideas and also experiences. This needs to be complete by end 2014. Step 3. Enrolling in the virtual library of the major nursing professional organizations and hospice centers. This should be complete by end 2014. Goal: Enroll in the master program. This is important in my development as a hospice nurse. This will be building on the development I have gained in the BSN program. Step 1. Choose a program that will help me achieve my long-term goal and professional development. This will have to be complete before the end of 2015. Step 2. Enroll in the master program. This should be done immediately after I complete BSN in 2015. Goal: Continue my involvement in the Hospice Nursing. Step 1. Ensure that the program I choose to pursue is in line with the hospice nursing requirements. This should be done before the end of the year 2015 and continue beyond my enrollment Step 2. Enroll in hospice care centers as volunteer. This will enable me gain more experience in hospice care as I study in the master program. It should be complete in 2016. Conclusion This plan has been made with deep consideration of my personal interests and the requirements of the profession. It is important to me in that it will help to keep me focused towards personal career development and also to ensure that I obtain all the necessary support from the institution as it is in the institution policy. I wish to be able to take advantage of my strengths and work on my challenges to achieve my goals. References Adeniran, R. K., Bhattacharya, A., & Adeniran, A. a. (2012). Professional excellence and career advancement in nursing: a conceptual framework for clinical leadership development. Nursing Administration Quarterly, 36, 41–51 American Nurses Association. (2010). Code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements. Silver Spring, MD: Nursesbooks.org/American Nurses Association American Psychological Association. (2009). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association. Washington, DC: American Psychological Assoc Black, B. P., & Chitty, K. K. (2014). Professional nursing: Concepts & challenges. St. Louis, Mo: Elsevier Hoekstra, H. A. (2011). A career roles model of career development. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 78, 159–173. Price, S. L., Mcgillis Hall, L., Angus, J. E., & Peter, E. (2013). Choosing nursing as a career: A narrative analysis of millennial nurses’ career choice of virtue. Nursing Inquiry, 20, 305– 316. Read More