NURS 6002 Discussion: Personal and Professional Goals in Nursing

This discussion post outlines a nursing student's personal and professional goals within the context of a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program at Walden University. The student aims to improve health outcomes within their community and leverage evidence-based knowledge. The post aligns these goals with the university's and program's missions, emphasizing holistic patient care and the development of skilled healthcare professionals. It identifies four key academic and professional networks, including nurse managers, educators, and a family nurse practitioner, detailing how each network member contributes to the student's objectives. The discussion concludes by highlighting the importance of networking and the alignment of the student's aspirations with the program's values and goals, referencing relevant literature to support the discussion. The assignment provides a practical example of how a student plans to achieve their goals and utilize available resources.

Running head: DISCUSSION POST: PERSONAL AND PROFESSIOANL GOALS
DISCUSSION POST: PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

1DISCUSSION POST: PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS
Professional and Academic Goals
I am currently a student of Walden University pursuing my Masters of Science degree in
Nursing (MSN). One of my key personal goals and missions in life which I wish to translate into
professional practice is my wish to ensure that every individual in my community and nation
enjoy positive health outcomes. Additionally, I also wish to learn a range of evidence-based,
updated clinical knowledge so that I can assist the community population to achieve the above.
These goals and missions of mine are in compliance to the goals of holistic patient care in
nursing, and thus, to the MSN program I am currently engaged in (Walden University, 2019).
Further, the above enlisted personal and professional goals are also in compliance to the Walden
University’s vision to produce graduates who are well learned and versed with knowledge
appropriate to resolve health and social issues plaguing current global populations (Walden
University, 2018).
Additionally, the key goals and perspectives of the MSN program which I am engaged in
currently is to use the most effective teaching strategies for educating and equipping health
professionals to tackle a range of health issues plaguing diverse communities. The MSN program
also aims to be a center of excellence in healthcare research and education for producing
healthcare professionals who are competent enough to achieve positive health outcomes across
communities (Laureate Education Producer, 2018). The Walden journey to a Masters in Nursing:
Networking and collaboration [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author. Thus, with the help of the
above University and MSN program objectives, I was able to expand upon my personal goal and
mission of becoming a nurse who is highly educated, knowledgeable and competent enough to
achieve positive health outcomes and health status across diverse patient communities. In
addition to the University’s and program’s goals and missions, my academic and professional

2DISCUSSION POST: PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS
networks will also be helpful in achievement of my personal objectives, which have been
highlighted below (Schmidt, 2017).
Professional and Academic Social Network
As I progress across my MSN program, I have realized the need to develop and expand
upon my personal, professional and academic networks since these will assist me in
understanding current professional requirements in the healthcare sector (Schmidt, 2017).
Considering the same, I have enlisted the following academic and professional networks which
have assisted me in improving my goals, missions and values.
Network Member 1
 Name: Erin Rutherford
 Title: Senior Director at a Nurse Training Institution
 Organization: Banner Health
 Network type: Academic
 Explanation: Nursing managers and directors, as the one mentioned above, have
extensive experience concerning the key determinants and strategies which motivate
nurses towards professional development and assist them in improving clinical, evidence-
based practice (Adams et al., 2015). It is for this reason, the aforementioned individual’s
extensive experience as a nurse mentor will assist me in achievement of my current
academic goals.
Network Member 2
 Name: Jennifer Carson
 Title: Nurse Manager

3DISCUSSION POST: PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS
 Organization: Banner Health
 Network type: Professional
 Explanation: Nursing managers, as the one mentioned above, possess extensive
knowledge on a range of leadership skills and styles which registered nurses can engage
in for the purpose of delegating clinical responsibilities and working with nursing teams
during emergencies and comprehensive patient care. Additionally, nurse managers also
have extensive knowledge concerning strategies of combatting burnout and stress in
nurses (Kelly, Lefton & Fischer, 2019). Thus, the aforementioned individual will assist
me in my transition to professional practice by teaching me leadership and stress
management skills relevant for registered nurses.
Network Member 3
 Name: Jana Boubelik
 Title: Nurse Educator
 Organization: Banner Health
 Network type: Academic
 Explanation: Nursing educators, like the one mentioned above, possess considerable
knowledge concerning relevant evidence based research which I can use to understand
my academic course as well as translate to professional practice during my future role as
a registered nurse (Grassley & Lambe, 2015). Thus, this academic network will assist me
in learning strategies by which I can use evidence based research in academics as well as
during future professional practice.
Network Member 4
 Name: Phyllis Mutembete

4DISCUSSION POST: PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS
 Title: Family Nurse Practitioner
 Organization: Mountain Park Health Center
 Network type: Professional
 Explanation: A family nurse practitioner has extensive knowledge concerning the
importance of family in improving and deteriorating a patient’s health condition, which is
why, the above network will assist me in how to work with patients as well as their
families in professional environments. Further, this network will also assist me in
understanding the key requirements of a registered nurse in order to achieve certification
from the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) (Yingling, Cotler &
Hughes, 2017).
Conclusion
This paper thus briefly discusses on the important academic and professional networks
with whom I will be collaborating with, in order to ensure successful achievement of my
personal goals and mission. To conclude, the above paper thus successfully demonstrates the
alignment of my objectives with the goals, missions and values of Walden University and the
MSN program which I am currently partaking in.

5DISCUSSION POST: PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS
References
Adams, J. M., Alexander, G. A., Chisari, R. G., Banister, G., McAuley, M. E., Whitney, K. B., &
Erickson, J. I. (2015). Strengthening new graduate nurse residency programs in critical
care: Recommendations from nurse residents and organizational stakeholders. The
Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 46(1), 41-48.
Grassley, J. S., & Lambe, A. (2015). Easing the transition from clinician to nurse educator: An
integrative literature review. Journal of Nursing Education, 54(7), 361-366.
Kelly, L. A., Lefton, C., & Fischer, S. A. (2019). Nurse Leader Burnout, Satisfaction, and Work-
Life Balance. JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration, 49(9), 404-410.
Laureate Education Producer. (2018). The Walden journey to a Masters in Nursing: Networking
and collaboration [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Schmidt, K. (2017). 5 reasons nurses should engage in professional networking. Retrieved from
https://blog.bluepipes.com/5-reasons-nurses-should-take-professional-
networkingseriously/.
Walden University. (2018). Vision, mission, and goals. Minnesota: Walden University. Retreated
from https://catalog.waldenu.edu/content.php?catoid=61&navoid=9236.
Walden University. (2019). School of nursing mission and vision. Minnesota: Walden
University. https://catalog.waldenu.edu/content.php?catoid=41&navoid=5304.
Yingling, C. T., Cotler, K., & Hughes, T. L. (2017). Building nurses’ capacity to address health
inequities: incorporating lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender health content in a family
nurse practitioner programme. Journal of clinical nursing, 26(17-18), 2807-2817.