Main Discussion Post

As a nurse for seven years, I have found a passion in caring for the geriatric population. Our seniors are known to many as the greatest generation, and I love providing compassionate nursing care to them. This vulnerable population is our window to the past; they offer so much historical knowledge by which all of us can learn. The life expectancy of seniors has increased significantly in the last century. Promoting and facilitating appropriate health care in the geriatric population increases their independence and lessens the need for dependence on family members or a long-term health care setting (Friedman et al., 2019). My mission as a health professional is to facilitate enhanced health care; to lessen discomfort, disability, and other associated morbidity that emanates with increased age. Providing appropriate health care will allow our elders to continue to thrive and allow younger individuals to learn from the experiences and knowledge they can share; this will enhance the learning for all of us.

My decision to become a scholar-practitioner aligns with Walden University’s mission to effect positive social change. Enhancing healthy living in a vulnerable population, such as the geriatric population will contribute to positive social change. I envision positive social change with increased independent living for our elders, which lessons their burden on society (Walden University, 2020, Vision, Mission, and Goals section, para. 2). When any vulnerable population is cared for, it uplifts society as a whole.

Walden University’s MSN program aligns with my goal to become a Nurse Practitioner and to be a role model for other nurses to advance their careers. Walden offers an accredited program specializing in geriatric health care; therefore, enrolling in Walden’s MSN program is appropriate for advancing my professional goals. I want to specialize in, which is the field of geriatric health care.  I chose Walden’s MSN program for the vast resources offered, including Doctorally prepared professors and flexibility it provides for a balance of home and work life (Laureate Education, 2018). The interdisciplinary collaboration that will be part of this program is essential for my professional growth because one of my favorite mottos to live by is “none of us is as smart as all of us” (Laureate Education, 2018).

References

Friedman, S. M., Mulhausen, P., Cleveland, M. L., Coll, P. P., Daniel, K. M., Hayward, A. D., Shah, K., Skudlarska, B., & White, H. K. (2019). Healthy Aging: American Geriatrics Society White Paper Executive Summary. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 67(1), 17–20. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.15644

Laureate Education (Producer). (2018). The Walden Journey to a Masters in Nursing: The Journey Begins [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Laureate Education (Producer). (2018). The Walden Journey to a Masters in Nursing: Networking and Collaboration [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Walden University. (2020). Vision, mission, and goals. In 2019-2020 Walden University catalog. https://catalog.waldenu.edu/content.php?catoid=172&navoid=59420&hl=vision&returnto=search

Discussion: Networking Opportunities

In this module, you begin laying the foundation for your academic and professional success. Your efforts begin with a vision that includes your own definition of success. Your vision may vary from those of your colleagues, but this does not mean you have to take these first steps alone.

Walden University and the College of Nursing also have a vision and mission, which include helping you to make your own vision a reality. Members of your new academic community, such as faculty, support teams, and fellow students, can also be helpful. Current practitioners and other member of the professional community can also help you to clarify your vision.

This Module’s Discussion asks you to consider how the Walden mission and vision as well as the College of Nursing’s mission and vision apply to your professional and academic goals. You will also begin to identify individuals and teams who can help you along the way as you begin designing the “blueprint”—your Academic Success and Professional Development Plan—that will guide you toward your own vision for academic and professional success.

To Prepare:

• Review the Walden and College of Nursing mission and vision statements, Walden’s goals and University Outcomes, and the MSN Program Learning Outcomes presented in this Module’s Learning Resources.
• Reflect on your professional and academic goals as they relate to your program/specialization.
• Consider how the information in these resources fit with your own goals and to your becoming a scholar-practitioner.
• Also consider academic and professional individuals and teams with whom you may collaborate in support of your efforts as a student at the university and as a professional within your organization and career.

By Day 3 of Week 1

Post a brief introduction of yourself to your colleagues. Include an explanation as to how Walden’s vision, mission, goals, and social change initiatives relate to your professional and academic goals and to your becoming a scholar-practitioner. Also include an explanation for how the Walden MSN Program Outcomes and perspectives relate to your professional and academic goals and to your becoming a scholar-practitioner.

By Day 6 of Week 1

Respond to at least two of your colleagues’ posts by suggesting additional individuals and/or teams with whom you wish to collaborate or by offering additional networking strategies.

Networking Opportunities

Nursing requires specialized knowledge, skill, and independent decision making. “The practice of nursing involves behavior, attitude and judgment, and physical and sensory capabilities in the application of knowledge, skills, and abilities for the benefit of the client. Nursing careers take widely divergent paths—practice focus varies by setting, by types of clients, by different disease, therapeutic approach or level of rehabilitation. Nurses work at all points of service in the health care system” (National Council of State Boards of Nursing [NCSBN], 1996, p. 13). Being a nurse, one of the goals is to deliver the utmost care to the challenging society.  As a nurse for 12 years I want growth in my profession and at the same time make sure that I provide the quality of care to the diverse community appropriate to the demands and challenges of the new era, with the advancement of technology. To obtain that, I need to equip myself with the knowledge and skills through continuing education. Walden University with its vision “to envision a distinctively different 21st-century…immediate solutions of critical societal challenges” is the suitable place to acquire my goals. (Walden University, 2020) I believe that Walden University

Also, another basis why I chose Walden University was the quality of standards they impart to all students. As their mission states provides a diverse community of career professionals with the opportunity to transform themselves as scholar-practitioners so that they can effect positive social change. (Walden University, 2020)

Incorporation of Social Change

According Walden University’s definition “Positive social change results in the improvement of human and social conditions. (Walden University, 2020).  Walden also supports positive social change through the development of principled, knowledgeable, and ethical scholar-practitioners, who are and will become civic and professional role models by advancing the betterment of society. This is what I wanted to achieve as nurse practitioner. I wanted to have a meaningful career that will give impact to the society.

I want to have that passion to promote quality improvement of patient-centered care in accordance with professional practice standards that transform health outcomes for diverse populations as what the outcomes of Walden MSN Program. Being in Walden University will guide and give me focus to achieve the goals I have as a professional health care provider.  In return once I graduate, I will impart the core values I acquire to enhance the healthcare system in our society in general.

References:

Nurse Practice Acts Guide and Govern Nursing Practice. Retrieve from https://www.ncsbn.org/2012_JNR_NPA_Guide.pdf

Walden University. (2020). Vision, Mission, and Goals. Retrieved June 1, 2020,

from https://catalog.waldenu.edu/content.

Walden University. (n.d.). MSN Learning Outcomes. Retrieved May 31, 2020, from https://catalog.waldenu.edu/preview_program.php