1. Running head: PROGRAM OF STUDY
Program of Study and the Professional Development Plan
Laura Idani
Walden University
NURS 6001, Section 19, Foundations for Graduate Study
July 12, 2014
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2. PROGRAM OF STUDY
Program of Study and the Professional Development Plan
Over the years, I have taken many classes and learned many skills that have developed
my professional knowledge. My Professional Development Plan allows me to assess my
knowledge and identify goals for future learning experiences and accomplishments. The purpose
of this paper is to identify and assess educational knowledge and experience, and identify
learning needs and professional goals.
Education and Professional Background
My name is Laura Idani and I live in Enola Pennsylvania. It is a small town near the
capital of Harrisburg that I spent many years growing up in. After graduating high school, I
moved out of my mother’s house at the age of 17 and was married with a baby at the age of 19.
Back then I had no idea what I wanted to do with my future. I had no hope or desire to go to
college because I was completely broke. College was nothing more than a distant dream to me at
that time. My mother had always been an insurance company customer service representative, so
I thought maybe I would be like her and work at an office job. She always told me how great it
felt to help people in the community at her job. I worked a variety of jobs including waitressing,
customer service representative, and was even an insurance agent for a short time at the age of
18. None of these jobs made me happy though. One day I interviewed for a secretary job at a
local technical college. Instead of interviewing for a job, they started talking to me about how
easy it would be for me to get financial aid, start classes, and get an education.
I started my formal education in 2001 when I went to school to be a medical assistant. It
did not take me long to realize that two years of technical school was not worth the low income I
was earning as a medical assistant. I then decided to go back to school to be a registered nurse.
Since graduating with my Associates degree in nursing, I have worked as an emergency room
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nurse, gaining a wealth of knowledge and experience over the past seven years. This job
motivated me to get my Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Life Support, and Basic Life
Support certifications. I took additional classes on the job including five levels of
electrocardiogram interpretation and trauma courses. Last year I earned my Certified Emergency
Nurse certification as well. In addition to learning about emergency nursing, I decided to
advance my academic learning in 2010 and started the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
program at Walden University. Now I am continuing my academic learning by taking courses to
earn my Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) at Walden.
Being an alumna at Walden University with a 4.0 grade average made it easy to transition
and start classes there again. As I started the MSN program at Walden I already had knowledge
of how to write papers in APA format because it is what I did often while taking classes for my
BSN. There were some changes to the online classroom setting but it was generally the same as
before. I also bring knowledge of how to use the Walden Library, research articles, and evaluate
the best resources to be used in my writing. During my studies at Walden I would like to master
these skills. I want to go beyond my mediocre skills and be able to do research and scholarly
writing that will educate and influence people in order to make a positive change in practice.
I have learned a lot over the years through study and practice. However, I know that I
still have a lot to learn. I am eager to gain the knowledge it takes to be an MSN practitioner. I
am looking forward to learning better leadership and clinical skills. My experience as an
emergency nurse has made me realize that there are always changes, new knowledge, and new
research in the health care field. Advancing my career in nursing by engaging in graduate-level
study will enhance my abilities to research and utilize new knowledge to make a positive impact
in my career.
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Professional Goals
My ultimate goal for completing the MSN program is to be a Family Nurse Practitioner.
After years of working in the emergency department, I am ready to make a change in my career.
Working 12-hour night shifts including holidays and weekends is not something I see myself
doing, as I get older. It would be nice to have a career that allows me to work regular hours. I
would also like a nursing career with more autonomy. Working in the emergency department is
not very personal because there are always new patients and they do not stay long. I would like a
career that is more patient-centered. I want to be able to have meaningful relationships with my
patients. I will be able to see how they are doing and continually monitor their health.
I have decided to further my education once again to become a nurse practitioner because
I want to make a difference in people’s lives in my community. One of Walden University’s
outcomes reflects my life’s journey, which is to “Demonstrate a commitment to lifelong
learning” (Walden University, 2011, para. 7). To me, studying for my master’s degree in nursing
is another chapter in my quest for knowledge in my lifelong commitment to learning. I will be
able to reach my goal of becoming an MSN and making a difference in my community.
Course Outcomes
The Foundations for Graduate Study course at Walden has helped me reach several
learning goals this semester. I have learned some useful strategies for online learning like time
management skills and effective ways to communicate in an online environment. I have also
learned the importance of academic integrity and additional skills to avoid plagiarism. Learning
different ways to use the Walden Library and research articles was an important learning goal as
well. I can now more effectively research articles and analyze their strengths and weaknesses.
The most important learning goal that I accomplished in my opinion is how to create a
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Professional Development Plan. I can now assess my knowledge easier and keep my career
learning objectives prioritized.
Practicum
My choice of practicum experience has been a consideration of mine since I enrolled in
the MSN program. My first choice was at a local family practice that I have been going to for
years. The nurse practitioner there that I asked to precept me has been my provider for years.
She has been a role model to me and gives me encouragement during stressful times. I am glad
she agreed to precept me because this family practice will help me meet my personal goal of
getting acquainted with regular duties of nurse practitioners. It will help me meet my
professional goal of giving me practical experience of working as a nurse practitioner. This
family practice will help me meet my course learning goals because primary care of adults across
the lifespan is a practicum requirement at Walden University. This project addresses real-world
problems because I will have the experience of providing primary care to real patients in my
community and helping them live healthy life styles.
Summary
My formal education started 13 years ago. I started out as a medical assistant and have
progressed my academic education over the years to where I am now a graduate-level student. I
have baseline knowledge of APA writing and research. However I realize I have much more to
learn before I can become an advanced scholarly practitioner. My goal of completing the MSN
program is to be a nurse practitioner and to have more of an impact on patients’ lives. It will
also help me in achieving my mission of lifelong learning. I have learned some useful skills
while taking the Foundations for Graduate Study course at Walden including how to do a
Professional Development Plan, which will help me achieve my professional goals as well.
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Towards the end of the MSN program, I chose to do a practicum at a local family practice, which
will give me skills to provide care in a real-life setting.
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Reference
Walden University. (2011). Student publications: Vision, mission, and goals. Retrieved from
http://catalog.waldenu.edu/content.php
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