NURS 6630 Discussion Strategies for Academic Portfolios
Sample Answer for NURS 6630 Discussion Strategies for Academic Portfolios Included After Question
In the realm of marketing, a successful branding strategy is one of the most important contributors to organizational success. A solid branding strategy can help add visibility and credibility to a company’s products.
Similarly, nurse-scholars can build a personal brand to add visibility and credibility to their work. You can begin building your brand by developing and maintaining an academic portfolio. Such an activity can help share the results of your efforts and contribute to your success. This week’s Discussion asks you to consider and share strategies for building your portfolio.
To Prepare:
- Reflect on strategies that you can pursue in developing portfolios or portfolio elements that focus on academic achievements.
- Review one or more samples from your own research of resources focused on portfolio development.
By Day 3
Post an explanation of at least two strategies for including academic activities and accomplishments into your professional development goals. Then, explain how those goals may align with the University’s emphasis on social change. Be specific and provide examples.
Support main post with 3 of more current, credible sources and cite source within content of posting and on a reference list in proper APA.
By Day 6
Respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days, by offering additional ideas regarding academic achievements to include or offering alternative ways of presenting the current achievements.
Be sure to offer support from at least 2 current, credible sources in each required response to classmates’ main post and cite per APA.
A Sample Answer For the Assignment: NURS 6630 Discussion Strategies for Academic Portfolios
Title: NURS 6630 Discussion Strategies for Academic Portfolios
The field of nursing requires adaptation to a constantly changing group of patient issues. As we advance our careers academically, nurses are increasingly asked to consider their role beyond the simple clinical issues they face in the workplace. Aside from work-related discipline, nurses are often left with few ways of measurably distinguishing themselves from their counterparts aside from work experience. Many of us has heard “no one cares about your Grade Point Average (G.P.A.) once you start working” in their time. While the accuracy of that statement is debatable, it is revelatory in that it highlights the diverse array of qualities expected from a nurse beyond their academic competency and work experience.
In researching this assignment’s topics, I came across an article that discussed an idea very similar to the nurse-familiar concept of evidence-based practice. The term discussed, social entrepreneurship, is defined as using pragmatic and results-oriented methods to bring about social change in the business world (Altman & Brinker, 2016). Comparatively, nurses seeking to further their careers must focus on ways of highlighting similar attributes to express their value effectively to prospective employers. With the goal of better nurses and better patient outcomes in the forefront, it is imperative that nurses take this part of their roles just as seriously as they do any other.
A modern approach to this challenge is to develop and maintain a professional portfolio. Asking me to maintain any sort of portfolio has been somewhat of a challenge. Compounding that fact, I wasn’t the best student early in nursing school and struggled a lot with non-school related issues that made it hard for me. I found the cake mix structure explained in the article The use of professional portfolios and profiles for career enhancement to be an ideal approach for me to take in developing my portfolio (Casey & Egan, 2013). This concept utilizes a reflective narrative to tie evidence together which enables a greater focus on the personal learning journeys, reflection, and the development of personal qualities (Casey & Egan, 2013). This approach will allow me to highlight the volunteer work I have done that relates to my focus on social change. A focus that I am very glad aligns with Walden’s aim provide me with the tools I need to address the immediate solutions of critical societal challenges (Walden University, 2022).
The quality I would most like to get across in my portfolio would be adaptability. I would like to feature my continual self-reflection on clinical and academic experiences in the forefront (Mcmillan et. al, 2014). To highlight my own skills, I find that an e-portfolio would be my best bet as it provides a structure for planning the way my career progresses (Mcmillan et al, 2014). With the little psych experience I currently have, developing and maintaining an e-portfolio and utilizing the aforementioned “cake mix structure approach” as an asset of self-reflection will give me more control over the way my value as a nurse is expressed.
One of the most important things someone can do to highlight their academic activities and accomplishments is by including them in their professional portfolio. By creating a professional portfolio one can aid in their own professional development through the process of creating their portfolio (Casey, D. & Egan, D. 2013). Personally, I really like having an ePortfolio. Currently I have a small version of an ePortfolio with LinkedIn. Hannans and Olivo state the importance of having an online presence in the form of a professional profile so that when potential employers search your name, they can see your potential and not just your personal image posts (2017). This goal of presenting yourself in a professional manner aligns with Walden University’s emphasis on social change because to be able to affect positive change one must first show that they are professional, trustworthy, and have a solid education to stand on and all of this can be done by creating one’s professional portfolio.
Another great way to build on one’s professional development is through continued education.
Using academic activities to improve oneself builds on your existing knowledge and education, which in turn helps with continued professional development. An example of this is what we are doing right now – going through our Masters Program. I find that I am reading things and learning things that I can use in my daily nursing practice. I know that I will continue to learn and therefore grow as a professional throughout my educational program. When this program is done I think that continuing education and going to conferences to continue learning and growing academically and professionally will be a must. To be an affective change agent one must be willing to continually grow and never become stagnant.
References
Casey, D. & Egan, D. (2013). The use of professional portfolios for career enhancement. British Journal of Nursing, 15(11),547-552. doi:10.12968/bjcn.2010.15.11.79625
Hannans, J. & Olivo, Y. (2017). Craft a positive nursing digital identity within ePortfolio.American Nurse Today, 12(11), 48-49. Retrieved July 20, 2021, fromhttps://www.americannursetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/ant11-Digital-Identity-1017a-1.pdf
Walden University. (n.d.). Walden University catalog. Retrieved July 20, 2021, fromhttps://catalog.waldenu.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=179&poid=72167&returnto=65560
the concept of an “I Love Me Book” is extraordinary and is congruent with what we’re learning this week about e-Portfolio’s. In my first career as a firefighter the structure was para-military so I can relate to the lessons you’ve learned. Now as we’ve both continued to expand our growth and life experiences we can combine that knowledge with new strategies and goals moving forward. Thanks for your service.
Perhaps you also found the information you collected to be useful in networking. Networking has always been important for professional development, and the digital age makes it even easier. Finding relevant online articles or blogs and sharing your thoughts on social media is one way to connect with other nursing professionals. If you’re starting a job search, follow organizations that interest you on social media and interact with them by commenting on their activities and initiatives (Hannans, J. & Olivo, Y. 2017).
We can all agree the world is continuing to change and the internet along with growing technology has created new opportunities. One article in our required reading for this week supports Walden University’s decision for including this as a part of the curriculum. In one recent study educators were advised to encourage their students to include ePortfolios in their cover letters, resumes, and email signatures during the job search process (Leahy & Filiatrauly, 2017).
A Sample Answer 2 For the Assignment: NURS 6630 Discussion Strategies for Academic Portfolios
Title: NURS 6630 Discussion Strategies for Academic Portfolios
There are many strategies for incorporating academic activity and accomplishments into my professional development goals. First, it is essential to adopt a goal evolution mindset. As we grow and learn, our goals will evolve. Academic activities and accomplishments should constantly contribute to professional development goals. It is essential to determine what steps must be taken to achieve professional development goals (Walden University, LLC, 2018). Modern-day advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) must develop a portfolio of evidence of professional development activities and achievements and how they contribute to professional practice as a visual representation of their experience, strengths, abilities, and skills (Casey & Egan, 2013). The benefits of portfolios include skill development, promoting active learning, improved clinical competency, and improved academic assessment and achievement (Dehkordi & Ghiasvandian, 2019). The portfolio will represent who I am, what I am passionate about, and the strengths I have obtained during my education at Walden University.
A strategy I could use to include academic activities and accomplishments in my professional development is to join professional nursing organizations. It is crucial to serve the community and profession (Walden University, LLC, 2018). I could connect with various professional organizations to participate in activities aligned with my career goals (Hannans & Olivo, 2017). Professional organization bring nurses together and empowers nurses to have a voice (Walden University, LLC, 2018). Nurses can also become certified in areas that may contribute to their professional development goals. The American Nurses Credentialing Center outlines steps for APRNs to expand their focus to meet expanded practice roles (Melander et al., 2020).
Another strategy is to record specific moments where I used my education and research to change a patient’s life. Casey and Egan (2013) suggested regularly accounting for incidents that have occurred in practice and using these instances in a portfolio, showcasing the application of knowledge learned. Collecting patient accounts evidencing competence in advanced practice will highlight academic activities contributing to professional development goals. Portions of my portfolio will highlight educational activities and accomplishments contributing to my professional development goals (Casey & Egan, 2013). I could specifically select evidence highlighting a skill I have obtained throughout my education. Nurses can also attend seminars and apply the knowledge learned in practice (Casey & Egan, 2013). I will attend conferences specific to my areas of interest, including aesthetic nursing, healthcare access in underprivileged communities, and healthcare policy. Clear ideas of education and certification must help you meet your professional development goals (Walden University, LLC, 2018).
Walden University is committed to social change by empowering change-makers, building communities, and maximizing social change outcomes (Walden University, 2022). Serving the community will align the University’s social change goals with my own. I want to affect positive change by improving access to care, especially in underserved and underprivileged communities, minimizing the healthcare disparity gap. I also want to promote social change through healthcare policy. By joining professional organizations that promote my development in these areas, I will develop from a student to a change-maker. The knowledge I gain throughout the Walden University program will assist me in making that possible.
References
Casey, D. & Egan, D. (2013). The use of professional portfolios for career enhancement. British Journal of Nursing, 15(11), 547-552.
Dehkordi, L. M., Ghiasvandian, S. (2019). Application of Portfolio in Nursing Education and Assessment of Learning. Journal of Medical Education and Development, 14(2), 136–143.
Hannans, J. & Olivo, Y. (2017). Craft a positive nursing digital identity with an ePortfolio. American Nurse Today, 12(11), 48-49. Retrieved October 13, 2022, from https://www.americannursetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/ant11-Digital-Identity-1017a-1.pdf
Melander, S., Hardin-Pierce, M., & Howard, P. B. (2020). Meeting the challenges of expanded practice through postgraduate APRN certification. Nurse Practitioner, 45(6), 8–10. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NPR.0000666212.83911.d3
Walden University. (2022). Social Change. Walden University. Retrieved October 16, 2022, from https://www.waldenu.edu/why-walden/social-change
Walden University, LLC. (Producer). (2018). The Walden Journey to a Masters in Nursing: Your Professional Development Plan [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.