Review the scope and standards of practice or competencies related to your chosen specialty in the resources for this module. Review the MSN specializations offered at Walden

Academic and Professional Success Plan Template

Prepared by:

Tiara Sank

This document will be used for NURS 6003 Transition to Graduate Study for Nursing to complete Assessments 1-4. Just as importantly the document serves to organize your thoughts about planning for your academic and professional success.

For specific instructions see the weekly assessment details in the course or ask your instructor for further guidance.

Module 1 | Part 1: Developing an Academic and Professional Network

I have identified and secured the participation of the following academic (at least two) and professional (at least two) individuals and/or teams to form the basis of my network. This network will help me to clarify my vision for success and will help guide me now and in the future.

Directions: Complete the information below for each member of your network. For more than four entries repeat the items below with details of your additional network member(s) in the ‘ADDITIONAL NETWORK MEMBERS’ section.

MEMBER 1 

Name: Krystle Mendiola 

Title: Enrollment Specialist 

Organization: Walden University 

Academic or Professional: Academic  

Why I selected this individual and/or team and how they will support my success in the MSN program and as a practicing nurse: 

Notes: Krystle Mendiola guided me through shaping my academic journey at the University. Krystle has exclusive skills to determine the best schedule that suits the pursuit of my career. Krystle has also guided me through identifying short-term goals that I need to achieve throughout my career, hence helping me with the key areas within my nursing career as a practitioner. Krystle will continue to help me figure out the most important and key areas that concur with my professional goals that will allow me to achieve my dreams. 

NETWORK MEMBER 2 

Name: Robin Squellati 

Title: Professor  

Organization: Walden University 

Academic or Professional: Academic 

Why I selected this individual and/or team and how they will support my success in the MSN program and as a practicing nurse: 

Notes: While pursuing a career path, positive friendship and mentorship are key in nurturing the career. Robin is my mentor and instructor in my MSN program and as a practicing nurse. Professor Squellati will be supporting me through my MSN program. According to (Gallup, 2019), graduates who had supportive mentors in their career journey reported positive results and; hence this will also play an important part in my career journey. Squellati will be part of my journey as we keep practicing and sharing great ideas regarding academic success. 

NETWORK MEMBER 3 

Name: Nurse Bentley Jenkins 

Title: Member of the American Nurse Association 

Organization: American Nurse Association 

Academic or Professional: Professional 

Why I selected this individual and/or team and how they will support my success in the MSN program and as a practicing nurse: 

Notes: Nurse Jenkins has an excellent reputation and extensive networks in her career. Associating with Nurse Jenkins will not only be a motivation to me but also help to create a larger professional network as I pursue my MSN program.  Jenkins runs an organization that is responsible for training nurses and therefore, through this, I can acquire more opportunities and expertise, hence keeping me updated on the evolving world in the medical sector (Zack, 2019). The passion and determination that Nurse Jenkins and his colleagues have created are the best part of my success. 

NETWORK MEMBER 4 

Name: Samantha Lennox 

Title: MSN 

Organization: Healthcare Management Tools 

Academic or Professional: Professional 

Why I selected this individual and/or team and how they will support my success in the MSN program and as a practicing nurse: 

Notes: The fast-moving world today has led to the advancement of the medical sector and even technological evolvement. This advancement is embraced for the benefits it has both to the medical sector and society as it eases communications and operations. I chose to engage Lenox in my career path as he is well conversant in the medical tools sector, and with him, I know he can walk me through the effectiveness of applying those tools. Lenox will help me connect with a variety of people in my nursing profession, hence helping me achieve success in my practice. 

References 

Gallup, J. L. (2019). Added-variable plots with confidence intervals.  The Stata Journal,  19(3), 598-614. 

Zack, D. (2019).  Networking for people who hate networking: A field guide for introverts, the overwhelmed, and the under-connected. Berrett-Koehler Publishers. 

Module 2 | Part 2: Strategies to Promote Academic Integrity and Professional Ethics

I have analyzed the relationship between academic integrity and writing, as well as the relationship between professional practices and scholarly ethics. I have also identified strategies I intend to pursue to maintain integrity and ethics in my academic work while a student of the MSN program, as well as my professional work as a nurse throughout my career. The results of these efforts are shared below.

Directions: In the space below craft your analysis/writing sample, including Part 1 (The Connection Between Academic and Professional Integrity) and Part 2 (Strategies for Maintaining Integrity of Work).

Part 1: Writing Sample: The Connection Between Academic and Professional Integrity

In the space below write a 2- 3-paragraph analysis that includes the following:

· Explanation for the relationship between academic integrity and writing

· Explanation for the relationship between professional practices and scholarly ethics

· Cite at least 2 resources that support your arguments, being sure to use proper APA formatting.

· Use Grammarly and Turnitin to improve the product.

· Explain how Grammarly, Turnitin, and paraphrasing contribute to academic integrity

Writing and academic integrity are fundamentally related, necessitating that students express themselves honestly and creatively. Following citation guidelines such as APA, properly attributing sources, and avoiding plagiarism are essential components of upholding academic integrity (Pecorari, 2019). Writing with integrity promotes a culture of trust throughout the academic community and guarantees sincere contributions. In a similar vein, nurses preserve academic ethics in their professional activities by conducting ethically sound research, supporting evidence-based care, and expanding the body of knowledge in the area (ANA, 2015). Professional practices and scholarly ethics are mutually dependent; ethical research techniques influence professional practice and vice versa.

While Turnitin verifies originality and appropriate citation, Grammarly and other tools improve writing clarity and accuracy, helping to uphold academic integrity. These resources encourage unique thought, and appropriate reference techniques, and guard against inadvertent plagiarism. It is imperative to explain concepts in one's own words while maintaining the original meaning by paraphrasing. By ensuring that work reflects genuine understanding and knowledge and gives credit to others, these resources jointly foster a culture of academic integrity (Pecorari, 2019).

References:

American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. American Nurses Association.

Pecorari, D. (2019). Teaching to avoid plagiarism: How to promote good source use. Routledge.

PART 2: Strategies for Maintaining Integrity of Work

Expand on your thoughts from Part 1 by:

Identifying and describing strategies you intend to pursue to maintain integrity and ethics of your 1) academic work while a student of the MSN program, and 2) professional work as a nurse throughout your career. Include a review of resources and approaches you propose to use as a student and a professional.

I will use a few tactics to make sure my academic work remains honest while I'm in the MSN program. I will place the utmost importance on having a solid understanding of the rules of academic integrity, which include referencing correctly, avoiding plagiarism, and properly citing sources. I can make sure that my academic writing adheres to accepted norms by routinely examining resources like the American Psychological Association (APA) style guide (APA, 2020). I also intend to make use of institutional resources, including workshops and writing centers, to improve my writing and get criticism on my work. Adopting a proactive stance, I will examine and confirm the originality of my submissions before submitting them by using plagiarism detection software such as Turnitin. This will be done as a preventative action as well as to give others trust that my scholarly contributions are genuine.

Upholding ethical standards is essential to providing high-quality patient care in my line of work as a nurse. The American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics offers a framework for moral nursing practice, and I promise to always abide by it (ANA, 2015). My regular involvement in professional development and continuous education will enable me to stay current on changing ethical norms and nursing best practices. Developing a mentorship connection with Nurse Bentley Jenkins will help you navigate moral conundrums in practical nursing situations and offer advice. To make sure that my choices and actions are in line with professional ethics, I also want to regularly evaluate them against ethical standards. This is known as reflective practice.

References:

American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. American Nurses Association.

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). APA.

Module 3 | Part 3: Research Analysis

I have identified one topic of interest for further study. I have researched and identified one peer-reviewed research article focused on this topic and have analyzed this article. The results of these efforts are shared below.

Directions: Complete Step 1 by using the table and subsequent space below to identify and analyze the research article you have selected. Complete Step 2 by summarizing in 2-3 paragraphs the results of your analysis using the space identified.

Step 1: Research Analysis

Complete the table below

Step 2: Summary of Analysis

Craft a summary (2-3 paragraphs) below that includes the following:

· Describe your approach to identifying and analyzing peer-reviewed research

· Identify at least two strategies that you would use that you found to be effective in finding peer-reviewed research

· Identify at least one resource you intend to use in the future to find peer-reviewed research

A methodical strategy was used to locate and evaluate peer-reviewed literature on the subject of leadership styles in nursing. Using academic databases and pertinent keywords, a thorough search technique made it easier to find academic articles. The paper that Alharbi et al. (2019) chose for analysis provided insightful information about the relationship between adverse occurrences in nursing and leadership styles.

Two efficient methods for locating peer-reviewed literature were using scholarly databases like PubMed and applying targeted search phrases associated with nursing outcomes and leadership styles. Furthermore, citation tracking in recognized articles had a snowball effect that uncovered other pertinent studies. Examining publications from professional associations and specialist nursing journals is one resource that shows potential for future research because these sources frequently include state-of-the-art findings in the field. A deeper comprehension of nursing leadership styles and their effects on different outcomes will result from a dedication to remaining up to date on new research.

Module 6 | Part 4: Finalizing the Plan

I have considered various options for my nursing specialty, including a close look at my selected (or currently preferred) specialty and second-preferred specialty. I have also developed a justification for my selected (or preferred) specialty. Lastly, I have examined one professional organization related to my selected or preferred specialty and considered how I can become a member of this organization.

The results of my efforts are below.

Directions: Complete Step 1 by writing 2-3 paragraphs in the space below comparing the nursing specialty you have selected – or the one you prefer if your choice is still under consideration – to your second preference. Identify each specialty and describe the focus and the role that graduates are prepared for. Identify any other differentiators you feel are significant, especially those that helped or may help you reach a decision.

Complete Step 2 by writing a paragraph identifying and justifying your reasons for choosing your MSN specialization. Be sure to incorporate any feedback you received from colleagues in this week’s Discussion Forum.

Complete Step 3 by examining and identifying one professional organization related to your selected or preferred specialty. Explain how you can become a member of this organization.

Step 1: Comparison of Nursing Specialties

Use the space below to write 2-3 paragraphs comparing the nursing specialty you have selected – or the one you prefer if your choice is still under consideration – to your second preference. Identify each specialty and describe the focus and the role that graduates are prepared for. Identify any other differentiators you feel are significant, especially those that helped or may help you reach a decision.

Step 2: Justification of Nursing Specialty

Use the space below to write a paragraph identifying and justifying your reasons for choosing your MSN specialization. Be sure to incorporate any feedback you received from colleagues in this week’s Discussion Forum.

Step 3: Professional Organizations

Use the space below to identify and examine one professional organization related to your selected or preferred specialty. Explain how you can become a member of this organization.

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