Writing Guide for:
NURS 6003: Transition to Graduate Study for Nursing
Academic and Professional Success Plan Template
Prepared by:
M K LLL
This template is designed for use in NURS 6003 Transition to Graduate Study for Nursing to fulfill Assessments 1-4. Additionally, it serves as a tool to structure your reflections and plans for achieving academic and professional success. For detailed instructions, refer to the weekly assessment guidelines within the course or consult your instructor for further Helpance.
Module 1 | Part 1: Developing an Academic and Professional Network
I have identified and established connections with the following academic (minimum of two) and professional (minimum of two) individuals and/or teams to form the foundation of my network. This network will play a pivotal role in clarifying my success-oriented aspirations and will serve as ongoing guidance.
Instructions: Fill out the information below for each member of your network. If you exceed four entries, replicate the provided sections with details about additional network members in the ‘ADDITIONAL NETWORK MEMBERS’ segment.
NETWORK MEMBER 1
Name: K LL
Title: Psychiatrist
Organization: Wexford Health Sources
Academic or Professional: Professional
Reason for Selection: Dr. Carr, a psychiatrist affiliated with the Department of Corrections, has been chosen for her comprehensive assessments, treatment planning, and patient-centered care within the correctional setting. Her expertise aligns with my transition into the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) role during clinical rotations.
NETWORK MEMBER 2
Name: JKK
Title: Professional Organization Representative
Organization: American Nurses Association
Academic or Professional: Professional
Reason for Selection: The American Nurses Association has been selected due to its role in advocating for nursing professionals and promoting ethical values within the field. This affiliation will provide insights into nursing’s ethical standards and support me in my journey through the MSN program and nursing practice.
NETWORK MEMBER 3
Name: TYY
Title: Adult Care Nurse Practitioner
Organization: County Health Department
Academic or Professional: Professional
Reason for Selection: Miss Dolly, an experienced geriatric-focused Advanced Practice Nurse, has been chosen for her dedication and patient-centric approach in geriatric care. Her mentorship offers valuable insights as I pursue my MSN, fostering resilience and enhancing patient outcomes.
NETWORK MEMBER 4
Name: Student Support Services
Title: Support Services
Organization: Walden University
Academic or Professional: Academic
Reason for Selection: Student Support Services at Walden University have been chosen to provide academic counseling and guidance. Their Helpance will contribute to my educational journey, aiding in course selection and enhancing my overall path to success at Walden University.
ADDITIONAL NETWORK MEMBERS (if applicable):
[Details of Additional Network Member 1]
[Details of Additional Network Member 2]
[Details of Additional Network Member 3]
By collaborating with these individuals and organizations, I aim to fortify my academic pursuits and professional journey, ensuring a robust foundation for success throughout my MSN program and nursing career.
Why I selected this individual and/or team and how they will support my success in the MSN program and as a practicing nurse:
Module 2 | Part 2: Strategies to Promote Academic Integrity and Professional Ethics
Relationship between Academic Integrity and Writing:
Academic integrity and writing are inseparable within the realm of academia. Academic integrity encompasses the adherence to specific principles and standards, including the avoidance of plagiarism. The act of writing professionally and academically inherently demands integrity (Jamieson & Howard, 2019). Academic integrity is not only a pivotal part of the writing process for nurses when collecting data and conducting research, but it also extends to critical aspects such as obtaining informed consent from study participants.
Relationship between Professional Practices and Scholarly Ethics:
Professional practices and scholarly ethics share an intimate connection, as they are guided by a common set of standards that individuals uphold in their professional endeavors. These two aspects mutually reinforce each other, contributing to an individual’s overall conduct (Milton, 2019). Strong scholarly ethics translate into proficient skills that can be seamlessly integrated into professional practice. Scholarly ethics signifies a commitment to principles of integrity, transparency, competence, and accountability (Milton, 2019). For instance, nursing professionals adhere to ethical professional practices, encompassing integrity, self-respect, and transparency, and apply these same standards when engaging in scholarly activities or research (Milton, 2019). Maintaining scholarly ethics cultivates public trust by demonstrating professional standards based on reliable evidence.
Strategies for Upholding Integrity in Work:
Expanding on the earlier discussion, the strategies for maintaining integrity and ethics in both academic and professional contexts are as follows:
1) Academic Work as an MSN Student:
Utilizing tools like Grammarly and SafeAssign to ensure originality and citation accuracy.
Practicing consistent and accurate citation from credible scholarly sources.
Independently completing assignments, refraining from copying from external sources.
Leveraging resources such as the Writing Center, Academic Services Adviser, and library staff to understand and meet academic standards.
2) Professional Work as a Nurse:
Upholding the core ethics of nursing practice, including integrity, empathy, and professionalism.
Continuously learning new skills to effectively navigate ethical dilemmas in the workplace.
Consistently adhering to ethical standards outlined in The Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements by the American Nurses Association.
Staying updated with reputable nursing journals, like the American Journal of Nursing, to access relevant research and ethical insights.
Conclusion:
The symbiotic relationship between academic integrity, scholarly ethics, and professional practices is crucial for both educational growth and lifelong nursing career success. By conscientiously implementing these strategies and utilizing the suggested resources, I aim to uphold the highest standards of integrity and ethics throughout my journey as an MSN student and a dedicated nursing professional.
Module 3 | Part 3: Research Analysis
Step 1: Research Analysis
Topic of Interest: Workplace Violence in Healthcare
Research Article:
Schmidt, M. J., Wessling, E. G., McPhaul, K., London, M., & Lipscomb, J. (2019). Workplace violence in health care: An overview and practical approach for prevention. Psychiatric Annals, 49(11), 482-486. doi:10.3928/00485713-20191010-01 Link to the article
Professional Practice Use:
The identified research article highlights workplace violence as a pressing concern for healthcare workers. The article informs readers about the increasing rate of workplace violence and its impact on healthcare employees, particularly the statistics that show a significant portion of their time is spent away from work due to workplace violence. This research article is a valuable resource for creating awareness among stakeholders and inspiring action towards prevention. It informs the nursing practice by shedding light on this critical issue and encourages healthcare professionals to take steps to ensure a safer working environment.
Research Analysis Matrix:
Strengths of the Research Limitations of the Research Relevancy to Topic of Interest Notes
Provides an in-depth view of workplace violence. Difficult to establish independent and dependent variables in the descriptive study. Highly relevant due to increasing workplace violence cases. Important basis for research questions and further investigation.
Describes workplace violence and offers critical insights. Participants’ opinions might be influenced by personal experiences. Addresses real workplace violence issues. Opportunity for firsthand data collection through observation of behavior.
Serves as a foundation for developing relevant hypotheses. Risk of biased judgments from participants. Holds potential for behavior change through surveillance. Fertile ground for hypothesis development.
Step 2: Summary of Analysis
My approach to identifying and analyzing peer-reviewed research involves focusing on recognized journals such as the American Journal of Nursing (AJN) and the Journal of Professional Nursing (JPN) that contain articles that have undergone peer review. I look for research that meets certain criteria, including being systematic reviews, control trials, or randomized control trials. Two effective strategies for finding such research include utilizing filtering tools in search engines to access peer-reviewed scholarly articles and utilizing specific nursing-focused resources like the Online Journal of Issues in Nursing (OJIN) and the American Psychiatric Association.
In the future, I intend to continue using these resources and also explore databases like PubMed and CINAHL to access peer-reviewed research relevant to my field of interest.
Module 6 | Part 4: Finalizing the Plan
In comparing my first nursing specialty choice of becoming a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) to my second preference, which is Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), I find that both specialties have distinct yet complementary focuses. PMHNP is centered around diagnosing and treating patients with mental illnesses, while FNPs concentrate on providing preventive care to both children and adults. While PMHNPs work in settings such as psychiatric hospitals and prisons, FNPs typically operate in family clinics and underserved communities.
My decision to pursue PMHNP is grounded in my personal experience with a family member’s mental health challenges and my desire to contribute to the well-being of individuals facing similar issues. The feedback received from colleagues in the Discussion Forum further reinforced my conviction to specialize in PMHNP.
For my selected specialty, the American Psychiatric Nurses Association is a relevant professional organization. To become a member, I can fill out membership forms and engage in activities that align with the association’s goals. This membership will provide access to valuable resources and opportunities to connect with fellow professionals in the field.
NURS 6003: Transition to Graduate Study for Nursing
Academic and Professional Success Plan
