I will create a study plan to enable me to balance work, home, and school demands and involve my family with this plan.
To enhance my attractiveness as a candidate for employment I will continue to add to my professional areas of expertise. I will obtain additional certification in CMC (Certification in Cardiac Medicine) and CCRN (Certification for Adult, Pediatric and Neonatal Critical Care Nurses).
Present what you need or want to learn to improve your practice and the strategies needed to meet your learning needs
Obtaining additional expertise is essential to work in an ICU, given the variety of conditions I will deal with, and also the diverse patient base. Becoming an involved member of professional organizations will be helpful. I also intend to draw upon the mentorship and knowledge resources of my professors and older nurses who have pursued similar career paths. I intend to use my personal strengths of empathy and compassion to work with patients to help them psychologically as well as physically. I will use all available resources of internal and external support for patients to maximize the effectiveness of their care. Reflecting the cultural diversity of the units on which I work, I also hope to gain a deeper sense of what it means to disseminate culturally-sensitive care.
Even after I reach this goal, my education will continue as I strive to obtain additional certifications in my field. This will require working closely with my family at home, to ensure that I have assistance in fulfilling my duties as a wife and mother, and my obligations to work and school does not become a source of stress. "Patient care can be stressful… [Especially] taking care of high acuity patients…. prolonged exposure to chronic stress, intense client relationships, and extended work hours can be emotionally draining and lead to burnout. Nursing personnel who experience burnout are less effective in their jobs and may even develop uncaring attitudes toward their patients and even themselves" (Lang, Pfister & Siemens 2010:1). Part of effective nursing requires an acknowledgement of nursing stressors, and relying upon professional support is essential so the nurse's emotional batteries are 'recharged' enough to give back to others.
References
Hildreth, Amy N. (et al. 2010). Surgical intensive care unit mobility is increased after institution of a computerized mobility order set and intensive care unit mobility protocol: A
prospective cohort analysis. The American Surgeon. Retrieved through FindArticles.com on February 12, 2011 at http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_7453/is_201008/ai_n56827335/
Lang, Gary Morris; Elizabeth a. Pfister & Michelle J. Siemens. (2010). Nursing burnout: Cross-
sectional study. Military Medicine. Retrieved through FindArticles.com on February 12,
2011 at http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3912/is_201006/ai_n54366474/
