MSN Nursing Professional Development Plan: Goals & Growth

Introduction

Developing a professional development plan is crucial to achieving professional goals. A professional development plan presents one's attitudes, skills, and behaviors in relation to a chosen career path. The objective of this paper is to outline a professional development plan connected to a chosen graduate nursing program and personal career goals.

Professional and Educational Background

I reside in Parkway, Atlanta. I completed my high school diploma at Saint Augustine's College in Cameroon, where my core subjects were Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. I then pursued nursing education at the State School of Nursing in Cameroon, completing a three-year program of intensive practical and clinical training. Following that, I completed my first degree at Grand Canyon University in Arizona through a 14-month RN-to-BSN track program, finishing with a GPA of 3.8.

My accumulated professional experience has prepared me well for my professional goals. I am a registered nurse in the state of Georgia with more than eight years of experience delivering high-quality healthcare to patients across various hospitals and professional settings. My clinical focus is in intensive care, rapid response, and critical care.

Since 2007 to the present, I have been working at Maxim Health Care in Atlanta, Georgia, as a home registered nurse, providing care in accordance with physician orders. I am also currently working at Emory University Hospital as a registered nurse, where my responsibilities include maintaining accurate medical records and reports. Between 2007 and 2013, I worked as a registered nurse at Kindred Hospital Atlanta, maintaining accuracy of medical reports and communicating with patients regarding disease prevention. Between 2005 and 2007, I worked at Greater Southeast Hospital in Washington, D.C., as a registered nurse with a responsibility for managing insulin levels for diabetic patients.

I am currently a graduate nursing student intending to specialize in Adult Gerontology. Upon completing my graduate program, I envision joining a multidisciplinary team in either a hospital-based primary clinical care setting or a specialist clinic, including public health departments, managed health centers, and state correctional facilities. With the nursing knowledge gained from my graduate education, I expect to be able to manage adult health as well as common acute and chronic illnesses. More importantly, I intend to emphasize wellness, disease prevention, and patient education.

Professional Goals

My professional goal is to help people from all walks of life achieve their health objectives. My educational goal is to obtain a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a specialty in Adult Gerontology. Reflecting on the mission of my university, I feel a strong responsibility to use my graduate program as an opportunity to contribute positively to society. As a professional nurse, I aim to use my educational qualifications and professional experience to become a proven leader in healthcare delivery. I also intend to obtain certification in my field of specialization in order to accomplish my professional goals and make a meaningful difference in patient care.

I have completed several courses in my graduate program. "Transforming Nursing and Healthcare Through Technology" is one course that has enhanced my understanding of how recent developments in information technology have transformed nursing practice. For example, the use of electronic health records is one effective way in which technology has improved nursing practice (Bates, 2010). I have also completed "Inter-professional Organizational and Systems Leadership," which has deepened my understanding of how nursing leaders can transform their organizations to deliver more effective, high-quality healthcare. Additionally, the course "Essentials of Evidence-Based Practice" has strengthened my understanding of how nursing professionals adhere to professional standards to enhance patient health outcomes.