Walden NURS6600 2022 March Discussions Latest (Full)

NURS6600C/NURS-6600/NURS6600M

NURS6600 Capstone Synthesis Practicum

Week 1 Discussion

Preparing for Professional Transitions

In the 21st century, nurse executives face many challenges, including navigating the interdisciplinary healthcare environment, addressing the nursing shortage, adopting ever-evolving technology, and using complex business and financial models. To best address these challenges, nurse executives need to develop a range of competencies—from communication and relationship management to business acumen.

Considering your professional and educational experiences, where are your strengths and where are your areas for improvement? How can you advance your skills to achieve your professional aspirations?

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In this Discussion, you reflect on your aspirations and consider the transitions that may be required to achieve them. You identify professional development objectives and evaluate opportunities for meeting them through your experiences in the practicum.

To prepare:

Think about the professional role changes you have undergone or that you may undertake following completion of this MSN program.

Review the information related to professional development and role change in the Learning Resources, and conduct additional research as necessary to address any questions or concerns you may have.

Consider the following questions:

What types of professional positions interest you? Are they significantly different from the types of positions you have held in the past? If so, how?

What challenges are you likely to encounter as you transition into a new role?

What resources could help you to manage this change? Consider your inner resources (e.g., drawing on previous experiences, stress management), resources available to you through your relationships with others, and institutional supports.

Consider how you could use this practicum experience to apply what you have learned and enhance or acquire specialization skills and knowledge, regardless of whether you intend to change roles or stay in your current position for the time being.

Review the NURS 6600 Course Outcomes listed in the Syllabus. Determine how your experiences in the practicum could help you to achieve one or more of these outcomes.

Review the information on the Field Experience website, including the Practicum Manual, as necessary to ensure you have a clear understanding of the practicum requirements.

Review the suggestions for developing effective learning objectives provided in the Learning Resources.

Think of two or three objectives that could help guide your professional development during your practicum. These objectives, referred to as your practicum professional development objectives, must be:

Specific

Measurable

Attainable

Results focused

Time focused

Reflective of the higher order domains of Bloom’s Taxonomy (i.e., Application level and above)

Select one or more practicum professional development objectives to focus on for this Discussion. (You may continue to hone these objectives as you work on the Week 2 Assignment.)

Reflect on how you could achieve each objective through your practicum experience.

By Day 3

Post an explanation of your professional aspirations and how you intend to use the practicum experience to promote career change and/or enhance your performance. Describe at least one objective to facilitate your professional growth, and explain the steps you could take to achieve the objective(s) during your practicum experience. Support your response with examples from the literature.

Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses.

By Day 6

Respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days, using one or more of the following approaches:

Suggest strategies for using the practicum experience to deepen or broaden their knowledge.

Offer suggestions for refining their practicum professional objective(s).

Note: For this Discussion, you are required to complete your initial post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleagues’ postings. Begin by clicking on the “Post to Discussion Question” link and then select “Create Thread” to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click on Submit, you cannot delete or edit your own posts, and you cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking on Submit!

 

NURS6600 Capstone Synthesis Practicum

Week 3 Discussion

Practicum Project Goals, Objectives, and Justification

After identifying the focus of her project, MSN student Maria had to begin developing the plan. What exactly did she want to accomplish? She needed to start with a goal and develop several smaller objectives as milestones toward meeting the goal. Maria decided that her goal was to reduce patient safety incidents by 25%. Her objectives, then, were to analyze current safety and shift change procedures, develop guidelines for a huddle process, and apply the huddle process over a 3-week period. She justified the project focus by citing research about huddling as an effective technique to mitigate patient safety problems.

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In this Discussion, you will articulate your project goal and objectives and provide research-based justification for your topic selection. You will receive feedback from colleagues to help refine your objectives and address your concerns.

To Prepare:

Reflect on the focus of your proposed Practicum Project, which you identified through discussion with your practicum Faculty Member and Preceptor last week.

View the Practicum Project Plan Overview document provided in this week’s Learning Resources. Consider the project planning guidelines included in the document as you prepare for this Discussion.

Address the following to help you develop your plan for the Practicum Project:

Review the scholarly literature, specialization standards, and/or regulatory standards that validate and shed light on your Practicum Project focus. Which professional organizations would you contact in relation to your topic? What regulatory standards would you address? As you proceed, you will continue to gather evidence from a combination of sources for your project as part of your written Practicum Project Plan.

Identify the overarching goal for your Practicum Project.

Consider how you can achieve your Practicum Project goal through the development and fulfillment of objectives. Based on your Practicum Project goal, develop two or three objectives that are specific, measurable, attainable, results focused, and time focused. Incorporate higher order verbs from Bloom’s taxonomy (i.e., Application level and above) as you create the objectives. Start the objective with the descriptor (descriptive word such as analyze, synthesize).

Contemplate any questions or concerns you may have about your Practicum Project or the planning involved. What kind of support could your colleagues offer to help you move forward?

Note: Be mindful of privacy concerns as you engage in this and future Discussions. Do not identify any organizations or individuals by name.

By Day 3

Post a description of your proposed Practicum Project. Provide a brief rationale for your selected focus that incorporates references from the lite                               rature, specialization standards, regulatory standards, and/or other sources you have used to validate this project. Explain the overarching project goal and list two or three measurable objectives that will help you meet the goal. Also, share any questions or concerns that your colleagues may be able to help you address as you proceed with planning for your Practicum Project.

Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses.

By Day 6

Respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days, using one or more of the following approaches:

Ask a probing question, substantiated with additional background information, evidence, or research.

Share an insight from having read your colleagues’ postings, synthesizing the information to provide new perspectives.

Validate an idea with your own experience and additional research.

Note: For this Discussion, you are required to complete your initial post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleagues’ postings. Begin by clicking on the “Post to Discussion Question” link and then select “Create Thread” to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click on Submit, you cannot delete or edit your own posts, and you cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking on Submit!

 

NURS6600 Capstone Synthesis Practicum

Week 4 Discussion

Practicum Project Methodology and Evaluation

Now that her project goal and objectives were in place, Maria set out to determine her methodology and evaluation plan. How would she achieve her objectives? How would she know she had achieved them? She began to think about the theories and concepts she had examined in her program of study and how they might inform her methodology. She also realized that she needed to think about evaluation early in order to establish appropriate criteria and make sure she could assess the evidence related to the process, impact, and outcomes of her project.

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She wondered how she might use formative evaluation to develop and improve the project, as well as how she could use summative evaluation following the implementation of the project to determine if it had been successful.

For this Discussion, you will go through this same process of inquiry as you determine the methodology and evaluation for your Practicum Project.

To Prepare:

Reflect on the Practicum Project goal and objectives you developed in Week 3.

Refer to the Practicum Project Plan Overview document as needed for information related to the Assignment.

Consider the models, theories, and concepts you have examined in your program of study as they relate to your project. How can this information be applied to the development of the methodology and evaluation for your project?

Review the information on methodology in the Learning Resources, and conduct additional research to facilitate your analysis for your project. Evaluate the who, what, how, where, and when associated with each objective: Who will make what change, by how much, where, and by when? Consider the methods you could use to meet each objective. Devise your methodology in as much detail as possible to identify how you could meet each objective. For example, identify which professional organizations or regulatory bodies you would consult (by viewing their websites or contacting them directly) to gather evidence.

Review the information on formative and summative evaluation in this week’s Learning Resources, and conduct additional research to facilitate your analysis for your project. How could you evaluate achievement of your Practicum Project objectives using formative and/or summative evaluation? Begin to develop an evaluation plan for your Practicum Project.

By Day 3

Post a brief summary of your Practicum Project focus, including the goal and objectives of your project (to serve as a reminder for your colleagues). Explain and justify your selected methodology. Include a detailed explanation of how you could meet each objective using this methodology. Also describe your evaluation plan, noting at which points during your Practicum Project formative and/or summative evaluation will occur.

 

Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses.

By Day 6

Respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days, using one or more of the following approaches:

Comment on your colleague’s methodology, offering suggestions for improvement as appropriate.

Suggest an alternative evaluation method for your colleague’s project. Provide a rationale.

Note: For this Discussion, you are required to complete your initial post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleagues’ postings. Begin by clicking on the “Post to Discussion Question” link and then select “Create Thread” to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click on Submit, you cannot delete or edit your own posts, and you cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking on Submit!

 

NURS6600 Capstone Synthesis Practicum

Week 5 Discussion

Practicum Project Plan Review and Feedback

How is preparation for your Practicum Project progressing? What additional guidance or information would help you to refine your Practicum Project Plan?

Your Practicum Project Plan is due by Day 7 of this week. In preparation for completing the Assignment, you may use this forum to post a draft of your plan and receive support from your colleagues. This Discussion forum provides an opportunity for informal collaboration. It is not required, and you will not receive a grade for your participation.

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If you choose to participate, you may integrate useful feedback you receive to strengthen your plan prior to submitting it. Just as importantly, reviewing your colleagues’ proposals may help you to deepen your understanding of the plan components and application of scholarly writing.

To prepare for this Optional Discussion:

Review the information in the Practicum Project Plan Overview document as needed. The overview describes the elements that must be included in your plan.

Reflect on the development of your Practicum Project Plan thus far. Address any questions you have and/or identify areas in need of further consideration or improvement.

Develop any outstanding components of your Practicum Project Plan. For instance, you may need to continue your review of the literature and create your project timeline. You may wish to review the timeline table you completed for the Professional Experience Plan and update it as necessary.

Review the information on scholarly writing in this week’s Learning Resources, and integrate these principles as you develop your Practicum Project Plan.

Create a draft of your Practicum Project Plan (a 4- to 6-page scholarly paper) to share with your colleagues in this optional Discussion forum.

By Day 3

(Optional) Post a draft of your Practicum Project Plan.

Note: To provide sufficient time for review and feedback, you are encouraged to post your plan on or before Day 3.

(Optional) Review a selection of your colleagues’ plans.

By Day 6

(Optional) Respond to one or more of your colleagues using one or more of the following approaches:

Ask a probing question.

Describe the strengths of your colleague’s plan.

Share any confusion or difficulties you experienced while reviewing the plan.

Propose suggestions for improvement.

 

NURS6600 Capstone Synthesis Practicum

Week 6 Discussion

Practicum Professional Development Objectives: Progress Appraisal

The practicum provides the opportunity not only to design a project but to develop your own skills, competencies, and practical understanding of the nurse executive role. How have your experiences thus far contributed to your growth? What difficulties, if any, have you experienced, and how might they affect the achievement of your practicum professional development objectives? In what ways has your Preceptor mentored you and illuminated what it means to be a nurse executive?

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In this Discussion, you check in with yourself and with colleagues to determine how you are advancing toward your practicum professional development objectives.

To prepare:

Reflect on the practicum professional development objectives you developed and outlined in your Professional Experience Plan in Week 2.

Keeping in mind the practicum activities you have engaged in thus far, consider the following questions:

How have these activities helped to promote your professional development?

How were potential barriers/challenges in the practice setting managed?

Are you satisfied with your progress toward meeting your objectives? If not, what will you do to ensure you achieve them before the end of your practicum experience? As a reminder, you must complete all of your practicum hours on or before Day 5 of Week 10.

What challenges or unexpected opportunities have arisen at your practicum site? How has this affected your professional development?

Think about the experiences you may have in the forthcoming weeks. Do you foresee any particular challenges on the horizon? If so, what is your plan for addressing those challenges?

Think about the time you have spent with your Preceptor. How has this time enhanced or changed your understanding of the role and functions of a nurse executive?

By Day 3

Post an assessment of your progress toward achieving your practicum professional development objectives, including how your involvement in specific practicum activities has contributed to your development. Explain what you will do to ensure you achieve your objectives by the end of your practicum. Summarize obstacles or unexpected opportunities that have arisen, as well as any challenges that you anticipate may arise. Explain how you will address those challenges. Finally, summarize what you have learned about the role and functions of a nurse executive through time spent with your Preceptor.

Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses.

By Day 6

Respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days, using one or more of the following approaches:

Ask a probing question, substantiated with additional background information, evidence, or research.

Share an insight from having read your colleagues’ postings, synthesizing the information to provide new perspectives.

Validate an idea with your own experience and additional research.

Note: For this Discussion, you are required to complete your initial post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleagues’ postings. Begin by clicking on the "Post to Discussion Question" link and then select "Create Thread" to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click on Submit, you cannot delete or edit your own posts, and you cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking on Submit!

 

NURS6600 Capstone Synthesis Practicum

Week 7 Discussion

Practicum Project Progress Check

Consider the following scenario:

When Maria created her Practicum Project Plan, she thought she would have plenty of time to work on it after approval. However, she was not nearly as far along with her Practicum Project as she had expected, due to scheduling difficulties with her Preceptor over the past couple of weeks. She knew that she had limited time to finish her project, and she was starting to feel nervous. Was there some aspect of her plan that could be adjusted given these constraints? Alternatively, would she and her Preceptor be able to adjust her practicum hours in the next 2 week to give her the time she needed?

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Is Maria’s experience similar to yours? In Week 5, you submitted your Practicum Project Plan. How has the implementation of your project progressed since you received approval of your plan? Have you been able to adhere to your timeline?

This optional Discussion allows you to assess the progress made on your Practicum Project. It is not required, and you will not receive a grade for your participation. However, you may find the interaction with colleagues beneficial, particularly if working through any challenges or roadblocks to project implementation.

To prepare for this Optional Discussion:

Reflect on the goal and objectives you identified in your Practicum Project Plan.

Evaluate your progress toward achieving your Practicum Project goal and objectives. Consider the following questions:

How have specific activities helped you to meet your Practicum Project goal and objectives?

If you are not satisfied with your progress toward meeting your goal and objectives, what will you do to ensure you accomplish them before the end of this practicum? How will you revise your project timeline?

What challenges or unexpected opportunities have arisen at your practicum site?

Consider what the next few weeks may entail in terms of your Practicum Project. Do you anticipate any challenges? If so, how will you mitigate or manage those challenges?

Conduct a literature search and locate two or more articles that relate to your Practicum Project. As you read these articles, consider how you can apply insights to your project.

By Day 3

(Optional) Post an assessment of your progress toward achieving your Practicum Project goal and objectives. Evaluate how your involvement in specific activities has contributed to your progress. Explain what you will do to make sure you accomplish your goal and objectives by the end of this practicum. Summarize obstacles or unexpected opportunities that have arisen, as well as any challenges that you anticipate may arise. Explain how you will mitigate or manage those challenges. Share insights from the literature that relate to your project.

Note: To provide sufficient time for dialogue and support, you are encouraged to post on or before Day 3.

(Optional) Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses.

By Day 6

Respond to your colleagues using one or more of the following approaches:

Ask a probing question, substantiated with additional background information, evidence, or research.

Share an insight from having read your colleague’s posting, synthesizing the information to provide a new perspective.

Validate an idea with your own experience and additional research.

 

NURS6600 Capstone Synthesis Practicum

Week 8 Discussion

Dissemination of Scholarship Related to the Practicum Project

Throughout this course, you have been developing and implementing your Practicum Project. Dissemination of the findings of your Practicum Project is critical for advancing the nursing field and your specialty area. Without proper dissemination, the Practicum Project cannot achieve its intended impact.

 

Publishing an article in a respected peer-reviewed journal is one means of reaching an audience interested in evidence-based solutions to nursing practice problems. Other options include conference presentations and poster sessions.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Think about your Practicum Project. Which groups would find your project findings, conclusions, and recommendations most valuable? Why? How might your focus differ if you were delivering a presentation at a professional conference versus at your practicum site? What would you emphasize if you were publishing an article in a peer-reviewed journal related to your specialization as opposed to in an online forum with a wider healthcare readership?

For this Discussion, you justify dissemination of your Practicum Project findings and select a method that you would use.

To prepare:

Reflect on your Practicum Project.

Speak with various individuals, especially those in your practicum setting, about presentations or poster sessions they have given and/or publications they have authored. Ask which organizations or journals they would recommend you consider for dissemination based on your Practicum Project topic.

Consider the following questions related to dissemination:

Who is your target audience? Who would be most interested in your project findings, conclusions, and recommendations? Consider how the needs or dispositions of the intended audience may inform your choice of dissemination method.

Which method of dissemination would you choose to convey the findings, conclusions, or recommendations from your Practicum Project? What are the relative benefits and challenges of giving a presentation, sharing your findings through a poster session, and/or publishing an article?

Consider various nursing, healthcare, and leadership and management organizations and journals. What is one organization or journal you would select for your presentation or publication?

What are some potential challenges? Evaluate what you could do to increase the possibility that your presentation, poster, or manuscript would be accepted.

Conduct a search of the literature using the Walden Library and other reliable sources. Locate two or more articles published in peer-reviewed journals within the last 5 years that relate to your Practicum Project. These articles should demonstrate the significance of the topic for nurse executives. Note: These articles may also help you determine if your project findings are related to an area that will contribute to a more comprehensive literature base.

By Day 3

Post a brief description of your Practicum Project, including the anticipated outcomes and implications for nursing practice in the nurse executive specialty. Explain why your results warrant dissemination. Describe your target audience, and explain which method of dissemination you would use and why, as well as the organization or journal you would choose for sharing findings related to your Practicum Project. Support your response with at least two citations from the literature.

 

Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses.

By Day 6

Respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days, using one or more of the following approaches:

Ask a probing question, substantiated with additional background information, evidence, or research.

Share an insight from having read your colleagues’ postings, synthesizing the information to provide new perspectives.

Validate an idea with your own experience and additional research.

Note: For this Discussion, you are required to complete your initial post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleagues’ postings. Begin by clicking on the “Post to Discussion Question” link and then select “Create Thread” to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click on Submit, you cannot delete or edit your own posts, and you cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking on Submit!

 

NURS6600 Capstone Synthesis Practicum

Week 9 Discussion

Practicum Project Presentation Review and Feedback

The development and completion of your Practicum Project is a significant milestone in your MSN program of study. It is now time to share the results of your effort. As you know, there are many traditional formats you can use to share your results, such as presenting at a professional conference or publishing an article in a journal. As a leader with graduate-level knowledge, you may also have the opportunity to present your results virtually. Webinars and virtual workshops are additional methods professionals can use to share knowledge and evidence-based findings.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

As you prepare to share your presentation virtually in this Discussion, think about what you would like to convey about your project to your colleagues in this course and to your practicum Faculty Member. What should you take into account as you prepare to present your Practicum Project findings, conclusions, and recommendations online? What strategies can you use to ensure your presentation clearly articulates your results in the virtual environment? Keep these thoughts in mind as you prepare the initial draft of your Practicum Project presentation.

To prepare:

Review the Practicum Project Presentation Overview document in the Learning Resources.

Review the information in the Learning Resources on creating effective PowerPoint presentations.

Consider the distinctions between delivering a presentation in person (e.g., at a professional conference or at your practicum site,) and presenting online. What do you need to consider as you prepare to share your presentation with your colleagues in this online forum? What steps do you need to take to ensure the information is conveyed clearly and effectively?

Using PowerPoint, complete a draft of your Practicum Project presentation. Note that this draft of your PowerPoint presentation should be complete and polished. While you will have an opportunity to make revisions based on your colleagues’ feedback, the document you share should reflect your best effort to create a thoughtful, clear, and engaging presentation.

The title slide should include your name, presentation title, and the submission date.

Presentation objectives should follow the title slide.

Slide design aesthetics should be selected to complement the presentation.

A minimum of 12 slides and not more than 15 slides—not including the title slide, objectives slide, and references slide—should be presented.

By Day 1

Post the draft of your Practicum Project presentation (by attaching your PowerPoint to your post). Additionally, explain the distinctions that you took into account as you prepared to share your presentation online.

Review your colleagues’ presentations.

By Day 3

Post one or more questions related to the content of the presentation posted by at least one of your colleagues. Be sure to direct your inquiry to someone who has not yet received a question.

Read your colleagues’ questions about your own presentation.

By Day 6

Answer at least one of your colleague’s questions about your presentation. If no colleagues have asked you a question, please pose an additional question to peers to secure a minimum of two response posts overall.

Note: For this Discussion, you are required to complete your initial post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleagues’ postings. Begin by clicking on the "“Post to Discussion Question"” link and then select "“Create Thread"” to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click on Submit, you cannot delete or edit your own posts, and you cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking on Submit!

 

NURS6600 Capstone Synthesis Practicum

Week 10 Discussion

Professional Development and Certification

Consider the following scenario:

Maria recently earned certification in executive nursing practice from the American Organization for Nursing Leadership. She was especially proud of this accomplishment and was confident it would serve her well as she continued her career. At a conference last week, she had found herself talking with a colleague about certification.

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To her surprise, her colleague suggested that she look into the Project Management Institute. It had not occurred to Maria that she might need or want that type of certification, but upon further reflection, she could see how important it was to be able to manage projects effectively. She wondered how pursuing this type of certification might further her professional development and lead to new opportunities. At the very least, she decided it was worth exploring further.

Certifications like those Maria has pursued recognize an individual’s specialty area knowledge and skills and can lead to professional empowerment. By obtaining certifications, you can help improve your quality of practice and increase your earning potential.

In this Discussion, you consider development opportunities afforded through professional associations and examine how earning certifications can advance your career.

To prepare:

Reflect on your professional goals. These goals may relate to the practicum professional development objectives you established in Week 2, but you are encouraged to take a broader view of what you would like to accomplish in the immediate future, as well as 5 or 15 years from now. Identify at least one goal that is especially important to you.

Think about the benefits of becoming involved in professional organizations and obtaining certifications.

If you already have a specialty or clinical certification, reflect on how this has impacted the achievement of your professional goals thus far.

As a Walden graduate, consider how you will advance the role of scholar-practitioner in your daily practice and how certification may assist.

Review information about two or more of the professional organizations listed in the Learning Resources. Consider the following questions:

As you explore each organization’s website, review the mission, vision, and value statements. Also examine the strategic plan, if possible. How do these align with your interests and your professional goals?

Investigate whether the organization offers networking opportunities with fellow professionals. Is there a local or regional chapter you could join?

What are the potential benefits of obtaining a certification through each organization? Examine the criteria for certification.

Evaluate your readiness and desire to become certified through each organization. What hesitations, if any, do you have?

How and why might this certification be useful to you and/or enhance your professional development?

By Day 3

Post a description of one or more of your professional goals. Describe a certification provided by a professional organization that would be of interest to you. Explain how and why this additional certification would be useful to you and/or enhance your professional development and your role as a scholar-practitioner. Evaluate your readiness to obtain this certification, noting any reservations you may have.

Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses.

By Day 6

Respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days, using one or more of the following approaches:

Ask a probing question, substantiated with additional background information, evidence, or research.

Share an insight from having read your colleagues’ postings, synthesizing the information to provide new perspectives.

Validate an idea with your own experience and additional research.

Note: For this Discussion, you are required to complete your initial post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleagues’ postings. Begin by clicking on the "“Post to Discussion Question"” link and then select "“Create Thread"” to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click on Submit, you cannot delete or edit your own posts, and you cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking on Submit!

 

NURS6600 Capstone Synthesis Practicum

Week 11 Discussion

Job Search, Application, and Interview Processes

Throughout your program of study, you have been encouraged to think about your strengths, values, and professional aspirations, as well as the opportunities you have to create positive impact as a nurse executive.

How would you most like to leverage your knowledge and expertise going forward? What types of professional positions could you see yourself in, now and further along in your career? No matter whether you are secure in your current position or looking for a new professional challenge, job search skills are a necessity.

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In this Discussion, you examine strategies for conducting an effective job search and assess how you could convey your qualifications for a position of interest to you.

To prepare:

Reflect on your strengths, values, and professional aspirations. How will these inform the next stage of your career?

Consider what you have learned through your experiences in the practicum about professional roles and functions of a nurse executive.

Review the information in the Learning Resources, and think about the process of conducting a job search. If possible, speak with individuals in your practicum setting as well as other nursing professionals about how they have identified positions that align with their needs and ambitions. Ask for advice about conducting a successful job search.

Search postings of open positions that appeal to you, and identify one for which you would like to apply. If you have difficulty finding such a position, for the purposes of this Discussion, you may select one that has already been filled or is in a different region. (Note: If you are not interested in finding a new position, please approach this activity as an opportunity to explore the field. If you are interested in changing positions, please use this activity for that purpose.)

What steps would you take to apply for and secure an interview for this position? For practice, write a cover letter and target your résumé or Curriculum Vitae (CV) to this position. (Note: You are not required to submit these materials for this Discussion.)

How would you prepare for an interview for this position? What questions do you think would be posed, and what information would you like to learn about the position and the organization? Ask a colleague or friend to conduct a practice interview with you.

Consider how you might use your Professional Portfolio to demonstrate your capabilities during the interview process.

By Day 3

Post an explanation of the strategies and resources you used to conduct a job search for a position of interest. Include a brief description of the position you identified. Share an application and interview plan for that position, noting how you would convey your qualifications for this position.

Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses.

By Day 6

Respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days by offering suggestions for additional resources and strategies for searching, applying, and/or interviewing for positions.

Note: For this Discussion, you are required to complete your initial post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleagues’ postings. Begin by clicking on the “"Post to Discussion Question"” link and then select “"Create Thread"” to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click on Submit, you cannot delete or edit your own posts, and you cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking on Submit!