NURS 6003 Academic Success And Professional Development Plan Part 1
NURS 6003 Academic Success And Professional Development Plan Part 1
Assignment: Academic Success and Professional Development Plan Part 1: Developing an Academic and Professional Network
When was the last time you read Meditation XVII of John Donne’s Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions?
Unless you are a student of seventeenth-century poetry, you may not be all that familiar with this piece. However, you may be much more familiar with one of its well-known phrases: “No man is an island…”.
As you begin your journey toward achieving your academic and professional goals, you have a great opportunity to network with academics and professionals who can help ensure you do not travel alone. This network can help to clarify your own vision for success and can help guide you now and in the future. To paraphrase Donne, no one is an island.
Begin creating an academic and professional network by identifying which academic and professional connections and resources with which you need to collaborate to succeed in your MSN program and as a practicing nurse.
To Prepare:
- Consider individuals, departments, teams, and/or resources within Walden University and within your profession that you believe can support your academic and professional success.
- Identify at least two academic and at least two professional individuals, colleagues, or teams that might help you succeed in your MSN program and as a practicing nurse.
- Download the Academic Success and Professional Development Plan Template.
The Assignment:
Academic and Professional Network
Complete Part 1 of your Academic Success and Professional Development Plan Template. Be sure to address the following:
- Identify at least two academic and at least two professional individuals or teams to collaborate with to be successful in your MSN program and as a practicing nurse.
- Explain why you selected these individuals and/or teams and how they will support your success in the MSN program and as a practicing nurse.
By Day 7 of Week 1
Submit Part 1 of your Academic Success and Professional Development Plan Template.
Submission and Grading Information
To submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:
- Please save your Assignment using the naming convention “WK1Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” as the name.
- Click the Week 1 Assignment Rubric to review the Grading Criteria for the Assignment.
- Click the Week 1 Assignment link. You will also be able to “View Rubric” for grading criteria from this area.
- Next, from the Attach File area, click on the Browse My Computer button. Find the document you saved as “WK1Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” and click Open.
- If applicable: From the Plagiarism Tools area, click the checkbox for I agree to submit my paper(s) to the Global Reference Database.
- Click on the Submit button to complete your submission.
Grading Criteria
To access your rubric:
Module 2 (Weeks 2–3): Academic and Professional Integrity
Walden University, LLC. (Producer). (2018). Academic and Professional Integrity [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Walden University, LLC. (Producer). (2018). The Walden Journey to a Masters in Nursing: Academic and Professional Integrity [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
- Identify APA formatting rules
- Analyze the relationship between academic integrity and writing
- Analyze the relationship between professional practices and scholarly ethics
- Analyze strategies for maintaining integrity and ethics in academic work
- Analyze strategies for maintaining integrity and ethics in professional work
| Due By | Assignment |
| Week 2, Days 1–4 | Read the Learning Resources. Begin to check your knowledge with the Quiz. Begin to compose Part 2 of your Assignment. |
| Week 2, Days 5–6 | Continue to check your knowledge with the Quiz. Continue to compose Part 2 of your Assignment. |
| Week 2, Day 7 | Final day to complete Quiz. |
| Week 3, Days 1–6 | Continue to compose Part 2 of your Assignment. |
| Week 3, Day 7 | Deadline to submit Part 2 of your Assignment. |
Learning Resources
Required Readings
American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000
- Chapter 1, “Scholarly Writing and Publishing Principles”
- Section 1.17, “Implications of Plagiarism and Self-Plagiarism” (p. 21)
- Chapter 4, “Writing Style and Grammar”
- Chapter 8, “Works Credited in the Text”
- Section 8.2, “Plagiarism” (p. 254)
- Section 8.3, “Self-Plagiarism” (p. 256)
- Chapter 10, “Reference Examples”
Alba, B. (2018). Factors that impact on emergency nurses’ ethical decision-making ability. Nursing Ethics, 25(7), 855–866. https://doi.org/10.1177/096973301667476
NLN Ethical Principles for Nursing Education. (2012). Nursing Education Perspective, 33(1), 65.
Walden University Academic Skills Center. (n.d.). ASC success strategies: Plagiarism. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
Walden Office of Student Affairs. (n.d.). SafeAssign tutorials.
Walden University Writing Center. (n.d.). APA style: Overview.
Walden University Writing Center. (n.d.). APA style: APA basics checklist.
Walden University Writing Center. (n.d.) Grammarly: Overview.
Document: Academic Success and Professional Development Plan Template (Word document)
Document: Citing a Discussion Posting in APA Style (PDF)
Document: Common APA Style and Formatting Challenges (PDF)
Document: Introduction to Scholarly Writing: Plagiarism and Academic Integrity (PDF)
Required Media
Walden University (Producer). (2020). APA tutorial [Interactive media].
Quiz: APA Style and Format
As a nurse embarking on an advanced degree, you are developing the characteristics of a scholar-practitioner, which include strong communication skills. Writing in a scholarly manner involves supporting your thoughts with evidence from the literature and appropriately using APA formatting.
One of the challenges of scholarly writing is paraphrasing the thoughts of others in your work. Paraphrasing, and correctly citing the original author for his or her ideas, allows you to take the ideas of others, summarize them, and incorporate them into your own writing. When summarizing the ideas of others, it is important to avoid plagiarizing (i.e., copying the words and ideas of others as though they were your own). In addition to expanding your knowledge of APA Style, this modules’ Learning Resources help you distinguish between paraphrasing and plagiarizing.
This Quiz will help you determine how your understanding of these concepts and preparedness to reflect them in your work. The questions presented on the Quiz are derived from the Resources related to APA writing standards, plagiarism, and academic integrity.
To Prepare:
- Review the Resources related to APA Style and format this Module presents.
Click on the “Week 2 Quiz” link to begin.
By Day 7 of Week 2
Complete the Quiz.
Note: To view the questions you answered correctly and incorrectly, click on your score in the “My Grades” area.
Practicum Reminder – Important
During your program, you will be required to submit your practicum application. You are responsible for applying on time and for the information that is outlined in the practicum manual. Applications are due the first day of the term before you intend to start practicum. For exact dates and for an overview of the requirements, please review our website.
It is important that you find a suitable preceptor. There is information in the Practicum manual and on our website about the requirements for preceptors. Each course has specific requirements and you are responsible for ensuring your preceptor meet the requirements. If you have questions about preceptor requirements, you may schedule a phone appointment by contacting Field Experience.
NURS 6003 Module 3 (Weeks 4–5): Scholarship and Nursing Practice
Discussion: Using the Walden Library
Where can you find evidence to inform your thoughts and scholarly writing? Throughout your degree program, you will use research literature to explore ideas, guide your thinking, and gain new insights. As you search the research literature, it is important to use resources that are peer-reviewed and from scholarly journals. You may already have some favorite online resources and databases that you use or have found useful in the past. For this Discussion, you explore databases available through the Walden Library.
Note: Unless otherwise noted, initial postings to Discussions are due on or before Day 3, and response postings are due on or before Day 6. You are required to participate in the Discussion on at least three different days (a different day for main post and each response). It is important to adhere to the weekly time frame to allow others ample time to respond to your posting. In addition, you are expected to respond to questions directed toward your own initial posting in a timely manner.
To Prepare:
- Review the information presented in the Learning Resources for using the Walden Library, searching the databases, and evaluating online resources.
- Begin searching for a peer-reviewed article that pertains to your practice area and interests you.
By Day 3 of Week 4
Post the following:
Using proper APA formatting, cite the peer-reviewed article you selected that pertains to your practice area and is of particular interest to you and identify the database that you used to search for the article. Explain any difficulties you experienced while searching for this article. Would this database be useful to your colleagues? Explain why or why not. Would you recommend this database? Explain why or why not.
By Day 6 of Week 4
Respond to at least two of your colleagues’ posts by offering suggestions/strategies for working with this database from your own experience, or offering ideas for using alternative resources.
Sample Week 4 Discussion By Lauren West
The article that I chose was a review of a digital style of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in adolescents with depression. The article highlights the advantages and disadvantages of using digital CBT in adolescent therapy and its effect on depression treatment. (Ivlev et al., 2022). I chose this article because it is something that I plan on investigating closer during my studies to achieve my PMHNP.
My interest in treatment is in the adolescent age group and the effects of mental health on their life as well as treatments that benefit them. The database I used to find this article was APA PsycInfo and EBSCOhost via the Walden University library resource.
When using APA PsycInfo and EBSCOhost I did not encounter any specific difficulties during my search. I think the only difficulties others may have is the amount of information on the topics searched. For instance, while I have used these types of resources before, it can sometimes be overwhelming to research topics because there are so many options to choose from. It may be difficult to comb through the amount of information given at one time. In an article by GreenBook, the writer explains that “professionals are now often overwhelmed with organizing the vast amounts of data they get” (GreenBook, 2022).
I believe that these databases would be extremely helpful to my colleagues. I recommend the use of the databases to anyone doing or involved with scholarly research. These scholarly search engines are filled with a plethora of information pertaining to anything. It can keep scholars up to date with the latest in research.
As advanced practitioners, they can increase our knowledge of the latest treatments for patients and any developments in current treatments. By doing this, it can increase the quality of care given to the patient as well as maintain a higher level of knowledge to advance one’s practice. As a student, it is very beneficial to our success by providing quality information and credible sources (H, 2021).
References
Ivlev, I., T.L., Haynes, J.S., & Patnode, C. D. (2022). Rapid evidenct review of digital cognitive-behavioral therapy for adolescents with depression. Journal of Adolescent Health, 71(1), 14-29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadhohealth.2022.01.220
GreenBook. (2022, August 1). Retrieved September 19, 2022, from https://www.greenbook.org/mr/insights/manage-the-overwhelming-chaos-of-qualitative-research-data/
Walden University Library. (n.d.). Databases A-Z: Nursing.
Why use databases? – H-B woodlawn. H. (2021, October 5). Retrieved September 19, 2022, from https://hbwoodlawn.apsva.us/library-home/research/why-use-databases/
Assignment: Academic Success and Professional Development Plan Part 3: Research Analysis
Architect Daniel Libeskind is credited with saying “To provide meaningful architecture is not to parody history, but to articulate it.” The suggestion is that his work does not copy the efforts of others but relies on it.
Understanding the work of others is critically important to new work. Contributions to the nursing body of knowledge can happen when you are able to analyze and articulate the efforts of previous research. Research analysis skills are therefore critical tools for your toolbox.
In this Assignment, you will locate relevant existing research. You also will analyze this research using a tool helpful for analysis.
To Prepare:
- Reflect on the strategies presented in the Resources this Module’s Learning Resources in support of locating and analyzing research.
- Use the Walden Library to identify and read one peer-reviewed research article focused on a topic in your specialty field that interests you.
- Review the article you selected and reflect on the professional practice use of theories/concepts described by the article.
The Assignment:
Using the “Module 3 | Part 3” section of your Academic Success and Professional Development Plan Template presented in the Resources, conduct an analysis of the elements of the research article you identified. Be sure to include the following:
- Your topic of interest.
- A correctly formatted APA citation of the article you selected, along with link or search details.
- Identify a professional practice use of the theories/concepts presented in the article.
- Analysis of the article using the “Research Analysis Matrix” section of the template
- Write a 1-paragraph justification stating whether you would recommend this article to inform professional practice.
- Write a 2- to 3-paragraph summary that you will add to your Academic Success and Professional Development Plan 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.
Note: Add your work for this Assignment to the original document you began in the Module 1 Assignment, which was built from the Academic Success and Professional Development Plan Template.
By Day 7 of Week 5
Submit your analysis, including your completed section of the Academic Success and Professional Development Plan Template sections and your matrix and summary.
NURS 6003 Module 6 (Weeks 10–11): Standards of Practice
Discussion: Examining Nursing Specialties
You have probably seen one or more of the many inspirational posters about decisions. A visual such as a forked road or a street sign is typically pictured, along with a quote designed to inspire.
Decisions are often not so easily inspired. Perhaps you discovered this when choosing a specialty within the MSN program. This decision is a critical part of your plan for success, and you no doubt want to get it right. This is yet another area where your network can help, as well as other sources of information that can help you make an informed choice.
Note: Unless otherwise noted, initial postings to Discussions are due on or before Day 3, and response postings are due on or before Day 6. You are required to participate in the Discussion on at least three different days (a different day for main post and each response). It is important to adhere to the weekly time frame to allow others ample time to respond to your posting. In addition, you are expected to respond to questions directed toward your own initial posting in a timely manner.
To Prepare:
Reflect on your decision to pursue a specialty within the MSN program, including your professional and academic goals as they relate to your program/specialization.
By Day 3 of Week 10
Post an explanation of your choice of a nursing specialty within the program. Describe any difficulties you had (or are having) in making your choice, and the factors that drove/are driving your decision. Identify at least one professional organization affiliated with your chosen specialty and provide details on becoming a member.
By Day 6 of Week 10
Respond to at least two of your colleagues’ posts by sharing your thoughts on their specialty, supporting their choice or offering suggestions if they have yet to choose.
Assignment: Academic Success and Professional Development Plan Part 4: Finalizing the Plan
At some point in every construction project, efforts turn from design and the focus moves to actual construction. With the vision in place and the tools secured, the blueprint can be finalized and approved. Then it is time to put on hardhats and begin work.
Throughout the course you have developed aspects of your Academic and Professional Development Plan. You have thought a great deal about your vision and goals, your academic and professional network of support, research strategies and other tools you will need, the integrity of your work, and the value of consulting the work of others. With your portfolio in place, it is now time to finalize your blueprint for success.
Much as builders remain cognizant of the building standards as they plan and begin construction, nurses must remain mindful of the formal standards of practice that govern their specialties. A good understanding of these standards can help ensure that your success plan includes any steps necessary to excel within your chosen specialty.
In this Assignment you will continue developing your Academic Success and Professional Development Plan by developing the final component–a review of your specialty standards of practice. You will also submit your final version of the document, including Parts 1–4.
Note: For students in Nursing Education, Executive Nursing, Nursing Informatics, or Public Health Nursing, this Assignment is the first Portfolio Assignment in your program. You will have one Portfolio Assignment in each of your courses. You will need to save these Assignments for inclusion in your portfolio that you will submit in your Capstone course.
To Prepare:
- 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 by viewing the module resource, Walden University. (n.d.). Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).
- Examine professional organizations related to the specialization you have chosen and identify at least one to focus on for this Assignment.
- Reflect on the thoughts you shared in the Discussion forum regarding your choice of a specialty, any challenges you have encountered in making this choice, and any feedback you have received from colleagues in the Discussion.
The Assignment:
Complete the following items and incorporate them into the final version of your Academic Success and Professional Development Plan.
- With the resources specific to the MSN specialization and the, Walden University. (n.d.). Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), shared in this module, write a paragraph or make a Nursing Specialty Comparison table, comparing at least two nursing specialties that include your selected specialization and second-preferred specialization.
- Write a 2- to 3-paragraph justification statement identifying your reasons for choosing your MSN specialization. Incorporate feedback you received from colleagues in this Module’s Discussion forum.
- Identify the professional organization related to your chosen specialization for this Assignment, and explain how you can become an active member of this organization.
Note: Your final version of the Academic Success and Professional Development Plan should include all components as presented the Academic Success and Professional Development Plan template.
By Day 5 of Week 11
Submit your final draft of Parts 1-4 of your Academic Success and Professional Development Plan.
Also Read: Strategies For Academic Portfolios NURS 6003
