Strategies for Academic Portfolios Discussion

Sample Answer for Strategies for Academic Portfolios Discussion Included After Question

Strategies for Academic Portfolios Discussion

Strategies for Academic Portfolios Discussion

There are many strategies for incorporating academic activity and accomplishments into my professional development goals. First, it is essential to adopt a goal evolution mindset. As we grow and learn, our goals will evolve. Academic activities and accomplishments should constantly contribute to professional development goals. It is essential to determine what steps must be taken to achieve professional development goals (Walden University, LLC, 2018). Modern-day advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) must develop a portfolio of evidence of professional development activities and achievements and how they contribute to professional practice as a visual representation of their experience, strengths, abilities, and skills (Casey & Egan, 2013). The benefits of portfolios include skill development, promoting active learning, improved clinical competency, and improved academic assessment and achievement (Dehkordi & Ghiasvandian, 2019). The portfolio will represent who I am, what I am passionate about, and the strengths I have obtained during my education at Walden University.

A strategy I could use to include academic activities and accomplishments in my professional development is to join professional nursing organizations. It is crucial to serve the community and profession (Walden University, LLC, 2018). I could connect with various professional organizations to participate in activities aligned with my career goals (Hannans & Olivo, 2017). Professional organization bring nurses together and empowers nurses to have a voice (Walden University, LLC, 2018). Nurses can also become certified in areas that may contribute to their professional development goals. The American Nurses Credentialing Center outlines steps for APRNs to expand their focus to meet expanded practice roles (Melander et al., 2020).

Another strategy is to record specific moments where I used my education and research to change a patient’s life. Casey and Egan (2013) suggested regularly accounting for incidents that have occurred in practice and using these instances in a portfolio, showcasing the application of knowledge learned. Collecting patient accounts evidencing competence in advanced practice will highlight academic activities contributing to professional development goals. Portions of my portfolio will highlight educational activities and accomplishments contributing to my professional development goals (Casey & Egan, 2013).

I could specifically select evidence highlighting a skill I have obtained throughout my education. Nurses can also attend seminars and apply the knowledge learned in practice (Casey & Egan, 2013). I will attend conferences specific to my areas of interest, including aesthetic nursing, healthcare access in underprivileged communities, and healthcare policy. Clear ideas of education and certification must help you meet your professional development goals (Walden University, LLC, 2018).

Walden University is committed to social change by empowering change-makers, building communities, and maximizing social change outcomes (Walden University, 2022). Serving the community will align the University’s social change goals with my own. I want to affect positive change by improving access to care, especially in underserved and underprivileged communities, minimizing the healthcare disparity gap. I also want to promote social change through healthcare policy. By joining professional organizations that promote my development in these areas, I will develop from a student to a change-maker. The knowledge I gain throughout the Walden University program will assist me in making that possible.

References

Casey, D. & Egan, D. (2013). The use of professional portfolios for career enhancement. British Journal of Nursing, 15(11), 547-552.

Dehkordi, L. M., Ghiasvandian, S. (2019). Application of Portfolio in Nursing Education and Assessment of Learning. Journal of Medical Education and Development, 14(2), 136–143.

Hannans, J. & Olivo, Y. (2017). Craft a positive nursing digital identity with an ePortfolio. American Nurse Today, 12(11), 48-49. Retrieved October 13, 2022, from https://www.americannursetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/ant11-Digital-Identity-1017a-1.pdf

Melander, S., Hardin-Pierce, M., & Howard, P. B. (2020). Meeting the challenges of expanded practice through postgraduate APRN certification. Nurse Practitioner, 45(6), 8–10. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NPR.0000666212.83911.d3

Walden University. (2022). Social Change. Walden University. Retrieved October 16, 2022, from https://www.waldenu.edu/why-walden/social-change

Walden University, LLC. (Producer). (2018). The Walden Journey to a Masters in Nursing: Your Professional Development Plan [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

ORDER NOW FOR AN ORIGINAL PAPER ASSIGNMENT: Strategies for Academic Portfolios Discussion

A Sample Answer for The Assignment: Strategies for Academic Portfolios Discussion

Title: Strategies for Academic Portfolios Discussion

 

 

Thank you Dr. Forrest and class,

Nursing is a very stressful profession, but I can improve my self-efficacy by engaging in mindful self-compassion (“MSC”) to mitigate the effects of mental and physical fatigue. Biber, D. (2022). Benefits of mindful self-compassion for frontline nurses. Nursing, 52 (5), 34-37. doi: 10.1097/01.NURSE.0000827152.10997.19.  

MSC is the practice of treating oneself with as much love, understanding, and compassion as most people usually extend to one’s own friends and family (Biber 2022).  MSC often does not come naturally to people, but it is an art that can be learned, refined, and reinforced through practice, often in as little as five minutes of practice of specific techniques per day (Biber 2022). It is important for a nurse to learn to recognize any negative emotions she feels, as well as to manage stress. 

Practical techniques for achieving MSC include listening to relaxing podcasts and repeating cue words of compassion to herself during shift changes (Biber 2022).  A nurse can also record her thoughts and emotions in a journal or write letters to herself (Biber 2022).  

In the realm of marketing, a successful branding strategy is one of the most important contributors to organizational success. A solid branding strategy can help add visibility and credibility to a company’s products.

Similarly, nurse-scholars can build a personal brand to add visibility and credibility to their work. You can begin building your brand by developing and maintaining an academic portfolio. Such an activity can help share the results of your efforts and contribute to your success. This Module’s Discussion asks you to consider and share strategies for building your portfolio.

To Prepare:

Reflect on strategies that you can pursue in developing portfolios or portfolio elements that focus on academic achievements.
Review one or more samples from your own research of resources focused on portfolio development.

Learning Resources
Note: To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.
REQUIRED READINGS
Burns, M. K. (2018). Creating a nursing portfolio. Ohio Nurses Review, 93(3), 16–17.
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.
Casey, D. & Egan, D. (2013). The use of professional portfolios for career enhancement. British Journal of Nursing, 15(11), 547–552. doi:10.12968/bjcn.2010.15.11.79625
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.
East, R. (2015). Developing a nurse practitioner portfolio. ACORN: The Journal of Perioperative Nursing in Australia, 28(4), 35.
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.
Hannans, J. & Olivo, Y. (2017). Craft a positive nursing digital identity with an ePortfolio. American Nurse Today, 12(11), 48–49. Retrieved November 14, 2018, from https://www.americannursetoday.com/wp-content/uplo…
Leahy, R., & Filiatrault, A. (2017). Employers’ perceptions of the benefits of employment electronic portfolios. International Journal of ePortfolio, 7(2), 217–223.
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.
McMillan, L. R., Parker, F., & Sport, A. (2014). Decisions, decisions! E-portfolio as an effective hiring assessment tool. Nursing Management, 45em>(4), 52–54.
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.
Walden University. (n.d.). Walden University catalog. Retrieved October 4, 2019, from https://catalog.waldenu.edu
Select College of Health Sciences, then Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). Review the MSN Learning Outcomes on this page.
Walden University Writing Center. (n.d.). Walden templates: Overview. Retrieved from https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/t…
Note: Download and review the College of Nursing Template by navigating to “Program-Specific Templates” and then “College of Nursing,” and selecting “College of Nursing Writing Template With Instructions.”
APA Basics Checklist: Citations, Reference List, and Style (PDF)
Academic Success and Professional Development Plan Template (Word document)

Rubric Detail
Select Grid View or List View to change the rubric’s layout.

Name: NURS_6003_Module05_Week08_Discussion_Rubric

Grid View
List View
Excellent Good Fair Poor
Main Posting
45 (45%) – 50 (50%)

Answers all parts of the discussion question(s) expectations with reflective critical analysis and synthesis of knowledge gained from the course readings for the module and current credible sources.

Supported by at least three current, credible sources.Written clearly and concisely with no grammatical or spelling errors and fully adheres to current APA manual writing rules and style.
40 (40%) – 44 (44%)

Responds to the discussion question(s) and is reflective with critical analysis and synthesis of knowledge gained from the course readings for the module.

At least 75% of post has exceptional depth and breadth.Supported by at least three credible sources.Written clearly and concisely with one or no grammatical or spelling errors and fully adheres to current APA manual writing rules and style.
35 (35%) – 39 (39%)

Responds to some of the discussion question(s).

One or two criteria are not addressed or are superficially addressed.Is somewhat lacking reflection and critical analysis and synthesis.Somewhat represents knowledge gained from the course readings for the module.Post is cited with two credible sources.Written somewhat concisely; may contain more than two spelling or grammatical errors.Contains some APA formatting errors.
0 (0%) – 34 (34%)

Does not respond to the discussion question(s) adequately.

Lacks depth or superficially addresses criteria.Lacks reflection and critical analysis and synthesis.Does not represent knowledge gained from the course readings for the module.Contains only one or no credible sources.Not written clearly or concisely.Contains more than two spelling or grammatical errors.Does not adhere to current APA manual writing rules and style.
Main Post: Timeliness
10 (10%) – 10 (10%)

Posts main post by day 3.

0 (0%) – 0 (0%)

0 (0%) – 0 (0%)

0 (0%) – 0 (0%)

Does not post by day 3.

First Response
17 (17%) – 18 (18%)

Response exhibits synthesis, critical thinking, and application to practice settings.

Responds fully to questions posed by faculty.Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas that are supported by at least two scholarly sources.Demonstrates synthesis and understanding of learning objectives.Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues.Responses to faculty questions are fully answered, if posed.Response is effectively written in standard, edited English.
15 (15%) – 16 (16%)

Response exhibits critical thinking and application to practice settings.

Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues.Responses to faculty questions are answered, if posed.Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas that are supported by two or more credible sources.Response is effectively written in standard, edited English.
13 (13%) – 14 (14%)

Response is on topic and may have some depth.

Responses posted in the discussion may lack effective professional communication.Responses to faculty questions are somewhat answered, if posed.Response may lack clear, concise opinions and ideas, and a few or no credible sources are cited.
0 (0%) – 12 (12%)

Response may not be on topic and lacks depth.

Responses posted in the discussion lack effective professional communication.Responses to faculty questions are missing.No credible sources are cited.
Second Response
16 (16%) – 17 (17%)

Response exhibits synthesis, critical thinking, and application to practice settings.

Responds fully to questions posed by faculty.Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas that are supported by at least two scholarly sources.Demonstrates synthesis and understanding of learning objectives.Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues.Responses to faculty questions are fully answered, if posed.Response is effectively written in standard, edited English.
14 (14%) – 15 (15%)

Response exhibits critical thinking and application to practice settings.

Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues.Responses to faculty questions are answered, if posed.Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas that are supported by two or more credible sources.Response is effectively written in standard, edited English.
12 (12%) – 13 (13%)

Response is on topic and may have some depth.

Responses posted in the discussion may lack effective professional communication.Responses to faculty questions are somewhat answered, if posed.Response may lack clear, concise opinions and ideas, and a few or no credible sources are cited.
0 (0%) – 11 (11%)

Response may not be on topic and lacks depth.

Responses posted in the discussion lack effective professional communication.Responses to faculty questions are missing.No credible sources are cited.
Participation
5 (5%) – 5 (5%)

Meets requirements for participation by posting on three different days.

0 (0%) – 0 (0%)

0 (0%) – 0 (0%)

0 (0%) – 0 (0%)

Does not meet requirements for participation by posting on 3 different days.

Total Points: 100
Name: NURS_6003_Module05_Week08_Discussion_Rubric

Strategies for Academic Portfolios Discussion

Strategies for Academic Portfolios Discussion

You must proofread your paper. But do not strictly rely on your computer’s spell-checker and grammar-checker; failure to do so indicates a lack of effort on your part and you can expect your grade to suffer accordingly. Papers with numerous misspelled words and grammatical mistakes will be penalized. Read over your paper – in silence and then aloud – before handing it in and make corrections as necessary. Often it is advantageous to have a friend proofread your paper for obvious errors. Handwritten corrections are preferable to uncorrected mistakes.

Use a standard 10 to 12 point (10 to 12 characters per inch) typeface. Smaller or compressed type and papers with small margins or single-spacing are hard to read. It is better to let your essay run over the recommended number of pages than to try to compress it into fewer pages.

Likewise, large type, large margins, large indentations, triple-spacing, increased leading (space between lines), increased kerning (space between letters), and any other such attempts at “padding” to increase the length of a paper are unacceptable, wasteful of trees, and will not fool your professor.

The paper must be neatly formatted, double-spaced with a one-inch margin on the top, bottom, and sides of each page. When submitting hard copy, be sure to use white paper and print out using dark ink. If it is hard to read your essay, it will also be hard to follow your argument.

Nurses acquire numerous skills and values in the course of their education journey, enabling them to provide competent care and make positive changes in society. Portfolios offer a detailed highlight of nurses’ competencies. A vital part of portfolio development is academic activities and accomplishments demonstrating a nurse’s competencies in a particular specialty. The purpose of this section is to describe strategies for including academic activities and accomplishments in my professional development goals and how the goals align with the University’s emphasis on social change.

Including Academic Activities and Accomplishments

             Academic activities and accomplishments include a nurse’s engagements and success areas as a learner and professional. A service section in my academic portfolio can highlight my notable contributions to my colleagues and the broader nursing profession during the learning process. A suitable example is volunteer work in counseling different patients and health promotion programs. Besides a service portfolio, I should ensure that my curriculum vitae (CV) provide adequate information about my academic qualification, values, and accomplishments. A good CV should be precise and tailored to the job that a candidate is interested in (Huber, 2021). The service portfolio and the CV will enable me to highlight my academic achievements and accomplishments in detail.

Goals Alignment with University’s Emphasis on Social Change

Social change is crucial for the progressive growth of society. Walden University (2022) describes social change as real people working to improve others’ lives. This change can be evolutionary (slow) or revolutionary (rapid). My professional development goals are centered on progressive development as a nurse practitioner to improve the health of individuals and communities. Achieving this goal requires me to acquire adequate skills to offer competent care and empower people to live healthily. Nurses can also achieve social change by helping people respond to evolving social norms and values (Nilsen et al., 2020). As a healthcare professional, I should also improve my skills over time to prevent illnesses and ensure people can effectively cope with chronic diseases and mental disorders.

Conclusion

Nurses should be adequately qualified to provide competent and patient-centered care. Academic portfolios should explicitly highlight nurses’ competencies and accomplishments. The desire to promote social change should be universal among nurses. Accordingly, I have an innate desire to acquire adequate skills to succeed as a professional and social change agent.

References

Huber, A. C. (2021). With the “new focus approach” to a successful CV: Make a real sales document. BOD- Books on Demand.

Nilsen, P., Seing, I., Ericsson, C., Birken, S. A., & Schildmeijer, K. (2020). Characteristics of successful changes in health care organizations: An interview study with physicians, registered nurses and assistant nurses. BMC Health Services Research, 20(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-020-4999-8

Walden University. (2022). 5 things that everyone should know about social change. https://www.waldenu.edu/why-walden/social-change/resource/five-things-that-everyone-should-know-about-social-change

One strategy to pursue in developing a portfolio would be to focus on academic achievements. This could include documenting my clinical rotations, presenting case studies and poster presentations, or publishing research papers. Another strategy could be to highlight leadership & management experience by showcasing managerial roles within various organizations or detailing committee work/leadership positions I have held.

Additionally, emphasizing community involvement can demonstrate a dedication to helping others which can be an important attribute for future clinicians. Finally, highlighting professional development & continuing education shows a commitment to lifelong learning and growth which is essential for any clinician.

Developing a portfolio that showcases ones academic achievements and demonstrates their alignment with the University’s emphasis on social change may be strategic in pursuing admission to various learning institutions (Doeze et al., 2019). One of the elements in the portfolio/ goals focuses on community-based projects which emphasizes on the university’s goals or plans on social change. As an example, one of my recent community-based projects was developing a training curriculum for volunteers working with refugees. This experience was important to me because it demonstrated my ability to think critically about complex social issues and develop strategies for addressing them. The experience is also in line with the university’s emphasis on social change.  

A university’s emphasis on social change can be a powerful impetus for portfolio elements that align with its mission. For example, a university may focus on experiential learning and civic engagement as key components of their undergraduate experience (Doeze et al., 2019). This focus is evident in the many opportunities students have to work with local organizations and businesses and to take part in meaningful community service projects. Graduates should thus be well-prepared to make a difference in the world. They should understand the importance of working collaboratively toward common goals.

References

Doeze Jager‐van Vliet, S. B., Born, M. P., & van der Molen, H. T. (2019). Using a portfolio‐based process to develop agility among employees. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 30(1), 39-60. https://doi.org/10.1002/hrdq.21337

I agree that it is a very competitive job market for Family Nurse Practitioners in many different areas and regions. Due to this specialty being competitive, it is essential to have your accomplishments and achievements highlighted for your own professional development plan. As you mentioned in your discussion post, professional portfolios help you present your goals, skills, knowledge, and credentials. Moreover, portfolios can also be transferred into an e-portfolio to help aid employers for potential job candidates. For example, a study was conducted that showed how employers showed a high level of interest in applicants who had an e-portfolio and that “the ePortfolio, along with a strong resume and references, could be used as a great reason for an employer to bring you in and interview you” (Leahy & Filiatrault, 2017, p. 221).

In addition, using and joining numerous organizations and initiatives focused on improving nursing education across the country is another strategy that can help further your academic and professional achievements. The American Association of Nurse Practitioners is an organization that offers its members to further their careers by providing leadership opportunities, continuing their education, aiding in the advancement of their networking, being recognized for achievements, providing business resources, and aiding in funding for education (American Association of Nurse Practitioners, n.d.). Utilizing organizations can help advance your career by providing more networking opportunities, professional development, and career advancement opportunities. These organizations also provide their members with peer-reviewed articles and research that pertain to their specialty. Great post!

Thank you, 

References

American Association of Nurse Practitioners. (n.d.). Professional Development: Growth in Knowledge, Skill, Reputation and Responsibility. American Association of Nurse Practitioners. https://www.aanp.org/practice/professional-development