Discussion: Strategies for Academic Portfolios

Discussion: Strategies for Academic Portfolios

Discussion: Strategies for Academic Portfolios

The field of nursing requires adaptation to a constantly changing group of patient issues. As we advance our careers academically, nurses are increasingly asked to consider their role beyond the simple clinical issues they face in the workplace. Aside from work-related discipline, nurses are often left with few ways of measurably distinguishing themselves from their counterparts aside from work experience. Many of us has heard “no one cares about your Grade Point Average (G.P.A.) once you start working” in their time. While the accuracy of that statement is debatable, it is revelatory in that it highlights the diverse array of qualities expected from a nurse beyond their academic competency and work experience.

In researching this assignment’s topics, I came across an article that discussed an idea very similar to the nurse-familiar concept of evidence-based practice. The term discussed, social entrepreneurship, is defined as using pragmatic and results-oriented methods to bring about social change in the business world (Altman & Brinker, 2016). Comparatively, nurses seeking to further their careers must focus on ways of highlighting similar attributes to express their value effectively to prospective employers. With the goal of better nurses and better patient outcomes in the forefront, it is imperative that nurses take this part of their roles just as seriously as they do any other.

A modern approach to this challenge is to develop and maintain a professional portfolio. Asking me to maintain any sort of portfolio has been somewhat of a challenge. Compounding that fact, I wasn’t the best student early in nursing school and struggled a lot with non-school related issues that made it hard for me. I found the cake mix structure explained in the article The use of professional portfolios and profiles for career enhancement to be an ideal approach for me to take in developing my portfolio (Casey & Egan, 2013). This concept utilizes a reflective narrative to tie evidence together which enables a greater focus on the personal learning journeys, reflection, and the development of personal qualities (Casey & Egan, 2013). This approach will allow me to highlight the volunteer work I have done that relates to my focus on social change. A focus that I am very glad aligns with Walden’s aim provide me with the tools I need to address the immediate solutions of critical societal challenges (Walden University, 2022).

The quality I would most like to get across in my portfolio would be adaptability. I would like to feature my continual self-reflection on clinical and academic experiences in the forefront (Mcmillan et. al, 2014). To highlight my own skills, I find that an e-portfolio would be my best bet as it provides a structure for planning the way my career progresses (Mcmillan et al, 2014). With the little psych experience I currently have, developing and maintaining an e-portfolio and utilizing the aforementioned “cake mix structure approach” as an asset of self-reflection will give me more control over the way my value as a nurse is expressed.

One of the most important things someone can do to highlight their academic activities and accomplishments is by including them in their professional portfolio. By creating a professional portfolio one can aid in their own professional development through the process of creating their portfolio (Casey, D. & Egan, D. 2013). Personally, I really like having an ePortfolio. Currently I have a small version of an ePortfolio with LinkedIn. Hannans and Olivo state the importance of having an online presence in the form of a professional profile so that when potential employers search your name, they can see your potential and not just your personal image posts (2017). This goal of presenting yourself in a professional manner aligns with Walden University’s emphasis on social change because to be able to affect positive change one must first show that they are professional, trustworthy, and have a solid education to stand on and all of this can be done by creating one’s professional portfolio.

Another great way to build on one’s professional development is through continued education.
Using academic activities to improve oneself builds on your existing knowledge and education, which in turn helps with continued professional development. An example of this is what we are doing right now – going through our Masters Program. I find that I am reading things and learning things that I can use in my daily nursing practice. I know that I will continue to learn and therefore grow as a professional throughout my educational program. When this program is done I think that continuing education and going to conferences to continue learning and growing academically and professionally will be a must. To be an affective change agent one must be willing to continually grow and never become stagnant.

References

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

Hannans, J. & Olivo, Y. (2017). Craft a positive nursing digital identity within ePortfolio.American Nurse Today, 12(11), 48-49. Retrieved July 20, 2021, fromhttps://www.americannursetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/ant11-Digital-Identity-1017a-1.pdf

Walden University. (n.d.). Walden University catalog. Retrieved July 20, 2021, fromhttps://catalog.waldenu.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=179&poid=72167&returnto=65560

the concept of an “I Love Me Book” is extraordinary and is congruent with what we’re learning this week about e-Portfolio’s. In my first career as a firefighter the structure was para-military so I can relate to the lessons you’ve learned. Now as we’ve both continued to expand our growth and life experiences we can combine that knowledge with new strategies and goals moving forward. Thanks for your service.

Perhaps you also found the information you collected to be useful in networking. Networking has always been important for professional development, and the digital age makes it even easier. Finding relevant online articles or blogs and sharing your thoughts on social media is one way to connect with other nursing professionals. If you’re starting a job search, follow organizations that interest you on social media and interact with them by commenting on their activities and initiatives (Hannans, J. & Olivo, Y. 2017).

We can all agree the world is continuing to change and the internet along with growing technology has created new opportunities. One article in our required reading for this week supports Walden University’s decision for including this as a part of the curriculum. In one recent study educators were advised to encourage their students to include ePortfolios in their cover letters, resumes, and email signatures during the job search process (Leahy & Filiatrauly, 2017).

 

Step 1: Research Analysis

Complete the table below

Topic of Interest:	Alice in Wonderland Syndrome
Research Article: Include full citation in APA format, as well as link or search details (such as DOI)	O’Toole, P., & Modestino, E. J. (2017). Alice in Wonderland Syndrome: A real life version of Lewis Carroll’s novel. Brain and Development, 39(6), 470–474. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0387760417300049
Professional Practice Use: One or more professional practice uses of the theories/concepts presented in the article	The concepts contained in the article by O’Toole & Modestino (2017) can be used in providing health education to the patients. Healthcare providers can utilize information about the pathophysiology of the syndrome to educate the affected populations about its potential causes. The concepts can also be used in nursing research. The article shows that inconclusive evidence on the pathophysiology of Alice in Wonderland Syndrome exists. As a result, it can be used in research to explore further the syndrome to inform nursing practice. Lastly, it can be used in health promotion. The population can be informed to avoid risk factors associated with the syndrome such as topiramate medications.
Research Analysis Matrix Add more rows if necessary	Strengths of the Research	Limitations of the Research	Relevancy to Topic of Interest	Notes
	Scholars in neuroscience conducted the study, which increases the relevance and applicability of the information.	The arguments are entirely based on other studies and not investigations done on human beings	The article increases our understanding of the mechanisms that contribute to the development of Alice in Wonderland Syndrome. It also identifies critical issues in practice that can be addressed through research.	The article provides great insights into Alice in Wonderland Syndrome. It enhances our understanding about its causes, diagnostic features and aspects of management that can be considered in practice. It also widens our understanding about the potential areas of research that can be explored to increase our understanding of the syndrome.
	The research provides comprehensive analysis of the topic to increase the understanding of the readers.	The authors used also sources of information, which may affect the relevance of the assertions made in the article
	The authors used simple language that general population can easily understand
	It provides insights into gaps in knowledge and practice to be explored in future research

Step 2: Summary of Analysis

            The approach that was applied in the identification of the above peer-reviewed article entailed doing a search of literature in PubMEd database. The search entails the use of specific keywords that included Alice in Wonderland Syndrome, pathophysiology of Alice in Wonderland Syndrome and causes. The search yielded four articles. The above article was selected after inclusion criteria such as relevance, year of publication, and its focus of analysis were applied.

            One of the strategies that I would use that I found effective in finding peer-reviewed research is developing inclusion and exclusion criteria. Inclusion and exclusion criteria help in filtering the sources. It also increases the accuracy of search results. The other strategy is the use of Boolean Operators. Boolean Operators such as and, or, and not increase the accuracy of search results (Dingwall & Staniland, 2020). I will use a number of resources in the future to find peer-reviewed research. One of them is professional databases. I will use databases such as EMBASE, CINAHL, and PubMed to access the resources that I need for research. I will also use the references used in articles to locate other articles of interest to my topic of research (Houser, 2021).

Discussion: Strategies for Academic Portfolios Conclusion

            Overall, nurses should have knowledge in accessing peer-reviewed sources of evidence. Peer-reviewed sources of evidence provide highly accurate and reliable data to inform nursing practice. It is important that nurses identify different resources for use to inform their practice. Through it, they acquire competencies for supporting evidence-based practice in their institutions.

Discussion: Strategies for Academic Portfolios References

Dingwall, R., & Staniland, K. (2020). Qualitative Research Methods for Nurses. SAGE Publications.

Houser, J. (2021). Nursing Research: Reading, Using, and Creating Evidence. Jones & Bartlett Learning.

O’Toole, P., & Modestino, E. J. (2017). Alice in Wonderland Syndrome: A real life version of Lewis Carroll’s novel. Brain and Development, 39(6), 470–474.

As a student it is important to know of strategies for incorporating academic activities into professional goals.  When it comes time to search for a job, potential employers may request, research, and inquire about a candidate’s scholarly activities.  Academic activities make a student stand out from the crowd and demonstrate that the candidate values their programs mission and goals.  An eportfolio is a great way for students to track, organize, and broadcast their academic and professional experiences and skills.  Hannans and Olivo (2017) discusses eportfolios for nurses as being the full picture of who you are professionally in your field of work.  Hannans and Olivo (2017) also discuss how eportolios may become a requirement in the future to prospective job candidates, so they state, “why not be ahead of the game” (p.2).

One strategy I aim to use to build some academic activities into my professional development is to join the nurses honor society as Walden University.  Sigma Theta Tau is an international nurse’s honor society and nursing students at Walden University are automatically invited to join the organization at different times throughout the year.  The nursing honor society at Walden University has a mission to “support the learning, knowledge, and professional development of nurses committed to making a difference in health worldwide” (Walden University, n.d, para. 1).  The honor society aims at educating and empowering a generation of nurses who will lead using their knowledge and services to create a work of improved health for the people (Walden University, n.d).  This mission and vision that the society portrays relates well to my professional goal of being able to provide care as a nurse practitioner in my rural area of living, closing some of the care gaps the people face.

Another strategy I have for incorporating an academic activity into my professional development is to join the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) organization.  The mission of the AANP is to empower all nurse practitioners to “advance accessible, person-centered, equitable, high-quality care for diverse communities through practice, education, advocacy, research, and leadership” (AANP, n.d, para.1).  According to Crumley (2020) nurses have many benefits from joining organizations related to their field, interest, and specialties.  Professional organizations can provide nurses and advanced practice providers networking and educational opportunities (Crumley, 2020).  Professional organizations also advocate for nurses to be able to provide the best services to patients and their communities (Crumley, 2020).  Joining one of these organizations helps me to stay up to date on education opportunities and to be involved in a community of individuals whose goal is to support patients and their communities.

Walden University emphasizes social change for all their degree programs.  The social change specific to the field of nursing is to create practitioners who are community based and active in trying to create a positive change for humans and social conditions (Walden University, n.d).  My goal of becoming a nurse practitioner aligns with Walden’s belief of partnering with communities to create social change.  I plan to work as a family nurse practitioner in my rural area community.  Many people in my community have a hard time finding or getting access to family medicine providers.  I will serve my community by offering care to the underprivileged.  Another goal of mine is to be a continuous learner.  By being affiliated with honor and organizational societies, I will be able to stay engaged in new learning and education opportunities for my field. This will align with Walden’s social change practices by allowing me to provider the most up to date and patient centered care available to my community.

Discussion: Strategies for Academic Portfolios References

AANP. (n.d).  Strategic Focus. Retrieved from https://www.aanp.org/

Crumley, C. (2020). The Benefits of Active Engagement in Nursing Professional Organizations: A View From Here. Journal of Wound, Ostomy &                     Continence Nursing, 47(6), 547. https://doi.org/10.1097/WON.0000000000000700

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

Walden University. (n.d). Sigma Theta Tau: Home. Retrieved from https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/student-organizations/sigma-theta-tau

Walden University. (n.d). Social Change. Retrieved from https://www.waldenu.edu/why-walden/social-change

Assignment: Academic Success and Professional Development Plan Part 5: Professional Development

In this week’s Discussion you were introduced to the concept of an academic portfolio to begin building your own brand. Portfolios have value that go beyond brand-building however. An academic and professional portfolio can also help you to build your own vision and mission and establish your development goals. In this regard, a portfolio becomes yet another tool in your toolbox as you build your success.

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

In this Assignment you will continue developing your Academic Success and Professional Development Plan by developing the fifth component: a portfolio for your academic and professional efforts.

To Prepare:

Consider your goals for academic accomplishments while a student of the MSN program.

The Assignment:

Using the Academic Success and Professional Development Plan Template in which you began to work on in Week 1, and have continued working on through this course, in Part 5, you will create a fully developed and accurate curriculum vitae (CV) based on your current education and professional background.
Clearly identify and accurately state in detail your professional development goals.
Clearly and accurately state in detail how to accurately and appropriately align one or more of your professional development goals with the University’s emphasis on social change.
Note: Add your work for this Assignment to the original document you began in the Week 1 Assignment, which was built off of the Academic Success and Professional Development Plan Template.

A portfolio has always been used as a personal brag sheet. I have used a portfolio for the military, many times to showcase my skills and training. It is something anyone in any profession can use to say, “This is me. This is what I have accomplished”. “The Nurse can use a portfolio to document the competencies and achievements during evaluations and for applications regarding promotions or awards” (Burns, 2018).  

I would include my education credentials, certifications, and work experience in my personal portfolio. This is where the foundation for my professional development plan would start because you can only build a substantial house with a firm foundation. One strategy to add to my development plan would be to join a professional nursing organization to keep my ear on the ground for new techniques and improvements in patient care. “They advocate to advance nursing practice and to improve the health of populations, communities, and individuals” (Crumley, 2020).

Another strategy for improving my professional development is to continue learning by gaining new credentials or certifications. “Finding the means of ensuring that learning takes placed effectively and motivates staff to continue reflecting on practice and learning more has to be one of the main drivers for enhancing professionalism” (Hayes, 2016).

There is always room to learn something new. What we learn and become more proficient with will only help our patients by bettering their care and their quality of life. When we serve our community, we align with Walden University’s (2022) emphasis on social change by ensuring the development of individuals, communities, organizations, institutions, cultures, and societies by establishing and utilizing ideas, strategies, and actions.  

References

Burns, M. K. (2018). Creating a Nursing Portfolio. Ohio Nurses Review, 93(3), 16–17.

Crumley, C. (2020). The Benefits of Active Engagement in Nursing Professional Organizations: A View From Here. Journal of Wound, Ostomy, and
     Continence Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1097/WON.0000000000000700

Links to an external site.

Hayes, C. (2016). Approaches to continuing professional development: putting theory into practice. British Journal of Nursing, 25(15), 860–864.
     https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2016.25.15.860

Links to an external site.

Walden University. (2022). Vision, mission, and goals. Walden University: Education for good. https://catalog.waldenu.edu/content.php?

Links to an external site.
     catoid=196&navoid=75618

NURS 6003 Discussion: Strategies for Academic Portfolios

By Day 7

Submit Part 5.

Remember to include an introduction paragraph which contains a clear and comprehensive purpose statement which delineates all required criteria, and end the assignment Part with a conclusion paragraph.

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 5 Assignment Rubric to review the Grading Criteria for the Assignment.

Click the Week 5 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 “WK5Assgn+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.

Discussion: Strategies for Academic Portfolios

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 week’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.

By Day 3

Post an explanation of at least two strategies for including academic activities and accomplishments into your professional portfolio.

Support main post with 3 of more current, credible sources and cite source within conten