CNA346 Transition to Professional Practice

Self-Assessment

Having not been able to undergo practicum assessments, I still lack practical knowledge and needed clinical experience for further advancements in my career field. However, transition to senior level in this course will provide me the opportunity to qualify into a professional (Araham and Rosenthal, 2016, p.275). Like most professionals do say, ‘a proper career does not present itself.’ Career development is similar to life achievement. Both take time, effort, and good planning. For my career development, a professional plan is vital.  The professional plan is a summary of my ambitions, objectives, and aspirations that are all vital in sharpening my focus as well as clarifying my goals. Through careful tracking of the progress I make, I would be able to determine whether my goals; both short and long-term, are realistic. Otherwise, I would need to adjust the objectives. It is my intention to make an overview that is clear, for my successes and failures. Such would enhance my motivation (Araham and Rosenthal, 2016, p.280).

A proper, professional career plan will provide me with reference material and also enable me track my progress easily (Courtenay, 2009). The satisfaction that comes with fulfilling career objectives is what builds motivation and enhances career development. To ensure that I have a proper plan for my career development, I will:

Have my objectives at my fingertips

On a daily basis, I will remind myself of the objectives I need to meet. I have several ways of reminding myself. One way is to have reminders in my phone. Another way is to put sticky notes on the walls of my study room (Kittay, 2001, p. 559).

Stay accountable

I intend to share the objectives with my mentor, parents, and friends. By doing so, they will be able to help me track my progress. They will also be able to support and encourage me through my endeavors (Mclaughlin and Docherty, 2017).

• Have a journal

I will make a personal journal. In this journal, I will write my own achievements, feelings, frustrations, and thoughts. By so doing, I will be able to have my own reflections on the failures and successes I have gone through (Mclaughlin and Docherty, 2017).

Reward myself

For every kind of achievement, it is important that one rewards himself or herself. In my case, I will celebrate career achievements. This is a way of boosting my motivation to keep on striving for excellence (Mclaughlin and Docherty, 2017).

My SWOT Analysis

The diagram below is a SWOT Analysis of my strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats with regards to my career development plan. The analysis has enabled me develop a pathway for my career development plan as well as being able to recognize target areas for improvement. The analysis also helps me with my continuous professional development (Chung, 2017, p.730).

In as much as I aspire to be the greatest prototype of my own self, I am held back by the fear of speaking in public. I also understand that I have to develop the aspect of critical thinking. This is a skill that will be vital once I begin full-time work. I also have to boost my level of confidence so as to be able to pursue my goals in the long run. In order to do so, I have identified three main strategies that I would have to implement (Chiu, Et al., 2017, p.94). The same will help me to:

1. Improve my communication skills
2. Improve my critical thinking  (Shally-Jensen and Koch, 2014)

Such strategies include:

1. Practicing, attending, and listening to handovers as a way of reducing the pressure I have in myself while speaking.
2. Being able to confidently ask questions to enhance my critical thinking
3. Attending in-services sessions as a way of developing new knowledge (Sorrentino and Remmert, 2014)

Philosophy Statement

In personal terms, nurses are supposed to be adaptable, advocates, empathetic, nurturing, and detail-orientated. The highlighted characteristics are to ensure that patients are given the ultimate priority. Patients should not be discriminated in any way. As a professional, it is my obligation to provide quality, safe, and holistic care that is also person-centered (Brewer and Lang, 2016). Patients should be empowered by nurses to be active participants in caring for their own health. Nursing promote effective and safe working environments, prevents ill-health, and engages stakeholders in management, research, and education. As a nursing professional, I am required to be rewarding, inspiring, and respectful. I am also expected to be kind and respectful (Brooker and Wiggins, 2016, p.330).

Strategies to Support Career Development and Resilience

1. The reason I advocate for full-time job is because part-time work can at times be mentally and physically draining. However, in case I get a part-time job, I will engage in proper self-care. Such would be achieved by engaging in things I enjoy doing while away from work. Such include hanging out with friends and travelling. It is my belief that engagement in self-care would be healthy for me and the patients I care for, thereby allowing me to higher quality performances (Araham and Rosenthal, 2016, p.275).
2. I also have to update my knowledge base within my area of work. Such is due to the fact that evidence-base and knowledge within the healthcare setting is always changing. Increasing such knowledge-base will be possible by completing CPD courses and attending education sessions. I am sure that through continued learning and having a high level of knowledge in my profession, I will be able to be more enthusiastic and passionate when I become a professional (Mclaughlin and Docherty, 2017).
3. I also have to improve my skills of management. Even though I am organized, ensuring that my goals are achievable during my time of practice contributes to a successful working experience. As a professional, I would be required to delegate tasks to my fellow workmates and also create proper work plans (Birchenall, Et al., 2015).

Concluding Statement

To conclude, this personal reflection activity will help me understand whatever steps I am required to make so as to achieve the set goals. In my own view, hard work; through persistence and taking opportunities would be the only way to achieve ultimate success in my career. However, the only way of achieving my set objectives is by ensuring that:

1. I engage in self-care activities while working (Araham and Rosenthal, 2016, p.275).
2. I update my knowledge base within my career path (Mclaughlin and Docherty, 2017).
3. I improve on my management skills (Birchenall, Et al., 2015).

Reference

Araham, C. & Rosenthal, D. (2016) Merging home and health via contemporary care delivery. CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing, 26(5), pp. 273-281.

Birchenall, J. M., Streight, M. E., Sorrentino, S. A., Remmert, L. N., & Kelly, R. T. (2015) Advanced home health aide with CPR.  St Louis Missouri, Elsevier.

Boltz, M. Evidence-based geriatric nursing protocols for best practice. Springer Pub. Co., New York.

Brewer, K., & Lang, T. A. (2016) Nursing & therapy documentation in long-term care: skills for collaboration and compliance. HCPro, Danvers.

Brooker, C. & Wiggins, R. (2016) Nurse therapist trainee variability: the implications for selection and training. Journal Of Advanced Nursing, 8(4), pp. 321-328.

Chiu, Y., Lee, Y., Wang, P., Chang, T., Li, C., Hsu, W., & Lee, S. (2017) Family caregivers’ sleep disturbance and its associations with multilevel stressors when caring for patients with dementia. Aging & Mental Health, 18(1), pp. 92-101.

Chung, G. (2017) Nursing Assistant Beliefs About Their Roles and Nursing Home Residents: Implications for Nursing Home Social Work Practice. Social Work In Health Care, 49(8), pp. 718-733.

Courtenay, M. (2009) Practical prescribing - Prescribing while a ‘trainee’. Independent Nurse, 2009(9).

Kittay, E. (2001) When Caring Is Just and Justice Is Caring: Justice and Mental Retardation. Public Culture, 13(3), pp. 557-580.

Learningexpress (2012) Nursing assistant/nurse aide exam. Learning Express, New York.

Mclaughlin, C. D., & Docherty, J. N. (2017) Nursing issues: psychiatric nursing, geriatric nursing, and nursing burnout. Nova Biomedical Books, New York.  

Nicoll, L. (2011) Nursing Education Enhanced by Informatics. CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing, 29, TC81.

Shally-Jensen, M., & Koch, M. W. (2014) Careers in healthcare. Salem Press, a division of EBSCO Information Services,  Massachusetts.

Sorrentino, S. A., & Remmert, L. N. (2014) Mosby's essentials for nursing assistants. St Louis Missouri, Elsevier.

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