Discussion: Strategies for Academic Portfolios

NURS 6003 Discussion: Strategies for Academic Portfolios
Discussion: Strategies for Academic Portfolios
Assignment: Academic Success and Professional Development Plan Part 5: Professional Development
You were introduced to the concept of an academic portfolio in this week’s Discussion to help you start building your own brand. Portfolios, on the other hand, have value that extends beyond brand building. An academic and professional can also assist you in developing your own vision and mission, as well as setting development goals. A portfolio, in this regard, becomes yet another tool in your toolbox as you build your success.
In this Assignment, you will build the fifth component of your Academic Success and Professional Development Plan: a portfolio for your academic and professional efforts.
To Get Ready:
Consider your academic objectives while enrolled in the MSN program.
The Project:
In Part 5, you will create a fully developed and accurate curriculum vitae (CV) based on your current education and professional background, using the Academic Success and Professional Development Plan Template that you began working on in Week 1 and have continued working on throughout this course.
Clearly identify and detail your development objectives.
Describe how you will accurately and appropriately align one or more of your professional development goals with the University’s emphasis on social change.
Note: Include your work for this Assignment in the original document you started in the Week 1 Assignment, which was based on the Academic Success and Professional Development Plan Template.
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 content of posting and on a reference list in proper APA. NURS 6003 Discussion: Strategies for Academic Portfolios
By Day 6
Respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days, by offering additional ideas regarding academic achievements to include or offering alternative ways of presenting the current achievements.
Be sure to offer support from at least 2 current, credible sources in each required response to classmates’ main post and cite per APA.
Submission and Grading Information
Grading Criteria
Strategies for Academic Portfolios
As nurses, we all started from the humble beginnings of being a student and earning our degree through tedious education and training. After satisfying the requirements for nursing licensure, we now embark on a professional journey that allows us to put into action everything that we have learned and apply the experiences that we developed and enhanced in school. It is very critical to be able to create a summary that will speak of our achievements, credentials, and qualifications. Burns (2018) defined a professional portfolio as an evidence of growth and development depicting a summary of a nurse’s education and achievements. This growth and development aspect can be further by a best work portfolio containing specific documents like awards and recognition. The life of a professional nurse starts with a job hunt, and it is critical to be able to create a document that will be powerful enough to convince employers in order to be able to land in a job that is truly desired. NURS 6003 Discussion: Strategies for Academic Portfolios
Building a Portfolio. Hannans and Olivo (2017) described an ePortfolio as a digital fingerprint that reveals a person personally and professionally. It is then very important to make sure that the portfolio we prepare speaks for who we really are and one that will impress employers. In order to be able to effectively build a portfolio, the same authors recommended the search for existing platforms or templates that can be used to create an initial framework. This framework can then be used to organize our personal information that we have to build the content of the portfolio. Incorporating academic achievements is beneficial in supporting qualities of excellence. Casey and Egan (2013) emphasized that in writing the structure and presentation of a portfolio, nurses need to be creative in presenting personal information. This can be achieved by aligning and integrating whatever an organization is looking for in a candidate. According to the same author, this demonstrates of an applicant about the job being applied for and the organization’s mission and goals. This is one effective strategy to make sure that portfolios are not generic but can be individualized for different applications. Burns (2018) identified different elements of a nursing portfolio and emphasized that the information provided on each element is one that can be verified. Employers perform a background check and it will be helpful to provide information that will make it easier for them to verify information provided.
Portfolio Development. Leahy and Filiatrault (2017) discussed an article about employers’ perceptions to electronic portfolios and concluded that recruiters had moderately favorable perceptions to ePortfolios. It was emphasized in the same article that employers have a higher probability of connecting with an applicant if in the correspondence a link relevant to the part of the ePortfolio is provided. Job applications have shifted to mostly digital format and it is essential to consider the finding of this article to be able to gain more success in connecting with employers by being able to provide a way for them to search ePortfolios easier.
Conclusion. The journey towards professional enrichment is determined by how a nurse makes good connections to desired employments. It is very crucial to be able to make a blueprint of our success by building an effective portfolio that will appropriately represent us based on our own professional growth and achievements (Laureate Education, 2018). It takes years to build our credibility as professionals, a long process to gain our knowledge, and countless efforts to enhance our skills. It is then very important to put everything into one document that will speak for us, our professional portfolio.
References
Burns, M. K. (2018). Creating a nursing portfolio. Ohio Nurses Review, 93(3), 16–17.
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 with an ePortfolio. American Nurse Today, 12(11), 48–49. Retrieved November 14, 2018, from https://www.americannursetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/ant11-Digital-Identity-1017a-1.pdf
Laureate Education (Producer). (2018). The Blueprint to Success [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Leahy, R., & Filiatrault, A. (2017). Employers’ perceptions of the benefits of employment electronic portfolios. International Journal of ePortfolio, 7(2), 217–223.
RE: professional growth
Hello Dr. F…,
I have been a nurse for almost three decades now and I can say that my career journey has been extensive. Ever since I completed my bachelor’s program in Nursing, I have always developed the desire to continue to nurture my knowledge and skills by keeping myself up to date with best practices affecting my work.
Professional growth can be equated to self-promotion by taking the professional responsibility to seek advancement in any chosen field of work (Burns, 2018). This self-promotion is a way to be aware of our individual achievements, and this will help provide an internal to be able to enhance our career. As our resources emphasized, it is always up to each individual how success is defined (Laureate Education, 20918). As we move forward in our career, it is essential to always keep in mind to do an inventory of our knowledge and skill set and be responsible enough to enrich these aspects as needed.
Our online identity serves as our digital fingerprint as a professional (Hannans & Olivo, 2017). In my personal experience, my focus has always been on enriching my career, and in the process, I always made sure that I catch all the details of my accomplishments by documenting it in my portfolio.
ReferenceS
Burns, M. K. (2018). Creating a nursing portfolio. Ohio Nurses Review, 93(3), 16–17.
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/uploads/2017/11/ant11-Digital-Identity-1017a-1.pdf
Laureate Education (Producer). (2018). The Blueprint to Success [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Strategies for Nursing Portfolios
Nursing portfolios are a way to show achievements throughout one’s nursing journey. “A professional portfolio is evidence of the nurse’s skills, achievements, and professional experience” (Burns, M.K., 2018). There are many ways to a nurse’s personal growth in a nursing portfolio. An ePortfolio is a way to keep track of academic activities and accomplishments throughout one’s career on a virtual platform. “ePortfolios are a well-established practice to demonstrate progress, archive coursework through college, and provide evidence of meeting learning outcomes” (Hannahs, J. & Olivo, Y., 2017). There are many ways to outline and demonstrate the achievements one has made in an ePortfolio. Two strategies to provide this information is by, “Outline your short- and long-term goals and share your clinical experiences” (Hannahs, J. & Olivo, Y., 2017).
Social Change
“At Walden University, we define positive social change as a deliberate process of creating and applying ideas, strategies, and actions to promote the worth” (Walden University, n.d.). By receiving my education from Walden University, I know that I will have the training to ensure my portfolio inhibits social change. My long and short-term goals can outline how I will achieve a positive social change. Clinical experience will increase my professional growth through my academic successes. An example of this would be, working as a nurse executive I will be faced with many decisions. In order to provide a positive social change, my clinical experiences will help me work cohesively with a preceptor to learn how to promote a positive atmosphere.
Conclusion
By understanding how to implement a thorough nursing portfolio, I will be able to demonstrate achievements in academia and professional growth. As a Nurse Executive student at Walden University, I know that I am learning the essential skills to evolve my nursing portfolio. Through this development, I will be able to strive for positive social change.
References:
Burns, M. K. (2018). Creating a Nursing Portfolio. Ohio Nurses Review, 93(3), 16–17.
Hannans, J. & Olivo, Y. (2017). Craft a positive nursing digital identity with an ePortfolio. American Nurse Today, 12(11), 48-49. Retrieved October 19, 2020, from https://www.myamericannurse.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/ant11-Digital-Identity-1017a-1.pdf
Walden University. (n.d.). Social change. Walden University – Acalog ACMS™. https://catalog.waldenu.edu/content.php?catoid=122&navoid=34904
K…,
I appreciate your post on ePortfolios and how they can be useful as we build our academic and nursing professional portfolios. In today’s world, more and more information is obtained online. Employers are now researching potential job candidates prior to the interviewing and hiring process begins. It is important now, more than ever, to create a positive online brand for yourself that employers, coworkers, friends, family, and even patients may discover. Digital footprints are left every time we log on, attention must be paid to what material you are posting (Hannans & Olivo, 2017).
Academic and professional portfolios are visual representations of your strengths, academic success, nursing skills and knowledge, community involvement, and experiences. The resume and/or curriculum vitae are only a piece of the portfolio. Nurses should include degrees obtained, licensures, certifications, continuing education credits, conference attendance, and any presentations or education lectures they presented (Burns, 2018).
Walden University is preparing students to be social change agents (Walden University, n.d.). Showcasing achievements for community should be included as a part of your portfolio. Volunteer services, organizing or participating in health screenings, and lobbying for health policy changes are all opportunities to add to your professional portfolio (Burns, 2018).
Discussion: Strategies for Academic Portfolios
Discussion: Strategies for Academic Portfolios
Discussion: Strategies for Academic Portfolios
References
Burns, M. (2018). creating a nursing portfolio. Ohio Nurses Review, 93 (3),16-17
Hannans, J. & Olivo, Y. (2017). Craft a positive nursing digital identity with an ePortfolio. American Nurse Today, 12(11), 48-49. Retrieved October 22, 2020, from https://www.myamericannurse.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/ant11-Digital-Identity-1017a-1.pdf
Walden University. (n.d.) Social Change. Retrieved on October 22, 2020, from https://www.waldenu.edu/why-walden/social-change
Walden University MSN Core Nursing courses – Generic information for success:
Being graduate level adult learners – It is very unlikely that you will experience the quantity of or detailed guidance as in the announcements received in this course. Being so: Read the course announcements thoroughly and completely. Read the course announcements at least daily for any updates. Going forward the Instructors may post items at any time throughout the day or night. I have unfortunately received emails throughout this course with questions for which the information was previously addressed within the announcements. Again, reading the course announcements is imperative for your success.
The utilization requirement of APA within assignments will increase as you progress to courses that are considered “writing intense”. The APA requirement within discussions will remain as you experienced within this course. This course is not considered writing intense. Familiarize yourself with the correct usage of APA 7th edition. It is within every graded item, within every Nursing course going forward. Familiarize yourself and utilize the Walden resources for APA assistance. I have diligently posted links to those resources several times during this course.
Use ONLY your Walden student email for with any Walden University representative. When communicating with your Instructor ALWAYS include your course number and section. Within this course I posted in the announcements numerous times your specific course number and section, as well asked that you include that information when emailing me. Sadly, I received emails that did not include this information, this delayed my assisting you as I had to request your course number and section. This alerts me that course announcements were not being thoroughly and completely reviewed. Going forward it is highly unlikely Instructors will respond to any email other than your Walden student email as email not in Walden origin routinely gets flagged as spam then deleted. Also be fully aware that Instructors required to respond to any email other than your designated Walden Student email.
Be mindful if you do not participate in any Walden course during the 1st week (Day 1 through Day 7) – you will be removed from the course by Walden University regardless of your excuse. Your Instructor has no control over this – it is university policy!
The grading of any assignment cannot proceed by your Instructor unless you submit your assignments via SafeAssign, then in BlackBoard. Traditionally a -0- score will be awarded, with no resubmission availability. At the Graduate level, you are responsible for your work being submitted per instructions AND grading rubric parameters and due date/time. Again, I strongly encourage you to submit your assignments before Day 7 to ensure yourself sufficient time to seek assistance and correct the issue. Remember SafeAssign Drafts and SafeAssign are different!
For Discussions – There is a six (6) day period (Monday, Day 1 through Saturday, Day 6) allowed for the Discussion participation. No allowances for participation will be made outside of the six (6) Discussion active period. Any submitted post outside of the 6-day active discussion period will not be graded and you will receive a -0- score.
Faculty cannot accept or grade any or discussion through email.
Do not wait until Day 7 to begin or submit your assignment. Assignments are due Day 7. At the Graduate level, you are responsible for your work being submitted per instructions, grading rubric parameters and due date and time. Being so = I strongly encourage you to submit your assignments well before Day 7 to ensure yourself sufficient time to seek assistance and correct any issue encountered. I have purposely made myself available to you each day including weekends and responded to you within 12 to 24 hours. Be mindful, Instructors are not required to respond to you on a daily basis. Going forward your Instructors will respond to your Contact the Instructor communications and emails within the required 48 hours’ time period.
As a graduate level student, Instructors will not reach out to you to ensure your assignments/discussions are completed and submitted correctly. As a graduate level adult learner, it is your responsibility to ensure that your discussions and assignments are completed and submitted timely and correctly. As an adult learner, you need to take the initiative and reach out to your Instructor immediately when you encounter an issue. You were offered an online orientation by Walden University – Did you participate in that orientation? If not, I strongly suggest you contact your advisor and make arrangements.
If you experience technical issues, please utilize your resources and contact the Walden Customer Care Team or Walden IT for assistance. Going forward you will encounter several PowerPoint presentations, Walden Templates within your future courses at Walden University, as well be required to submit multiple items with a single submission.
Understand the Time Zones at Walden University and the applicable conversion. Your course calendar is in Eastern Time as is the time/date stamp of submission/participation for your discussions and assignments. Going forward all of your future Nursing courses require that your Discussions, any Quiz or Assignment will continue to be due submitted in Mountain Time.
Have a computer and Internet backup plan. What will you do if your computer crashes or your Internet is not working? Computer/Internet/work issues are your responsibility. Allowances will not be made due to these issues causing a lack of participation or missed deadline, rather a -0- score will be awarded. Save your work on a flash or hard drive. Know where you can go to access the Academic Skills Center as it is an excellent resource to assist in your success.
For Assignments – Only prior communication with AND Instructor approval will late assignments be considered for grading. Assignments submitted late will be deducted 4% daily until Day 5 OR may deduct the entire 20% regardless of time/day of late submission. This is at the discretion of each Instructor and will vary course-by-course. After Day 5, in any course, the assignment will be scored a -0-.
Be familiar with how to access and utilize the Walden resources. I posted the most useful and frequently utilized resources numerous times within the course announcements.
Ensure your discussions have a substance, depth and breadth, critical analysis, and reflection element within the grading rubric. In short – if your discussion does not closely compare to the discussion exemplar located within the course resources and announcements posted within this course your grade will be drastically reduced.
Know who and where to submit any documentation if necessary, for allowances for any late or missed assignments. Remember Instructors are not permitted to accept any medical documentation.
Know who your advisor is and how to contact them.
Know where and how to locate your student feedback. This course is 6 weeks in duration – In Week 5 I received emails inquiring as to “I see my grade but don’t know why points were deducted” – It was sadly apparent the feedback being provided was not being reviewed by those students. Your numeric score and student feedback are in different locations – this was addressed in the course announcements. If you cannot locate or have not located your student feedback for discussions and assignments – I strongly encourage you to contact the Customer Care Team as you have missed a tremendous amount of information.
Student Resources: Here is a partial listing of Walden University resources that have been shared with you during this course. You will frequent these as you progress throughout your future courses. Again, I strongly recommend that you bookmark each of these for your future courses.
SafeAssign
library
Walden Customer Care Team
Walden IT
Time Zones at Walden University
Academic Skills Center
Writing Center
Walden Student Resources
Integrity and Writing At Walden University
Scholarly Ethics at Walden University
APA citation at Walden University
Peer-Reviewed Research
Walden Library Databases
Walden University Library Databases dedicated to Nursing
Phi Nu
http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/assignments/nursing
http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/scholarly
http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/assignments/nursing
http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/scholarlyvoice/tone
http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/scholarlyvoice/academicdiction
http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/scholarlyvoice/writingconcisely
http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/assignments/discussionpost/writing
https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/paperreviews
https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/multilingual
https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/library/ask
https://www.waldenu.edu/experience/support-services
My professional development objective is to improve the lives of folks in my small, rural community by earning a Master of Science in Nursing and becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner who provides holistic, patient-centered care to enhance the health of community members. Creating a growth plan and professional portfolio will help me follow the necessary procedures to achieve my objectives and highlight my accomplishments along the way (Burns, 2018). There are numerous academic activities and achievements that I am currently utilizing and will utilize in the future to reach my objectives. First, finishing with honors from Walden University’s BSN program with the distinction of Summa Cum Laude enabled me gain scholarships that will assist monetarily to my ambitions. I was also inducted into two honor societies, the National Society of Leadership and Success and Sigma Theta Tau, due to my academic achievements. Membership in these organizations will also help me achieve my FNP objective by providing opportunities for networking, career advancement, access to evidence-based articles, continual learning, leadership initiatives, and grant writing seminars (Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, n.d.).
To fulfill the requirements for the MSN-FNP credential, four practicums must be performed. Primary care of adults throughout the lifespan, primary care of adolescents and children, advanced nursing practice in reproductive health care, and synthesis in advanced nursing practice of patients in family care settings are obligatory practicums (Walden University, n.d.). The completion of these practicums will equip me with the information and abilities necessary to achieve my FNP objective and excel at providing great care to my patients.
Walden University is devoted to providing its alumni with the tools and resources necessary to effect social change (Walden University, n.d.). The MSN-FNP program at Walden will equip me with the information and skills necessary to become a leader in my area, contribute to the delivery of high-quality healthcare, and enhance patient outcomes. As a Family Nurse in my community, I will be able to promote health and treat sickness by relying on research and evidence-based practice to inform my decisions, while achieving my aim of providing holistic, patient-centered care to community members.
References
Burns, M. K. (2018). Creating a portfolio for nursing. 16–17. Ohio Nurses Review, 93(3).
Sigma Theta Tau is an international nursing honor society (n.d.). Sigma offers two new online courses to promote the growth of nurse leaders. https://www.sigmanursing.org/connect-engage/news-detail/2021/01/12/sigma-releases-two-new-online-courses-that-support-nurse-leader-development
The university Walden (n.d.). Master’s Degree in Nursing (MSN). https://catalog.waldenu.edu/preview program.php?catoid=179&poid=72167&returnto=65560
Academic Portfolios: Techniques
Different nursing programs should require professionals and students to create professional goals or objectives. Developing a professional portfolio is one of the most effective methods for setting goals. Creating an excellent professional portfolio is one of the finest methods for nurses to demonstrate their accomplishments, talents, and professional experiences. For nurses, a strong portfolio is necessary for self-promotion, a successful professional outcome, and a planned approach to attaining several goals (Burns, 2018). This discussion’s primary objective is to analyze two significant approaches for incorporating academic activities and accomplishments into my professional development objectives.
The creation and implementation of a resume is one of the most effective methods for achieving professional growth objectives. Frequently, resumes are used to describe a candidate’s qualifications as well as their distinctive educational and professional practices. Resumes should highlight qualifications that align with the job description (Mokhtari-Nouri et al., 2018). Effective resumes should capture the attention of employers and highlight the most impressive accomplishments. Through the introduction of strength into the resume, a professional can create a potent document that can facilitate career advancement and competency enhancement.
Recommendations and evaluations from various managers are additional tools for professional development. The inclusion of comments and evaluations from prior managers and supervisors might provide information regarding a candidate’s education, work ethic, abilities, and intended accomplishments (U.S. Department of Labor, 2021). It is vital to include comments from supervisors, organizational managers, and colleagues in nursing practices while creating a professional portfolio. The inclusion of the aforementioned elements promotes or facilitates a sense of agency. A nursing portfolio is an important tool that demonstrates an individual’s accomplishments and their ability to do various tasks in the actual work setting.
Walden University emphasizes positive social change to enable nurses to create a positive attitude toward work processes through the development and execution of successful techniques, ideas, and activities aimed at promoting dignity and strong corporate cultures (Walden University, n.d). The creation of an excellent professional portfolio should incorporate a CV and educator evaluations and recommendations.
References
Burns M. K. (2018). Creating a portfolio for nursing. 16-17, Ohio Nurses Review, 93(3).
Mokhtari-Nouri, J., Mollahadi, M., Khademolhoseini, S. M., & Khaghanizadeh, M. (2018). (2018). A scoping study of the portfolio as a tool for mentoring nursing students. 23(4), 241–247, Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijnmr.ijnmr 195 17
United States Department of Labor (2021). Why You Need an Outstanding Resume. CareerOneStop. https://www.careeronestop.org/JobSearch/Resumes/ResumeGuide/WhyYouNeedaGreatResume/why-you-need-a-great-resume.aspx
The university Walden (n.d.). Academic Guides: Walden and Social Change from the Center for Social Change. 19 Apr. 2021, from http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/social-change/mission.