Foundations of Clinical Nurse Specialist Practice - Essay Example

Personal Career Development Plan (or your here) Jacksonville School of Nursing Personal Career Development Plan Nursing as a career, offers many opportunities for growth. Nurses start their career at the patients side to gain the necessary experience in procedures, practices and patient interaction after which, basing on the individual determination of a nurse, onecan move upward in their career to become leaders in the nursing field ( Fulton and Goudreau, 2010). However, certain requirements are needed for this growth such as many years of experience and additional qualifications in nursing. This paper will therefore develop a personal career development plan basing on an interview of xxxxxx (name of interviewee), who is a preceptor nurse in xxxxxx (The institutions name), and her role involves training new nurses on hospital procedures and policies. 1. Personal goals: The personal goals of a preceptor nurse are divided into short term goals and long term goals. The short term goals are the immediate ambitions in which the nurse seeks to fulfill while long term goals involves the ambitions of a nurse which he seeks to fulfill over a long period of time, for instance, a preceptor nurse will want to see that all nurses, in the long run practice their skill in regard to the ethics and standard procedures of nursing. The short and long term goals of a preceptor nurse are, a. Short-term goals i. To have confidence and extensive experience in the performance of his/her duties in an environment that is supportive of nursing practices. i.e. consultation, collaboration and assistance services for effective practicum ii. To demonstrate expertise in the use of nursing processes and in managing tertiary, secondary and primary prevention for clients with complex health care needs in different medical settings. b. Long-term goals i. Demonstrate knowledge of the synthesis and application of Benners model which includes teaching-coaching role, diagnostic and monitoring function, domains of the helping role, management of changing medical situations, administration of therapeutic interventions, ensuring high standards of health care practices are met, etc. ii. Demonstrate ability to communicate and collaborate with other health care professionals in managing complex health care needs. II. Plans for selection of a mentor A mentor will be chosen based on his/ her successes in the field of practicum. The following are the criteria to be in use while selecting a mentor, How old is the mentor. The level of mentor education. Nature of the mentor’s publications. Reputation of the mentor in the field of nursing. Future plans and objectives of the mentor in regard to practicum. III. Plans for transition to chosen role a. Degree level; To qualify as a preceptor nurse, an individual ought to have a BSN degree. Baccalaureate of nursing (BSN) is a college level course of study designed for registered nurses who want to pursue further knowledge in the mentioned field. To be admitted into the programme, nurses need to have preparatory degrees and a nursing license. After admission, there is a strict regulation which requires students to maintain a minimum grade in order to remain enlisted into the programme. Failure to maintain these points, the institution may place the student on academic probation and if grades don’t improve, chances are that the student will be dismissed. Registered nurses, who successfully complete this degree, qualify to be preceptor nurses (Fulton and Goudreau, 2010). b. Role responsibilities i. A preceptor is a teacher: The preceptor will instill knowledge on how to meet the needs of the patients and other individuals in a medical institution. ii. A preceptor is a role model: A preceptor is an experienced nurse in the field of nursing thus new nurses look at her/him for guidance and advice. iii. A preceptor as a resource person: As a resource person, the preceptor will communicate his/ her decisions in regard to specific actions taken in the administration of health care services. a. Licensure/certification i. Requirements: Advanced degree in nursing At least one year of practice as a registered nurse. Licensed and with a good reputation as a nurse with the nursing board. Willingness to be a mentor and teach students. Willingness to assist students achieve objectives of nursing. Willingness to assess student performance. ii. Process: Submit curriculum vitae to the nursing board. Complete a preceptor application form. b. Role availability and salary: All major medical institutions require a preceptor nurse and the salary scale of such a specialist ranges between $ 40000-50000 c. Pros, Cons, and Liabilities i. Pros: The field offers competitive salary scale for nurses as this will enable these specialists to acquire income that will fully satisfy their needs. ii. Cons: It requires a hardworking and patient individuals since some students are slow to learn and thus repeated teaching and guidance of a named policy/ procedure is necessary and this can lead to fatigue and frustration on the part of a preceptor. iii. Liabilities: The preceptor is liable for the mistakes of his students in case he/she gave a wrong guidance. d. Potential for professional growth; There is potential of growth in this field to a lead nurse or matron. iv. Study plan a. Diploma course in nursing b. Baccalaureate in Nursing (BSN) v. Time management plan a. Two years studying diploma course in nursing. b. Four years studying baccalaureate in nursing. vi. Stress reduction Plan a. Engage in sports activities during my spare time. b. Engage in social events such as charity during weekends. c. Engage in spiritual activities. Conclusion In conclusion, a career plan in nursing is an essential guide for future prospects of a nurse. In this plan, a mentor is chosen based on his academic achievements, experiences and achievements in the field of practicum nursing. The plan identifies a preceptor nurse as a highly qualified individual who must have a higher degree for admission in to this crucial role in the nursing arena. This plan has successfully identified the salary scale of a preceptor nurse and thus views the specialist as a highly paid individual in the medical field. This plan has identified issues such as sporting activities, charity work and development of time management plans as strategies of taking care of an individual nurse and promoting the RN-BSN programme. REFERENCES Fulton, J. S., Lyon, B. L., & Goudreau, K. A. (2010). Foundations of clinical nurse specialist practice. New York: Springer. Read More