NETWORKING

Monique Mcwilliams

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My name is Monique; I've been a Registered Nurse for 15 years.  I have always been drawn to individuals struggling with mental illness.  Whether with a family member or in an acute care hospital setting.  This has led me to pursue my education and earn my master's degree in the area I feel such passion towards and have always wanted to work in.  

 

For years, I have felt that people suffering from mental illness have been overlooked and misunderstood.  As a society we have failed to advocate, support and provide the necessary resources for them.  Covid 19 has forever changed our lives and world in many different ways.  Whether it is from losing a loved one, people suffering from post-Covid complications, depression and anxiety.  

 

My vision is to provide care and support for people of all ages, races and socioeconomic backgrounds in our society with mental illness.  Through different modalities such as counseling, brain work therapy, support groups, medication management and other resources.  I chose Walden because we share a similar vision such as their statement; "The knowledge that is applied by its graduates to the immediate solutions of critical societal challenges thereby advancing the greater global good Walden University.  (n.d.)."

 

My goal is to gain more knowledge in psychiatric mental health.  I want to have my own private practice to help this underserved population of people in our society.  I will be able to incorporate the knowledge and critical thinking that Walden provides which will result in professional excellence Walden University.  (n.d.).  By providing support, I will help reduce depression and anxiety and support people with addictions and various mental health issues.  Advancing my education at Walden as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner will produce a scholarly, reflective practitioner and agent of positive social change Walden University.  (n.d.).

 

I have never been a fan of reaching out to people I don't know or have come in contact with.  Professional networking can be perceived as contrived and based on ulterior motives Schmidt, K. (n.d.).  After reading 5 reasons nurses should engage in professional networking.  I realized I have never viewed the relationships I have made at my places of employment as networking.  However, I have been networking and building relationships throughout my 15-year career.  I have met peers that I share common vision and values and have expanded my nursing network across the globe working as a travel nurse.  I still have peers I reach out to for support, guidance and knowledge today.  I see the value in reaching out to others in the field to learn new practices and technologies.  If you think of networks as groups of people with some common interests who share knowledge and assist each other in some way, then it becomes clear that professional networks can be as authentic and natural as we perceive social networks to be Wofford, P. (2018, May 24).

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Walden University.  (n.d.).  Walden University catalogLinks to an external site.. Retrieved October 4, 2019, from https://catalog.waldenu.edu

Select College of Nursing, then Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).  Review the MSN Learning Outcomes on this page.

Schmidt, K. (n.d.).  5 reasons nurses should engage in professional networkingLinks to an external site.  [Blog post].  Retrieved October 12, 2018, from https://blog.bluepipes.com/5-reasons-nurses-should-take-professional-networking-seriously/

Wofford, P. (2018, May 24).  10 networking tips for nurses who hate networkingLinks to an external site.. Retrieved from https://nurse.org/articles/tips-for-nurse-networking/