NURS 6600: CAPSTONE SYNTHESIS PRACTICUM - Discussion 7 (Very Important For Me Please - Need Only A Work On This) - 12 Hours the Maximum Time

CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY 3

Professional Goals

     Professional development is very import to me.  In fact, the organization I work for, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) fully supports and encourages professional development and certification.  The national Office of Nursing Services (ONS) has a list of approved certifications on their website.  If an employee of the Veterans Affairs (VA) obtains a certification on the approved list, they could be financially rewarded for their achievement and the certification will count towards their future promotions.  The VA also supports the education of leaders through the offering of many national leadership programs. I am a graduate of the Northeast Chapter Healthcare Leadership Institute (NECHLI) where I met one week a quarter for one year with my classmates at different locations in the United States.  We learned about leadership and completed many individual and group projects to strengthen our skills.  In 2010, the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) did a study that demonstrated that a workshop for president-elect members of the AANA helped to grow the organization by developing and maintaining the leadership and managerial skills of their future leaders (Skeleton, Preston, & Good, 2010).    The VA’s programs do just that and work towards growing the next set of leaders in the VA. 

     I am interested in applying for another Leadership Program called Leadership VA (LVA).  This program is similar but focuses directly on the ways to grow in the VA and move forward to an executive position.  I will be applying for this program by the end of this month. I have recently joined another professional organization, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.  I had been a member years ago and recently renewed my membership.  I wanted to do this so I could establish a connection with fellow nurses at the local, regional and even national level.  The resources they offer for professional development, career and community involvement will certainly help me reach my future goals. I also hope to advocate for the profession through the organizations I am involved with. Advocacy, the cornerstone of nursing, seeks to influence the polices and decisions that influence and affect the nursing profession (Matthews, 2012).  I have been a strong advocate with the Alzheimer’s Association and have seen first-hand how our efforts continue to make a difference.  Nurses have a strong voice, but only if unified and collectively working together for a cause.

     My professional goal is to continue to improve my administration skills in my current position of Associate Chief of Nursing Services for Geriatrics and Extended Care.  The future for GEC services is bright and there are so many opportunities in this area.   The growth of home based primary care and short term skilled care allow for the chance to improve on the services offered and increase access to many veterans, especially in the rural areas of Pennsylvania.  I am hoping to be ready to embark on a Nurse Executive role in about five years. 

Certification Goal

     I am already a certified Gerontological Nurse and a Certified Case Manager.  I am proud of these certifications and I always work towards maintaining the necessary credits I need to renew them when it is time. The next certification on my list to achieve would be to earn Fellow status in the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).  The mission of this organization is to advance members and healthcare management excellence (American College of Healthcare Executives, 2017).  This certification is important to me because it is recognized as the premier requirement for all nurse executives in the VA.  The resources available to a Fellow in ACHE are amazing and I would be able to network with other nurse executives and gain more knowledge on the role and responsibilities of the position. 

     I feel I am ready for this certification now and I have plans to begin studying for the exam after the new year.  The only reservation I have is the cost of the membership and exam.  It is pricey, but an investment that I am willing to take. 

         Another certification that I would like to obtain is the Nurse Executive certification through the American Nurse Credentialing Center (ANCC).  This is an approved certification and I think it would enhance my resume when I pursue a Nurse Executive position in the VA.  My goal is to work towards this in the next five years. 

     Finally, one professional goal I have that involves certification is to encourage my nursing home staff to become certified.  To do this, I have prepared the list of relevant certifications on the VA’s approved list.  My plan is to start working with the staff development team to help these employees prepare for the exams.  One strategy I learned was from the University of Vermont’s solution to allow time while on duty to study or to work with someone to fill out the application (Stern, 2016).    In the VA, we cannot pay for the employee to take the exam, but we can compensate them for achieving the certification.  Nurse certification can serve as an indicator of a high level of competence for the nurses (Junger, Trinkle, & Hall, 2016).  Increasing the amount of certified staff will also enhance the quality of care we provide to our veterans. 

References

American College of Healthcare Executives. (2017).  About ACHE.  Retrieved from : http://www.ache.org/abt_ache/facts.cfm

Junger, S., Trinkle, N., & Hall, N. (2016).  Nurse leader certification preparation: how are confidence levels impacted?  Journal of Nursing Management, 24, 775-779.   Retrieved from Walden Library Databases. 

Matthews, J.H. (2012).  Role of professional organizations in advocating for the future of nursing.  Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. 17(1).  Retrieved from Walden Library Databases. 

Skeleton, M.E., Preston, J.C., & Good, L.E. (2010).  Growing leaders in a professional membership organization.  Journal of Nursing Management, 18(6), 662-668.  Retrieved from Walden Library Databases.