Walden Mission Statement

Health care is a fundamental element to sustaining the welfare of our society. The ability to become a student in the Grand Canyon University (GCU), Master of Science in Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program, takes me one step closer to being able to achieve my dream of playing a vital role in helping our society towards disease prevention. My experience in the acute care setting has reinforced my passion in disease prevention and health preservation. My short term goal is to be able to successfully complete the required course work. Secondly, I want to be able to acquire the necessary certifications to be able to practice as a FNP. The program at GCU will provide me with the knowledge, and skills I will need to effectively develop my role. The long term goal I have set for myself is to reach the Doctorate level degree at some point in my career. I would like to practice at an independent level and have my own practice in

My passion is in psychiatric nursing. I am very much interested providing psychiatric care to the individuals suffering from chronic and persistent mental illness. Being equipped with over seven years of experience providing intense case management to this population, a non-RN position, I have finally found myself here. I attained my Registered Nursing (RN) license through the Entry Level Masters (ELM) program here at APU. My goal is to add needed competencies and skills to my existing experience as a case manager to be a successful Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). I find that my newly acquired nursing skills as well as case management proficiencies complement each other very well and are crucial to my future practice as a PMHNP. PMHNP provides care to individuals at risk for and suffering from psychiatric or mental health problems, taking the lifespan approach (from birth to death) (Thomas, 2013).

In addition, a DNP degree will help me better serve my community by advocating for quality and safety healthcare system. Once attained, I would seek employment at either a school or university with the mission of educating nursing students to practice the highest quality of patient care. One of the major issues facing the nursing profession today is the lack of advance nursing practices. The medical field is in crisis. Doctors are stretched to the limits, and patients are demanding more advanced care. To alleviate some of the concerns facing medicine in the 21st century, advance nursing practices is a vital area in the contribution of understanding and working within the bounds of a team structure, and the promotion of communication between the interdisciplinary health team. The mission of the advance nursing practice is to help individual patients, and their families, determine and achieve optimum physical, mental and social potential, and to do so within the challenging context of the environment in which they live and work Nurses are among the largest professional care group within the healthcare service industry. We are responsible for providing quality care and assisting patients towards independent and healthy living. Considering the changing working environment, health care practitioners like nurses are

In 2008 the Alliance for Advanced Practice Credentialing and the National Council of State Board of Nursing published specific masters educational, accreditation, licensure, credentialing, certification processes. The masters educational, accreditation, licensure, credentialing, certifications are based on a set of values steps to practice will ensure that NPs have the skills training to place themselves to serve an fundamental role in national health care reform (Graduate NursingEDU,

Currently, I am seeking admission to South University for a Master’s Degree in nursing. The online program will help me achieve my academic goals and further advance my career. I have been searching for the right online graduate program that would fit my family needs and I have finally found the perfect school. In 2007 through 2009, I worked in a float pool department as a medical/surgical nurse in an acute care hospital. In 2009, I relocated to North Carolina and have been practicing nursing in a hospital setting, in addition to practicing in a skilled nursing facility and community. I have nursed patients back to health and worked successfully with my co-workers as a good team player. I have had a tremendous journey to become the nurse I am today: a compassionate and professional RN

My initial interest in nursing began from my experience with my grandmother. It was in the fall of 2007 when my grandmother was sent to the hospital due to hypernatremia. My dad would pick me up every afternoon from school to visit my grandmother. I was given the responsibility to look after my grandma for nearly two weeks that includes in feeding her, assisting her, and other light duties. What fascinate me during my visits in the hospital were the nurses who assisted and took care of my grandma. They treated my grandma with dignity, kindness, compassion, courtesy, respect, understanding, and love. Their commitment, professionalism, dedication, determination and skills inspired me to pursue a career in the medical field. From that point, I realized that nursing is a field that enables people impact other people’s lives and make a difference. At 9 years old, being a nurse was a childhood dream and now I am at the point of turning my dream into reality. I want to study and pursue my dream registered nursing at Ryerson University that offers a nursing degree program that focuses on developing student’s critical thinking skills, ability to analyze reflectively and apply theory through community health focused practice making Ryerson one of the best nursing schools in Canada.

I am interested in the subject of mental health and learning disabilities nursing because both these subject areas are of importance to me both professionally and personally.

I agree with Walden University’s (2013a) view on social change that “Walden supports social change through the development of principled, knowledgeable, and ethical scholar-practitioners, who are and will become civic and professional role models by advancing the better of society” (para. 4). I plan to incorporate social change in my profession by applying my past work experiences and knowledge from school to become a better professional role model to my patients, co-workers and community. An example of one learning outcome for the Master of Science in Nursing is to “exhibit ongoing commitment to professional development” (Walden University, 2013b, para. 3). I am constantly trying to learn new ways to improve and better my knowledge and education. I recently obtained my Certified Emergency Nurse certification and will soon be taking the Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse exam. I only hope that with my past experiences and my future knowledge gained at Walden University, I will be able to become a professional advocate and role model for the future of pediatric care and the patient population thereof.

Nursing is an excellent career choice, where an individual acquires great gratitude while attending to others necessities. If someone is constantly trying to improve themselves and wanting to be challenged in life, “as nurses, we face tremendous challenges and often see and do things that are extraordinary” (Ulrich xix). By becoming a registered nurse the individual will make a difference. Nursing allows an individual to continuously be benefiting a fellow human being, not only with the patient but with their families as well, having the opportunity to becoming someone especial in the patient’s life. Nursing is a

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN, 2011).  The essentials of Master’s Education for Advance Practice Nursing. Retrieved July 09. 2015.

The University of Alabama and I possess a common vision: We are committed to enhancing the quality of life, not only for Alabamians, but for citizens of the nation and the world. There are numerous reasons I am pursuing the admission to the University of Alabama. First, the University of Alabama is nationally ranked as an affordable graduate program and is among the top five percent of nursing schools. Second, the academic content in the Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program provides a strong advanced primary care base in support of caring for patients with common psychiatric/mental health problems. Furthermore, I am drawn to the University of Alabama’s continuous support of military veterans. I have had the privilege of serving in the Air Force for 8 years. There is an impressive amount of acceptance and support for military veterans through the numerous scholarships and Veterans Career Advancement in Nursing initiative.

I decided to further my nursing career by going back to school to obtain a graduate degree in Family Nurse Practitioner. For me, it was a logical choice, as I love to help my patients to the most of my ability but at the same time I felt limited by my current scope of practice. A degree in FNP will enable and equip me with the knowledge and skills to care for a wide range of patient population. It will also place me in a position of leadership to bring about much needed changes and advocacy in patient care and also for nursing as a profession.

In conclusion, to transform the United States healthcare system contributions must be provided by the nursing profession. The changes will require implementation of the described IOM goals of transforming nursing education, nursing practice and nursing leadership. I believe the process of change to the nursing profession has already began as many of my nursing colleagues have begun to return to school to complete their Baccalaureate degrees (BSN). I personally will be meeting the goals set forth by the IOM. I will do so by improving my nursing practice with continuing my education and completing my BSN. I will also improve my nursing bedside practice and possibly step into nursing leaderships roles. By November 2015 I plan on applying into a Nurse Practitioners program (FNP) where after I will be working in the primary care setting and I will be able to lead a

The educational requirement for advanced nursing practice is a master’s level education in a program or track leading to APN licensure, including graduate degree-granting and post-graduate certificate programs with established educational standards and attainment of the APN core, role core and population core competencies (National Council of State Boards, 2012). APN’s acquire increased knowledge in the sciences of anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, pathophysiology, and pharmacology. The core curriculum for the advanced practice role includes priorities in

My career objectives are to advance my nursing career through professional development of self by engaging in long life learning through continuing education in graduate school. Also, to assume leadership role in the use of evidence based research in healthy public policy and contribute to population health. Nursing is a field that keeps unfolding and requires updated knowledge to provide quality care, meet the professional requirements and challenges. Hence, long life learning would increase my professional values and competencies required to deliver quality care to diverse population. As a Public Health Nurse, by pursing Masters in Nursing, I will be able to build on my capacity to enhance and advance the field of nursing as a science.