As a nurse with five years of experience in critical care, including intensive care, emergency department, and post-anesthesia care, I have become more concerned with preventative care. Seeing patients with diseases that have been unmanaged or mismanaged has driven my pursuit of an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner degree.

According to Walden (2019b), the vision of the University is directly related to advancing the greater global good. When researching higher educational opportunities provided online, there are a plethora of opportunities available. However, I believe this one statement in the vision of Walden University encompasses the reason I want to achieve an advanced degree. Increasing chronic disease compliance with education as preventative medicine will advance the greater good starting in my community.

The mission of Walden University (2019b) states that they strive to produce a diverse community of career professionals to create positive social change. Merriam- Webster (2019) defines diversity as the inclusion of people of all races, genders, and cultures. As students at Walden University, we should feel honored to attend a school where all are welcome. 

The goals described by Walden University (2019b) mention professional excellence, multi-contextual career opportunities, quality, and integrity. All of these words describe attributes anyone would want in an advanced care practitioner. 

All of the Master of Science in Nursing learning outcomes is important in becoming an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner. However, the MSN program outcomes that most specifically relate to my career are to transform health outcomes for diverse populations and exhibit ongoing professional development (Walden University, 2019a). As mentioned at the beginning of this paper, I have spent the majority of my career involved in taking care of patients whom it is already “too late.” I want my focus to be on preventative care and proper education to patients newly diagnosed with chronic conditions.

References

Merriam-Webster. (2019). Diversity. Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diversity

Walden University. (2019a). Masters of Science in Nursing. Retrieved from https://catalog.waldenu.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=168&poid=65077&returnto=58170

Walden University. (2019b). Vision, Mission, and Goals. Retrieved from https://catalog.waldenu.edu/content.php?catoid=168&navoid=57778

IOM Future of Nursing Report and Nursing 

Review the IOM report, “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health,” and explore the “Campaign for Action: State Action Coalition” website. In a 1,000-1,250 word paper, discuss the influence the IOM report and state-based action coalitions have had on nursing practice, nursing education, and nursing workforce development, and how they continue to advance the goals for the nursing profession.

Include the following:

1. Describe the work of the Robert Wood Foundation Committee Initiative that led to the IOM report, “Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health.”
2. Outline the four “Key Messages” that structure the IOM Report recommendations. Explain how these have transformed or influenced nursing practice, nursing education and training, nursing leadership, and nursing workforce development. Provide examples.
3. Discuss the role of state-based action coalitions. Explain how these coalitions help advance the goals specified in the IOM report, “Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health.”
4. Research the initiatives on which your state’s action coalition is working. Summarize two initiatives spearheaded by your state’s action coalition. Discuss the ways these initiatives advance the nursing profession.
5. Describe barriers to advancement that currently exist in your state and explain how nursing advocates in your state overcome these barriers.

You are required to cite to a minimum of three sources to complete this assignment. Sources must be published within the last 5 years and appropriate for the assignment criteria and relevant to nursing practice.  

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required. 

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion. 

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance. 

VARK Analysis Paper

Learning styles represent the different approaches to learning based on preferences, weaknesses, and strengths. For learners to best achieve the desired educational outcome, learning styles must be considered when creating a plan. Complete “The VARK Questionnaire,” located on the VARK website, and then complete the following:

1. Click “OK” to receive your questionnaire scores.
2. Once you have determined your preferred learning style, review the corresponding link to view your learning preference.
3. Review the other learning styles: visual, aural, read/write, kinesthetic, and multimodal (listed on the VARK Questionnaire Results page).
4. Compare your current preferred learning strategies to the identified strategies for your preferred learning style.
5. Examine how awareness of learning styles has influenced your perceptions of teaching and learning.

In a paper (750‐1,000 words), summarize your analysis of this exercise and discuss the overall value of learning styles. Include the following:

1. Provide a summary of your learning style according the VARK questionnaire.
2. Describe your preferred learning strategies. Compare your current preferred learning strategies to the identified strategies for your preferred learning style.
3. Describe how individual learning styles affect the degree to which a learner can understand or perform educational activities. Discuss the importance of an educator identifying individual learning styles and preferences when working with learners.
4. Discuss why understanding the learning styles of individuals participating in health promotion is important to achieving the desired outcome. How do learning styles ultimately affect the possibility for a behavioral change? How would different learning styles be accommodated in health promotion?

Cite to at least three peer‐reviewed or scholarly sources to complete this assignment. Sources should be published within the last 5 years and appropriate for the assignment criteria.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide.   An abstract is not required.

Response for each one is 200 words.

1) 

At the start of this course, I did not think I would appreciate the community health nurse as much as I do now. When signing up for this course I really did not know what to expect, but by judging by the name I figured that it would consist of busy work rather than important education for the development of my career, and now that it is nearing the end, boy was I wrong! This course has been able to teach me so much important information, not just of my community, but the importance of community education, community risks, diseases that affect the community, and even made me realize of many things I experienced growing up in the community that happened, but was not aware of its importance. The community health course has been able to expand my knowledge and mentality of the healthcare process and those that are involved in it, outside of the healthcare setting. 

            Course goals and personal goals were attained during this course. The course goals specified in our syllabus included the nurse role in meeting emergent needs, exploring history, legality, social aspects, and nursing practice of the healthcare setting, predict, plan, analyze, implement public health surveillance, etc. These goals were met mostly because of the research the course would prompt us to explain. The prompted course work would set the foundation of the research, but the actual research part would open the doors of endless information on the subject and would lead up to different topics that were different, yet relatable to the information of the foundation. This method was able to help me build on top of information already known or learned and expand the knowledge previously acquired and was able to continue expanding my knowledge on the subject. The relevance of the topics with today’s modern concerns and realistic factors made it interesting to continue the research, making this course a breeze for me. 

            The information gained in this community health nursing course will be always an influence in the day to day living and career practice. I’m now able to evaluate my community and the people included in it, such as senior citizens, LGBT, and communicable diseases, and have an understanding of the amount of work, research, and planning that went behind some of the simplest situation. With a greater understanding of the community, I could impact those around me with basic facts and knowledge with the hopes of one day preventing a disease or reducing the risk of contracting a communicable disease in my community. 

2) The objectives for this course are:  1) to examine nursing roles to meet the health needs of individuals, families, communities, and populations.  I learned how to evaluate and anticipate the needs of people, families, and communities and to develop a plan of care to help meet their needs.  As it related to my current practice I am aware of the needs of patients and their families once they are discharged from the hospital post operatively.  2) To explore historical, legal, social, cultural, political, and economic forces that influence care.  I learned that it is sometimes out of the hands of patients and their families.  Patients and their families are sometimes forced to live lifestyles that leave them more prone to certain health risks.  During this course I was able to see certain lifestyles are at higher risk for healthcare issues than others and ways the community health nurse can assist in prevention and treatment.  3) Predict lifestyle trends that effect healthcare and future challenges of nurses.  Although it is still frustrating that some illnesses and lifestyles can be prevented easily and patients choose to continue to expose themselves to certain lifestyles it is not always the patient choice.  The public health nurse can provide education needed to those who are willing to change to promote a healthier living environment and lifestyle.  5) Plan, analyze, implement, and evaluate public health monitoring and outbreak investigation.  I learned the importance of the community health nurse and their role during infectious disease outbreaks and how their involvement can have a positive impact on those affected by the disease and disease prevention in others. 6) Develop strategies to deliver nursing care during disaster management.  I think this was my favorite assignment was the week we developed the plan for disaster management.  I do not know if it because of the time I spent working as an emergency room nurse or because my husband is involved in emergency management.  I guess deep down I am an adrenaline junky and being involved in the preparation triggered that.  I have enjoyed these last few weeks with everyone, good luck to you all on your future endeavors.  Best wishes!  Florence Nightingale was a consummate advocate for population health (Clark, 2015).  Which to me means community health nurses has been a part of nursing since the beginning. 
 

I work in Maryland and got licensed as a registered nurse with the Maryland board of nursing. “The mission of the Board of Nursing is to advance safe quality care in Maryland through licensure, certification, education, and accountability for public protection. The Board of Nursing operates under the Maryland Nurse Practice Act, Health Occupations Article, Section 8. The Board has the authority to adopt regulations as necessary to carry out provisions of the law. The Board is mandated to regulate the practice of Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, Certified Nursing Assistants, Certified Medication Technicians, Licensed Electrologists, and Licensed Direct-Entry Midwives” (“Mission Statement,” n.d.) The Maryland nurse practice act is regulated by Maryland laws and regulations can also be found on the internet by searching for the Annotated Code of Maryland(Health Occupations Article, Title 8. Nurses) and the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR). The relevant regulations are found under COMAR Title 10, Subtitle 27. The Board no longer offers the annually updated printed copy of the Nurse Practice Act. (“Nurse Practice Act,” n.d.).

My job description as a neuroscience nurse in an acute care setting is guided by standards of practice stipulated by the Maryland board of nursing and Maryland nurse practice act. Their aim is to ensure that I carry out my responsibility professionally in accordance with the standards and guidelines required and that I am up to date on the continuous education units required to maintain my license as a registered nurse. The ultimate goal is patient care and safety which is the essence of nursing in the first place.