What types of professional positions interest you? Are they significantly different from the types of positions you have held in the past? If so, how?

Marcus recalls the beginning of his career, when he started as a nurse at Grand View Hospital. He had heard the organization was soliciting proposals from various companies so they could weigh the pros and cons associated with adopting a new health information technology system. He has been curious about the request for proposal (RFP) process ever since. Now, as he looks forward to new professional opportunities, he would like to ensure that he develops the skills and expertise needed to formulate an RFP. 

What are your professional aims? How can you apply what you have learned in your coursework to your practicum setting? How will you leverage your experiences in the practicum to facilitate your development as a nurse leader-manager or informaticist?

In this Discussion, you reflect on your aspirations and consider the transitions that may be required to achieve them. You identify professional development objectives and evaluate opportunities for achieving them through your experiences in the practicum.

To prepare:

  • Think about the professional role changes you have been undergoing or that you may undertake following completion of this MSN program.
  • Review the information related to professional development and role change in the Learning Resources, and conduct additional research as necessary to address any questions or concerns you may have.
  • Consider the following questions:
    • What types of professional positions interest you? Are they significantly different from the types of positions you have held in the past? If so, how?
    • What challenges are you likely to encounter as you transition into a new role?
    • What resources could help you to manage this change? Consider your inner resources (e.g., drawing on previous experiences, stress management), resources available to you through your relationships with others, and institutional supports.
  • Consider how you could use this Practicum Experience to apply what you have learned and enhance or acquire specialization skills and knowledge, regardless of whether you intend to change roles or stay in your current position for the time being.
  • Review the NURS 6600 Course Outcomes listed in the Syllabus. Determine how your experiences in the practicum could help you to achieve one or more of these outcomes.
  • Review the information in the Introduction to the Practicum (in this week’s Practicum area) and the School of Nursing Practicum Manual as necessary to ensure you have a clear understanding of the practicum requirements.
  • Review the suggestions for developing effective learning objectives provided in the Learning Resources.
  • Think of two or three objectives that could help guide your professional development during your practicum. These objectives, referred to as your practicum professional development objectives, must be:
    • Specific
    • Measurable
    • Attainable
    • Results-focused
    • Time-focused
    • Reflective of the higher-order domains of Bloom’s Taxonomy (i.e., Application level and above)
  • Select one or more practicum professional development objectives to focus on for this Discussion. (You may continue to hone these objectives as you work on this week’s Application Assignment.)
  • Reflect on how you could achieve each objective through your Practicum Experience.

Post on or before Day 3 an explanation of your professional aspirations and how you intend to use the Practicum Experience to promote career change and/or enhance your performance. Describe at least one objective to facilitate your professional growth, and explain the steps you could take to achieve the objective(s) during your Practicum Experience. Support your response with examples from the literature.

Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses.

What resources are available to assist nurses in advocating for these roles?

Select an advanced professional or advanced practice nursing specialty. How has past and current regulation/legislation affected the role and scope of this nursing role? What, if any, discussions are currently underway relative to the scope and role of this specialty? What resources are available to assist nurses in advocating for these roles?

 

What are the main arguments? What is the point of this article or chapter? What topics are covered? If someone asked what this source is about, what would you say?

APA format- if you’re able to write this paper well, and get me an A grade, I will use you for all future papers…and trust me, there will be a lot. price is negotiable.

 

For this week’s assignment, you will prepare an annotated bibliography on a topic related to health care that is currently impacted by a policy change or potential policy change. The policy that is or will impact change should be related to the health care system or nursing specifically. Look for information that shows that the policy, in your opinion, improved or did not improve the health care system or nursing practice.

Choose a Policy Issue

Review the Unit 3 study activities to read a list of potential policy issues that will give you a foundation to help you determine which policy change you are interested in. Choose one issue to focus on. The area that you choose to focus on could include particular interests that would lead you to explore articles that look at legal, ethical, and regulatory process in health care or nursing practice.

What Is an Annotated Bibliography?

Use the four articles that you chose, keeping the following information in mind:

  • A bibliography is a list of sources (books, journals, Web sites, periodicals, et cetera) one has used for researching a topic. A bibliography usually just includes the bibliographic information (that is, the author, title, publisher, et cetera).
  • An annotation is a summary or evaluation.
  • Therefore, an annotated bibliography includes a summary or evaluation of each of the sources in the bibliography. For this assignment, you are expected to include both a summary and an evaluation.
  • Your annotations should address the following three areas for EACH of the four articles you select:
    1. Summarize: What are the main arguments? What is the point of this article or chapter? What topics are covered? If someone asked what this source is about, what would you say?
    2. Evaluate: Is it a useful source? How does it compare with other sources in your bibliography? Is the information reliable? Is this source biased or objective? What is the goal of this source? (Or the goal of the writer?)
    3. Reflect: How does the source assist or fit into your practice? Was this source helpful to you? How might this source help you shape an argument (in favor of or against) the topic presented? Has the source changed how you think about this topic?

Assignment Grading

Be sure to consult the scoring guide for this assignment to see how your work will be graded. Notice that you will be expected to apply APA writing style to write clearly and logically, with correct use of grammar, punctuation, and mechanics. You may wish to consult Chapter 3 and Chapter 4 in the APA manual and the information listed in this unit’s Writing Resources study.

Review your annotated bibliography and make sure it is complete, using the checklist below.

Components of the annotated bibliography:
  • Begins with a title page that includes your name.
  • Lists citation information for the articles or chapters, formatted in APA style.
  • Each citation is followed by an annotation, approximately one page in length.
  • The bibliography comprises a variety of credible perspectives.
  • The final page consists of a reference list that includes all of your APA-formatted citations, in alphabetical order.
  • The assignment is 6-8 pages long, including the title page and references.
Each annotation should contain some or most of the following:
  • Provides the reader with more information about the content of the sources.
  • Consists of a paragraph that is both descriptive and evaluative (about 150 words).
  • Offers both a description and a critical assessment of the articles or chapters being annotated.
  • Gives the reader a sense of the quality of the source.
  • Gives a sense of the argumentative position of the author relative to others in the field.
  • Informs the reader of the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the sources cited.
  • Concisely exposes the author’s point of view and the clarity of the work.
  • Evaluates the appropriateness of expression, and authority.
  • Summarizes the central theme and scope of the article or chapter.
  • Evaluates the authority or background of the author.
  • Comments on the intended audience.
  • Compares or contrasts this work with another you have cited.
  • Explains how this work illuminates your bibliography topic.

If you would like to practice formatting APA citations before you submit this first assignment, click on the links, in Resources, to access interactive media that will help you practice.

How has the emphasis on quality of care, patient safety, and clinical care outcomes been impacted by specific standards emanating from CMS and TJC? Cite a core measure or standard in your response.

Promoting Quality and Safety Through Standards

In the article “Managing to Improve Quality: The Relationship Between Accreditation Standards, Safety Practices, and Patient Outcomes,” the authors discuss the growing trend by medical insurance companies to eliminate reimbursement for Never Events. As these types of mistakes should be easily preventable, hospitals have developed protocols to lessen or extinguish the occurrence of these events. In addition, The Joint Commission and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid have developed core measures to guide health care providers’ efforts in improving patient safety and the quality of care delivered. Review the information at the Joint Commission and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Web sites on the core measures and standards presented in this week’s Resources.

To prepare for this Discussion, select either a Never Event or a core measure and respond to the following:

  • How has the emphasis on quality of care, patient safety, and clinical care outcomes been impacted by specific standards emanating from CMS and TJC? Cite a core measure or standard in your response.

Support your response with references from the professional nursing literature. 1 page

Discuss how strong leaders apply power, influence, advocacy, and authenticity to motivate those they lea

Power, influence, advocacy, and authenticity are all functions of leadership. View the video: “Morale and Discipline: The Mind of a Leader” at:

http://library.gcu.edu:2048/login?url=http://digital.films.com.library.gcu.edu:2048/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=12129&xtid=48949

 

Power, influence, advocacy, and authenticity are all functions of leadership. View the video: “Morale and Discipline: The Mind of a Leader” at:

http://library.gcu.edu:2048/login?url=http://digital.films.com.library.gcu.edu:2048/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=12129&xtid=48949

 

Discuss how strong leaders apply power, influence, advocacy, and authenticity to motivate those they lea

Identify two reasons why these groups are adopting this model.

One model of leadership being adopted by many organizations, disciplines, and vocations is servant leadership. Describe this model. Identify two reasons why these groups are adopting this model.

2.How do you define professionalism and how does professional responsibility influence your work?

Interview a fellow peer in your class who works in a different health discipline than you. Begin your interview with the following questions:

1.What is your role as a health care team member?

2.How do you define professionalism and how does professional responsibility influence your work?

3.Do you consider leaders in your organization stewards of health care? Why or Why not?

4.Is it important to you that leaders exercise professional advocacy and authenticity as well as power and influence when working with colleagues? Why or why not?

In 500-750 words, summarize your interview and share your impressions of your peer’s responses.

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

 

4.Identify at least two examples from the required or recommended readings of techniques found to foster inclusion and improve communication and collaboration.

Choose two issues or challenges that the leaders of today’s health care organizations face. Select from among the following topics:

1.Staff Shortage (Physicians, Nurses, Allied Health Providers, Ancillary Services)

2.Reorganization in Response to Merger or Consolidation of Services

3.Layoffs as a Result of Declining Revenues

4.Influx of Registry, Part-Time, and Temporary Contract Staff

5.Poor Performance Outcomes Leading to a Reduction in Medicare Reimbursement Dollars

6.Poor Job Satisfaction Rates Resulting in Turnover

You are the manager of an ancillary service department at a large, 500+ bed hospital. Develop a proposal (750-1,200 words) that is directed toward your staff, in which you address the following:

1.Inform the staff of the two issues (from the topics provided) your organization is facing.

2.Describe the impact of these issues on your department.

3.Describe how improved communication, collaboration, and teamwork can improve conditions in your department.

4.Identify at least two examples from the required or recommended readings of techniques found to foster inclusion and improve communication and collaboration.

5.A minimum of three academic references from credible sources are required for this assignment.

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

 

How do communication and interdisciplinary collaboration prevent adverse events?

In the assigned article, “Core Principles & Values of Effective Team-Based Health Care”(http://www.iom.edu/Global/Perspectives/2012/TeamBasedCare.aspx) the authors state that “the incorporation of multiple perspectives in health care offers the benefit of diverse knowledge and experience; however, in practice, shared responsibility without high-quality teamwork can be fraught with peril.” Describe the perils that the authors say lead to uncoordinated care and unnecessary waste and cost. How do communication and interdisciplinary collaboration prevent adverse events?