Academic Success and Professional Development Plan Part 6: Finalizing the Plan
At some point in every construction project, efforts turn from design and the focus moves to actual construction. With the vision in place and the tools secured, the blueprint can be finalized and approved. Then it is time to put on hardhats and begin work.
Throughout the course you have developed aspects of your Academic and Professional Development Plan. You have thought a great deal about your vision and goals, your academic and professional network of support, research strategies and other tools you will need, the integrity of your work, and the value of consulting the work of others. With your portfolio in place, it is now time to finalize your blueprint for success.
Much as builders remain cognizant of the building standards as they plan and begin construction, nurses must remain mindful of the formal standards of practice that govern their specialties. A good understanding of these standards can help ensure that your success plan includes any steps necessary to excel within your chosen specialty.
In this Assignment you will continue developing your Academic Success and Professional Development Plan by developing the final componenta review of your specialty standards of practice. You will also submit your final version of the document, including Parts 15.
To Prepare:
    Review the scope and standards of practice or competencies related to your chosen specialty in the resources for this module.
    Review the MSN specializations offered at Walden by viewing the module resource, Walden University. (n.d.). Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).
    Examine professional organizations related to the specialization you have chosen and identify at least one to focus on for this Assignment.
    Reflect on the thoughts you shared in the Discussion forum regarding your choice of a specialty, any challenges you have encountered in making this choice, and any feedback you have received from colleagues in the Discussion.
The Assignment:
Complete the following items and incorporate them into the final version of your Academic Success and Professional Development Plan.
    With the resources specific to the MSN specialization and the, Walden University. (n.d.). Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), shared in this module, write a paragraph or make a Nursing Specialty Comparison table, comparing at least two nursing specialties that include your selected specialization and second-preferred specialization.
    Write a 2- to 3-paragraph justification statement identifying your reasons for choosing your MSN specialization. Incorporate feedback you received from colleagues in this Modules Discussion forum.
    Identify the professional organization related to your chosen specialization for this Assignment, and explain how you can become an active member of this organization.
Note: Your final version of the Academic Success and Professional Development Plan should include all components as presented the Academic Success and Professional Development Plan template.
Standards of Practice Program Transcript [MUSIC PLAYING] NARRATOR: To ensure the credibility of their work and guide their approach, builders follow standards as required by local and professional building codes. These codes promote safety and establish guidelines that ensure that new construction meets required specifications. It should not surprise you that the nursing profession adheres to guidelines as well. Standards of practice help guide clinical practice and ensure proficiency and safety. Professional nursing standards are also used to help evaluate a nurse’s care and ensure adherence to guidelines established by state and federal laws or leading health-care organizations. Builders follow standards to ultimately deliver the best products possible. So, too, should nursing professionals follow professional standards as a means of delivering the best care to patients. An early familiarity with standards of practice serves as yet another tool to help prepare you for your future success.

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The University Journey to a Masters in Nursing: Standards of Practice Program Transcript FEMALE SPEAKER: Standards of practice in nursing are important, because it guides practice. It holds individuals in the profession accountable for their practice. FEMALE SPEAKER: Standards of practice are important, because they define what the expectation for patient care is. FEMALE SPEAKER: Standards of practice are important, because they serve as a benchmark. They are a level of care that nurses are held to, that they’re responsible for. FEMALE SPEAKER: The impact that having an advanced degree gives to setting or meeting these standards is the educational background, the ability to identify evidence from research studies, to be able to understand those studies, and be able to apply them, and to be able to explain why a standard is important. For instance, if a new standard, practice standard is implemented on your unit, sometimes there’s some push-back, some people who think, no, the way we were doing it is just fine. You would be able to be that role model, and you would be able to talk about the evidence and why the practice standard is a good thing. FEMALE SPEAKER: The masters prepared nurse can incorporate various evidence based practices and be involved in those best practices standards, and evolving it, and making it so that it goes to another level. Perhaps there are things that need to be further infused into the standards of practice. You have the ability to do that. The University Journey to a Masters in Nur

3. The University Journey to a Masters in Nursing: Final Thoughts Program Transcript[MUSIC PLAYING] FEMALE SPEAKER: It’s a lot of hard work, but students tell me after it’s done that they would do it again in a minute. FEMALE SPEAKER: Stay organized, keep a plan in mind, and just keep pushing through. It has its ups and downs, it has its challenges, but the reward of having a master’s or having an advanced degree is really going to be such a success and a benefit to the future of nursing. FEMALE SPEAKER: This is a great time to be a nurse. There is a growing demand for advanced practice nurses. You should look at this as an opportunity to really help your profession. BENJAMIN TRUONG: I just love the program. I can’t get enough of it. [LAUGHS] But it’s just a flexible, supportive program. FEMALE SPEAKER: That fire that you have in wanting to start this program– keep it alive. And the way that you keep it alive is by remembering what got you here in the first place. That fire, that energy, that want, that desire to make a difference. FEMALE SPEAKER: It’s about what you can do to help others. And that’s why you are a nurse, because you care about people, and you want to make a difference at a higher level in nursing. FEMALE SPEAKER: When I started, I thought, this is impossible. I can’t do this. I’m too busy. I work. I’m a mother. I have home responsibilities. But you can. You just have to take it one day at a time, and you can do this. FEMALE SPEAKER: You can do it. Others have done it, and you can do it. FEMALE SPEAKER: You are not alone. We are here for you, and we are in this together. We are a team. That’s what nursing is. And just keep that fire alive and rock on. [MUSIC PLAYING]