Explain how your academic and professional goals align with Walden’s vision, mission, social change message, social determinants of health, and university outcomes
For this Assignment, review the AACN DNP Essentials document and reflect on the competencies presented. Reflect on your personal and academic goals and consider how those goals align with both Walden University’s mission and vision and with the AACN DNP Essentials. Reflect on the social determinants of health framework and consider how your academic and professional goals might align with addressing these elements as a DNP-prepared nurse.
To prepare:
- Review The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice (AACN, 2006) in this week’s Learning Resources and reflect on the competencies presented.
- Review Walden University’s mission, vision, and university outcomes.
- Reflect on your professional and academic goals. Consider how Walden’s mission and vision as well as the AACN’s perspective may fit with your goals. How might you incorporate a commitment to social change into your academic and professional plans?
- How might your academic and professional goals align with addressing the social determinants of health?
The Assignment: (2–3 pages)
- Explain how your academic and professional goals align with Walden’s vision, mission, social change message, social determinants of health, and university outcomes as well as the AACN DNP Essentials. Be specific.
- Explain how you plan to incorporate social change throughout your program of study and in professional practice. Be sure to include how social change may contribute to your practicum/field experience and your role in professional practice.
Reminder: The College of Nursing requires that all papers submitted include a title page, introduction, summary, and references. The Sample Paper provided at the Walden Writing Center provides an example of those required elements (available at https://academicguides.
Resources
American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (n.d.). Fact sheets https://www.aacnnursing.org/
American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2015). The Doctor of Nursing Practice: Current issues and clarifying recommendations. https://www.aacnnursing.org/
American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2006). The essentials of doctoral education for advanced nursing practice. https://www.aacnnursing.org/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Social determinants of health: Know what affects health.Links to an external site. https://www.cdc.gov/
Read, C. Y., Pino Betancourt, D. M., & Morrison, C. (2016). Social change: A framework for inclusive leadership: Development in nursing education.Links to an external site.Journal of Nursing Education, 55(3), 164–167. https://doi.org/10.3928/
Walden University. (2022). Social determinants of health: Understanding vision health equity. https://www.waldenu.edu/
Walden University. (n.d.). Walden catalog.Links to an external site.https://academicguides.
Review the “Introduction” to the Walden Catalog, noting in particular the “Vision, Mission, and Goals” section of the Walden University Catalog.
Verified Expert Answer
AACN Competencies and the Walden Mission, Vision and Outcomes
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) is responsible of advancing nursing education through various programs and initiatives including the development of the standards that inform the process of preparation of nurses. These standards communicate the expectations for the nursing professionals because they mandate nurses to be compassionate in terms of how they care for patients, and to work collaboratively with a team of Interprofessional to deliver optimal care (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, n.d.).
Additionally, the standards require nurses to provide safe and quality care by employing evidence, and using it to inform clinical decisions. Walden University is committed to preparing nurses to develop the necessary competencies to help them meet the AACN’s standards. The university’s DNP program meets the AACN’s competencies. However, it is important for the DNP students at Walden University to reflect on how their professional goals match the institution’s vision, mission and message of social change.
Alignment between My Professional Goals and Walden’s Vision, Mission and Social Change Message, Social Determinants of Health, and University Outcomes, and the AACN DNP Essentials
Nursing education provides nurses with numerous opportunities for career improvement. I choose to pursue a DNP program at Walden University to meet professional objectives including increasing my prospects of becoming a nurse educator. As an educator, I hope to teach nurses, and contribute to the advancement of the nursing education by developing training curricular that can help nurture nurses’ skills (Walden University, 2023). Additionally, I am pursuing the DNP program to contribute to the advancement of the nursing knowledge, which essentially, provides the foundation for the clinical practice.
Alignment with Vision
My professional goals resonate with Walden’s vision which emphasizes judging the quality of knowledge in terms of how students can apply it. I see pursuing the DNP program as a chance of acquiring knowledge which I hope to use in nurturing nurses in learning settings, and contributing to the development of the nursing research. I understand that at the end of the DNP program, my competency will depend on how well I am able to apply the knowledge I acquire in improving the nursing knowledge (Walden University, 2023).
Alignment with Mission
As captured in Walden’s mission statement, the institution is committed to creating conditions that support the growth of students, allowing them to make meaningful social change. This mission aligns with my goal of expanding my nursing knowledge, which I see driving social change by positioning me for more advanced roles in areas such as leadership. Working in leadership role will present me with the privilege and the voice of championing for patients, and contributing to the progression of the policy initiatives meant to improve health equity.
Alignment with Social Change Message
Walden’s commitment to the advancement of the social change agenda reflects in its social change message which reinforces the development and application of health-promoting ideas towards promoting the wellbeing and development of diverse populations’ wellbeing and dignity. I consider learning with the intent of training and developing the nurse’s knowledge, as a means of making change because through sharing with students what I learn during the DNP program, they will acquire skills and knowledge that are essential for driving social change (Read, Pino Betancourt, & Morrison, 2016).
Alignment with Social Determinants of Health
Walden University seeks to prepare nursing professionals to be competent in addressing the gap in access to care because of various social factors including illiteracy, poverty and work conditions. From a professional standpoint, pursuing the DNP program will help improve my understanding of how SDOH come into play in causing the divide in access to health services (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021). By understanding this relationship, I will be in a position to come up with meaningful solutions, and incorporate the same into health programs.
My professional objectives equally resonate with the DNP essentials and Walden’s professional outcomes. I want to develop analytical skills, and learn about how to optimize quality by leveraging effective leadership approaches. I hope that engaging in research will provide me with the chance to realize this objective (Walden University, 2022). Additionally, I will present me with the opportunity to advance my role, and drive change.
Plan on Incorporating the Social Change throughout the Program of Study and Interprofessional Practice
As I pursue the DNP program, I plan to incorporate social change through the program by first educating myself about the health divide, and SDOH, reflecting on my privileges and prejudices. Second, I will contribute to the discussions about the implications of social factors on health.
I also intend to take advantage of the collaborative opportunities by seeking these opportunities, and working with others to discuss the means of promoting positive social development. Social change will help improve my practicum by preparing me with the necessary skills of working with socially disadvantaged groups.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Walden University’s commitment to excellence and social change reflects in the institution’s mission and vision, which I feel align with what I want to achieve as I pursue the DNP program. Although I want to broaden my research skills, and contribute to the development of the nursing curriculum, I see learning at Walden as an opportunity to gain skills and knowledge that will help me work with socially disadvantaged populations.
References
American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (n.d.). Fact sheets https://www.aacnnursing.org/news-data/fact-sheets.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Social determinants of health: Know what affects health.Links to an external site. https://www.cdc.gov/socialdeterminants/index.htm .
Read, C. Y., Pino Betancourt, D. M., & Morrison, C. (2016). Social change: A framework for inclusive leadership: Development in nursing education.Links to an external site.Journal of Nursing Education, 55(3), 164–167. https://doi.org/10.3928/01484834-20160216-08.
Walden University (2023). Vision, Mission and Goals. https://academics.waldenu.edu/handbook/vision-mission-goals.
Walden University. (2022). Social determinants of health: Understanding vision health equity. https://www.waldenu.edu/online-masters-programs/master-of-science-in-nursing/resource/social-determinants-of-health-understanding-vision-health-equity
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