NURS 6003 Academic Success and Professional Development Plan Part 1: Developing an Academic and Professional Network Academic Success and Professional Development Plan Part 1: Developing an Academic and Professional Network

NURS 6003 Academic Success and Professional Development Plan Part 1: Developing an Academic and Professional Network Academic Success and Professional Development Plan Part 1: Developing an Academic and Professional Network

Nursing students often require both academic and professional support to ensure successful completion of their programs. At Walden University where there are significant numbers of nurses from different backgrounds, consideration of learning support is necessary to ensure effective progression and success. As a nurse student, professional networking leads to the exploration of the entire field of nursing as well as the development of a strong support system within the medical community (Birks et al., 2018). Professional networking allows nursing students to gain new knowledge and experiences, share ideas, and discover new specialties (MacIntyre et al., 2019). Sharing knowledge is an essential part of the learning process. At Walden University, there are numerous resources that can be utilized by the learners to ensure effective learning outcomes. These resources may include academic professionals, fellow learners, healthcare professionals, and the educators.  The purpose of this section is therefore to explore the above academic and professional resurces and their role in my academic journey.

Why I selected this individual and/or team and how they will support my success in the MSN program and as a practicing nurse:

Notes: As a program director, Dr. Shelley Armstrong has the responsibilities in course development, academic program reviews, policy and curriculum reviews, as well as the development of students into health science professionals. Dr. Shelley Armstrong has been in the institution for over ten years and she has taught many courses and engaged with different students and other educators. As a result, she is able to provide the right direction in the learning process. I chose Dr. Shelley Armstrong due to her experience in educational matters. I believe she will be able to guide me through the course by providing or suggesting the right resources to be used. Moreover, Dr. Shelley Armstrong will be able to help in the research processes and enhance connection with other educators.

NETWORK MEMBER 2

Why I selected this individual and/or team and how they will support my success in the MSN program and as a practicing nurse:

Notes: Elizabeth McDonald has a Master’s degree in Community Counselling. She also has a BA in Sociology. Through continuous education, Elizabeth McDonald obtained a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision. She has experience in the counselling programs both for the students and professionals. She has worked in the county jail, juvenile settings, University Counselling, community agencies, and psychological settings. While working in these institutions, she managed to gain experience in dealing with adolescents, children and adults.

Given that nursing programs are characterized by different problems including long times of studies and research processes, there is always a high possibility of developing psychological glitches. I therefore chose Dr. Elizabeth McDonald to help in the counseling processes. I believe she will be able to assist whenever I have emotional problems. The counseling process is essential for learners as it provides solution to both the academic and personal problems. Guidance and counselling is critical in the current education system. In the nursing education, it helps both educators and learners to become more professionals so that they can counter challenges. Dr. Elizabeth McDonald will therefore become a useful member of my network in terms of providing guiding and counselling services.