Running head: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Professional Development Plan
Jean M. Collins
American Sentinel University
1

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2
Professional Development Plan
My personal development plan is to grow as a nurse and to gain knowledge that provides the safety and care my patients deserve. Nursing has been a part of my life since I was young women in high school. I have traveled the path of starting out as a candy stripper progressing to a
Certified Nurse’s Assistant, LPN and onto a RN with a BSN. My path though will not be completed until I have obtained my goal of a Master’s of Nursing with specialty in nursing leadership.
This Students Three Year Plan/Continuing Education Plan
Currently completing my Bachelors of Science in Nursing, this student’s ultimate career goal is to complete the Master’s in Nursing. The goal of obtaining the MSN with specialty in
Nursing Leadership encompasses attending American Sentinel University and will be starting the degree in the fall of 2013 with completion within 2 years of start. This student will be attending 2 classes every 8 weeks. The course will prepare this student to increase the leadership and management abilities and work toward the achievement of providing leadership to upcoming healthcare professionals (American Sentinel University, 2013). This student has had 2 management jobs at director level that was immensely enjoyable and fulfilling. Leading a team of nurses and obtaining high patient and nurse satisfaction scores, this was a goal when this student started the position and was able to obtain. This student wants to continue to learn how to lead a team of nurses into becoming productive and resources for their patient’s needs.
In obtaining the BSN, this student will pursue a leadership position within the hospital system currently employed and within the maternity field specialization. The positions will be obtained in 6 months to 12 months’ time zone. In the span of the 18 years of nursing this student

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 3 has obtained National Certification in Inpatient Obstetrical Nursing and hold certifications in
BLS, ACLS, PALS, ENPC, NRP, S.T.A.B.L.E and a AWHONN fetal monitoring instructor.
Professional Organizations
National Certification of Inpatient Obstetrical Nursing Certification is a process that provides the opportunity for nurses in the obstetric, gynecologic and/or neonatal nursing specialty to demonstrate publicly what they know and to be recognized for the special knowledge they possess (National Certification Corporation, 2013). Maintaining this certification means to yearly take continuing education classes. This organization maintains the credential.
Professional organization for the promotion of health for women and newborns within the obstetrical world of this student’s specialty is AWHONN. The Association of Women's Health,
Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses mission is to improve and promote the health of women and newborns and to strengthen the nursing profession through the delivery of advocacy, research, education using other professional and clinical resources for nurses and other health care professionals (Association of Women’s Health Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, 2013). The organization has state and national level chapters for involvement. This student is currently involved with the state/local chapter. The national level hosts a conference yearly in cities across the country to promote initiatives and provide speakers with the latest evidence based education to obstetrical nurses. A current initiative is staffing guidelines for the obstetrical nurse. This initiative will according to research will lower hospital related morbidity/mortality; decrease failure to rescue events and other adverse patient events; and shorten inpatient stays (Association of Women’s Health Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, 2013).
Professional Leadership Organizations that this student is associated with also is
American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE). This organization provides leadership,

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 4 assists in the professional development, advocacy and research to advance nursing practice and patient care, promote nursing leadership excellence and shape public policy for health care (The
American Organization of Nurse Executives, 2012). Local and state chapters are active in the promotion of healthcare executives. AONE is active with the latest issues affecting nursing on the legislative, regulatory and practice issues (The American Organization of Nurse Executives,
2012).
Impact on Professional Life
This student’s personal philosophy of nursing leadership is based on the Canadian Nurses
Associations position statement on leadership, “Nursing is a practice discipline and it is a political act. Nursing leadership is about critical thinking, action and advocacy and it happens in all roles and domains of nursing practice. Nursing leadership plays a pivotal role in the immediate lives of nurses and it has an impact on the entire health system and the people it serves, therefore the health system requires a steady flow of nurses” (Canadian Nurses
Association, 2009, p. 1).
Continuing with education to the Master’s level will provide greater critical thinking skills and expand on knowledge learned within the BSN program at American Sentinel
University. Expanding this student’s professional nursing practice through research and evidence-based practice knowledge growth through education provides for developing a practice of safety for my patients and to mentor other healthcare professional to obtain the same knowledge and practice philosophy.
Conclusion
In October of 2010 the Institute of Medicine released a report called “The Future of
Nursing”, within this report it states that they call for increasing the number of baccalaureate

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 5 prepared nurses in the workforce to 80% by the year 2020. The IOM believes that with evidencebased resources, “to the demands of an evolving health care system and meet the changing needs of patients, nurses must achieve higher levels of education” (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2013).
Graduates of master’s degree programs in nursing are prepared with broad knowledge and practice expertise that builds and expands on baccalaureate or entry-level nursing practice.
This preparation provides master’s graduates with a greater understanding of the discipline of nursing in order to engage in higher level practice and leadership (American Association of
Colleges of Nursing, 2013).

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 6
References
American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2013). http://www.aacn.nche.edu/mediarelations/fact-sheets/impact-of-education
American Sentinel University. (2013). http://www.americansentinel.edu/health-care/m-snursing/m-s-nursing-nursing-management-and-organizational-leadership
Association of Women’s Health Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses. (2013). http://www.awhonn.org/awhonn/content.do;jsessionid=2FE8A2AFF9A544DD4AC4489
EEE62E331?name=10_AboutUs/10_AboutUs_landing.htm
Association of Women’s Health Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses. (2013). http://www.awhonn.org/awhonn/content.do?name=10_AboutUs/10C_KeyInitiatives.htm
Canadian Nurses Association. (2009). http://www.nanb.nb.ca/PDF/CNA_Nursing_Leadership_2009_E.pdf ePortfolio link. http://mywiki.americansentinel.edu/x/Eg85
National Certification Corporation. (2013). http://www.nccwebsite.org/resources/docs/2013-
INPT-Candidate_Guide.pdf
The American Organization of Nurse Executives. (2012). http://www.aone.org/membership/about/welcome.shtml