Week 1: 10/25-10/31
As a DNP, being aware of the key roles that are relevant and are typically assigned to one is essential. Therefore, starting the implementation of the succession plan with setting priorities in line was critical to my further success. Indeed, by arranging the key objectives and determining the milestones of my further development, I managed to identify the standards based on which I would judge my progress afterward. Therefore, during the first week of implementing the personal development plan, I was mostly concerned with the analysis of the characteristics of a DNP nurse.
Among the discoveries that I made at this stage of my personal progress, the analysis of the differences between a DNP nurse and a Ph.D one was by far the most important step. During this stage of the personal progress plan, I learned that the role of a DNP implied addressing primarily practical issues, whereas a Ph.D nurse would typically focus on studying theoretical concerns and engaging in research to promote the further development of the nursing science. The described distinction between a Ph.D nurse and a DNP was critical for understanding the responsibilities and roles that I would have to assume as a DNP.
The significance of retrieving evidence as the platform for the design of interventions and nursing strategies was especially important to me. Therefore, the first week was very analytical and involved a profound exploration of the roles of a DNP. The knowledge gained in the process set the stage for further professional growth and defined the course for it.
Week 2: 11/1-11/7
Although learning about the general principles of a DNP’s responsibilities was crucial, the assessment of personal characteristics was also a critical step since it helped me to identify the strategies to be used in further learning. During the second week, I explored my personal strengths and weaknesses. The presence of personal biases was especially important to locate since, being undiscovered, these biases would have jeopardized my entire nursing practice. The identification thereof helped me to identify my weaknesses and realize how they could be improved. For instance, I had to acknowledge the fact that I lacked mentorship skills in order to evolve as an expert. Furthermore, the significance of leadership skills became evident to me during the implementation of the plan.
In addition, it was important to examine my system of personal beliefs. Thus, I determined the aspects of my personal philosophy that constituted the basis for building my nursing philosophy. Integrity and the propensity toward using emotional intelligence to address the needs of diverse patients are my crucial assets. However, as the analysis of my personal characteristics has shown, it will also be necessary to build dedication to excellence as a critical component of a DNP’s work. During the second week of implementing the plan, I also realized that interdisciplinary cooperation was an essential aspect of a DNP’s practice. Therefore, developing communicational skills was the focus of the second week as well, with a detailed assessment of my ability to coordinate a cross-disciplinary dialogue. Thus, I designed the platform for future excellence and improvement.
Week 3: 11/8-11/14
Understanding the connection between research and practice, as well as being able to apply research outcomes to meeting patients’ needs, is a crucial part of a DNP’s work. Therefore, the third week was dedicated to studying the described issue and the ways of translating research results into practice. The concept of a critical appraisal of research findings was rather complex and quite difficult to grasp at first. However, after some contemplations, I managed to embrace the phenomenon of critical appraisal and interpret research findings in a way that would make them applicable to other nursing settings. For example, I managed to revisit the idea of patient education, which was initially presented as the means of managing CVD in particular research, to adjust the outcomes to meet the needs of patients with gastroenterological disorders. Thus, I learned that being a DNP requires a substantial amount of flexibility and the ability to shift from theory to practice.
The third week was also very informative in regard to the use of critical thinking and leveling evidence. It was important for me as a DNP to study the effects of leveling evidence and defining how each piece of information could be used to benefit vulnerable groups. Moreover, connecting the levels of evidence to research study designs gave me a profound insight into the link between the types of evidence, their credibility, and their use in constructing an intervention for a particular community or a vulnerable group.
Week 4: 11/15-11/21
In order to obtain the course competencies, it was crucial in deconstructing qualitative and quantitative research methods since this analysis helped to develop a proper understanding of a scientific inquiry. Indeed, the knowledge of the differences between quantitative and qualitative types of analysis showed me the scientific underpinnings of the course and integrated nursing science with the scientific method. Thus, I managed to grasp the opportunities that the role of a DNP offered to me in terms of assisting vulnerable groups and promoting health across the community.
Moreover, the fourth week gave me an insight into the intrinsic connection between nursing science and other areas such as the economy, finance, and business. It became evident to me that socioeconomic, financial, and legal factors affect nursing science and often define its development, either limiting it or providing additional opportunities for improving the quality of nursing. While the fourth week provided only a glimpse at how the issues mentioned above factor in the nursing context, it became evident that the impact of socioeconomic, financial, and technological changes on nursing was profound and worth analyzing.
Overall, the methodological issues associated with nursing science were explored in-depth, although certain types of research could use more numerous and diverse examples. The problem of managing research biases and limitations in cases involving convince sampling was the problem that was of particular interest to me. However, further explorations might help me to shed more light on the specified concern.
Week 5: 11/22-11/28
Disclosing the aspects of research synthesis as a big part of a DNP’s practice was an essential milestone in my professional growth. The link between the comparative effectiveness research and recovery rates among patients was very important to establish since it provided further directions for improving my practice. The exploration of meta-analysis, in turn, opened a plethora of new possibilities for me as a future DNP since it questioned the utility of systematic reviews for addressing health issues. On the one hand, the identified type of reviews is likely to provide only a limited amount of rather general information. On the other hand, systematic reviews may inform the choices made by a DNP concerning the direction of an intervention or the focus of an intervention. Therefore, the analysis of systematic reviews as a source for developing management techniques was very insightful and informative.
The focus on the issues of social justice and equity should also be addressed as one of the essential outcomes of Week 5. Although the issues with which the materials dealt concerned primarily research-related aspects of a DNP’s work, they also implied that a DNP has to treat a target demographic with respect and provide every patient with equal health opportunities. For instance, the analysis of systematic reviews showed that addressing research biases by introducing patient-specific approaches was an imperative step to take when implementing an intervention in a nursing setting. Therefore, the assessment of the existing research strategies yielded an array of important results for shaping my further DNP approaches according to ethical standards.
Week 6: 11/29-12/5
Studying how research outcomes can be translated into techniques for enhancing recovery rates among patients is another crucial aspect of a DNP’s work. In the course of the sixth week, I discovered opportunities for improving outcomes among target populations. Compliance with ethical standards was one of the issues that were already evident to me; however, some of the conceptual errors discussed during this week were of particular importance to me as a future DNP since they could hamper the successful delivery of nursing services.
Furthermore, the relationship between a DNP and a patient is one of the aspects of providing nursing services to a particular community that required further discussions. In order to perform a study on the outcomes of which will determine patients’ recovery, a DNP has to be aware of patients’ unique characteristics, which will require an unceasing dialogue with the target population. However, maintaining ethical standards may become difficult in the described scenario, which is why integrating complex communication strategies is essential.
Moreover, the focus on information technology and its use in the DNP practice served as an important point in my professional development. 21st-century nursing has witnessed a surge in innovative technology, but its integration in the nursing practice is yet to be completed. Therefore, studying the approaches toward incorporating information technology into the DNP’s area of practice was critical to the successful delivery of evidence-based research. Therefore, the sixth week of implementing the plan for personal development included a notable change in personal perceptions concerning technology in nursing.
Week 7: 12/6-12/12
While a DNP has to develop a distinctive philosophy that will guide them through the process of improving public health and addressing the associated issues. However, a DNP also needs to study general models for managing health issues and integrate these models into their practice. Thus, a DNP will be able to maintain uniform standards and ensure that the levels of quality for the provided services remain high. Therefore, the models learned during the seventh week were an important addition to the overall experience.
During this period, I also learned the importance of using translational research as an integral part of the DNP’s practice. The application of translational strategies helped me to gain even more profound knowledge of integrating research results into practice. I learned the significance of knowledge translation, which implied the need to be fully aware of the desired outcomes, factors affecting the quality of care, and the methods that could be used to achieve the expected results. The interactivity that the knowledge translation process suggested that the process of acquiring DNP skills required multidisciplinary collaboration and active knowledge sharing. Therefore, at the specified stage, I also recognized the need for a DNP to cooperate with numerous experts to create a suitable setting for all-encompassing research.
Moreover, the described step in personal development also set the framework for evaluating practice quality and enhancing the safety of outcomes. With the integration of collaborative tools, one could ensure the prevention of errors in performing data analysis. Consequently, the quality of the research could improve drastically.
Week 8: 12/13-12/19
The final week required considering the existing appraisal models for increasing the efficacy of a DNP’s efforts. After discovering the common models and learning the methods of deploying them in a nursing setting, I obtained a chance to update my competencies and skills. The issue of addressing and eliminating inequalities in nursing care gained my attention as the topic that required a meticulous study. Because of the presence of social and economic issues, the accessibility of nursing services remains a problematic issue for a range of people, which is why one should gear further research in the identified direction. Exploring the strategies for enhancing care and offering it to the communities that are either disadvantaged or located in remote areas is an important step in improving care.
Overall, the implementation of the personal development plan helped me to gain an array of skills and competencies that would assist me in my DNP experience. Due to the need to integrate a multidimensional approach to take into account socioeconomic and cultural factors when addressing the needs of specific populations, detailed research will be required. Thus, the study of the available research tools and the challenges associated with meeting patients’ needs is essential. Consequently, the levels of public health will be kept at a higher level, and the needs of disadvantaged groups will be met.