Alice Conway, Phd, RN, FNP

Running head: JOURNAL ENTRY 1

Journal Entry

Amanda Kinder, BSN, RN

Nur/587

September 3, 2012

Alice Conway, PhD, RN, FNP JOURNAL ENTRY 2

Journal Entry

I chose nursing as a life long career. I would like to expand my role as a nurse

over the next 5 years by acquiring my master’s degree in nursing. Obtaining a master’s

degree has taken a huge amount of my time, commitment and money to further my

education. A master’s degree prepared nurse has additional opportunities and earning

power. In addition, health care is rapidly changing. Many nurse experts and health care

organizations are asking nurses to increase their knowledge, skills and competencies. The

master’s degree will contribute to my personal and professional development. The

degree will focus and prepare me as a clinical expert with advanced and competent

critical thinking, leadership and self-awareness in the community. The master’s degree

will enable me to assume responsibility for the assessment and management of a broad

range of health care needs for the individual and family. This role offers, for me, exciting

challenges in health care delivery. I will be a mentor , a leader and educator, a critical

thinker, an analyzer, and a role model. Having learned effective communication and

writing skills will enhance my clinical and educational practice. I intend to continue to

focus on the cardiology and cardiovascular side of nursing. I want to continue to work

closely with patients and their families, assessing changes in their health status and

managing their medical-care regiments. I plan to continue to gather the knowledge and

the ability to facilitate learning and plan appropriate learning experiences within and

outside the hospital setting. This increased specialization will help me to obtain

leadership roles in health education at the local and state level. With the help of

leadership strategies learned in the master’s program, I hope to work to advance the

design and implementation of the community and state’s educational programs that JOURNAL ENTRY 3

benefit its constituents. I would hope that I could participate in health research and other

programs. As a health care leader, I hope to be a frontrunner- providing health care

leadership to inform or initiate change in a group of patients or health care professionals.

In choosing nursing as a career, I have found my purpose in society. Over the

next five years, I will continue to learn and advance in the field of nursing. I have

focused my attention on education and a lifestyle of professional development; and I

intend to continue this drive to advance throughout my career. It is my duty and mission

to use my talents and abilities to advance the nursing profession.