Professional Development Plan

Professional Development Plan

            Professional Development Plan One important aspect of the APN’s professional development is to reevaluate one’s short-term and long-term goals regularly to determine whether there is progress along the expected path. A professional development plan compels the APN to recommit to the important components of personal and professional growth. This plan is an informal contract with oneself. It enables the balancing of the different dimensions of the APN so that her interests and those of patients and organization are served. This balancing leads to a successful practice and career. Developing a robust professional development plan for the APN requires a comprehensive review of the APN’s scope of practice, personal assessment and networking and marketing strategies.

Scope of Practice

The APN has a wide range of practice privileges allowed by the advanced education and training, licensure, regulatory requirements and practice authority.  

Education and Training

            Currently, a master’s degree is the minimum entry-level education requirement for becoming an APN. The degree must be in at least one of the patient population areas. These are family, gerontology/adult, pediatrics, neonatal, women’s health or mental/psychiatric health (Cross & McWay, 2016). The degree must be from an accredited university. It generally takes between two and three years. The program includes classroom education and clinical experience. The choice of patient population dictates the APN’s practice roles.

Certification and Licensure

            An APN must obtain a certification to practice. The APN obtain the certification after taking and passing the nationally accredited examination that measures competency in the specialization field. An APN must demonstrate ongoing competency to retain the certification. According to the Florida Board of Nursing (2018), the APN can practice with only the RN license and the additional license specific to the APN roles.

Regulatory Requirements

            The practice authority for APNs varies by state. The APN can have a full practice, reduce/limited practice or restricted practice authority. Florida’s APNs have a restricted practice authority. Therefore, they have a restricted ability to engage in at least one element of the APN practice and require the supervision or direction by a physician. A written agreement filed to the state board of nursing is mandatory (Florida Board of Nursing, 2016b). The agreement should specify the nature of the supervision, each party’s duties and the areas and procedures where the direct consultation with a physician is mandatory. 

 Prescriptive Authority

            The prescriptive authority for APNs varies by the state. An APN can have full, reduced or restricted prescriptive authority. Florida’s APNs have a restricted prescriptive authority. The APNs require the supervision or direction of a physician to prescribe medication. They can prescribe schedule III-V controlled substances. However, the APNs can only prescribe schedule II controlled substances for a week (Florida Board of Nursing, 2016a). They must complete at least three hours of ongoing education every 24 months focused on the competent prescription of the controlled substances.

Assessment

            An assessment of one’s strengths, weaknesses, goals and objectives is crucial to the professional development plan.

Strengths

            I have several strengths that are critical to the APN’s professional development. First, I am compassionate. I am kind, sympathetic and have empathy. I always do my best to help others. I ensure to address patients’ problems quickly and completely. Secondly, I am a good communicator. I use both verbal and non-verbal communication skills to establish trust, rapport and relationships with others. I use clear and precise statements to support the effective exchange of information and proper gestures, expressions and body language that ensure empathic linkage. Thirdly, I am a critical thinker. I can assess a situation quickly and objectively to determine the most appropriate response. This skill is crucial to the persistent delivery of timely and competent care. Fourthly, I have teamwork skills. I can collaborate with both medical and non-medical personnel to deliver the best outcomes in a situation. Fifthly, I am detail-oriented. I thoroughly evaluate data and information to determine the relationships between different causes and effects. Finally, I have diverse classroom and clinical skills and experiences essential to educational and career advancement.

Weaknesses

            I have several weaknesses that might impede my professional development. I am emotional, a perfectionist and a poor leader. First, I have difficulties remaining composed in emotionally stressful situations. This weakness hinders my ability to remain focused on the critical aspects of my work. Secondly, I always expect a flawless performance in all situations. Although this trait pushes me to deliver the best care to patients, it affects my ability to collaborate with co-workers on interprofessional projects. Thirdly, I have challenges influencing and motivating others to take the desired actions.

Goals and Objectives

I have several goals and objectives relevant to my professional development.

Goals	Timeline	Objectives
Improve my areas of weakness	September 2018 – March 2019	Complete an emotional intelligence courseComplete a leadership course
Complete the BSN program	By 2019	Meet all the course requirements
Attain RN license	By 2020	Take and pass the NCLEX-RN exam
Join at least two professional nursing organizations	By 2021	Register officially with the AANP and HPNA or AAHPM
Attain the entry-level education for APNs	By 2022	Complete the MSN in hospice and palliative care
Attain APN certification	By 2024	Take and pass certification examination in my specialty

Networking and Marketing Strategies

            Several national organizations advertise employment opportunities for APNs. First, AANP has an online platform (AANP Job Center) where APNs can find job positions posted by different employers (AANP, 2018). Members of the organization have an unlimited access to the job postings. AANP members can subscribe for job alerts and premium resume placement to boost their job seeking activities. They can apply for the ideal positions on the platform. APNs can also find employment opportunities through the NONPF career connection center. Other national organizations that provide employment opportunities for APNs include NAPNAP, APSHO and NPWH. Each state has an official organization that supports the activities of APNs including their careers. For example, the Florida Association of Nurse Practitioners (FLANP) advertises new job openings to the members. Similarly, the Alaska Nurse Practitioner Association (ANPA) provides its members with a listing of local jobs.

            APNs can use various networking and marketing strategies. First, they can network through the local, national and international professional organizations. These organizations help to connect the APN with other APNs in different parts of the country and the world. A professional organization such as AANP organizes regular national conferences where APNs with different specializations and experiences meet and discuss various issues relating to the profession and their careers (Bahouth, Blum & Simone, 2012). Furthermore, AANP gives APNs the opportunity to join specialty groups and online member-communities/forums where they hold discussions, share information, collaborate and network. Secondly, the APN can market his or her practice through conferences, social media and websites. National nursing and healthcare conferences offer APNs the opportunity to meet potential practice partners and employers. The APN can use direct marketing approaches such as face-to-face presentations and distribution of promotional materials during the conferences. The APN can also market his or her practice by posting messages and short video presentations on popular social media platform such as Facebook and Twitter. Millions of people use the social media platforms every day. The platforms allow marketers to implement customized service promotion plans depending on the targeted budget and audience. A well-planned social media advertisement can reach millions of potential customers in a short time. The last strategy is to market the APN’s practice through own website or relevant third-party websites. The APN can use Google text and video ads to promote the practice or buy advertising space on popular healthcare websites. Websites such as the New York Times have high daily traffic, which can lead to great exposure for the APN’s services.

Conclusion

            APNs are crucial to the future health care. Nurses who want a fulfilling APN career must review their state’s educational and regulatory requirements and own goals, strengths and weaknesses to ensure that they can serve their interests and those of patients and healthcare organizations. An APN who wants a certification and practice license for Florida must have a valid RN license, at least a master’s degree and pass an accredited examination in the specialization area. The practice and prescriptive authority for APNs vary by state with states such as Florida having restrictive practice and prescriptive laws. APNs can network through professional nursing organizations and market their practice through national conferences, social media and websites.

References