N 479 Professional Development Grid/Plan

Name: _Megan Deschenes_______________

Date: Fall 2015

In 3-5 years I see myself..I see myself working in a neonatal intensive care unit and as a transport nurse as well as beginning my master degree.
Area

Strengths

Weakness/ Opportunity for

Improvement
Lack confidence when speaking with
physicians, teaching, time
management

Short term goals/ strategies

Present-2years
Refine my time management skills,
refine clinical skills
Strategies: Practice

Long term goals/ strategies

3-5 years
Read, research and aid my unit in
implementing the most recent
evidence based care

Direct
Patient Care
Leadership

Developed organizational tool,

work well under stress,
organized

Unit Related
Leadership

Adaptable to surroundings and

situations, positive attitude,
committed to my work

Delegating tasks

I would like to become comfortable

being charge nurse within two years
of starting my nursing career,
practice delegation when
appropriate
Be involved in a new graduate
program, obtain my NRP
certification, start training to
become a transfer nurse.

I would like to become a clinical

nurse leader on the unit I am on
and participate in a committee
within the hospital I will be
working at.
Become a charge nurse, become a
transfer nurse and start on my
masters degree

Your First Year as a Nurse:

Making the Transition form
Total Novice to Successful
Professional by Donna
Cardillo. Strengths include
portraying a positive attitude
even when situations are rough.
The author also mentions that it
takes time to adjust to the
professional role and there for it
is important to have realistic
expectations when starting out
in a new position or role. I
understand that it is going to
take time for me to become
comfortable in my new role as
a nurse and I expect that it will
be a stressful first year as I
adjust. Cardillo, D.W. (2010).
Your 1st year as a nurse:
making the transition from total
novice to successful
professional (2nd ed.) New
York: Three Rivers Press

Opportunities for improvement

include networking and enhancing
education. It is important to get to
know and become friends or at least
form positive peer relationships with
the individuals you will be working
with often, especially because it
effects the moral and energy on the
units. Cardillo goes on to mention the
importance of being an active
participant in your education and
trainings and not just a passive
participant who just gets by. I plan
on continuing my education and
actively participating in trainings,
however these are things I will need
to do once I start.
Cardillo, D.W. (2010). Your 1st year
as a nurse: making the transition
from total novice to successful
professional (2nd ed.) New York:
Three Rivers Press

Professional
Nursing
Development:
Organizations,
Journals/
Certifications
N 479
Book Selection
(based on
strengths and
weaknesses)

Leadership
Shadowing
Experience

Followed clinical nurse leader

in charge on NICU. I observed
deliveries and unit preparation
for oxygen shut down as well
as the responsibilities of the
charge nurse and clinical nurse
leader.

Professional
Activity/
Community
Service

Emergency civilian casualty

care training personal
preparedness, emergency
situations, evacuation care,
situational awareness.
Tucson community food bank
main warehouse, providing
help during the holiday season,
packing food to be delivered

Education:
Cont. Nrsg.
Educ. and/or
plans for
Higher Educ.

Personal aspirations: Work in a

NICU, train and become a
transfer nurse

The charge nurse was very busy with

the oxygen shut down so we were not
able to make it to flow meetings.
Would have liked to send some time
shadowing the nurse manager,
however she had a busy schedule and
was out of town or sick for several
weeks out of my preceptorship.
There was a lot of information
packed into the four hour emergency
care training, it would have been nice
if there was more time or less
information that could have been
explained for thoroughly.
The food bank was very busy do to
the holiday season, there was a lot
going on at the warehouse and it
appeared they could have used a lot
more help then they had.
Potential Opportunities: Registered
for Kaplan course, was offered a job
in a NICU, NICU has a transfer team

I plan on passing the NCLEX and

obtaining my NRP certificate with
in two months of graduation.

I would like to start or already have

my masters degree in five years.