Research Capstone
Attention Wizard Kim
Research Capstone
Week 1: Capstone Synthesis Practicum
Introduction to the Practicum Experience
One must learn by doing the thing; for though you think you know it, you have no certainty until you try.
Sophocles
Welcome to your Capstone Synthesis Practicum! The practicum experience allows you to refine your nurse executive skills and competencies and enact a project at a healthcare organization under the mentorship of a preceptor. As you engage in the practicum setting, you learn by doing the thingwhether that thing be leading a unit, managing budget and finances, or facilitating quality improvement efforts.
Your experiences in the practicum provide a foundation for deepening your understanding of evidence-based practice and facilitating your ongoing development as a scholar-practitioner.
In preparation for your practicum, this week you reflect on the professional transitions that you are currently undergoing or on which you are likely to embark as you complete this Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program. You also identify objectives to guide professional development at your practicum setting.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
Analyze how the practicum experience supports professional goals
Construct measurable professional development objectives to be accomplished during the practicum experience
Apply scholarly literature related to healthcare issues or problems in practicum settings*
Analyze practicum experiences in the context of a nurse executive role*
Evaluate the application of theory as it relates to the practicum or practice experience*
Formulate solutions to authentic problems in healthcare settings*
*Introduced in Week 1 and assessed in Weeks 3, 7, and 11.
Learning Resources
Required Readings (click to expand/reduce)
American Organization for Nursing Leadership. (2015). Nursing executive competencies. https://wwwaonl.org/system/files/media/file/2019/06/nec.pdf.
Armstrong, P. (n.d.). Blooms taxonomy. https://cft.vanderbitt.edu/guides.sub-pages/blooms-taxonomy/
Bergren, D. (2020, January 22). Setting SMART goals-for career success. https://waldencareerservices.com/2020/01/22/setting-smart-goals-for-career-success/
Kiper, V. (2019). Navigating a role transition: How to use your nursing leadership skills in a new career chapter. Nursing management, 50 (9), 49-52. https://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.NUMA.0000579036.862236bb.
Lankshear, S., Kerr. M.S., Laschinger, H. K. S., & Wong. C.A. (2013). Professional practice leadership roles: The role of organizational power and personal influence in creating a professional practice environment for nurses. Health care management Review, 38(4), 349-360. https://doi.org/10.1097/HMR.Ob013e31826fd517.
Nix. M. (2017). Nurse executive professional development. Nursing management, 48 (12), 52-53. https://doi.org/0.1097/01.NUMA.0000526920.69840.a3.
University of North Carolina Charlotte. (2004). Writing Objectives using Blooms taxonomy. https://teaching.uncc.edu/sites/teaching.uncc.edu/files/media/files/file/GoalsAndObjectives/BloomObjectives.pdf.
University of North Carolina Wilmington. (n.d.). Writing SMART learning Objectives. Retrieved from https://uncw.edu/career/documents/writingsmartlearningobjectives.pdf.
Document: Professional Experience Plan Template (Word document).
Document : Practicum Experience Journal Template ( Word document).
Walden University field Experiment. (n.d.). Field experience: College of Nursing: Student resources and manuals. https://academicguides.walden.edu/fieldexperience/son/formsanddocuments. Note: The College of Nursing Practicum Manual for MSN Specializations is available at this site. The site also contains contact information for the office of field Experience, Meditrek tutorials, and additional information pertaining to your practicum.
HSoft Corporation. (n.d.). Meditrek, https://edu.meditrek.com/Dedfault.html. Note: Use this website to log into Meditrek to report your practicum hours throughout the course
Welcome to the Capstone
Dr. Lynn Parsons, Walden Contributing faculty and Dr. Jeanne Morrison, program coordinator, welcome you to the culminating course of your MSN journey. Hear their initial thoughts on the benefits of the practicum experience. (3m).
Welcome to the Capstone
Program Transcript
LYNN PARSONS: This is the culminating course, and this is where the lights
come on. And this is where the students literally put everything together that they
have learned. And they will assemble a final portfolio.
I’ve been contributing faculty for Walden University for 10 years and have taught
in that capstone class for six or seven years, and I just love the course. For some
reason, there’s some anxiety associated with the course. It’s the culminating
course. Take a breath, relax. I think that you’re going to love this course.
Just be organized, reach out to your instructor if you ever have an issue, reach
out to your preceptor, and I always tell students don’t take more than five
minutes. If you can’t figure something out, call your instructor.
JEANNE MORRISON: I am the program coordinator for the nurse executive
track. The nurse executive practicum is very important because, in this
practicum, you will be going to an on-site visit for your practicum experience. You
will be learning firsthand from nurses who are actually in the field. You’ll have a
preceptor, and you will be able to understand what you have learned throughout
this program in your practicum experience.
LYNN PARSONS: I think the biggest excitement in this course is actually going
into the clinical setting in working with a skilled preceptor that’s in the nurse
executive role. You can learn a lot from that person, and put what you know into
practice.
JEANNE MORRISON: By the end of the practicum experience, you’re going to
be very happy. And this is one of the areas that I find the students, after they
finish their practicum, they’re so excited. Of course, you’re getting ready to
graduate. So that’s always nice too. But have fun with this course, relax, and
enjoy.
LYNN PARSONS: Walden is known throughout the world, you will have
education from world-class leaders, from world-class preceptors, and I couldn’t
think of a better choice to go on and obtain an advanced degree in nursing in the
nurse executive role other than Walden University– simply the best.
Welcome to the Capstone
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Discussion Part (3 pages) APA format 7th ed.
Preparing for Professional Transitions
In the 21st century, nurse executives face many challenges, including navigating the interdisciplinary healthcare environment, addressing the nursing shortage, adopting ever-evolving technology, and using complex business and financial models. To best address these challenges, nurse executives need to develop a range of competenciesfrom communication and relationship management to business acumen.
Considering your professional and educational experiences, where are your strengths and where are your areas for improvement? How can you advance your skills to achieve your professional aspirations?
Photo Credit: Getty Images
1. In this Discussion, you reflect on your aspirations and consider the transitions that may be required to achieve them. You identify professional development objectives and evaluate opportunities for meeting them through your experiences in the practicum.
To prepare:
Think about the professional role changes you have undergone or that you may undertake following completion of this MSN program.
Review the information related to professional development and role change in the Learning Resources, and conduct additional research as necessary to address any questions or concerns you may have.
Consider the following questions:
1. What types of professional positions interest you? Are they significantly different from the types of positions you have held in the past? If so, how?
2. What challenges are you likely to encounter as you transition into a new role?
3. What resources could help you to manage this change? Consider your inner resources (e.g., drawing on previous experiences, stress management), resources available to you through your relationships with others, and institutional supports.
4. Consider how you could use this practicum experience to apply what you have learned and enhance or acquire specialization skills and knowledge, regardless of whether you intend to change roles or stay in your current position for the time being.
5. Review the NURS 6600 Course Outcomes listed in the Syllabus. Determine how your experiences in the practicum could help you to achieve one or more of these outcomes.
6. Review the information on the Field Experience website, including the Practicum Manual, as necessary to ensure you have a clear understanding of the practicum requirements.
7. Review the suggestions for developing effective learning objectives provided in the Learning Resources.
8. Think of two or three objectives that could help guide your professional development during your practicum. These objectives, referred to as your practicum professional development objectives, must be:
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Results focused
Time focused
Reflective of the higher order domains of Blooms Taxonomy (i.e., Application level and above)
Select one or more practicum professional development objectives to focus on for this Discussion. (You may continue to hone these objectives as you work on the Week 2 Assignment.)
Reflect on how you could achieve each objective through your practicum experience.
By Day 3
9. Post an explanation of your professional aspirations and how you intend to use the practicum experience to promote career change and/or enhance your performance. Describe at least one objective to facilitate your professional growth, and explain the steps you could take to achieve the objective(s) during your practicum experience. Support your response with examples from the literature.
Read a selection of your colleagues responses.
By Day 6
Respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days, using one or more of the following approaches:
Suggest strategies for using the practicum experience to deepen or broaden their knowledge.
Offer suggestions for refining their practicum professional objective(s).
10. Note: For this Discussion, you are required to complete your initial post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleagues postings. Begin by clicking on the Post to Discussion Question link and then select Create Thread to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click on Submit, you cannot delete or edit your own posts, and you cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking on Submit!
Submission and Grading Information
Grading Criteria
To access your rubric:
Week 1 Discussion Rubric
Post by Day 3 and Respond by Day 6
To Participate in this Discussion: Week 1 Discussion.
