Running head: STATEMENT OF PROFESSIONAL GOALS

Statement of Professional Goals

Naomi Everett
Frostburg State University

STATEMENT OF PROFESSIONAL GOALS

Statement of Professional Goals

Before focusing on professional goals for the future it is important to take stock in where
one is at present and the goals that I have achieved thus far in my nursing career. In the past five
years I have: obtained an Associates of Science degree in nursing, gained knowledge in the
clinical areas of neuroscience, renal, joint replacement, bariatric surgery, and wound care. I have
held positions as preceptor for new hires, relief charge nurse, and have been an active member of
many committees on my unit as well as facility wide. I have obtained certification from the
American Board of Neuroscience Nurses as a Stroke Certified Registered Nurse. As of August
2015, I have obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing at Frostburg State University.
One Year Goals
Within the next year I plan to deepen my clinical knowledge of wound care. I have been
working as a wound care clinician since October 2014 and there is still much to be learned. This
will not only improve my practice as a wound care clinician but will also help me prepare to take
the wound care certification exam. As part of my community nursing practicum I will provide
diabetes education to the clients of my local food bank. Over the next year I plan to continue
offering diabetes education to this at risk population in an effort to promote wellness within my
community. During the next year I also plan to deepen my knowledge of diabetes. I have
learned a great deal about diabetes and diabetes education from my preceptor during my
community nursing practicum and I wish to continue doing so. My operations manager and I
have talked about splitting my time between wound care and diabetes education. Over the next
year we will further develop our plan to provide diabetes education within the wound care center.
Three Year Goals

STATEMENT OF PROFESSIONAL GOALS

Over the next three years I plan to obtain Certified Wound Specialist (CWS) certification
through the American Board of Wound Management. CWS certification required a Bachelors
degree in nursing, three years wound care experience, and an active nursing license (American
Board of Wound Management [ABWM], 2015). In addition, I plan to accumulate the hours that
I need to take to Certified Diabetes Education (CDE) examination. In order to sit for CDE
certification examination, offered by the National Certification Board for Diabetes Education
(NCBDE), one must: have a minimum of two years professional practice experience, a minimum
of 1,000 hours of diabetes self-management education (DSME) experience within the past four
years of applying for certification exam, and accumulate 15 hours of continuing education
activities applicable to diabetes within the past two years of applying for certification exam
(National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators [NCBDE], 2015). I will also continue my
efforts to promote wellness within my community.
Five Year Goals
Over the next five years I plan to obtain CDE certification. I will also expand my efforts
to educate our food-insecure population in diabetes self-management. In 2012 Bristol-Myers
Squibb Foundation partnered with Feeding America and provided $1.3 million to screen,
education and provided case management to at risk food bank clients (Bristol-Myers Squibb
[BMS], 2012). I plan to use the results of this pilot program to obtain grants to provide more
comprehensive diabetes self-management education to our community. I also need to weigh the
pros and cons of obtaining a Masters degree in public health nursing. I most certainly have a
passion for education and value it greatly. What will a Masters degree allow me to achieve that
I cannot achieve within one?
Conclusion

STATEMENT OF PROFESSIONAL GOALS

Why set goals? Setting goals helps to set a pathway for your professional career. Goals
are also a motivating factor; we achieve more when there purpose to our actions. Setting
personal, professional goals that are separate from any benchmarks that your employer may set
for you makes you accountable to yourself. The goals I have described here are goals that I have
set for myself. Yes, they represent things that I wish to do with my career but more than that,
accomplishing them will give me great personal satisfaction.

STATEMENT OF PROFESSIONAL GOALS

References
American Board of Wound Management. (2015). CWS: Why certify? Retrieved from
http://www.abwmcertified.org/abwm-certified/cws/cws-why-certify
Bristol-Myers Squibb. (2012). Feeding America. Retrieved from
http://www.bms.com/togetherondiabetes/partners/Pages/feeding-america.aspx
National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators. (2015). Eligibility requirements. Retrieved
from http://www.ncbde.org/certification_info/eligibility-requirements/