Running head: CPA PAPER

Career Pathways Assessment

Mary Ellen Cooper
Old Dominion University

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Career Pathways Assessment

I did not follow a linear course to arrive at the position I hold today: a full-time
psychiatric nurse in one of the biggest teaching hospitals on the East Coast. Prior to this, I
worked in the Title industry in Arizona, as a restaurant manager in Richmond, and as the
bookkeeper for my former husbands business. My initial interest in pursuing a career in
healthcare lay in the Physician Assistant program at James Madison University, which at that
time was a bachelors program. As I was obtaining prerequisites for the program, they stopped
offering the bachelors in lieu of a masters degree. Given that I did not have this much time to
be without an income, I switched to nursing. It may have been the best career decision I ever
made the nursing model is a much better fit for me than the medical model. As it turns out, I
was meant to be a nurse. Medicine had long held a fascination for me, but the dynamic
combination of science and art in nursing spoke to who I wanted to be a dedicated healthcare
professional with a heart. I remember thinking, Ive found my calling!
Educational Experiences
My desire to be a nurse was prompted and reinforced by several pivotal educational
experiences, both formal and informal. My introduction to hands-on medicine came in the form
of an Emergency Medical Technician class that I took on a whim in 2000. I subsequently rode
with a volunteer squad for a time, and I enjoyed both the helping and technical aspects of this
position. I remember holding the hand of an elderly female stroke victim as she regained
consciousness and feeling grateful for the opportunity to comfort and reassure her, while at the
same time thinking that I should perhaps pursue healthcare as a career. The next pivotal

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experience in my development as a nurse was during a nursing school clinical when I was given
a patient on contact precautions to take care of. This patient expressed her feelings of profound
loneliness and isolation to me, and described her perception that no one has time for me.
Needless to say, I spent a large portion of that shift in her room, primarily just listening to her
perception of and feelings surrounding her situation. This experience brought home to me the
holistic nature of nursing, reinforcing my belief that nursing was the correct career choice for
me. I also read a book that semester: An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness by
Kay Redfield Jamison, as well as several other books on mental illness written from the first
person perspective that excited my interest in psychiatry as a specialty.
Work Experiences
My work experience in nursing consists of seven years with University of Virginia Health
System, all of them spent on the psychiatric floor. I was lucky enough to be able to pursue my
passion psychiatry immediately following graduation from nursing school in 2007. I was
hired as a Clinician I, acquired my Clinician II status within eight months, and am currently
(concurrently with school) working toward my Clinician III designation. We are an acute care
psychiatric unit, servicing clients with a wide range of mental illness manifestations everything
from overwhelmed first year students to the floridly psychotic. Since safety comes first in
psychiatry, one of my more important functions is assisting to maintain a safe and secure
environment for patients, staff, and visitors. I am known to be a stickler when it comes to any
deviation from the unit policy in terms of what may be brought on to the unit, and I am firmly
committed to the every15 minute patient check policy. There are psychiatric emergencies to be
dealt with as well, in which psychological trauma must be minimized initially and followed up

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on later. Two other important tasks that are part of my duties are developing interpersonal
therapeutic relationships with patients and assisting the client and families in understanding the
nature of mental/emotional disturbances and accepting the need for treatment. Given that we are
a teaching hospital, I frequently have the responsibility of student nurses. My role as permanent
weekend shift manager entails overseeing the unit as a whole.
It is difficult to sum up all that I have learned from my first (and only) nursing position.
Learning the concept of teamwork, in addition to learning the value of time management, and the
honing of my managerial skills comes to mind. The absence of mental health parity in Virginia
is something I have also become familiar with, and I have found my voice in advocating for
this most vulnerable of patient populations. From a personal standpoint, I have learned not to
judge so harshly, if at all. I have also learned that the language of the heart -- heart to heart
communication empowers both parties in the nurse-patient dyad in their quest for patient
wellness.
Self-Assessment
The challenge in self-assessment is that you know yourself too well; it is difficult to
analyze attributes that are so inherent and familiar. What I value above all are the people in my
life, from family and friends to coworkers and patients on the unit. I nurture my relationships in
every possible way. As a nurse, I am always keenly aware that the patient is someones child,
mother, sister, brother, et cetera. I place a high degree of value on good character: I like to feel
safe with others and I want others to feel safe with me. It is important to me to demonstrate
trustworthiness, responsibility, respect, and fairness to all I encounter. Another value I hold dear

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is the concept of hard work. I am actually an intrinsically lazy individual - I dont like this about
myself, so I constantly push myself to keep moving. Nursing is a profession dedicated to the
service of others, as well as held to a higher standard by society, and I dont want to be the one to
disgrace the profession - good motivation! I attempt to live up to the core values of the
profession: professionalism, integrity, excellence, compassion, knowledge, and teamwork. My
interests include reading, following current events, gardening, and walking. I am also very
interested in changing existing law as it pertains to mental health. To this end, I work with a
mentor who is a political dynamo. Some of the strengths that I bring to nursing are dedication to
the ideals of the profession, a well-developed work ethic, honesty, integrity, and a love of
learning. I am somewhat weak in the area of technology, which should be rectified by
completing this online RN-BSN program. Then there is the aforementioned tendency toward
laziness, something I fight against every day.
Professional & Community Activities
I have had the benefit of many enriching experiences and activities, both professionally
and in the community, that have taught me valuable life lessons. The community activity that
has taught me the most is a spiritual fellowship that I have been a member in good standing of
for nearly twenty years. This fellowship is founded on the twelve step principles of Alcoholics
Anonymous, and I have had the privilege of sponsoring newcomers to the program through these
steps many times. The program has taught me to tell people what they need to hear, rather than
what they want to hear, while at the same time meeting them where they are. I have learned that
anything can be accomplished one foot in front of the other, one day at a time. Perhaps the most
important thing I have learned from this group is the concept of principles before personalities,

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something that I frequently bring to mind and put into practice. I have learned through my
church participation that what you give comes back to you many times over; in other words, you
wont get any more from life than what you are willing to put into it, and if you are willing to
expend yourself, you will reap abundance. One of the workplace roles that have been the most
enlightening to me is that of Magnet Champion for my unit. This position has allowed me to
gain knowledge of the facility as a whole, in terms of where we are headed in the future, shortterm goals, long-term goals, et cetera, and how we plan to get there. I have learned from this
role that civil discourse can put numerous people with varying backgrounds and agendas on the
same page. I also serve my unit in the capacity of co-chairperson of the Employee Engagement
Committee, which has taught me how to constructively handle conflict.
Identified Path
I have identified a path to my ultimate goal of attaining a Doctor of Nursing PracticePsychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practioner (DNP-PMHNP) that will allow me to practice at the
Veterans Administration with patients who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The RNBSN program at Old Dominion University is the first step in the journey. I would also like to be
in line for a lateral position with better hours, such as a care coordinator, positions that at this
time are closed to me without a BSN. A job with more traditional hours might be a better fit for
me going forward into graduate level classes, and I would like to have this option. From a
personal standpoint, it is important to me to be the best, most knowledgeable nurse that I can be.
I aspire to go as high in this profession as possible, and the attainment of a BSN degree will open
the door to a more specialized, autonomous role at the highest level of nursing.

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Specific Educational & Professional Goals

One of the educational goals I have for myself through this program is attaining a level of
writing ability that will enable me to compete at the graduate level. Actually, I hope to improve
my communication skills overall. This program seems designed to do that in that it is online
program with numerous written works required, as well as an emphasis on group work that is
most often carried out remotely, necessitating frequent and varied forms of communication
among group members. Another aim is to increase my proficiency with the most current
technology during my time in the program, specifically with Power Point presentations. I also
would like to obtain a better grasp of APA style paper requirements. The professional goals I
hope to achieve after graduation from the RN-BSN program are 1.) transition to care coordinator
for my unit, as this position will have a schedule more conducive to ongoing education 2.) enter
Old Dominions BS-DNP program 3.) obtain my Post-Doctoral Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse
Practitioner (PMHNP) certificate.
Plan for Achieving Stated Goals
The first step in realizing my goal for an alternate position while I am in graduate school
is to make an appointment with my unit manager to formalize her verbal agreement to allow me
to step into the Care Coordinator role when the current Care Coordinator retires in two years. I
will then need to apply to Old Dominion Universitys BSN to DNP program by March 1, 2016.
After successful completion of the DNP program my plan is to enroll at Brandman University for
my Post-Doctoral Certificate, PMHNP. This online certificate program requires three immersion
sessions on campus in California, so I will need to make arrangements to be off from work for
several days at a time during this period. In regards to my educational plans for the BSN

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program, my intention is to register for Smart Thinking, which will provide feedback on my
writing and further the goal of improving my writing skills. In order to increase my level of
expertise with Power Point, I will rely on my mentor at work in all things technological, who
will be happy to help if I just ask. I believe my comfort level with the APA format will increase
as I move forward in the BSN program. My high degree of commitment to this plan will be
demonstrated by my willingness to shake up the status quo by declining extra shifts at work,
assertively asking for what I need from my unit and family members in order to complete this
program, and promptly starting to use the planner I purchased in the beginning of the semester. I
realize that I need to devote more time to my studies, and have arrived at a figure of six more
hours a week needed to do the program justice. This extra time will easily be available to me
when I put into practice my plan of not coming in to work every time Im called on my
scheduled days off. In addition, I will utilize my academic planner starting today and I will also
speak to my family about taking over the care of our three dogs.
I have made alternative plans to the above professional practice scenario in order to take
into account any unforeseen events. The most realistic alternate practice plan is to obtain my
BSN degree, move into the care coordinator position, followed up by the submission of a
Clinician IV portfolio. As an MSN would be valuable in persuading the Clinician IV panel that I
would be a viable candidate for this position, I would apply to University of Virginias Clinical
Nurse Leader MSN program in the fall of 2016. The accomplishment of this plan would put me
in line for various administrative roles on my unit, as well as throughout the facility.
Conclusion

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In completing this self-assessment I have gained a clearer understanding of the level of

commitment required to achieve the level of professional practice that I aspire to. My
perspective has been enlarged by an excellent course mentor who shared with me her own (selftaught) process of learning Microsoft Word, helping me to realize that there are others who also
do not have this easy familiarity with technology that I assumed the rest of the world had
others who have achieved at a very high level. It has been revealed to me through this
assignment that what I value most are the people in my life, and I am grateful for the opportunity
to reflect on how much these supportive friends, family, and mentors mean to me. I hope to pay
it forward. This exercise in introspection and self-reflection has served to reaffirm my belief that
I have indeed found my calling in life: I was indeed meant to be a nurse, and to be the best nurse
that I can be. It has confirmed my commitment to a profession that strives to bring the best out
in people both patients and their nurses.

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Grading Criteria

Possible
Points

Appropriate introduction is included that 5%

addresses why the student entered the
nursing profession.
o

What led you to nursing? Recall and

discuss those goals, ideas and
interests that initially led you to
pursue a career in nursing.

Educational experiences, both formal

and informal pivotal points are
described.
o Describe your educational
experiences, both formal and
informal. This includes any
continuing education activities that
you believe have been influential in
your professional development.
What did you gain from these
experiences?
o This section is not a narrative of
education and continuing education
programs. It should be a discussion
of pivotal formal and informal
educational experiences and what
made them pivotal for you.

10%

Work experiences are described and

include a summary of learning that
occurred with each position.

15%

Describe your work experiences.

Your length of time in the profession
will dictate whether you recount
every position held since graduation
from your initial education program,
or highlight only those key positions

Comments

Points

This is a well-organized,
5
well written paper. Your
compliance with APA
formatting is above par as
is the scholarship of the
writing. You addressed
every aspect of the rubric
and expressed great insight
into your plans and
path..GREAT JOB!!

10

15

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o
o

held throughout your career.

Describe the position(s) and your
responsibilities, as well as the
learning that occurred with each
experience.
If you have attained specialty area
certification or other recognition, be
sure to mention that too.
In other words, show us your stuff
what type of experiences are you
bringing into this program?

Self-assessment includes an analysis of 10%

values, interests, strengths and
weaknesses.
o Assess yourself. What are your
values and interests? What are your
strengths and weaknesses? Stop and
think very carefully about this.
o We are asking you to reflect on what
are your core values in the
profession. We are also asking about
the strengths and weakness you
bring to the profession of nursing.

10

Involvement with professional or

10%
community activities or groups is
described and includes a summary of
learning that occurred.
o Describe any professional or
community activities or groups with
which you are involved? In what
capacity have you been involved?
What did you learn from these
experiences? Again, this is not a
simple narrative. The most important
part is the reflection on what you
have learned from your experiences.

10

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5%
Path is identified
o Any educational endeavor is only as
strong/good as the resources the
individual brings to the experience
and the desire the individual has to
learn. Since you have started an
approximately two-year commitment
of your life, what do you hope to
gain, personally and professionally,
by earning a BSN in nursing?
o The things you identify should be a
realistic signpost or directional post
for you.
Specific educational and professional
10%
goals are identified
Engage in goal setting.
o Identify at least 2 educational
goals you hope to achieve while
enrolled in the BSN program.
Educational goals should be very
broad and relate to basic
academic skills and/or university
requirements (e.g. enhancing
writing skills). The goals should
be specific enough to measure
your success at program
completion. (5%)
o Identify at least 2 professional
goals you hope to achieve while
enrolled or after completion of
the BSN program. Professional
goals could involve aspiring to a
higher-level position within your
current practice area, or aspiring
to transition into a different
practice area. For example, you
might identify a clinical focus
such as critical care, pediatrics or
gerontology. Or, you might
identify a particular setting such
as home health, ambulatory
surgery, or public health. Or, you
might identify a role such as
education or administration. Be
specific, the goals should be

10

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specific enough to measure your
success at program completion.
(5%)
A plan for achieving stated goals, as well 10%
as exploring and evaluating educational
and educational goals while enrolled in
this BSN program is developed.
o Develop a brief plan for how you will
achieve your stated goals
(educational & professional), as well
as explore and evaluate the
professional practice alternatives
while enrolled in this BSN program.
o The plan should identify what you
need to change for the next two
years to enable you to pursue your
educational commitments [e.g. work
schedule, home responsibilities,
family roles, etc.]. (Remember a 4credit course should involve 16
hours of study a week.) Be very
specific.
Conclusion includes an analysis of what
was gained by completing the
assignment.
o

10

5%

What did you gain from the

introspection and self-reflection
required for this assignment? Please
be specific.

Correct grammar, essay writing, spelling 10%

and punctuation

Please dont forget honor

pledge!!

Correct use of APA format, including

adherence to page limit and ODU SON
Title Page

Did NOT identify specific

organizations.

0 errors = 10%
< 2 errors=9%
2-5 errors = 6%

10%

9
10

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6-9 errors = 4%
10 or > errors =0%
Final Grade:

100%

99