Aligning Your Goals with Walden and AACN The Essentials

The groundwork for significant development as a nurse leader is laid by academic and personal objectives that complement professional ones as well as institutional and professional frameworks. The elements at Walden University, including the vision, mission, social change impact, and the Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) framework, align well with my desire to advocate for healthcare justice and enhanced health attainment. Equally, the AACN’s The Essentials acts as a guide to the development of competencies required in advanced nursing practice. This paper discusses how my goals relate to these frameworks and explains how I would integrate social change into a learning process and a career: Aligning Your Goals with Walden and AACN The Essentials.

Alignment with the Mission, Vision, SDoH Framework, and Social Change Outcomes

Walden University’s mission to empower scholar-practitioners closely aligns with my goal of becoming an agent of transformative healthcare change. My aspiration to lead community initiatives that encourage health equity aligns with Walden’s vision of creating positive change socially. For instance, current efforts to expand access to preventive care for underserved populations mirror Walden’s mission of reducing disparities to create sustainable solutions. Academically, I look forward to enhancing my research skills in population health, with a special focus on the interrelationship between SDoH and chronic disease management.

Through Walden’s SDoH framework, I found a critical lens through which I could analyze the factors of education, socioeconomic status, and housing and their impact on patient outcomes. A recent study I just began examines how housing insecurity impacts medication adherence in those with diabetes (Cuddapah et al., 2022). This scholarly endeavor lines up with Walden’s emphasis on research and evidence-based solutions to address systemic challenges.

Thus, with new approaches from the standpoint of my professional life, I strive to actualize Walden’s vision to enhance health delivery. For instance, I pioneered quality improvement projects in my organization and initiated culturally competent care training for staff to reduce disparities among minority populations. They all resonate with consonance in Walden’s social change outcomes and speak to its mission of breeding leaders who drive equitable practices forward.

AACN’s The Essentials Alignment

The AACN provides the Fundamental Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education that support a broad perspective of professional nursing practice. Consistent with this, three domains from The Essentials reflect my goals: Domain 9 is about professionalism, Domain 5 is about quality and safety, and Domain 3 is about population health. In the third domain, emphasis is placed on improving populations’ health outcomes through collaboration and evidence-based interventions. This specifically supports my academic and professional goals of addressing inequities in health care (Walton et al., 2022).

For example, I designed a community-based diabetes prevention program for a rural population, using partnerships with local organizations to increase opportunities for outreach and education. The intervention demonstrates my commitment to population health and mirrors AACN’s emphasis on equity and collaboration.

Domain 5 refers to safety and quality in the delivery of healthcare. My academic pursuit of a DNP builds on my current efforts to improve care delivery processes within my organization. For instance, recently, I led an initiative for patient safety, which reduced medication errors by 25%. This speaks of commitment to integrating quality improvement principles into practice and satisfies the expectations for this domain (Flaubert, 2021). Domain 9: Professionalism includes lifelong learning and leadership development.

I am committed to developing resilience and adaptability as a nurse leader. For example, pursuing the DNP reflects my yearning to deepen my expertise and prepare for roles that require navigating complex healthcare systems. This aligns with AACN’s vision of developing professional nursing identity and leadership.

Plan to Incorporate a Commitment to Professional Practice and Social Change

Social transformation is essential to both my professional and academic endeavors. By concentrating my PhD research on lowering health inequities, I will include a dedication to social change throughout the course study. For instance, it is the efficiency of telehealth in enhancing rural residents’ access to care by tackling the structural obstacles of provider shortages and transportation. This will add to the knowledge needed to inform policy and practice improvements.

I am committed to promoting inclusive healthcare environments focused on equity and cultural competence (Flaubert et al., 2021). As a nurse leader, I have actively worked with others to address gaps in care delivery for marginalized groups. I organized a series of community health fairs where free screenings and health education were provided to economically disadvantaged populations. These initiatives demonstrate my commitment to designing accessible healthcare solutions and systemic change.

I also plan to practice collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to address SDoH. For example, integrated partnerships with social services and local nonprofits will allow me to address upstream food insecurity and housing instability issues that impact my patients’ health (Kreuter et al., 2021). This comprehensive approach aligns with Walden’s vision and The Essentials, ensuring that my work contributes to meaningful improvement in population health.

By advocating for and mentoring the upcoming generation of nurse leaders, I will further my dedication to social change. I want to inspire others to be mindful of equity and excellence in their practice through experiences and by creating a culture of innovation.

Conclusion

To sum up, my goals for my studies, career, and personal life align with the AACN’s Essentials and frameworks of Walden University. These alignments guide my educational journey and prepare me to be a transformative leader in nursing practice. I am excited to create meaningful and lasting impacts in healthcare by integrating social change into my professional roles and studies. This commitment serves both Walden University and meets the criteria of The Essentials, providing for a well-rounded educational approach for the advanced nursing discipline.

References

Cuddapah, G. V., Vallivedu Chennakesavulu, P., Pentapurthy, P., Vallakati, M., Kongara, A., Reddivari, P., Singareddy, S., Chandupatla, K. P., & Swamy, M. (2022). Complications in diabetes mellitus: Social determinants and trends. Cureus, 14(4). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.24415

Flaubert, J. (2021). The role of nurses in improving health care access and quality. In www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. National Academies Press (US). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK573910/

Flaubert, J. L., Menestrel, S. L., Williams, D. R., & Wakefield, M. K. (2021). The role of nurses in improving health equity. In www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. National Academies Press (US). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK573898/

Kreuter, M. W., Thompson, T., McQueen, A., & Garg, R. (2021). Addressing social needs in health care settings: Evidence, challenges, and opportunities for public health. Annual Review of Public Health, 42(1), 329–344. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-090419-102204

Walton, A. L., Nikpour, J. A., & Randolph, S. D. (2022). Population health in a global society: Preparing nurses for the future. Public Health Nursing, 39(5). https://doi.org/10.1111/phn.13081

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By now you should be familiar with Walden University’s mission, vision, social change outcomes, and SDoH framework. If not, please refer to this week’s Learning Resources where you will find links to these important materials. Walden mission, vision, social change outcomes, and SDoH framework will guide you in this course, throughout your program of study, and into your career as a DNP-prepared nurse.

The AACN has developed a set of standards, known as The Essentials, which define the foundational competencies contained in the DNP degree program’s curriculum. By the end of your program of study, you will have acquired these competencies, and they will inform your areas of practice as a DNP-prepared nurse. Keep in mind that in addition to your personal, academic, and professional goals, you will also be required to demonstrate and enact The Essentials in your daily practice.

For this Assignment, you will reflect on your personal, academic, and professional goals and consider how they align with AACN’s The Essentials and Walden University’s vision, mission, social change outcomes, and SDoH framework.

To prepare:

• Review this week’s Learning Resources, paying special attention to the following:
  • AACN’s The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education
  • Walden University’s vision, mission, social change outcomes, and SDoH framework
• Reflect on your personal, academic, and professional goals and consider how they align with:
  • AACN’s The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education
  • Walden University’s vision, mission, social change outcomes, and SDoH framework
• Consider how you will incorporate a commitment to social change into your program of study and professional practice.

Note: Be sure to review the grading rubric for this Assignment so you fully understand what is expected of you. To access the rubric, scroll down to the bottom of the Assignment page.

Aligning Your Goals with Walden and AACN The Essentials

The Assignment: (2–3 pages)

• Explain how your personal, academic, and professional goals align with Walden University’s vision, mission, social change outcomes, and SDoH framework. Be specific and provide examples.
• Explain how your personal, academic, and professional goals align with AACN’s The Essentials.
• Explain how you plan to incorporate a commitment to social change into your program of study and professional practice.
• Note: Use this week’s Learning Resources to support your Assignment. Use proper APA format and style for all references and citations. The College of Nursing requires that all papers include a title page, introduction, summary, and references. Use the College of Nursing Writing TemplateLinks to an external site. for your Assignment submission.

By Day 7 of Week 3

• Submit your Assignment by Day 7 of Week 3.