Upload
duongcong
View
213
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Running head: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN1
Professional Development Plan
Nichole Kraai
NURS 324
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2
Abstract
I will be evaluating my current nursing practice by comparing it to the American Nurses
Association’s standards. Through this process I will identify my strengths and weaknesses. I will
then set five and ten year goals and create a plan to achieve these goals. The plan will
incorporate an action plan and an evaluation process in order to determine my personal progress
toward these goals.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 3
Professional Development Plan
What does it take to be successful in your career? What can you do independently to
make the most of your talents and identify and strengthen your weaknesses? It is through a
consistent process of evaluation, goal setting, planning, and reevaluation that you can optimize
your achievements and maximize your personal growth. The purpose of this paper is to take a
deep, sincere look at my individual strengths and weaknesses in comparison with the American
Nurses Association’s standards. I will then set futuristic goals and create a plan to follow in order
to evaluate progress and attain my personal goals. The creation of a professional development
plan is what makes the difference between the everyday average American and the most elite
professionals of our day.
Self-Evaluation
Ethics
The code of ethics is the basis for all that a nurse does. I see my professional relationships
within the workplace and with patients as one of my top priorities. I sincerely care to see that all
I interact with feel respected and valued. Every individual is unique and everyone deserves to
feel valued. Every patient is our primary commitment, and the advocacy we are responsible for
comes before everything else. I hold myself and my nursing staff to very high expectations in
regards to being responsible and accountable, and collaborating with the team. As a leader, I feel
it is my responsibility to be a role model. I feel strongly that in order for someone to care for
someone else well, they must care for themselves first. I make an effort to eat healthy, exercise,
and get appropriate sleep so that I have the energy and motivation to do the best I can in my
career. I am committed to improving healthcare and advancing the profession. It is my job as a
nurse to proactively identify ethical violations and take action. According to the book The
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 4
Essential Guide to Nursing Practice, “In contrasting the profession’s ethical standard with its
legal standard (nurse practice acts), actions that are ethical may not be considered to be legal. In
turn, what is legal may not be perceived as being ethical and may be in conflict with one’s
personal values” (White, 114). Having been a nurse just about four years now, I feel I am able to
identify situations I couldn’t as a new nurse. I feel with more experience I will gain more
perspective and insight into various ethical concerns that border legality concerns as well. My
main weakness is the lack of experience and exposure to ethical concerns.
Education
On-going education is a requirement in the medical field. According to White and
O’Sullivan, “The ability to acquire, appraise, and apply the best scientific evidence in nursing
practice is sustained through ongoing professional education” (124). I work at a long term acute
care hospital and see patients who require longer term acute care. These patient circumstances
vary from surgeries with poor outcomes, acute renal failure, new plegias and brain injuries,
wound care, difficult to wean ventilator patients, and more. I have attained a brain injury
certification. I am sedation certified through the Spectrum Health System. I participated in a 10-
month new leadership program I was nominated into. I attend seminars, read journals, and seek
opportunities to learn about best practice in order to offer process improvement education to the
unit. Education in the medical field is a constant. I thoroughly enjoy learning and see continuing
education as a critical part of offering quality care. I see the continuing education requirements
of my nursing license and my brain injury certification as the bare minimum of what I should do
to keep my knowledge base up to date. I am currently pursuing my bachelor’s degree at Ferris
State University in order to advance my thinking process and critical evaluation skills. I am
strongly considering the accelerated to master’s degree program at Ferris State University with
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 5
either a focus on education or administration. The exact direction I would like to go is unclear at
this time.
EBP and Research
There are many opportunities for me to involve myself in research. As we find minor
breaks in our process I often seize the opportunity to evaluate how others do things and what is
suggested in journals, online resources, and various specialists within the hospital. One of the big
research projects I involved myself in was discovering the most effective way to complete shift
to shift report. Through my research I found bedside report combined with hourly rounds to be
the most effective way to communicate between shifts. I strongly believe that research is the
basis for nursing practice. Through research we are able to identify the things that promote the
best patient outcomes and nursing efficiencies. With research we are consistently able to offer
higher levels of quality care. I definitely look at EBP positively and am excited to try newly
proven ideas from EBP. Yet it can be challenging to keep up with and implement new EBP.
According to the Journal of the Medical Library Association, “To effectively apply the EBP
process, in addition to the basic skills required to undertake nursing work, a nurse must have the
ability to: (1) identify knowledge gaps, (2) formulate relevant questions, (3) conduct an efficient
literature search, (4) apply rules of evidence to determine the validity of studies, (5) apply the
literature findings appropriately to the patient's problem, and (6) appropriately involve the patient
in the clinical decision making” (Majid, 2011). This process, unfortunately is thorough and time
intensive and occasionally opposition is met by leadership who is consumed by other projects in
the moment. With such large volume of changes related to EBP, transitions can be rather slow.
This entire process is a work in progress for me.
Quality of Practice
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 6
There are a variety of things that I do to ensure I am offering the highest quality care. The
first thing I do is make sure I know the policies and procedures of my workplace prior to
providing any patient care. The policies and procedures are created by professionals that are
keeping the state regulations, joint commission guidelines, and best practice in mind. The second
thing that I do is get to know my patients from a medical standpoint as well as a personal
standpoint. When I know my patient’s preferences regarding how they learn, what their goals
are, and the type of encouragement I can offer, I am able to cater any interventions to meet them
not only at a physical level but holistically. The third thing I do is monitor individual outcomes
as well as quality dashboards on the unit to evaluate opportunities for improvement.
According to White and O’Sullivan, “Nurses are engaged every day in identifying areas
of improvement, for monitoring, for measuring, and for reporting quality” (2012, 146). Offering
the highest quality care is our responsibility.
Communication
The key to smooth transitions and optimal patient care is communication,
communication, communication! With clear, concise communication the patient is offered the
best quality care. Any break in the communication process promotes the risk of setbacks, missed
opportunities, and frustration of the patient and family, the customers we serve. In my position, it
has been a learning process for me to always keep in mind every person I need to communicate
the minutest details to.
According to White and O’Sullivan, “A key principle of effective communication is that
the only true communication is what the other person perceives you to have said, written, or
intended” (2012, 153). As a nurse, the only way to complete an accurate assessment, make
nursing diagnoses, and educate your patient is through effective interpersonal communication.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 7
Great communication is essential for efficient teamwork and collaboration to occur. I have
started studying the book Crucial Conversations by Patterson, Grenny, McMillan, and Switzler
and plan to study their book Crucial Confrontations once done.
Leadership
All nurses play a leadership role. Leadership is not merely management. When a nurse
shows exceptional leadership skills, they are encompassing all of the ANA standards and serving
as a role model to their patients and fellow teammates. According to White and O’Sullivan, “The
fundamental nature of leadership can be described as the ability to influence others towards
toward accomplishing common goals” (2012, 163). As a nursing supervisor and interim
educator, I am constantly faced with situations that really try your ability to make a difference
and set an example. Staying focused on the vision of the health system I work for directs my
decisions. There are constantly opportunities to mentor staff and encourage their personal
growth. I took part in a 10 month leadership course through the hospital system I am employed at
and learned a lot from the course as well as through networking with other leaders and future
leaders within the health system. I plan to continue to learn and involve myself in opportunities
to learn how I can be an influential leader. I take every opportunity I have to offer help and
observe for staff feeling overwhelmed. In the midst of chaos, I feel it is very important to stay
calm and mentor staff. In the hospital things are very unpredictable and I try very hard to make
sure that staff sees me as a co-worker and caregiver, a support to them and not merely as a
superior. I feel my job is to serve them and ensure that they have the tools and the support they
need to do their job well.
Collaboration
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 8
As a nursing supervisor, I am consistently working within an interdisciplinary team.
Simply coordinating the events of the day require interdisciplinary communication. During
weekly team rounds on our patients I work with every member of the interdisciplinary team to
evaluate every patient and determine progress and goals. Collaborating with physicians,
therapists, case managers, pharmacy, dietary, infection control, leadership, scheduling, transport
services, monitor room, nursing, security, wound care, dialysis, etc. is all part of my daily duties.
It is very enjoyable being part of a team. Even though nursing is very autonomous,
working as a team allows for greater efficiency, quality patient care, and overall satisfaction with
your job. I try very hard to make sure my staff sees me as a team player who sincerely cares
about them. I make every effort to stay positive, approachable, and provide frequent praise and
encouragement. According to White and O’Sullivan, “nurses need to be able to welcome
differences that may lead to disagreements and conflicts and, at the same time, appreciate that
safe quality patient care is the imperative among all provider and caregivers” (2012, 176).
Professional Practice Evaluation
According to White and O’Sullivan, “The professional registered nurse (RN) has a
responsibility to engage in evaluation activities to maintain and enhance her or his professional
performance as part of accountability to the healthcare consumer and to the profession. As part
of the evaluation process, the RN identifies and monitors official, valid, and reliable authoritative
sources of information for professional practice standards, guidelines, statutes, rules, and
regulations that serve as a basis for evaluation of professional performance. There are multiple
ways that I am able to evaluate what I am doing in my current practice. On our unit we have
annual mandatory education that offers me the most updated information and process
improvements to ensure my current practice lines up. The quality dashboards on the unit offer
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 9
me a broad idea of how the unit is doing and magnifies the areas where we can improve. I
evaluate my own interventions based on outcomes. I proactively seek feedback from my patients,
co-workers and superiors. I take my annual evaluation to heart. I compare my current practice to
articles that I read in journals and best practice as suggested by the Joint Commission and other
organizations. We offer patient satisfaction surveys upon discharge and those results also offer a
broad evaluation of care offered on my unit. Evaluating my current practice is vital to ensuring I
am offering the highest quality care. Through ongoing education, researching evidence based
practice, and valuing feedback of my peers I am able to be in a constant evaluation mode.
Resources Utilization
According to White and O’Sullivan, “As patient advocates, the registered nurse had an
important role in assessing the healthcare consumer’s and family’s needs, identifying desired
outcomes, and assisting them to negotiate and navigate resources for their health care across the
continuum” (2012, 194). As a nurse, I collaborate with case management to recognize needs for
patients regarding equipment, financial support, meals, and more to ensure all of their needs are
met during and after their stay with us. I see myself and all nursing transitioning our focus to be
more fiscally responsible for the resources we use. We do this by monitoring usage of supplies,
seeking out more cost-effective supplies and ways to do things, and taking responsibility to
ensure we are not taking advantage of our time at work. As supervisor I am responsible to
monitor staffing needs which can hugely affect healthcare dollars in a positive or negative way.
Being mindful of our resources allows for more opportunities to advance our services we offer.
Environmental Health
Ensuring that our patients have a clean, safe, and efficient physical, psychological, and
social environment is an important part of supporting a healthy recovery. According to White
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 10
and O’Sullivan, “Nurses have an immense capacity to affect environmental conditions for their
patients, themselves, and their communities” (2012, 203). By advocating for green spaces and
recycling, we can support our environment. I feel that the best way I am able to help others in my
profession is through supporting the emotional and mental environment of the staff. Nursing is a
physically and emotionally challenging profession. In the hospital it is impossible to predict what
will occur day to day which results in lots of anxiety in some. The fast-pace and high work
demands are exhausting. Even though nursing is very, very rewarding and the impact you are
able to make on the lives of others can last a lifetime, the difficulty of the high level of
responsibility can lead to healthcare givers feeling worn out. I see it as my calling to provide the
support and encouragement to the team I work with so that they feel energized and valued. The
hard work they endure is recognized and appreciated. Through a sincere kind word people gain
worth and confidence. That positive atmosphere reinforces their missional goals and keeps them
going despite the chaos going on around them. The primary need of any person is to love and to
be loved.
Goal Setting
Five Year Professional Goals Five Year Goal
My five year professional goal is to continue to work in acute care to maintain my
nursing skills and advance my critical thinking thought processes. In relationship to the
standards of professional performance, I have set the following goals:
Ethics: Continue to seek out opportunities to be involved in ethical decision making on
the unit. Through experience I will be able to strengthen my ability to recognize and
support ethical decision making situations.
Education: I plan to complete the Registered Nurse to Bachelor’s degree at Ferris State
University. The checklist for program completion is found in Appendix A.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 11
Evidenced Based Practice and Research: I have a five year goal to join a team pursuing a
research project to identify evidenced based practice in an area of nursing. By involving
myself in such a project I will be able to gain knowledge and insight related to the
research process from other members of the team.
Quality of Practice: I plan to involve myself more in the process of evaluating, writing,
and rewriting the policies and procedures on the unit in order to incorporate the latest
evidence based practice. I also plan to take the opportunity to evaluate quality data in
order to identify areas of weakness and support projects to strengthen those areas.
Communication: I plan to complete the Crucial Conversations and Crucial
Confrontations training and bring some of the key points that I have learned back to the
team I work with.
Leadership: I plan to continue to seek out resources in order to strengthen my ability as a
leader. I will network and seek mentoring from other experienced leaders within the
healthcare system. I will proactively apply for new opportunities at the management on
the unit I currently work for.
Collaboration: I plan to complete the training on Crucial Conversations and Crucial
Confrontations in order to improve my communication and support effective
collaboration within the team I work for.
Professional Practice Evaluation: I will continue to evaluate my current practice with the
changing of practice in the nursing world. I will examine myself in order to identify
weaknesses biannually in order to seek out opportunities for growth. I will do this
through self-evaluation as well as through seeking feedback from my peers and superiors.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 12
Resource Utilization: I will continue to support my unit’s resource utilization by seeking
out opportunities to be green and cut costs. I will do this through monitoring supply usage
and encouraging our registered nurses to think fiscally when using supplies. I will also
use creativity in staffing ensuring safety and quality care is protected.
Environmental Health: I will continue to support a healthy environment in the workplace
for the staff and patients. Through encouraging quietness, cleanliness, positive attitudes,
and calmness I will be able to support a therapeutic environment for our patients.
Ten Year Professional Goals
My ten year professional goal is to continue my education in order to complete my
master’s degree in nursing specializing in either education or administration through the
accelerated program at Ferris State University. The main reason that I would like to pursue my
master’s degree is due to the enjoyment that I find in learning. I could see myself working as an
online professor in the future. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing,
“Faculty shortages at nursing schools across the country are limiting student capacity at a time
when the need for professional registered nurses continues to grow. Budget constraints, an aging
faculty, and increasing job competition from clinical sites have contributed to this crisis”
(AACN, 2012). I would like to do my job to support the nursing profession where the need is. I also
would appreciate the job security and flexibility found with the schedule of an online professor. I do
thoroughly enjoy working in the acute care setting directly with patients as well. I plan to continue
to seek mentorship from other experienced nurses, seek out educational opportunities, request
feedback from my peers, support the organizational mission, and stay engaged in my position in
order to transform myself to be all that I possibly can be.
Action Plan
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 13
In order to attain the goals I have set I will be proactive in seeking out new opportunities
for educating myself and others, obtaining feedback, and participating in projects and unit
changes. My largest weakness is my lack of experience. I will establish a consistent evaluation
process in order to ensure I am focused on the goals I have set for myself and to remove any
barriers to attaining my goals. I will identify a key mentor to support me and hold me
accountable to reaching these goals.
Evaluation Plan
I plan to evaluate myself on a biannual basis. I have a checklist found in Appendix B that
I can utilize as I reach goals or rewrite goals to meet my most current needs and ambitions. Not
only will I evaluate myself, but I will seek advice and input from a variety of peers and superiors
to get a well-rounded picture on how I am doing in attempt to reach for these goals.
Conclusion
This project has really inspired me to be futuristic in my thinking and desire to have a plan to
optimize my achievements. Even though there may be necessary deviations from the plan where I need
to revise my goals, I look forward to what the future brings. Through the innovation involved in creating
this professional development plan I am able to make the most of my ability to make a difference in the
lives of those around me. Maintaining a focus on this vision will allow for my integration in the health
system I work for to be maximized. I desire to be a part of the elite in healthcare.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 14
References
Chitty, K.K., & Black, B.P. (2011). Professional Nursing: Concepts & Challenges (6th ed.). Maryland
Heights, MO: Saunders Elsevier.
Majid, S., Schubert, F., Brendan, L., Zhang, X., Theng, Y., Chang, Y., & Mokhtar, I. (2011).
Adopting evidence-based practice in clinical decision making: nurses’ perceptions,
knowledge, and barriers. Journal of the Medical Library Association, 99(3), 229–236.
doi: 10.3163/1536-5050.99.3.010
Rosseter, R. (2012). Nursing Faculty Shortage Fact Sheet. American Association of Colleges of
Nursing. Retrieved from
http://www.aacn.nche.edu/media-relations/FacultyShortageFS.pdf
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 15
Appendix A
Student ID Number: 10152649 Advisor:Student Name: Nichole Kraai Katie Laier
First Middle Last [email protected]
RN to BSN Completion Progression Policy
Student progression in the baccalaureate nursing program without interruption is determined academically by achieving a minimum grade of "C" (2.0) in each nursing course, and maintaining at least a "C" (2.0) grade point average each semester. Progression includes graduation, and a nursing student may not graduate if he/she receives less than a "C" (2.0) in the specified courses or less than a 2.0 cumulative grade point average.
WebsitesProgram Schedule Grid -- http://www.ferris.edu/htmls/colleges/alliedhe/Nursing/RN-to-BSN/RN-to-BSN-Completion-Course-Schedule.pdfProgram Website -- http://www.ferris.edu/HTMLS/colleges/alliedhe/Nursing/RN-to-BSN/home-rn-to-bsn.htm Ferris Course Catalog -- http://www.ferris.edu/catalogTransfer Credit Equivalency --- http://www.ferris.edu/HTMLS/admision/Transfer/WebPages/equivalencies.htmDegree Requirements --- http://www.ferris.edu/htmls/academics/gened/gen_edspecific.htmlEmployer Tuition Reimbursement form -- http://www.ferris.edu/HTMLS/statewide/tuition/etr.htm
Current StatusGrade Point Average
Notes: kl - student needs to make sure that either her remaining SA at 300 level or CE also meets global consciousness.
Total Number of credits at the 300-400 level: 37 Minimum of 40 requiredTotal Number of Ferris State University Credits: 32 Minimum of 30 requiredTotal Number of Credits Earned: Minimum of 120 are required
Pre
fix
Cre
dit
Com
plet
ed=X
or
Regi
ster
ed=R
Sem
este
r
Loc
ation
FSU
Cre
dits
300
or H
ighe
r
Pre
fix
Cre
dit
Com
plet
ed=X
or
Regi
ster
ed=R
Sem
este
r
Loc
ation
FSU
Cre
dits
300
or H
ighe
r
Core: 8 credits required Major: 66 credits
RN license or CCHS 101 3 X ADN or Diploma 40 X
RN license or CCHS 102 1 X NURS 320 3 R 201208 FSU 3 3
RN license or CCHS 103 1 X
NURS 324 (PREREQ: NURS 320 & ENGL 321)
3 X 2013SP FSU 3 3
STUDENT HAS STATS NEEDS
CAHS 213
CAHS 213 1 X 2013SP FSU 1 3 NURS 310 (PREREQ:
NURS 324)3 X 2013SU FSU 3 3
Communications: 12 credits required
NURS 340 (PREREQ: NURS 324, 310 & CCHS 315)
3 X 2014FA FSU 3 3
ENGL 150 3 X 200301 GVS
UNURS 350 (PREREQ: NURS 324 & CCHS 315)
3 X 2014FA FSU 3 3
ENGL 250 3 X 200308 BC NURS 440 (PREREQ:
NURS 340 & 350)3 3 3
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 16
ENGL 321 3 R 201208 FSU 3 3 NURS 450 (PREREQ:
NURS 440)3 3 3
Communications Elec
COMM 105, 121,
221, 201 or 251
COMM 121 3 X 200401 BC
NURS 495 (PREREQ: NURS 440)
4 4 4
Nursing Elective
Scientific Understanding (SU): 7 credits required
NURS 300, 314, 315, 316, 317, or 319 (PREREQ: NURS 324)
3 3 3
SU Elective BIOL 205 5 X 200401 BC Global
ConsciousnessSU Elective with lab
BIOL 286 4 X 200701 MCC
Global Consciousness RELG 325 3 X 2013SP FSU
Social Awareness (SA): 9 credits requiredSA Foundation course
PSYC 150 3 X 200208 GVS
USocial Awareness (SA)
ANTH 1RS 3 X 200708 MCC
SA Elect (300+ level)
GEOG 201 3 X 2013SU FSU
Quantitative: 3 credits requiredMATH 115 or 117 or ACT Subscore 24+
MATH 115 0 X 200208 GVS
U
Cultural Enrichment (CE): 9 credits requiredCultural Enrichment (CE)
ARTH 110 3 X 200308 BC
Cultural Enrichment (CE)
RELG 325 3 X 2013
SP FSU
CE Elective 200+ LEVEL PHIL 320 3 X 200705 MCC 3
Totals 4 9 28 28
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 17
Appendix B
Evaluation Check List for Five Year Goals for Professional Development Plan 2013
Goal 1: Ethics _______
Goal 2: Education _______
Goal 3: EBP & Research _______
Goal 4: Quality of Practice _______
Goal 5: Communication _______
Goal 6: Leadership _______
Goal 7: Collaboration _______
Goal 8: Professional Practice Evaluation _______
Goal 9: Resource Utilization _______
Goal 10: Environmental Health _______
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 18
CHECKLIST FOR SUBMITTING PAPERS
CHECK
DATE, TIME, & INITIAL
PROOFREAD FOR: APA ISSUES
1. Page Numbers: Did you number your pages using the automatic functions of your Word program? [p. 230 and example on p. 40)]
2. Running head: Does the Running head: have a small “h”? Is it on every page? Is it less than 50 spaces total? Is the title of the Running head in all caps? Is it 1/2” from the top of your title page? (Should be a few words from the title of your paper). [p. 229 and example on p. 40]
3. Abstract: Make sure your abstract begins on a new page. Is there a label of Abstract and it is centered at the top of the page? Is it a single paragraph? Is the paragraph flush with the margin without an indentation? Is your abstract a summary of your entire paper? Remember it is not an introduction to your paper. Someone should be able to read the abstract and know what to find in your paper. [p. 25 and example on p. 41]
4. Introduction: Did you repeat the title of your paper on your first page of content? Do not use ‘Introduction’ as a heading following the title. The first paragraph clearly implies the introduction and no heading is needed. [p. 27 and example on p. 42]
5. Margins: Did you leave 1” on all sides? [p. 229]
6. Double-spacing: Did you double-space throughout? No triple or extra spaces between sections or paragraphs except in special circumstances. This includes the reference page. [p. 229 and example on p. 40-59]
7. Line Length and Alignment: Did you use the flush-left style, and leave the right margin uneven, or ragged? [p. 229]
8. Paragraphs and Indentation: Did you indent the first line of every paragraph? See P. 229 for exceptions.
9. Spacing After Punctuation Marks: Did you space once at the end of separate parts of a reference and initials in a person’s name? Do not space after periods in abbreviations. Space twice after punctuation marks at the end of a sentence. [p. 87-88]10. Typeface: Did you use Times Roman 12-point font? [p. 228]
11. Abbreviation: Did you explain each abbreviation the first time you used it? [p. 106-111]
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 19
12. Plagiarism: Cite all sources! If you say something that is not your original idea, it must be cited. You may be citing many times…this is what you are supposed to be doing! [p. 170]
13. Direct Quote: A direct quote is exact words taken from another. An example with citation would look like this:
“The variables that impact the etiology and the human response to various disease states will be explored” (Bell-Scriber, 2007, p. 1).
Please note where the quotation marks are placed, where the final period is placed, no first name of author, and inclusion of page number, etc. Do all direct quotes look like this? [p. 170-172]
14. Quotes Over 40 Words: Did you make block quotes out of any direct quotes that are 40 words or longer? [p. 170-172]
15. Paraphrase: A paraphrase citation would look like this:
Patients respond to illnesses in various ways depending on a number of factors that will be explored (Bell-Scriber, 2007).
It may also look like this: Bell-Scriber (2007) found that……
[p. 171 and multiple examples in text on p. 40-59]
For multiple references within the same paragraph see page 174.
16. Headings: Did you check your headings for proper levels? [p. 62-63].
17. General Guidelines for References:
A. Did you start the References on a new page? [p. 37]
B. Did you cut and paste references on your reference page? If so, check to make sure they are in correct APA format. Often they are not and must be adapted. Make sure all fonts are the same.
C. Is your reference list double spaced with hanging indents? [p. 37]
PROOFREAD FOR GRAMMAR, SPELLING, PUNCTUATION, & STRUCTURE
18. Did you follow the assignment rubric? Did you make headings that address each major section? (Required to point out where you addressed each section.)
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 20
19. Watch for run-on or long, cumbersome sentences. Read it out loud without pausing unless punctuation is present. If you become breathless or it doesn’t make sense, you need to rephrase or break the sentence into 2 or more smaller sentences. Did you do this?
20. Wordiness: check for the words “that”, and “the”. If not necessary, did you omit?
21. Conversational tone: Don’t write as if you are talking to someone in a casual way. For example, “Well so I couldn’t believe nurses did such things!” or “I was in total shock over that.” Did you stay in a formal/professional tone?
22. Avoid contractions. i.e. don’t, can’t, won’t, etc. Did you spell these out?
23. Did you check to make sure there are no hyphens and broken words in the right margin?
24. Do not use “etc.” or "i.e." in formal writing unless in parenthesis. Did you check for improper use of etc. & i.e.?
25. Stay in subject agreement. When referring to 1 nurse, don’t refer to the nurse as “they” or “them”. Also, in referring to a human, don’t refer to the person as “that”, but rather “who”. For example: The nurse that gave the injection….” Should be “The nurse who gave the injection…” Did you check for subject agreement?
26. Don’t refer to “us”, “we”, “our”, within the paper…this is not about you and me. Be clear in identifying. For example don’t say “Our profession uses empirical data to support ….” . Instead say “The nursing profession uses empirical data…..
27. Did you check your sentences to make sure you did not end them with a preposition? For example, “I witnessed activities that I was not happy with.” Instead, “I witnessed activities with which I was not happy.”
28. Did you run a Spellcheck? Did you proofread in addition to running the Spellcheck?
29. Did you have other people read your paper? Did they find any areas confusing?
30. Did you include a summary or conclusion heading and section to wrap up your paper?
31. Does your paper have sentence fragments? Do you have complete sentences?
32. Did you check apostrophes for correct possessive use. Don’t use apostrophes unless it is showing possession and then be sure it is in the correct location. The exception is with the word it. It’s = it is. Its is possessive.