Grad school essay

[Tristar]

Hello,

I am applying to grad schools and was hoping to get some feed back on my essay. I've haven't been able to find any nurses to read it. This is the first time I am writing about where I would like to go with my advanced degree so I would love a bit of advice.

I'm not sure this is the right discussion board to post under. If not, could someone please direct me to the correct one?

Thanks and Happy New Year!

In my 3 years of working on acute care floors, building a professional nursing practice as been my focus. I searched for models to follow on how to develop my practice, looking for guidance. I found the Magnet Recognition Program model (MRP), a program that provides a framework for evidenced based nursing practice. The MRP emphasizes transformational leadership and stresses the need of innovation in professional nursing practice to meet the demands of a health care system undergoing a major overhaul. What attracted me to this model is its promotion of a collaborative, interdisciplinary team approach to care that recognizes nursing as a vital part of that team. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) initiated health care delivery systems have their emphasis on teams and collaborative decision-making. Nurses are the prime choice to be facilitators and managers of these teams. The nontraditional educational model established at The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing (BISMN) allows the nurse scholar and leader an interdisciplinary education to handle the challenges of our changing health care system. Nursing is in the midst of a paradigm shift with all that is being asked of it. My contribution to this effort will be to add to the body of knowledge available in nursing research and prepare nursing for its leadership role in our growing interdisciplinary professional environment. BIMSN's vision of bold system change in their mission to improve quality of care and shape policy align with my own interests in seeing effective interdisciplinary collaboration established in nursing.

I also plan to further my knowledge and experience in patient centered care models that emphasize the inclusion of complementary medicine. Before nursing I worked as a massage therapist and in the nutritional supplement industry researching the use and efficacy of vitamins, minerals, nutraceuticals and herbs. In my nursing practice, it has been wonderful to be able to bring attention to the areas where complementary treatments would benefit patients such as pain management, respiratory conditions such as asthma and body based work such as yoga.

We are experiencing the most dramatic changes in healthcare since the beginning of Medicare. BIMSN is in the best position to help establish a new kind of nurse professional. It is such an exciting time to work in nursing pursuing an advanced degree. There is such a growing effort to push the profession forward, yet so much work needs to be done.

Another interest of mind is in the patient centered medical homes (PCMH) model being prominently included in the ACA. A few items on the PCMH agenda is to provide effective comprehensive care, utilization of evidence-based research and establishing a larger role for nurses in care coordination across the health care continuum. With an education from BIMSN I would have the opportunity to work in an academic environment enhancing my knowledge and understanding of patient care delivery systems. BIMSN will provide me the tools and structure needed in becoming a confident nurse scientist able to develop and conduct scientific research.

With the installment of the health exchanges the massive influx of patients expected to flood the system will require a higher level of knowledge and competencies for health care professionals. Nurses will need to enhance their level of computer literacy skills, critical thinking, leadership and health promotion which cannot be covered effectively in annual skill classes. Increasing the education and development of nurses in acute and primary care will be vital in ensuring good patient outcomes. Nurses are given so much new information on a continuous basis without any further education on the translation of research into practice. With a PhD from BIMSN I will be prepared to take on a leadership role in nursing and successful in a research intensive environment.