Anthony Rodriguez

Professional Development Plan

Professional Development Plan: Critical Care Nursing

The traditional health care system has presented a lot of changes in the past few years.
Nursing is becoming more essential than ever before due to the increase in disaster events,
impactful government rulings, and the changing populations. I am extremely happy to enter this
field at such a needed time in our healthcares history now that medicine is growing so fast.

Environmental Scan
It is not a secret that lastly the general population is slowly deteriorating. Obesity rates
are rising, and chronic health conditions are also incrementing in amount and severity. Centers
for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) are urging shortened hospital stays and refusing
reimbursement for preventable conditions to the hospitals. The Affordable Care Act (Obama
Care) provided insurance to 30 million Americans and together with the Healthy People 2020,
are demanding better access to health care services (including emergency care).
The majority of nurses are either in plan of retirement, or thinking of moving to a
specialty area, which increases the chance of getting a job for the new graduates. and our nursing
workforce is aging and diminishing at the same time. The constant threat of natural disasters
such as the recent Hurricanes Irma and Maria, terrorism, and upcoming diseases (influenza), put
critical care nursing as a specialty area that I am very interested in looking forward to move in.
Hospitals are trying to keep up with the demands of the increasing complexity and
quantity of patients. However, the workforce is still strained by high nurse-patient ratios. Miami
needs highly competent critical care nurses to help our city become stronger, wiser, and more
prepared in regards to the inevitable and unrelenting traumas, increase in chronic illness, and
increase in illegal drugs usage.

Self-Assessment
Flexibility, ability to prioritize, resourcefulness, reliability, teamwork, effective
communicator, autonomy, being able to think critically, act logically, and make decisions under
pressure are all necessary characteristic of a critical care nurse. Through previous clinical
experiences I have obtained these skills, and also have social skills that allow me to engage with
patients therapeutically and effectively.
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Professional Development Plan
Other values I possess and have previously acquired include intelligence, competence,
teamwork, integrity, respect, and empathy. I believe these values are essential for any nursing
position and they have been and always will be the foundation for all of my professional
decisions. Some of my best strengths include being organized, efficient, and able to manage time
well, multitask, and anticipate patients needs. I have an internal drive for learning, knowing,
doing, serving, and being the best version of myself.
One of my weakest points at the moment is that I do not have the experience per say of
working in a critical care setting even though I have performed under pressure several times
during my clinical rotations in the ER. It is my greatest desire to save lives and practice
exceptional nursing for patients. As a new nurse, I am limited in regards to an overall proficiency
and expertise, but I feel very comfortable that I will obtain this experience as I go along. Areas of
professional growth I will address include delegation, education, applying theory into
practice, and polishing my nursing skills.
In critical care, nursing competency across the lifespan is essential and this will be a
constant area of growth throughout my career. To be better prepared for my first critical care
position, special skills to focus on during immersion include inserting IVs, interpreting lab
results and EKGs, hemodynamic monitoring, and becoming proficient with advanced
technology. I always welcome constructive criticism and fully intend on implementing feedback
to better my nursing practice in terms of knowledge, best practice, and leadership.

Vision
Within the next six months, I see myself being as versatile as possible in the critical care
field. I plan on already pass the N-CLEX exam and start working at an ED where I want to feel
comfortable working with all age groups and be transferable between ICU, ER, and trauma
centers. I am aware it is difficult for new graduates to find a job in critical care without any
previous experience but that would be the best course for me. Otherwise, I would love to work
for 1 to 2 years in a medical-surgical floor where I can also obtain the experience and then apply
for the job that I want in a critical care unit. Accordingly, within one year after receiving my
BSN, I envision myself working for a general hospital in an adult acute care setting, gaining
experience and building confidence in my new nursing role with support from a residency
program and other resources from nursing organizations such as webinars, CEUs, etc. I will
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Professional Development Plan
work towards a certification in critical care (CCRN), the exam for which is provided by AACN
and is available after 1,750 hours of critical care experience over two years.
By three years after graduation I will be settled in my personal life, and secure in a
critical care position at a major hospitals ICU, ED, or trauma center. I plan to be certified as a
CCRN. With a future eye as an ARNP I will be focused on refining quick assessments and
nursing skills across the lifespan, while networking with mentors for guidance. A DNP can also
be contemplated by ten years on the long run. After all these years of experience and maybe, a
lot of debt in between, I also plan to be a teacher because I have heard that the government
forgives or pay off our debts if we teach, but most important, because I would have the chance of
transmitting all the knowledge acquired throughout my career to the new generation.

Strategic Plan
I already have my resume, cover letter, and e-portfolio prepared and available to
prospective employers. I feel it is important to show ambition and initiative by getting resumes
out as soon as possible. I plan to take the N-CLEX on March 2nd, 2018 and hope to secure a job
by April 2018.
My goal for my first position as a registered nurse is a job in an adult medical/surgical or
critical care unit in the Miami area. During the first term of nursing career I will focus on
improving my areas of growth, push my comfort zone in terms of leadership, skills, teaching,
and independence, and develop relationships with mentors and leaders in this specialty.