From practicing in the intensive care unit to practicing in a level two trauma emergency department, I have always gravitated towards working with patients requiring acute care resources. As I have worked in this fast-paced environment with this patient population, I have developed a passion to further my knowledge and become a clinical provider trained in utilizing evidence-based research in order to provide high-quality care. Educational and leadership experiences have provided me with insight into the doctorate in the nursing scope of practice and have prepared me to be successful in undertaking graduate study as an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGNP-AC) at the University of Colorado.
My desire to work as an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGNP-AC) was first inspired by non-course educational experiences working in the emergency room. These experiences demonstrated how research-based care decisions coupled with extensive teamwork are the foundation for improved patient outcomes. I have developed an appreciation for doctorate-trained nurse practitioners because I have observed these individuals being boundless in their energy and dedication towards improving clinical outcomes and the quality of healthcare the patient receives.
Not long after obtaining my Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) certification and beginning to work as a trauma nurse, I cared for a patient who was found unconscious with self-inflicted bilateral neck lacerations. As blood sprayed from his arterial neck bleed, the patient’s blood pressure began dropping and emotions ran high in the trauma room. Amidst the chaos, I was impressed by the actions of the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner working on the team. She reflected the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) element of facilitating collaboration between interprofessional members by calmly ensuring clear communication between various specialties while our team administered blood products, sedated the patient, and prepared the patient for emergency surgery.
This experience was influential in my decision to pursue a clinical doctorate in acute care nursing practice because I observed how having a Doctorate in Nursing Practice trained individual on our trauma team was pivotal in the patient’s survival. Her clinical doctorate training clearly reflected a foundation in evidence-based research as she made clinical decisions while simultaneously facilitating constructive communication between interprofessional team members. With the increasing age of our nation’s population, I have observed a growing need for adult-gerontology trained healthcare providers ready to provide holistic care while addressing the challenge of managing these patients’ complex care. I am passionate about developing, implementing, and managing high-quality individualized care for my patients, which is why I am determined and ready to embrace the challenge of pursuing my vocation as an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner.
Doctorate in advanced nursing practice trained individuals are also influential in developing health policy because clinical doctorate-trained nurse practitioners are prepared to apply new research to their practice and assess the results. While volunteering at a Muscular Dystrophy Camp over the summer, I had the opportunity to assist in implementing new policies regarding infection control at the camp when an outbreak of flu-like symptoms and fever spread. Implementing these policy changes regarding cleaning and sanitation procedures in the cabin was pivotal in preventing additional individuals from becoming ill. As a future adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner, I am passionate about developing my leadership skills in order to influence health policy because, through my clinical and volunteer experiences, I have observed how nursing practice policy development can positively influence patient and healthcare outcomes.
Doctorate-trained nurse practitioners are crucial for the improvement of healthcare. As I undertake graduate study, I will develop critical knowledge which will prepare me to provide high-quality individualized care for the adult-gerontology population while I simultaneously work towards influencing health policy. My passion for serving the adult gerontology patient population in an acute care setting coupled with my understanding of the doctorate in nursing scope of practice will make me successful in the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGNP-AC) track at the University of Colorado.
2. Describe your plans for graduate study and a professional career and how this program will contribute to them.
I am pursuing the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGNP-AC) track within the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree program. The AGNP-AC track meets my personal and professional goals by providing me with the opportunity to first work as an intensivist in a hospital setting, then pursue specialty training as a trauma provider. The complexity of care involved in stabilizing these patient populations is mentally stimulating and presents a challenge that requires extensive teamwork and research to address.
As a future clinical provider, I understand the value of attending a doctorate program that reflects American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) outcomes such as preparing individuals to critically evaluate how practice is delivered. After being exposed to the increased complexity of patient presentations through my clinical work as a nurse, I have realized that graduate-level nursing education meets my personal goals by providing thorough training in how to improve care delivery both as a clinician and a leader in the healthcare field. Doctorate-level training meets my professional career goals because the additional year of classwork and clinical hours coupled with additional exposure to evidence-based practice allows for time to practice applying evidence-based practice to my clinical work and allows for time to evaluate the outcomes.
The University of Colorado trained individuals I have worked with are conscientious and intentional when caring for patients and developing patient care plans. These individuals are clearly prepared to be leaders in improving care models based on professional standards. While working towards developing care models for patients presenting with chest pain or sepsis, I have noted that this University of Colorado-trained individuals have a firm foundation of knowledge regarding leadership and social justice which they have been trained to incorporate into their practice through their education at the University of Colorado.
The University of Colorado is the right fit for as I pursue my clinical doctorate in advanced nursing practice because of the university’s mission statement and transparent commitment to improving healthcare quality and accessibility with a focus on evaluating research and incorporating research into practice. As an individual compelled to advance community health and wholeness, I am confident that the University of Colorado fits my personal and professional goals.