CPA PAPER

Nursing 401- Career Pathways Assessment

Career Pathways Assessment Paper
Purpose of Assignment
The purpose of this paper is to reflect upon and examine your career path in nursing,
from the time you entered your first nursing education program to a point in the future
that incorporates desired professional and/or educational goals.
Approach to Assignment
I approached this assignment by reflecting by on my career path in nursing and evaluated
how I have been practicing nursing in my career. I also reflected on what my educational
and career goals are and what they will be in the future.
Reason for Inclusion
This assignment is included to show how my educational and career pathway will guide
my nursing career and how I have developed it throughout my educational journey.
Curricular outcomes
Critical thinking
Engages in creative problem solving.
During my pediatric clinical in nursing school, I used creative problem solving to
be able to evaluate my patient that just had his tonsils removed. Though fearful
that I would hurt him or cause more pain, I was able to critically thinking and
figure out how to make him feel comfortable enough with me to be able to check
his surgical site. I knelt down to his level, let him examine my penlight, and have
him come to me when he had calmed himself down. I had to build trust with him.
Nursing Practice
Applies appropriate knowledge of major health problems to guide nursing
practice.
During other clinical experience, I saw a baby that was born to a mother that had
drug and alcohol abuse during pregnancy. I used my nursing knowledge to know
that this baby would have signs of fetal alcohol syndrome once born and that I
would have to prepare myself for the signs and symptoms that would need to be
addressed once born.
Communication
Uses therapeutic communication within the nurse-patient relationship.
This is demonstrated in my CPA paper when I am communicating with my
pediatric patient about having his surgical site checked. I got down to the patients
level, explained everything that I was going to do in my assessment, explained the
penlight that I was going to use, and allowed him to become comfortable with me

and let him decide that he would allow me to examine him. By doing so with
effective communication, I was able to examine him.
Teaching
Uses information technologies and other appropriate methods to enhance
ones own knowledge base.
During my first nursing job working on a med-surg floor, taking care of pediatric
patients, I obtained my PAL certifications to be able to care for pediatric patients
more effectively if they were in a critical situation that require advance life
support and care.
Research
Evaluates research that focuses on the efficiency and effectiveness of nursing
interventions:
Working with pediatric patients and being PALs certified was not only a
requirement for the job but also it has been shown that this is needed to provide
advanced life support for children in need if they had a cardiac problem or
respiratory distress.
Leadership
Articulates the values of the profession and the role of the nurse as member of
the interdisciplinary health care team.
Working on a med-surg floor as the pediatric nurse, I was PAL certified and on
my shift I was the nurse that cared for the pediatric patients that were on the floor.
If the patients were 16 or younger I was responsible for their care on my shift.
Professionalism
Advocates for professional standards of practice using organizational and
political processes.
While working with pediatric patients it is the responsibility of the nurse to
become PAL certified while working with children. I became PAL certified and
took on the responsibility on obtaining my training to be able to take care of
children that were admitted to the floor. When I later moved to womens health
and starting taking care of infants, I became NRP certified as required by the
womens health organization AWHONN
Culture
Demonstrates sensitivity to personal and cultural definitions of health, and
how theses beliefs influence an individuals reactions to the illness experience and
end of life.
I demonstrate this by my values and beliefs in nursing. Healthcare is about the
patient. You have to put the patient first. Nursing is not about a paycheck; it is all about
the patient and how the patient is treated while in the care of healthcare professionals.
What has changed through my CPA paper?

I was able to reflect back on my journey through nursing and how I got to where I am
now through my BSN degree. This paper allowed me to see where I was in my nursing
career and what I want to accomplish going forward.