As soon as a graduate nurse is trying to achieve a career change, professional requirements oblige them to provide a portfolio in which they outline academic achievements. It is worth acknowledging that this approach to employment or professional development is time-consuming for the nurse, as it requires a document that can formally and convincingly describe the employee’s learning outcomes and experience (Jasper, 2001). However, portfolio preparation is justified by the potential benefits that a nurse derives from it — career changes, confirmation of academic ability, or taking a leadership position to promote their theories (Casey & Egan, 2010). This paper focuses on two strategies for including academic achievement in a professional portfolio.
First of all, it is worth paying attention to the information included in the final version of the portfolio. It is essential to recognize that a professional portfolio should not become a collection of certificates, some of which may have nothing to do with nursing (Jasper, 2001). According to Bell (2001), such a document aims to preserve historical information about their professional experience. In other words, it is the portfolio that will be the repository that collects and preserves all the luggage of accumulated academic achievement. Such a strategy would expand the work portfolio’s traditional framework, which reflected only necessary information about the place of study and the average academic score. This means that when looking for employees, employers will be able to familiarize themselves not only with the qualifications but also with the technical skills of the graduating nurse. This strategy, in turn, will allow employers to target the right person for the right job.
On the other hand, nursing practitioners often focus on research activities to expand their competencies and develop scientific hypotheses. Any research needs funding, and investors are not prepared to invest in that will not generate income or become risky. From this perspective, a nurse with leadership skills include in portfolio information about their written publications, books, grants received, and recommendations to gain support from investors (Bell, 2001). The strategy for adding academic results to the portfolio is to demonstrate the authority of the specialist and gain the trust of stakeholders.
References
Bell, S. K. (2001). Professional nurse’s portfolio. Nursing Administration Quarterly, 25(2), 69-73. Web.
Casey, D. C., & Egan, D. (2010). The use of professional portfolios and profiles for career enhancement. British Journal of Community Nursing, 15(11), 547-552. Web.
Jasper, D. M. (2001). The role of the nurse manager in ensuring competence–the use of portfolios and reflective writing. Journal of nursing management, 9(5), 249-251. Web.