Professional Progress Summary

NURS 431- Transition to Professional Nursing Practice

Purpose of Assignment
The purpose of this assignment is to address the students attainment of all eight behaviors and/or
competencies that are specific outcomes of the program including: critical thinking, nursing
practice, communication, teaching, research, leadership, professionalism, and culture.
Student Approach to Assignment
This paper symbolizes who I am as a new graduate nurse. It serves as a reflection of my growth
throughout nursing school in the eight competencies Old Dominion School of Nursing holds as a
standard for all students. Through this written assignment I have identified strengths,
weaknesses, and areas that still need improvement.
Reason for Inclusion of the Assignment in the Portfolio
I have included this assignment in my Portfolio because it showcases how I used critical
thinking, nursing practice, communication, teaching, research, leadership, professionalism, and
culture in my patient care from the beginning to end of nursing school. It is a required
component in my portfolio and showcases the variety of patients I have cared for in my 625
clinical hours throughout nursing school.
Nursing Practice
Implements traditional nursing care practices as appropriate to provide holistic health
care to diverse populations across the lifespan.
Example: See page 7 paragraph 1 (Senior year)
Communication
Uses therapeutic communication within the nurse-patient relationship.
Example: See page 12 paragraph 1 (Junior year)
Expresses oneself and communicates effectively with diverse groups and disciplines using
a variety of media in a variety of contexts.
Example: See page 7 paragraph 1 (Senior year)

Teaching
Provides teaching to patients and/or professionals about health care procedures and
technologies in preparation for and following nursing or medical interventions.
Example: See page 7 paragraph 3 (Junior year)
Evaluates the efficacy of health promotion and education modalities for using a variety
of settings with diverse populations.

 Example: See page 7 paragraph 3 (Junior year)

Uses information technologies and other appropriate methods to enhance ones own
knowledge base.
Example: See page 9- paragraph 1 (Senior year)
Research
Applies research-based knowledge from the arts, humanities and sciences to compliment
nursing practice
Example: See page 10 paragraph 1 (Senior year)
Leadership
Assumes a leadership role within ones scope of practice as a designer, manager, and
coordinator of health care to meet the special needs of vulnerable populations in a
variety of practice settings.
Example: See page 12 paragraph 1 (Senior year)
Delegates and supervises the nursing care given by others while retaining the
accountability for the quality of care given to the patient.
Example: See page 11 paragraph 3 (Senior year)
Professionalism
Advocates for professional standards of practice using organizational and political
processes.
Example: See page 18 paragraph 3 (Junior year)
Demonstrates accountability for ones own professional practice.
Example: See page13- paragraph 2 (Senior year)
Culture
Articulates an understanding of how human behavior is affected by culture, race,
religion, gender, lifestyle, and age.
Example: See page 12- paragraph 3 & page 13- paragraph 1 (Junior year)
Demonstrates sensitivity to personal and cultural definitions of health, and how these
beliefs influence an individuals reactions to the illness experience and end of life.
Example: See page 15 paragraph 2 (Senior year)