SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING PLAN
The Self-Directed Learning Plan (SDLP) is a process and document to chronicle your accomplishments and learning steps through the MSN
program and beyond as they relate to your professional goals.
The SDLP will help you to identify and target the array of competencies you need to reach your professional objectives and to help you organize
your MSN learning experience to suit your career objectives.
The SDLP will be a section of your Program Portfolio, so take some quality introspective time to consider strengths and areas of development
relevant to your career objectives. Knowing your strengths and areas to develop, you can begin a plan to find out what you need to do to achieve
your career goals. We encourage you to continue to reflect on the identified areas throughout the MSN program. If you feel a strength or
development area is no longer relevant, you may add another to take its place. At any time, you may also add additional areas.
Your Name: Date: July 25, 2017 Anticipated Nursing Role: Family Nurse Practitioner
Professional Goal (3-5 years) from now:
Three to five years from now, I hope to achieve my Masters in Nursing for Family Nurse Practitioner. I plan on gaining more experience and
working in a pediatric office. A FNP has a strong devotion to the health of her patients and the community. My commitment to preventive measures
for a healthy lifestyle and the knowledge to educate patients to empower them to make educated healthcare choices. I want to bring the same
compassion and caring to children and their parents upon graduation to make a change in their lives and their health. Knowledge that prepares a graduate student for an advanced nursing role:
A Master’s Degree education prepares nurses with beneficial knowledge and expertise to lead and promote positive health care education and
decisions. In the view of many policy-makers, Advanced Practice Registered Nurses have a vital role to play in meeting the increased demand for
healthcare services resulting from health care reform, an aging population and looming healthcare shortages.
Skills that prepare a graduate student for an advanced nursing role:
All graduates of a Master’s Nursing education program must possess strong critical thinking and decision making skills. The ability to critical
thinking and decision making skills. The ability to critically and accurately assess, plan, intervene, and evaluate the health and illness experiences
of clients (individuals, families and communities) should be a primary goal of a Master’s nursing education. Self-Directed Learning Plan 1 Accomplishments that prepare a graduate student for an advanced nursing role:
Accomplishments that prepare a graduate for an advanced nursing role includes obtaining the Master’s Degree in Family Nurse Practitioner.
Collaborating with fellow RNs & ARNPs is also an accomplishment because our main goal is to provide excellent patient care. As we learn and we
do our research, we must put our knowledge together and use it to improve the care we provide. Strengths to Leverage
Step 1: The most effective and satisfied people align their work with their natural strong points. Identify 3-5 of your key strengths (see Column 1
below); these could be a competency, skill, ability, knowledge area or personal characteristic. Think about how you can leverage those strengths to
be effective in your work, achieve your professional goals, and become a leader in your profession.
Step 2: At the beginning of each course in your MSN program, answer the following question either using this template or a narrative format.
What do you expect to learn in this course that will help you leverage your strengths? (See Column 2 below) Be as specific as you can, e.g.,
assume that a strength is your analytical ability.
Step 3: Answer the following questions either using this template or a narrative format. Did you learn what you expected to learn? (See Column 3
below) Was there information or insights that helped you that you didn’t expect to learn at the outset of the course? What changes or additions, if
any, will you make to your SDLP based on learning in this course? Step 1: Strengths to Leverage Step 2: Course Learning Goals Step 3: Course Outcomes & Assessment Strength 1 – Communication
& People Skills I expect to learn how to expand my
communication skills. Most of the time, I know
how to communicate with my patients, but other
times I have patients who I cannot get through Yes, this online course has aided me in collaborating with
other students and receiving feedback and providing
feedback. I’ve collaborated with students on this course
and it’s opened my mind. Strength 2 – Empathy &
Compassion I have learned the Holistic Care system & I
expect to learn ways on how to improve the lives
of my patients as well as mine through this
course. I want to have more positive healthcare
outcomes. In this course, I have researched more about Holistic Care
and the outcomes of providing such service to patients. As
of now, I haven’t learned about anymore methods that are
related to Holistic Care. Strength 3 – Time
Management I believe Time Management is an important
strength that I’ve acquired throughout my career
as a RN. What I expect from this course is to be
taught methods After taking this online course, I’ve adopted new ways to
organize my priorities and use my time efficiently.
Procrastination is something I dealt with in my youth and I
have dealt with the consequences. This course has
reminded me of that time. Thankfully, I’ve learned how to
manage my time adequately. Self-Directed Learning Plan 2 Strength 4 – Ability to work
independently
Strength 5 – Critical Thinking As a PACU RN, I am faced with situations where
I must work against the time. In this course, I
expect to learn the new forms to use critical
thinking skills Effectively, as this course has transpired, I’ve learned new
techniques that help me work better under pressure. Areas to Develop
Step 1: We all have strengths, but we also have areas on which we need to improve. As related to your career goal, identify 3-5 areas to develop
(see Column 1 below); these could be a competency, skill, ability, knowledge area or personal characteristic. Think about how you can improve in
these areas so that you can achieve your professional goals and become a leader in your profession.
Step 2: What do you expect to learn in this course that will help you to develop in the identified area? (See Column 2 below)
Step 3: Answer the following questions either using this template. Did you learn what you expected to learn? (See Column 3 below) Was there
information or insights that helped you that you didn’t expect to learn at the outset of the course? What changes or additions, if any, will you make
to your SDLP based on learning in this course?
Step 1: Areas to Develop
Area 1 – Public Speaking Step 2: Course Learning Goals Step 3: Course Outcomes & Assessment English being my second language, I
sometimes become nervous with speaking in
front of my colleagues and doctors. I tend to
think of my words in one language but then try
to say them in another language. With this
course, I would like to learn how to deal with
public speaking. Area 2 Area 3 - Reflection
What do you expect to learn in this course that will help you achieve your academic and professional goals? (Your reflection should be
at least one well developed paragraph.) Self-Directed Learning Plan 3 Obtaining a Master’s of Science from Kaplan University will equip me with advanced practice nursing skills further allowing me to focus on patientcentered care while integrating the promotion of wellness and preventative medicine. I will also be fully equipped with the inner desire, energy and
stamina to pursue a lifelong career in nursing. The knowledge I obtained as a Registered Nurse has given me the basic understanding of the
healthcare profession over the last few years. My levels of maturity, motivation, and perseverance have evolved. The number one item I have
learned from my hospital experience is that I belong in a community promoting health and wellness so patients do not end up in the hospital. My
experience as a PACU RN has prepared me to start my journey as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Kaplan University will help me be steps closer to
my goal and of being a FNP. Graduate study should be challenging and relevant to my future role. Having a strong academic background, Kaplan,
can prepare me to be a leader within my community. As a Kaplan University student, I will need to be self-sufficient, reliable, and dedicated to my
studies and practice. They will assist me in cultivating the knowledge and skills needed in the advanced practice role by offering me the
opportunity to grow both professionally and personaly. Self-Directed Learning Plan 4

Attachments:

• 1505049020-MN501_SDLP_Form 3.docx