Your Post-Graduation Plan is an opportunity to explore how you may continue to develop your professional and leadership skills, promote change in your department and organization, and stimulate progress in the nursing profession.
Your Post-Graduation Plan (geared toward the next 2–3 years) should feature two to five career and/or personal goals; goals should be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely. In your plan, outline necessary steps for achieving these goals. Also, consider how you can reflect these goals in your curriculum vitae (CV).
To prepare:
Consider the following:
As a graduate of Walden University’s DNP program, how will you contribute to or influence factors/developments related to ethics, standards, politics, economics, technology, etc.?
What opportunities will you pursue to develop scholarship, engage in community service, and/or teach?
In which professional organizations or associations would you like to become an active member?
What opportunities do you foresee for attending conferences, delivering presentations and posters, writing papers, lobbying, etc.?
How will you engage in ongoing review of research/stay current on the literature?
What strategies do you plan to employ for cultivating professional relationships?
Would you plan to run for political office or join a committee?
Explain how you will continue to develop skills as a nurse leader, particularly in your area of specialization (e.g., certifications).
How you may accommodate for the dynamic health care environment (i.e., how you will build in a renewal cycle/alternate steps to achieve goals)
How you may account for unexpected personal or professional events in the planning and attainment of professional goals
Although the content and design of this plan are up to you, create a short summary PowerPoint or outline that features two to five goals and describes steps for achieving these goals.
Also, update your CV to include your experiences throughout the DNP program and practicum experiences.
