The purpose of this assignment is for students to engage in weekly reflection and scholarly activities throughout the course. These assignments are designed to help students plan ahead and integrate their deliverables into their Individual Success Plan, if desired. While the weekly reflective journals and scholarly activities will not be submitted each week, students will be required to submit a final, culminating submission in Topic 10. There is no submission required until Topic 10.
Throughout the course, students are expected to maintain weekly reflective narratives which will be combined into a final, course-long reflective journal. This journal should integrate leadership and inquiry into current practice as it applies to the Professional Capstone and Practicum course. The course-long journal assignment will be due in Topic 10.
Each week, students should reflect on the personal knowledge and skills they have gained throughout the course. The specific content of each week’s reflection may vary depending on the practice immersion clinical experiences encountered that week. It is important to address a variety of topics in the reflection journal, as all of the areas will need to be addressed in the final, Topic 10 submission.
The reflection journal allows students to outline what they have discovered about their professional practice, as well as any personal strengths and weaknesses that have surfaced. It also provides an opportunity to identify additional resources and abilities that could be introduced to a given situation in order to influence optimal outcomes. Finally, students should reflect on how they have met competencies and course objectives throughout the duration of the RN-to-BSN program.
In addition to the reflection journal, students in the BSN program are required to participate in scholarly activities outside of clinical or professional practice. Examples of these activities include attending conferences, seminars, journal clubs, grand rounds, morbidity and mortality meetings, interdisciplinary committees, and quality improvement committees. It is expected that students will engage in at least one scholarly activity and document it by the end of this course. It is also important for students to be actively involved and contribute to interdisciplinary initiatives on a regular basis.
By engaging in scholarly activities and interdisciplinary initiatives, students have the opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills beyond the clinical setting. These activities provide exposure to current research, best practices, and collaboration with professionals from various disciplines. Ultimately, this involvement contributes to the development of well-rounded and informed healthcare professionals.
In conclusion, this assignment requires students to maintain weekly reflective narratives and engage in scholarly activities throughout the course. The reflective journals will be combined into a final, course-long reflective journal that integrates leadership and inquiry into current practice. It is important for students to address a variety of topics in their reflection, including personal knowledge and skills gained, strengths and weaknesses, additional resources and abilities, and the meeting of competencies and course objectives. Additionally, students are expected to participate in at least one scholarly activity and contribute to interdisciplinary initiatives on a regular basis. This assignment promotes continuous learning and growth as students progress through the RN-to-BSN program.
