...Graduate Study Challenges and Strategies for Personal Success “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” This famed quotation by one of the most influential American essayist and poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson, inspired me toward my journey to pursue graduate study. Taking the first step toward this journey is the most difficult. I understood that challenges will be inevitable in this path and implementing strategies to face these challenges is crucial for my success. I gained significant experience in both my academic and professional career over the years. I realize that I have the determination to accomplish goals and the necessary means to envision success. I have a variety of reasons I chose to pursue graduate study, both personal, and professional. Personally, I want to teach my children the importance of education in one’s life and to inspire them to aim for academic excellence. Professionally, I am very passionate about Nursing and about improving the quality of care given to patients. My ultimate goal is to influence change in the health care field as an educator or as an administrator. I want to inspire others to be excited with Nursing and be more involved in creating best practices that affects health care. I also want to ensure that I am more marketable to advance in my career. Graduate study paves the way toward the realization of these aspirations. Three Challenges that I will face in Meeting my Goals ...
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...Graduate Study Challenges and Strategies for Personal Success HCS/504 August 6, 2012 John Dean Graduate Study Challenges and Strategies for Personal Success According to Linda Weston Kramer “Retuning to graduate school is a major decision in one’s professional life. Although there are many benefits to returning to school to earn a graduate degree, it is also very challenging” (Kramer, 2007, p. 158.). This essay discusses various challenges faced by graduate students, and strategies to overcome the challenges, from personal perspective. Personal and professional goals It is important to set personal and career goals before pursuing graduate study. Students need to discover the various courses offered, and select the one suit for them. This contributes a great deal of success because they choose what they want to, and where they want to reach. Goal setting and working toward achieving the goal is the key for success. My main long-term goal is career development. I want to complete my program within two years and find a job in Nursing/Informatics and go up in the ladder. When considering my short-term goal, I want to keep my GPA above 3.5, and acquire as much knowledge from this program by using the resources available. I want to improve my communication skills both written and verbal, and graduate study is the best platform for achieving that goal. It is important to prioritize the goals and choose the right path. Self-assessment and closely checking the measurable...
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...Answering a Calling to Graduate Study: Challenges and Strategies for Personal Success Considering the pursuit of a graduate level education is a decision that should be well thought out. Success, whether academic or professional, is something desired by everyone at some point in life. It is important to decide carefully what goals one wants to accomplish and how a graduate degree will help. Once the goals are set, and the decision is made to go back to school, additional research and careful consideration is given in deciding what type of program to attend. There are basic considerations, including program and cost, but the future student should also consider that not all programs are created equal. Graduate study programs often have different objectives and focus (Kuther, PhD, 2013). It is the responsibility of the individual to ensure that the program of choice matches his or her desired learning preferences. I knew I wanted to be a nurse from the time I started college, and it did not take long working in the field to determine that I was meant for health care management. My BSN and management ability has enabled me to work my way up to a senior management position, as the Chief Nursing Officer, at a rural hospital. I believe that by obtaining the MSN/MHA dual degree, doors will continue to open in health care administration. For this reason, I have found my way back to school and I am a proud virtual student at University of Phoenix...
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...Graduate Study Challenges and Strategies for Personal Success XXXXXXXXXXX HCS 504 January 22, 2012 Dr. William Weeks Graduate Study Challenges and Strategies for Personal Success The unchecked block that has plagued like a festering boil on the derriere of life for the last decade as a requirement for rank is how I have viewed graduate school. Until this point in my life I lacked the direction necessary to know what I wanted to study in graduate school, it is that simple. I dabbled and knew, by past performance, I did not want to blindly follow, like a lemming, the paths taken by most of my colleagues: Anesthesia, family practice, critical care, or psychology. Like everything in my life, I had to be unconventional and find my own path and in my own time. This is but a brief introduction, my personal and professional goals, methods of coping with life, the ability (or inability) to communicate, and why I chose this advanced time in my life to pursue a graduate course of instruction. Professionally, I am a Lieutenant in the Nurse Corps (NC) of the United States Navy and a 24- Navy man. Personally, I am the loving and devoted husband to Debby, doting father to Millie and Mike and grandfather to Zack. If truth be told, I sometimes forget myself and have difficulty separating the military man from the family man, a problem my wife quickly remedies. My goals follow a semi-rigid construction professionally, I am anything but a conventional NC officer, but I desire...
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...Graduate Study Challenges and Strategies for Personal Success Stacy Maahs HCS/504 Jill Grundy June 6, 2014 Graduate Study Challenges and Strategies for Personal Success My personal plan for success as I pursue my master’s degree in the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Program is multi-leveled. Among other things, I believe stubbornness is one of my attributes; this in itself may turn out to be quite helpful to me over the next three years. “With self-regulated learning, students use several specific subprocesses to achieve self-directed learning goals in real-world contexts. Effective self-regulated learners select, structure, and create environments that optimize their learning” (Kumrow, 2001, p. 140). To me, this simply means that my success in this program is up to me. My ability to control my feelings of stress and anxiety, as well as juggle being a mother, wife and full-time employee will determine my success to an extent. I am certainly motivated to succeed. I plan to discuss my goals, challenges to meeting them, and ways to improve my communication skills in my pursuit of being a master’s degree prepared FNP. Personal and Professional Goals I have never prioritized setting personal or professional “goals” for myself, yet I would not profess to have wandered haphazardly through life either. I have an internal set of high standards that I maintain for myself and those around me. I was raised by two parents in the Midwest with an incredible work ethic; being taught...
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...Graduate Study Challenges and Strategies for Personal Success Graduate Study Challenges and Strategies for Personal Success Up until a few months ago, I thought my formal educational challenges were behind me. As I draft this first paper of my continuing studies, I look back to those nights I spent in the computer hall at the University of Maryland in the early1990’s, waiting for an open computer and writing paper upon paper. I remember the stress, tears, and heartache, but I also remember my achievements, and the sense of accomplishment I felt when I finally earned my degree. There were many challenges back then, but I achieved my personal and professional goal of becoming a Medical Technologist and working in the laboratory field and this has served me well. Now begins a new chapter of my life, with new goals, new strengths and weaknesses, and a fresh understanding of what I need to do to move forward in both my life and my career. Personal and Professional Goals My personal and professional goals are intertwined, and motivation is what drives those goals in order to help me succeed. Scientists have observed and documented “reasons why individuals choose to engage or disengage in different activities, and how individuals’ beliefs, values, and goals relate to their achievement behaviors” (Eccles & Wigfield, 2002, Conclusion, para. 1). I have experienced first-hand what it felt like not to have a goal when graduated with my Bachelor’ and entered the professional...
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...becoming registered nurse became my focus in life. My journey began at the local community college. After completing forty credits I transferred to a bachelor degree program. Attending evening classed while working two jobs, with no family in the country was difficult. With a strong work ethic and determination, I successfully handled the challenges that I faced and became more resilient. Having worked as a registered nurse for almost four years, I have decided that I am ready to further my education. Health care is constantly evolving are with a greater need for advanced degree nurses. Throughout my time working in the hospital setting, education had become an area that interests me. All aspects of education within the hospital interest me, whether it involves patients, nursing students or new employees. Unfortunately, with constant financial cuts within health care, nurses often find themselves with very little time to spend educating their patients. I have decided to peruse my MSN in education so that I can eventually teach at a college level. Working for only six months in my first position as a registered nurse, I was faced with the challenge of being the charge nurse. Being in a leadership role seemed to come naturally. Some staff member’s refuse to take the role of charge nurse because they fear having more responsibility. Being challenged within my...
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...A Personal Reflection: Graduate Study Challenges and Strategies for Success Returning to graduate school is a major decision in one's professional life. Although there are many benefits to returning to school to earn a graduate degree, it is also very challenging. This article discusses the challenges of graduate school as well as several tips for success. Keywords: Education, Graduate school, Masters' programs [DIMENS CRIT CARE NURS. 2007;26( 4):158-159] The decision to pursue graduate studies should not be taken lightly. Decisions should be made after serious consideration of personal and professional goals. One must evaluate the variety of programs offered, whether traditional on campus versus online classroom, cost of continuing education, financial aid availability, employment while in school, time allotment to complete studies, computer program technical skills, and computer/library access, to obtain a master's degree. Graduate programs should help the student acquire 3 core competencies. Woolcock[ 1] lists these 3 skills as detective (data collection, analysis, and interpretation), translator (reframing given ideas for diverse groups), and diplomat (negotiation, conflict mediation, and deal making). Benefits of a master's degree include intellectual improvement, personal development, acquisition of enhanced verbal/writing skills, advancement in career positions, and networking with peers and colleagues. According to Leung,[ 2] graduates of master's degrees are...
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...Graduate Study Challenges and Strategies for Personal Success Grace Edwards University of Phoenix Introduction to Graduate Study in Health Science/Nursing (HCS/504) Kirk Davis February 3, 2013 Graduate Study Challenges and Strategies for Personal Success Pursuing a graduate degree creates many opportunities and comes with many challenges, such as balancing work and attending school and adjusting to the increase workload of school (M. Schlemper, 2011). Utilizing the right coping strategies will help in overcoming these challenges. As I make this important decision to pursue the Masters of Science in nursing degree there are several questions that need to be answered. The aim of writing this paper is to give the reasons for pursuing a graduate degree including my short and long- term goals. The challenges I will face achieving these goals and the strategies I will use to overcome them. I will be analyzing my strength and weakness in regard to personal communication and strategies to improve my communication skills. Each individual have differ reasons for pursuing a graduate degree. These reasons can be personal or professional, which include a feeling of achievement and personal success and increasing their competency (Plunkett, Iwasiw & Keer, 2010). Acquiring new knowledge and skill has been imperative in my nursing career, as providing evidence base care requires me to keep abreast of the current trends in nursing...
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...Challenges of Graduate Studies & Strategies for Success Challenges of Graduate Studies & Strategies for Success The modern job market makes advanced education necessary, but graduate studies are never an easy task. Distance learning, while it does add a layer of convenience, can also cause additional issues for some graduate students. A study performed by the Babson Research Group found that over seven million higher education students opted for online learning options in 2013 (Blair, 2014). However, as Reiss points out, “It’s one thing to start your online degree, but it’s another to finish it (2014)”. If distance learning graduate students are to succeed and overcome the challenges of graduate studies, they must devise an effective strategy for meeting these potential issues. Potential Issues Many of today’s online graduate students are faced with various educational and external challenges that can hinder successful completion of their studies. These issues could, and at ties do, lead to lower grades and lack of drive. Balancing multiple obligations, struggles with adapting to the online learning processes and environment, and internal battles are just a few of the issues that online graduate students are likely to face. The Juggling Act Balancing obligations can be a challenge for online graduate learning. Modern students must juggle the responsibilities to family and home, work, friends, and self in addition to school work. Quite obviously, this...
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...Graduate Study Challenges and Strategies for Personal Success 2you HCS/504 April 8, 2013 Graduate Study Challenges and Strategies for Personal Success Pursuing a graduate degree creates many opportunities and comes with many challenges, such as balancing work and attending school and adjusting to the increased workload of school (M. Schlemper, 2011). Finding balance with time management and stress management can be a challenge within itself. Now that I have decided to make this important decision to pursue my educational goals to obtain a Master’s degree in nursing there were several questions that I had to ask of myself. How am I going to afford school, how do I manage my schedule, how do I keep my family intact and most importantly how do I maintain my sanity? I researched several schools to view the various programs offered. Applied for financial aid and discussed my educational goals with my employer and spouse. Every person has a reason for pursuing a graduate degree, for some it is to enhance their career path and others it is a requirement of their organization. These reasons can be personal or professional, which include a feeling of achievement and personal success and increasing their competency (Plunkett Iwasiw & Keer, 2010). Personal and professional reasons for acquiring a graduate degree was so that I could advance my career path as well as enhance my knowledge base and be able to provide an evidence base practice that is required to keep up with the...
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...Issues and Challenges of Graduate Studies Karen Hallman AJS501 January 16, 2012 Terence Hunt Issues and Challenges of Graduate Studies Today, postgraduate education faces numerous encounters in terms of ultimatums, quantity, excellence, and proceeds, both for wage-earners and the customers concerned. Why scholars decide to pursue this level of education and the inducements offered by organizations and businesses are acute factors in altering and accepting trends. As a graduate student we face many challenges and obstacles while pursuing our careers. In the months to come ones biggest challenges is articulating enough to gain employment, diligence in time management, and keeping up one’s grade point average. Time management is the biggest challenge for me. Throughout the course of my daily routines of juggling school, work, and family it appears there is never enough time in the day. Emerging time management skills is a voyage which needs practice and control along the way (Time Management, 2012). Taking steps to manage time consist of reorganizing one’s day so that one is in control, prioritizing, and placing my most important goals and values first. My methods for making my time management into a success plan includes getting plenty of rest, exercise, maintaining a to do list, becoming flexible, and one will learn not to procrastinate. (Gardner, Jeweler, & Barefoot, 2011) Keeping up one’s grade point average and keeping one’s stress level down is another...
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...Graduate Study Challenges and Strategies for Personal Success When deciding to return to graduate school, a person has made an excellent step in advantaging their knowledge in their particular career field. Before returning to graduate school, most people have given serious thought to the time commitment that they will have to face for the next two to four years. They have had many sleepless nights and day dreamed about the stress they will face to complete a graduate degree. Therefore entering a graduate program should not be taken lightly. In many disciplines it is required to have a graduate degree to practice independently in that career field (e.g. Social Worker and Psychologist). Nursing is now requiring nurses to have a graduate degree to advance into management positions. Employers are demanding their nurses to have more than just the knowledge to care for patients. They want the nurse who is placed in a management role to have the knowledge to be a leader. Nurses are returning to school to gain more knowledge in their career field, increase effective communication skills, have a higher potential for promotion, and to have a greater earning power. When deciding to return to graduate school, a student must have a strategy that is going to get them through the next two-four challenging years of their life. Personal and Professional Goals My reason for pursuing a graduate degree is to gain more knowledge in the healthcare industry, become a more effective...
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...Graduate Study Challenges and Strategies for Success 1 Graduate Study Challenges and Strategies for Success Andrea Mitchell HCS/504 November 26,2012 Marilyn Ketchum CANP Graduate Study Challenges and Strategies for Success 2 After years of working in an electrical wire factory it shut down and moved to Mexico. It seem that all the factories were doing the same thing, so I knew that it was time I chose a different career. Not knowing what I wanted to do I signed up for general studies at Ivy Tech Community College in Bloomington, Indiana. Six months in to the program my father in law had a heart attack. I spent the next three days and nights at Jewish Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky, one of the leading heart hospitals in our area. The nurses there were “awesome” they told me about everything they were doing and explained all the equipment and what it was for. If it was not for them explaining what to expect when I first walked in to the recovery room, I know that I would have passed out. Those three days helped me decide what I wanted to study, my original goal was to be a registered nurse specialized in cardiology. In June 2004 I graduated form the nursing program at Ivy Tech as a licensed practical nurse. I was employed at a long term care facility. I spent another year taking the rest of my general studies course before getting...
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...The Graduate Study Challenges and Strategies for Personal Success Yesenia Osle Introduction to graduate study in health sciences/nursing/HCS504 10/07/2014 Michelle Dorin The Graduate Study Challenges and Strategies for Personal Success The price of success is hard work, dedication the job at hand,and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand” (“Success,” 2004, para. ). Sometimes, we considered a successful person when he or she is millionaire, or has the car of the year or own a beautiful big house. I know a person that do not have the car of the year because they are using that money to pay the college for their children. I also know people that do not have a big house because their goal is to have two vacations time every year with all their family. Success is more than a beautiful house, is achieved all your goals and put hard work into them. Success is more than the car of the year, is having wisdom of getting up every time we fall. Personal and professional goals On January 2014, one of my goals was to go back to school and start a master in Nursing Education. Since I was a teen, I was in the debate between being a nurse or a teacher. I decided to be a nurse because I can do both things at the same time. It has been eight years since I graduated and loved it, but I think that it is time to the pursuit my other dream witch is being an educator. Also, with the Master in nursing education...
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