Week 1: Foundations of MSN Study at Walden This course, Foundations of Graduate Study, marks the beginning of your journey as a scholar-practitioner in Walden University’s Master of Science in Nursing. It has been designed to facilitate your development as an online learner—and, ultimately, your success in the MSN program. As you begin this course, think about your reasons for enrolling in Walden’s MSN program and what might help you to fulfill your aspirations. Walden University has a commitment to promoting positive social change—a purpose that aligns well with the core values associated with the nursing profession. This week introduces the Walden University and the School of Nursing vision and mission statements.
You are asked to consider how these relate to your own professional and academic goals, as well as what it means to become a scholar-practitioner. You begin to explore the expectations for participating in a highly interactive online, academic environment. In addition, you examine academic integrity as a foundation for your studies at Walden. Learning Objectives Students will: Relate the Walden University and the School of Nursing mission, vision, and outcome statements to professional and academic goals and to becoming a scholar-practitioner Photo Credit: Courtney Navey/E+/Getty Images Learning Resources Required Readings Walden University Student Readiness Orientation The Student Readiness Orientation (SRO) provides a comprehensive overview of the online classroom. Access the SRO from your myWalden page. Review the SRO for the Week 1 Quiz. Discussion Rubric (in the Course Information area) Week 5 Application Assignment Rubric (in the Course Information area) Document: Discussion Posting Exemplars (Word document) Walden University. (2011). Student publications: Vision, mission, and goals. Retrieved from https://catalog.waldenu.edu/ From the Walden Catalog, click on “Introduction,” then click on the “Vision, Mission, and Goals” bullet at the top of the page. Read the information on this webpage, with particular attention to Walden’s Vision, Mission, Goals, Social Change, and Outcomes message. Walden University. (2012a). Master of Science in Nursing. Retrieved from https://catalog.waldenu.edu/ The School of Nursing’s Learning Outcomes are presented on this webpage. Read the Learning Outcomes and consider how they align with your professional goals. Walden University. (2012b). Walden University: Academic integrity for undergraduates. Retrieved from https://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/1022.htm While developed for undergraduate students, the three Modules presented at this website provide a wealth of information on using APA formatting, avoiding plagiarism, and becoming a scholar-practitioner. You work through Modules 1–3 for Assignment 2. Walden University College of Health Sciences. (2012). About the school. Retrieved from https://www.waldenu.edu/colleges-schools/school-of-nursing/about Review the School of Nursing’s vision and mission presented at this website. Document: APA Basics Checklist: Citations, Reference List, and Style (PDF) This document provides helpful information and links to APA resources available through the Writing Center. Required Media Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2012f). Welcome to Walden. Baltimore, MD: Author. Optional Resources Walden University Writing Center. (n.d.). Undergraduate academic integrity tutorial: All-module quiz. Retrieved from https://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/1022.htm Document: SON Scavenger Hunt (Word document) Complete this scavenger hunt created by the School of Nursing faculty to help familiarize yourself with the numerous resources available to Walden students through the Writing Center. Discussion: Mission, Vision, and Personal Goals Are you familiar with Walden University’s vision and mission? Were they a factor in selecting this University? How do they relate to your professional and academic goals? Does it matter if there is a tight or loose relationship or one at all? This week’s Discussion asks you to think about how the Walden mission and vision and the School of Nursing (SON) mission and vision apply to your professional and academic goals. Is there a match? How does Walden’s mission and vision relate to your becoming a scholar-practitioner committed to social change? To prepare: Review the Walden and SON mission and vision statements, Walden’s goals and University Outcomes, and the MSN Program Learning Outcomes presented in this week’s Learning Resources. Reflect on your professional and academic goals as they relate to your program/specialization. Consider how the information in the documents, identified above, fit with your own goals and to your becoming a scholar-practitioner. Think about how you will incorporate your commitment to social change into your professional and academic goals, particularly as it relates to the area(s) of interest represented by your program/specialization. By Day 3 Post a description of one or more significant ways in which Walden’s and the School of Nursing’s perspectives (i.e., vision, mission, social change message, and outcomes) relate to your professional and academic goals and to your becoming a scholar-practitioner. Include how you plan to incorporate social change into your professional and academic goals. Support your Discussion assignment with specific resources used in its preparation using APA formatting. You are asked to provide a reference for all resources, including those in the Learning Resources for this course. Please refer to the actual question above which says “By Day 3”.
