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Career Goals
Career Goals
My future career goal is to become a nurse practitioner who specializes in psychology. I have these goals because I empathize with those who suffer from mental ailments. This career option is the right one for me. I want to help the world understand mental illness better as well as help those suffering from mental illness. This year I will be a research assistant for the iCARES research study. Through analyzing data sets, sitting through meetings, and summarizing research articles, I can determine whether or not research is something I enjoy/can commit to.
My internship experience has not changed my overall career goal, but it has sparked another area of interest, research. The world can not change without research. The objective data gained from surveys and statistics is what drives change in all fields, especially healthcare. With this being said I am now confident that research will inevitably play a role in my future career. I am confident in using my self-knowledge in partnership with my preferences to make career-related decisions now.
Over the past year, my commitment to becoming a psychiatric mental Health Nurse Practitioner has remained strong, but my appreciation for research has grown. Through the iCARES study, I’ve improved my ability to analyze research, lead studies, and collaborate professionally. I’ve also gained foundational research skills and navigated professional relationships more effectively. This summer, I will continue developing my research skills while preparing for my clinical education. I have received the UROP grant (undergraduate research opportunity program) through IU, which is funding my continuation research in my lab over the summer and next academic year. The title of my proposal is "The Effect of Nurses' Sleep Deprivation on Propensity to HARM". Throughout my time at IU Indianapolis, I will integrate research into my learning, ensuring I can apply evidence-based insights to patient care in my future career.
Internship Goals
Internship Goals
Learning Goal #1: Learn foundational terms and processes needed to conduct research.
Relevance: This goal will prepare me for future research opportunities.
Action Plan: Attend all Indiana Cares lab meetings and get involved in day-to-day tasks going on in the lab.
Progress: Throughout my internship, I have made significant progress in learning the foundational terms and processes needed to conduct research. By actively engaging with research articles, analyzing data, and participating in VR presentations, I’ve become more familiar with key concepts and methodologies relevant to the field. I’ve also improved my ability to interpret and summarize complex research findings, particularly in areas like sleep and its relationship with sexual harassment. While I feel more confident navigating the basics, I’m continuing to deepen my understanding by asking questions during team meetings, seeking feedback, and exploring additional resources to ensure I can contribute effectively to future research endeavors.
Learning Goal #2: Become familiar with analyzing and synthesizing data.
Relevance: This is a skill that can be used throughout my education journey as well as in different jobs across many occupations and professions.
Action Plan: Finding emails and verifying eligibility for Pilot 2 Cohort; learning how to review and summarize research literature; basic statistical analysis of the data from Qualtrics and SPSS for Pilot 2 Cohort.
Progress: During my internship, I’ve made progress in analyzing and synthesizing data. By working with research findings and summarizing articles, I’ve learned how to identify patterns and connect data to the bigger picture. While I’m more confident in these skills, I’m still improving by asking for feedback and practicing to ensure I can analyze data more effectively.
Learning Goal #3: Learn how to navigate professional relationships in a workplace setting where a common goal has been established.
Relevance: Nurses must know how to work in interdisciplinary teams.
Action Plan: I should be reaching out for help; I will be prepared for meetings with questions and any other comments; on how to conduct laboratory experimental research with human participants.
Progress: During my internship, I’ve made progress in navigating professional relationships in a workplace focused on a common goal. By collaborating with team members on projects, participating in meetings, and contributing to shared tasks, I’ve learned how to communicate effectively and work together toward our objectives.
Learning
Learning
Skills on the survey that I am already extremely confident in are independence and communication. When given an assignment, I write down the parameters to eliminate confusion. I ask questions during the assignment phase and once I begin my work and hit a roadblock. I send clear, concise emails with formal greetings and grammar. My skills grow because the more complex the assignment, the more complex my questions must be, and my communication skills must be concise. This is an example of me being independent and displaying quality communication skills.
Since the fall, I have grown more confident in my independence and communication skills. When given assignments, I ensure clarity by writing down key details and asking questions when needed. My ability to send clear, professional emails and articulate my thoughts has strengthened as my tasks have become more complex. These experiences have reinforced my confidence in working independently while effectively communicating with my team.
Skills that I'd like to continue to work on are integration, application, and teamwork. As of right now, I'd like to see myself speak more in the bigger meetings for teamwork. I am asked for my opinion on things and I blank because of the prestigious people listening. For integration and application, I will continue to analyze research articles and integrate the new vocabulary I've learned to dissect the articles with more ease and efficiency.
I aim to continue developing my skills in integration, application, and teamwork. To improve in teamwork, I will push myself to speak more in larger meetings, overcoming hesitation when engaging with experienced professionals. For integration and application, I will refine my ability to analyze research articles by applying new vocabulary and research concepts, making my work more efficient and insightful. Beyond my internship, I plan to build on these skills through volunteer work, research projects, part-time jobs, and leadership roles. These experiences will deepen my understanding of healthcare, expand my professional network, and help me develop the skills necessary for a successful and fulfilling career as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
This internship has helped me gain a deep understanding of my coursework. Through research, I can critically analyze data and apply theoretical concepts to real-world scenarios. This is helping me relate all the information learned in class, to real-world examples and things I've witnessed. This internship encourages problem-solving, collaboration with other professionals, and a deeper understanding of rules and laws. This is largely what the nursing profession is about. These are all things that are being reinforced through my time in the iCARES lab.
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