Personal Strategic Planning: A Roadmap for Change

NPs are uniquely positioned to take on a leadership role in addressing the healthcare crisis by influencing care and improving health access and outcomes. In order to fully assume this role, NPs must first have a vision and a well-developed plan that serves as a roadmap for achieving their goals. Strategic planning is a technique used by business and management experts to provide guidance in fulfilling a mission with maximal efficiency and results.  Individual Strategic Planning can be a powerful tool in the education of APNs by helping them understand their potential and redefine their roles.  This presentation focuses on the implementation of strategic planning in a role development course in a DNP/NP program.  The students first participate in a one day experiential workshop where they are introduced to the tenets of strategic planning and begin developing their individual strategic plan for transforming health care.  Students work individually and in small work groups to explore personal values and philosophies and advance their vision. The strategic planning concepts are then explored over the semester where the students continue to apply them in further role development.  They each develop a formal Individual Strategic Plan utilizing AACN Essentials, NONPF Competencies, and IPEC Competencies to frame the objectives and strategies for achieving their goals.  Additionally, group discussion board assignments provide a format for discussing specific aspects of strategic planning.  Upon completion of the course, students expressed a passion and vision for making a difference, and sense of empowerment in their leadership role to improve our nation’s health.  Examples of course content, strategic plans, and student outcomes will be provided. Stories  will be provided on how the strategic plan has enabled students to: 1) seek political office, 2) develop NP owned practices, and 3) establish pet therapy programs for disabled individuals.  Attendees will be able to: 1) provide curricular content and experiential programs that prepare DNP/NP students to examine, envision, and define their role as leaders and change agents through individual strategic planning; and 2) mentor DNP/NP students in the development of new practice models to address the health care crisis.