Nursing organizations in the current work environment require recruiters to interview, screen, and hire nurses for employment. Nursing as profession showcase and market their skill with use of a portfolio that contains past work history, educational credentials, documentation of skill qualifications and competencies. Nursing utilize portfolios to showcase their journey as they practice, develop career advancement, build professional development, and gain accolades of exemplar practice and certifications. The portfolio is evidence of the nurse’s belief in maintaining and promoting high level quality practice and performance as evidenced by the progression of career development, advanced degrees and advanced professional performance.
The construction of a portfolio requires the nurse to review their career, collection of experiences, evaluate goals, and encourage the nurse to plan and implement it. Portfolios support the evidence of continual educational and self and career development.
Assembling a portfolio requires time to collect, organize the content to be included and it will be worth the effort as this portfolio will grow along with your practice and career. As long as it is kept current additions are easy to include and frequent updates are easy to manage. The process of developing a portfolio can be very extensive depending on the professional quality desired to present a nursing career. The nurse will ask a few questions before creating a portfolio. How do I want to present my nursing career to my future employer? What do I want to present to my employer that will promote my career performance? What are my goals? What are my career achievements?
Portfolios are created using documents or Web version that will enhance the application process; links are created that make employment application processing easier for recruiter. The portfolio contains examples of education, history of performance, past experience with nursing informatics, communication skills, and technical nursing skills. Portfolios will also showcase awards, letters of recommendations, PowerPoint presentation, college transcripts, merit reviews, scholarships, research, and videos. Organize portfolios by categories to maximize the presentation and make it easier for the reviewer to search through for any pertinent information they require. Providing a portfolio provides tangible evidence of future potential.
Categories include:
career goals
mission statement
resume
skills
abilities
accomplishments
samples of work
research
award and honors
continuing education
formal education
professional development
Military records, awards, badges
Community service/volunteer service
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