1. N4685 Capstone
Capstone Reflective Journal
Submit by 2359 CST Saturday of each module specified in
Course Calendar.
Name:
Dera Ogudo
Date:
12/7/19
Overview: Capstone Reflective Journal
Each module you will make an entry into your Journal. You are
asked to reflect on 3 of the key points for each module. Each
entry should reflect on your understanding of the topic, your
experiences and observations in your work environment or
general nursing environment regarding the module topic.
This is a cumulative document. You will save it to your own
computer desktop or memory device and update it each week.
You may choose to record more than one entry each week,
especially if you have an “aha!” moment as a result of your
reading, discussions, or experience. You will upload and submit
the latest version of your Capstone Reflective Journal to
Blackboard by 2359 the Saturday following each of the first six
modules of this course. It is not necessary that your entries be
formatted or written in any particular way because it is for your
benefit. Your entries will only be reviewed to ensure that you
are making sufficient progress and thinking deeply about the
requirements in the course.
RubricsUse this rubric to guide your Journal entries.
There will be total of 6 Journal entries for Modules 1-6. Each
Module you are expected to address 3 key points from the
Module content, discuss how each point applies to your practice
as a nurse, and, finally, how will your practice change in the

2. future because of this information.
In Module 7 your Journal entries will be used as you write the
last paper for the program, the Synthesis Paper.
Journal Rubric for each Module
Criteria
Target
Unacceptable
Address 3 Key Points from Module for each Journal entry
(50 points)
Discuss the 3 key points selected and why they are important or
memorable.
(50 points)
Does not sufficiently record connections or reflections
(0 Points)
Relevance and Evidence Based Practice
(25 points)
Connect RN-BSN experiences from each key point to career
goals, prior nursing practice, a previous RN BSN course,
nursing theories or research. Cite and reference as necessary.
(25 points)
Fails to connect RN-BSN experiences to goals, prior nursing
practice, coursework, theories or research to key areas
addressed or no references.
(0 points)

3. Future
(25 points)
Describes how personal practice will be different in the future
based on RN-BSN program as a result of the 3 key areas
addressed.
(25 points)
Fails to describes how personal practice will be different in the
future based on RN-BSN program
(0 points)
Late submissions will be penalized 5% per day unless prior
arrangements have been made with your Academic Coach to
complete the assignment at a later time.
Instructions
Each week, record your experiences, connections to your course
goals, and reflections as they relate to the given prompts and/or
your course project. You must record one entry each week, but
may record more (insert rows as needed). You may find it
helpful and rewarding to record one entry at the beginning of
the week, think about the prompt during the week, then record
another at the end of the week. For privacy, refer to patients,
online colleagues, and/or co-workers with initials instead of
names.
Save this document to your own computer desktop or storage
device after each entry to create a cumulative journal. You will
upload the document and submit it each week by 0800 CST
Friday following the course week. (You will not submit your
Reflective Journal for Week 5 entries, but may continue to
record entries for your own purposes.)

4. Remember that the more thoughtfully and intentionally you
record your immediate reflections, the easier it will be for you
to pull all your experiences and thoughts together for your
Journal Paper in Week 5.
Module Journal Entries
A separate Journal entry is required for Modules 1-6 by 2359
Saturday of each indicated module. Provide details of your
thinking, including insights, challenges, paradigm shifts, and
goals. Identify previous course topics, readings, or research that
relate to the prompt.
Journal Entry
Module 1: Identify 3 key points form this module. Reflect on
how why each point is important, how it impacts on your work
experience or nursing practice, and how will you change your
practice in the future based on each key area.
Key Point 1
Library Guides
Although I have taken courses with UTA before, it is always
nice to review information about the library guides specific to
this course. Library guides help to show you what research
information is available for specific courses. This can
significantly shorten you research time, allowing you to get
straight to the resources that are specific to your topic. I will
use the library guides for this course to help me determine my
research topic.
Key Point 2
Peer Reviewed Articles
Peer reviewed articles are important to use in my capstone
project because they are academic articles that have both
validity and credibility. I can use these articles to build my
capstone project and report on its significance to the field of
nursing. Moving forward, I will only use peer reviewed articles

5. for my capstone project.
Key Point 3
Capstone Project
The capstone project is a way for me to present on a topic that I
am passionate about. Education is extremely important to the
field of nursing and we must be able to educate others. We will
spend a great deal of time educating patients in our careers. In
this course, I will use the help of my teaching advisor to build
and detailed capstone project.
Module 2: Identify 3 key points form this module. Reflect on
how why each point is important, how it impacts on your work
experience or nursing practice, and how will you change your
practice in the future based on each key area.
Key Point 1
SMART Goals
It is important to make SMART goals to help you organize your
future plans or to reach a goal. These SMART goals are
objective, measurable, and attainable. I will use them to plan
my future career progression. I will also ensure that I don’t only
make small goals, but I will challenge myself to bigger ones.
Key Point 2
Finding Articles
It is important to find peer-reviewed research articles when
completing the Capstone project. Such articles will provide the
necessary information to report on my chosen topic of interest. I
will also ensure to not use review articles as these types are not
original research.
Key Point 3
Culture
Knowing about different cultures is important in treating
illnesses because not everyone looks at health status the same.
My topic is bipolar disorder, something that many cultures

6. don’t truly understand. I want to ensure that I appeal to the
culture needs of the public when presenting on this topic.
Module 3: Identify 3 key points form this module. Reflect on
how why each point is important, how it impacts on your work
experience or nursing practice, and how will you change your
practice in the future based on each key area.
Key Point 1
Bipolar treatment non-compliance
Key Point 2
Presenting research
Key Point 3
Powerpoint tool
Module 4: Identify 3 key points form this module. Reflect on
how why each point is important, how it impacts on your work
experience or nursing practice, and how will you change your
practice in the future based on each key area.
Key Point 1
Resume
Resumes are important for giving a snapshot of your career
growth. It helps to take the time to create a proper resume and
highlight your skill set. It is also important to keep your resume
updated.
Key Point 2
Professional Development
Professional development is a necessary part of career growth,
especially for nurses. As science becomes more advanced, we

7. will always need to learn new things to better serve our
patients. I will change my practice to ensure that I am actively
involved in developing my career by engaging in as many
professional development opportunities as possible.
Key Point 3
Professional Organizations
Professional organizations are important because they help keep
nurses informed. These are also important for helping nurses to
advocate for themselves and their patients. Moving forward, I
will research professional nursing organizations and join one
within the next three months.
Module 5: Identify 3 key points form this module. Reflect on
how why each point is important, how it impacts on your work
experience or nursing practice, and how will you change your
practice in the future based on each key area.
Key Point 1
Key Point 2
Key Point 3
Module 6: Identify 3 key points form this module. Reflect on
how why each point is important, how it impacts on your work
experience or nursing practice, and how will you change your
practice in the future based on each key area.
Key Point 1
Nursing Philosophy
This module I reflected on my nursing philosophy and how it
has changed throughout this program. Reflection allows an
analysis for whether goals are being met and whether the nurse
is on the proper timeline. Moving forward, I will regularly
evaluate my nursing philosophy at a minimum of every six

8. months. This will help keep me on track and allow me to make
any necessary adjustments.
Key Point 2
Career Goals
Career goals are important because they provide nurses with
something to work towards. My career goals of wanting to be in
administration game earlier as I opened my own home
healthcare agency. I want to use my agency to bridge service
gaps in these situations.
Key Point 3
Learning
Learning is important for a nurse because the world is always
changing. There are improved processes and improved
technology. The goal is for us to always use evidence-based
practices to provide quality and safe care to our patients.
Module 7: Identify 3 key points form this module. Reflect on
how why each point is important, how it impacts on your work
experience or nursing practice, and how will you change your
practice in the future based on each key area.
Key Point 1
Key Point 2
Key Point 3
©2015University of Texas at Arlington

9. Page 1 of 5
Running head: NURSING REFLECTIONS
NURSING REFLECTIONS
2
Nursing Philosophy Reflections
Dera Ogudo
The University of Texas at Arlington
December 9, 2019
Nursing Philosophy Reflections
Every nurse dedicated to growing in her profession has a
nursing philosophy that guides their current and future practice.
I entered the nursing profession because I have always been
drawn to caring for others. Born into a poor African family with
many siblings, I learned early in how life that helping to
provide others gave me joy and a sense of pride. It takes a
selfless and compassionate person to be a nurse and I feel that I
am the embodiment of those skills. As I am nearing the end of

10. my BSN program, it is necessary to review my progress towards
my earlier established goals and to evaluate whether my nursing
philosophy is still relevant.
Career Plans
The first goal I focused on in my nursing philosophy was
my two-year plan. My goal was to obtain my BSN and return to
working in a hospital. I will be completing my BSN soon, about
six months ahead of time. However, I no longer plan to return to
working in the hospital. A few months ago, I opened my own
home healthcare business. I want to use my personal experience
to bridge the practice gaps that exist in this area. I already have
a few employees who are well aware of my mission and have
been helping me to reach my goals of delivery proficient care to
our patient population.
The second goal discussed in my initial nursing philosophy
was my five-year goal of getting involved in nursing research.
This class has helped me achieve a portion of that goal as my
capstone project led me to research alternative ways of treating
bipolar disorder that could be used in combination with
pharmaceutical regimens. My drive to participate in research is
still strong and I have been collaborating with a nurse mentor in
one of the local hospitals. My plan is to continue to work
towards fulfilling my goal of being actively involved in
research. Since creating that philosophy, my attitude towards
research has grown as I know see it as a necessity for advanced
practice nurses. Nurses need to be able to proactively engage in
research opportunities to help further advance the field of
nursing.
The last visionary aspect of my nursing philosophy is my
10-year goal of obtaining my doctorate degree in nursing. The
initial goal is to get involved in nursing administration to
change ineffective policies. While I have not yet thought of
applying to nursing schools, I am now part of a nursing
administration. I am my own administration. I have used a
combination of ineffective policies from my previous
experiences to shape my current policies for treating our patient

11. population. My policies are direct, precise, and detailed and
they put me in a position to train and guide other nursing staff.
Philosophy Changes
Over the course of my BSN program, my nursing
philosophy has not significantly changed. I continue to value
honest and trust in the nurse and patient relationship. As a case
manager for hospice, when one of my patience requests
something within the scope of my practice, I comply. One of my
patients recently requested that I limit the hours in which his
family visits him to give him optimal peace. Some of his family
members weren’t too please with me doing so, but I respect the
patient’s autonomy and it is my goal to ensure that I advocate
for his needs. Furthermore, to give an example of the selfless
and compassionate nature of nursing, I opened my own home
healthcare business. It has been hectic and greatly interferes
with my personal and professional life, but I am a fulfilling my
goals of providing quality and safe care.
Life Long Learner
I feel that all medical professionals will always be life
long learners. We constantly must adapt to the changing world
around us. The same is true in medicine. There will be many
advancements in the upcoming years and nurses must be ready
to learn and implement the procedures that accompany these
advancements. As long as I am practicing nursing, I will always
be in a position that needs learning. I am a new business owner,
so I am learning how to merge business and healthcare
practicing needs. I am still also working as a case manager,
where I openly advocate for the needs of my patients, no matter
how difficult the request is.
Overall, my nursing philosophy has grown rather than
changed. I have had more experiences to shape my nursing
practice and my current knowledge level. I plant to continue to
learn as much as I can to help improve the quality of care that I
deliver to my patients.

12. Target
Acceptable
Unacceptable
Title page, Reference page, APA format 6th Edition, and
Scholarly writing.
(10 Points)
Each section must be 3-4 well constructed, grammatically
correct sentences supported with in-text citation (current
literature) as required. Includes title and reference page. All
sections included.
(10 Points)
1-2 errors in information, formatting or less than 3 sentences.
Omits title or reference page.
(5 Points)
More than 3 errors in information, formatting or only 2
sentences.
Omits both title and reference page.
(0 Points)
Grammar and Spelling (5 Points)

13. Error-free grammar and spelling
(5 Points)
1-3 grammar or spelling errors
( 3 Points)
4 or more errors in grammar or spelling
(0 Points)
Sections
Target
Acceptable
Unacceptable
Introduction
(5 points)
Addresses all these questions:
When did you start the RN BSN program? Did you take 1 course
at a time, or 2 or more at a time? Did you take classes each
start date? If not, why?
(5 Points)
Omitted one of the required questions.
(3 Points)
Omitted 2 or more of the required questions.
(0 Points)
Before RN-BSN Program (5 Points)
Narrative includes at least two specific examples of change in
behaviors, attitudes, and/or practices as a result of RN-BSN

14. program
(5 Points)
Narrative includes at least one specific example of change in
behaviors,
attitudes, or practices as a result of RN-BSN program
(3 Points)
Narrative includes no specific examples of change in behaviors,
attitudes, and/or practices.
( 0 Points)
Before RN-BSN Program
Reference (5 Points)
Includes at least one specific reference to RN- BSN courses or
one reference to specific evidence-based research article(s)
(5 Points)
Source is not evidenced based or course not referenced
accurately
(3 Points)
Includes no specific references to RN-BSN courses or articles
(0 Points)
Lifelong Learning
(10 Points)
Narrative includes in depth discussion and highlights new
learning about self and describes attitudes, characteristics, and
actions as a lifelong learner

15. (10 Points)
Narrative lacks in depth discussion or highlights new learning
about self and describes attitudes, characteristics, and actions
as a lifelong learner
(5 Points)
Narrative fails to demonstrate ongoing learning
( 0 Points)
Lifelong Learning Examples (5 Points)
Includes at least two specific examples of change in behaviors,
attitudes, and/or practices as a result of RN-BSN program
(5 Points)
Includes at least one specific example of change in behaviors,
attitudes, or practices as a result of RN-BSN program.
(3 Points)

16. Includes no specific examples of change in behaviors, attitudes,
and/or practices
(0 Points)
Lifelong Learning Reference (5 Points)
Includes at least one specific reference to RN- BSN courses or
one reference to specific evidence-based research article(s)
(5 Points)
Source is not evidenced based or course not referenced
accurately
(3 Points)
Includes no specific references to RN-BSN courses or articles
(0 Points)
Novice to Expert
(10 Points)
Narrative includes detailed description of steps taken toward
becoming an expert/professional, including interest and actions
toward a specific focus area of nursing
(10 Points)

17. Narrative includes brief description of steps taken toward
becoming an expert/professional, including interest or actions
toward a specific focus area of nursing
(5 Points)
Narrative fails to demonstrate steps toward becoming an
expert/professional
(0 Points)
Novice to Expert- Examples( 5 Points)
Includes at least two specific examples of change in behaviors,
attitudes, and practices as a result of RN-BSN program
(5 Points)
Includes at least one specific example of change in behaviors,
attitudes, or practices as a result of RN-BSN program
(3 Points)
Includes no specific examples of change in behaviors, attitudes,
and/or practices
(0 Points)
Novice to Expert- References (5 Points)
Includes at least one specific reference to RN- BSN courses or
one reference to specific evidence-based research article(s)

18. ( 5 Points)
Source is not evidenced based or course not referenced
accurately
(3 Points)
Includes no specific references to RN-BSN courses or articles
(0 Points)
Synthesis of Role Transition
(10 points)
Narrative synthesizes changes in personal nursing philosophy
and image of the role of nursing
(10 Points)
Narrative describes changes in personal nursing philosophy or
image of the role of nursing but does not provide a synthesis of
these changes.
(5 Points)
Narrative fails to mention change in personal nursing
philosophy or role of nursing
( 0 Points)
Synthesis of Role Transition
Examples (5 points)

19. Includes at least two specific examples of change in behaviors,
attitudes, and/or practices as a result of RN-BSN program
(5 Points)
(1 point)
Includes at least one specific example of change in behaviors,
attitudes, or practices as a result of RN-BSN program
(3 Points)
Includes no specific examples of change in behaviors, attitudes,
and/or practices
(0 Points)
Synthesis of Role Transition
References ( 5 Points)
Includes at least one specific reference to RN- BSN courses and
one reference to specific evidence-based research article(s).
Must include a reference addressing Nursing Theory.
(5 Points)
(2 Points)
Source is not evidenced based, course not referenced accurately
or no Nursing Theory referenced

20. (3 Points)
No specific references to RN-BSN courses, no articles included,
and no Nursing Theory referenced.
(0 Points)
Evaluation
(10 points)
Narrative that addresses:
1 aspect of the program that worked for you; 1 suggestion for
program improvement; 1 aspect of the program you would not
want to see changed; and, would you recommend the program to
others and why.
(10 Points)
Narrative omits one of the areas to be addressed.
( 5 Points )
Narrative omits 2 or more areas to be addressed.
( 0 Points)