GOAL 1:

By the end of Semester 2 (Winter 2025), I will remain on the Dean’s Honor Roll by maintaining an overall GPA above 80% for the average of all five of my courses through strategically studying, time management, and organization.

Specific: I will maintain a high overall academic GPA of 80% or more to maintain my standing on the Deans Honor Roll for my 5 classes in the Winter semester of 2025.

Measurable: This goal is measurable numerically by calculating my academic average as a mean percentile from my 5 semester grades.

Achievable: This goal is achievable with hard work and a determined mindset. I will focus on prioritizing time to study and organizing my schedule to accommodate breaks to reward productive studying.

Realistic: This goal is very realistic for me, as I have always been a Honor Roll student who has competently maintained an academic average above 80%. Having well developed skills and knowledge as a nursing student is essential to effective nursing practice, and this can be reflected and correlated with academic success.

Time-bound: I will achieve this goal by the end of the Winter semester in April 2025.

GOAL 2:

By the end of Semester 2 (Winter 2025), I will have improved my patient communication skills with residents in my long term care clinical placement course, NURS 1020, by conducting 5-minute discussions during each patient during my interactions, and achieving a satisfactory rating in over 75% of these interactions.

Specific: I will improve my communication skills by engaging effectively with residents in my placement, by taking the time to create conversation to better understand their needs, discuss their questions and concerns, as well as tailoring my communication approaches to meet each individuals’ unique situation.

Measurable: I plan to measure this goal by tracking the frequency and quality of the interactions I have with my patients. I will take the time to spend roughly 5 minutes with each resident, and aim to have a patient satisfaction rating of over ~75%, as measured through regular feedback obtain from residents and my instructor.

Achievable: This goal is achievable with practice, patience and time management. During my clinical placement, I will aim to strengthen my communication skills by practicing active listening, maintaining eye contact, being empathetic, and utilizing feedback from residents and my preceptors.

Realistic: Having strong communication skills is essential to my nursing practice. Having positive interactions with patients helps to better understand their unique needs and health status. Well-developed communication skills are also necessary when interacting with families, colleagues and other members of the inter-professional team in long term care settings. 

Time-bound: I will work towards achieving this goal throughout the winter 2025 semester and will have notably improved my communication skills by the end of my clinical placement in April 2025.