NRSE 6002 / NURS 6002 – Transition to Graduate Study for Nursing (Walden University)

Week 2 Assignment (2026): Academic and Professional Success Plan – Part 1

Course and Assessment Positioning

Course: NRSE 6002 (formerly NURS 6002) – Transition to Graduate Study for Nursing (MSN core “gateway” course)
Assessment: Week 2 Assignment – Academic and Professional Success Plan: Part 1 (template-based written assignment)
Level: Graduate (all MSN entry and NP tracks)
Length: Approximately 2–3 pages of narrative content within the provided template (usually 750–1,000 words), excluding title and references
Timing: Week 2, after introductory content on online learning, Walden resources, and academic integrity

This brief reflects the current NRSE/NURS 6002 approach of using an Academic and Professional Success Plan Template that is developed across multiple weeks to orient students to graduate expectations, scholarly research skills, and academic integrity.

Assignment Overview

You will begin an Academic and Professional Success Plan that you will expand in later weeks. In Part 1, you describe your motivation for pursuing graduate nursing education, identify key academic and professional goals, and outline initial strategies and Walden resources that will support your success as an online graduate student and future advanced practice nurse.

Learning Outcomes Assessed

• Describe personal reasons for pursuing graduate education in nursing and selecting a specific specialization.

• Identify academic and professional goals appropriate to the chosen track and stage of study.

• Recognize core Walden resources and strategies that support academic and professional success.

• Begin applying graduate-level writing and appropriate source use within a structured academic template.

Task Instructions

1. Use the Provided Academic and Professional Success Plan Template

• Download the most recent NRSE/NURS 6002 Academic and Professional Success Plan Template from your course resources.

• Type directly into the template, keeping all required headings and prompts intact.

2. Section A – Academic and Professional Goals (Part 1 Focus)

• State your chosen program and specialization (for example, MSN–FNP, MSN–Nursing Education, MSN–Nursing Leadership, MSN–PMHNP).

• Describe two to three short-term academic goals for the next one to two years, such as strengthening graduate-level writing, mastering literature searching, maintaining a target GPA, or progressing consistently through coursework.

• Describe two to three longer-term professional goals, such as achieving APRN certification, transitioning into leadership or education roles, or pursuing doctoral education.

• Briefly explain how these goals align with your specialization and emerging professional identity.

3. Section B – Academic and Professional Strategies

• Identify at least three concrete strategies you will use to remain engaged and successful in the online learning environment, such as time-blocking, managing work schedules, or creating a focused study space.

• Identify at least two Walden resources you plan to use, including:

  • Walden Writing Center

  • Walden Library databases and librarian support

  • Academic Skills Center or student success resources

• For each strategy or resource, explain in one to two sentences how it will support your academic or professional goals.

4. Section C – Alignment with Walden Mission and Social Change

• In one to two short paragraphs, describe how your goals and strategies align with Walden’s mission of preparing scholar-practitioners and social change agents.

• Include at least one example of a positive change you hope to contribute to in your workplace, community, or population of interest as you progress through the program.

5. Section D – Initial Reflection on Graduate-Level Writing

• Write a brief reflection on how graduate-level writing differs from undergraduate writing for you and identify one specific writing skill you intend to strengthen early in the program.

Assignment Requirements

• Length: Template-based; approximately 2–3 pages of substantive content (750–1,000 words), excluding title and references.

• Format: Complete all sections of the official template using clear, graduate-level academic writing.

• Sources: Include at least one to two current scholarly or professional sources that support your understanding of graduate nursing roles, advanced education, or social change.

• Academic integrity: The plan must reflect your own goals and experiences; do not copy templates or examples from external sites.

• Submission: Upload the completed Part 1 template to the NRSE/NURS 6002 Week 2 assignment link by the posted deadline.

Week 2 – Academic and Professional Success Plan (Part 1) Rubric (2026)

Clarity of Academic and Professional Goals (30%)
Clear, specific, and realistic goals aligned with the chosen specialization and graduate study.

Strategies and Use of Resources (30%)
Concrete strategies and effective use of Walden resources explained in relation to goals.

Alignment with Walden Mission and Social Change (20%)
Thoughtful connection between personal goals, scholar-practitioner identity, and social change.

Reflection on Graduate Writing and Professional Identity (10%)
Meaningful reflection on graduate writing expectations and professional development.

Organization, Clarity, and Use of Evidence (10%)
Fully completed template, coherent writing, and appropriate use of at least one source.

Many nurses enter graduate school with strong clinical expertise but without a clear written plan for how their professional role will evolve over time. A carefully completed NRSE 6002 Academic and Professional Success Plan Part 1 transforms broad ambition into defined goals, strategies, and resource commitments that align with Walden’s expectations and the realities of balancing work, study, and personal responsibilities (Walden University, 2023).

Early development of an academic and professional success plan also supports student persistence by reducing uncertainty and strengthening confidence during the transition to graduate-level expectations. Evidence from nursing education literature suggests that structured goal setting and early engagement with institutional resources improve self-efficacy and academic adjustment among graduate nursing students, particularly in online programs (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2021).

References

• Walden University (2023) NRSE 6002 – Transition to Graduate Study for Nursing. Walden University Catalog. https://academics.waldenu.edu/catalog/courses/nrse

• Walden University Writing Center (2024) Writing at the Graduate Level. https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/writingprocess/gradwriting

• American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2021) The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education. Washington, DC: AACN. https://www.aacnnursing.org/Academic-Nursing/Essentials

• National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (2021) The Future of Nursing 2020–2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/25982

• Desklib (2023) NURS 6001 Career Development Plan: Walden University Nursing. https://desklib.com/study-documents/nursing-career-walden-plan/

• Benner, P., Sutphen, M., Leonard, V. and Day, L. (2019) Educating Nurses: A Call for Radical Transformation. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.