Marcus Anderson

Once completing the program, I will be diving into infectious diseases. Having an increase of male nurses in the community would allow a safe space for men to feel comfortable with discussing HIV/AIDS prevention. Completing my Masters of Nursing (MSN) will allow me to become an educator that will be a driving force for innovation and excellence in nursing. With the skill set the MSN will provide me, I will have the advanced specialty training to manage teams, ensure care coordination, cultivate evidence-based standards, and have a strong ability to advocate for the patient’s outcomes and resources.

In the next 5 years I plan on finishing the MSN program and passing both the NCLEX and the CNL exam. After passing my exams, I will be working for the Washington D.C. infectious disease healthcare systems in the lower wards which services at-risk communities. By taking these steps, I will become a voice for the population that tends to be the most underserved. Personally, being a part of two marginalized communities, gay and African American, I understand the importance of educating my community about infectious disease maintenance as well as being a listening supportive ear when needed. The passion I have for this subject matter will allow me to dig deeper in the communities and stay abreast on new developments.

I chose the CNL path because of the level of advanced knowledge and capability to educate the community. In addition, their role also includes managing nursing turnover and retention rates, patient falls, pressure injuries, hospital-acquired infections, readmissions, patient satisfaction, finance/cost outcomes, and staff satisfaction. It is hard to define just one important role that CNLs engage daily, however I most identify with how the CNL encourages the development of optimum care plan for patients and their families. CNLs are the cornerstone of an interdisciplinary team ensuring continuity of care for patients. The CNL is also the nursing profession's watchdog, always supporting fellow nurses and seeking new information by pursuing the finest evidence-based practice. The function evaluates the level of care quality and strives to understand how to continue improving for patient safety and the best possible results.