My DNP Journey

Since 1985, I’ve been teaching many levels of nursing.  Each level and each student taught me to strive for more knowledge and skills. When I completed my Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) in 2010, I begin to truly conceptualize the educational journey and I could appreciate where I made sound steps and where I made some miss steps. Teaching and learning is very much like water in a river, sometimes it is calm and other times it is rocky rapids.  Just like the river, I want you to be prepared for the flow.  

Returning to school while working, with family commitments and financial obligations can be like a river.   Planning, preparation, execution and reflection is essential to returning to the classroom.  Experiencing a DNP program as a student and as an educator/director of a program, I discovered the power of coaching. A coach, like on a playing field, pays close attention to skills and employs techniques to ensure mastery of skills. The DNP experience should take you from where you are to where you need to be in order for you to exemplify the competencies of your DNP education. As a post-doctoral prepared Psychiatric Mental Health NP, I value the mind, body and spirit experience in a student by helping with the navigate the waters of learning, while working, raising a family and life's many other challenges. I coach my students in a way that utilizes both their heads and their hearts. I teach like I want to be taught and I coach like I want to be coached. I developed the REACH platform to unpack the competencies, the DNP Essentials that all DNP programs follow.  

Now, I must confess, I have not always been this altruistic in thought. I was raised by the era of nurses that "eat their own" and it was easy to fall into that trap of thinking. It took my own roadblocks, failures and successes to appreciate the journey and not just the destination. That is not to imply that my coaching is a soft sell, as I have high expectations of myself and those that entrust their acquisition of knowledge to me.  I can be tenderly tough when it is needed.  The techniques I developed were so successful with my former students, others  began asking me for help with their own challenges. This motivated me to turn my life lessons and passion into a DNP coaching service.  I welcome any questions you may have about my services, or the opportunity to schedule a free 15 minute consultation to see if I can provide you with assistance in your DNP educational journey. My contact information is rctaylew@gmail.com or text 434-473-0364 today.  I will respond within 24 hours.