University Level
My doctoral education has been deeply influenced by the Benedictine values and the University Graduate Competencies, which together shaped my development as a reflective practitioner, ethical leader, and scholarly Family Nurse Practitioner. These guiding principles fostered a holistic educational experience that emphasized academic rigor, service to others, and professional responsibility.
The Benedictine values of community, stewardship, hospitality, and respect for persons were consistently reinforced throughout my coursework and clinical practice. These values are demonstrated in Artifact 1: Evidence‑Based Practice Project, where I applied current research to guide clinical decision‑making while considering ethical stewardship of healthcare resources and patient‑centered outcomes. Additionally, Artifact 2: Ethics and Health Equity Case Study reflects my commitment to advocacy, respect for human dignity, and service to vulnerable populations by addressing social determinants of health and ethical challenges in clinical practice.
The University Graduate Competencies further advanced my growth in critical thinking, communication, leadership, and scholarly inquiry. Doctoral‑level learning required the evaluation and synthesis of complex evidence to address practice gaps and improve care delivery. Artifact 3: Quality Improvement Project demonstrates my ability to apply leadership and systems thinking to identify a clinical problem, analyze contributing factors, and propose sustainable improvement strategies. Through this assignment, I strengthened my ability to translate evidence into meaningful practice change. Artifact 4: Scholarly Research Critique highlights my competency in analyzing research literature and communicating findings clearly and professionally.
Collectively, these academic experiences strengthened my professional identity as a DNP‑prepared Family Nurse Practitioner. The integration of Benedictine values and University Graduate Competencies has reinforced my commitment to ethical practice, lifelong learning, and leadership in advancing quality patient‑centered care.
Academic Artifacts
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Community
Striving together for the common good and growing in relationship with God, one another, and self.
“Let all things be common to all.” (Rule of Benedict 33)
Hospitality
Receiving others as Christ with warmth and attentiveness.
“Let all be received as Christ.” (Rule of Benedict 53)
Moderation
Honoring all of God’s creation and living simply with balance and gratitude.
“Regard all things as sacred and do everything with moderation.” (Rule of Benedict 31)
Prayer
Attending to the mystery and sacredness of life, abiding in the divine presence, listening and responding to God.
“Listen intently to holy readings. Give yourself frequently to prayer.” (Rule of Benedict 4)
Respect for Persons
Recognizing the image of God in each person and honoring each one in their giftedness and limitations.
“Honor everyone and never do to another what you do not want done to yourself.” (Rule of Benedict 4)
Service
Meeting the needs of others in the example of Jesus the servant leader.
“The members should serve one another.” (Rule of Benedict 35)
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The University of Mary graduate programs offer its students preparation in the following four areas of competence:
• Communication: Graduates demonstrate excellence in communication. Students are engaging and effective communicators demonstrated by employing collaborative dialogue and adapting language to resonate with multiple audiences and/or cultures. Their communication reflects a strong command of their field(s) due to the accurate application of disciplinary standards and infusion of disciplinary frameworks and evidence into oral and written works.
• Moral Courage: Graduates clarify, support, or defend what is right and true, whether reached by faith or reason, when confronted by opposing actions or viewpoints in order to serve an understanding of the truth and to promote a culture of human dignity, justice, and virtue. Students, motivated by serving truth, evaluate and respond to actions or viewpoints opposed to what is right or true. Based on faith or reason, they clarify, support, or defend truth and a culture of human dignity, justice, and virtue.
• Professional Distinction: Graduates are servant leaders committed to excellence in their professions and communities. Students integrate knowledge and skills in the applicable discipline for professional service and/or contributions to society. They integrate applicable ethical principles and synthesize supporting reasons/evidence for decision-making. Students pursue the common good by prioritizing the needs of, and cultivating the growth of, others above their own circumstances and aspirations.
• Scholarship: Graduates conduct research or evidence-based practice to develop degree appropriate knowledge of scholarship. Students display the skills and dispositions essential to effectively conduct evidence-based practice or research and produce scholarship. They develop a professional philosophy grounded in scholarship.
For students to acquire proficiency in these competences, continual assessment of learning in an atmosphere of openness and free inquiry is promoted.