Getting a job is only the beginning of building a career. After getting the correct position, you must also focus on growing as an individual in your profession.
Are you looking to advance your nursing career? If so, it’s time to get serious about your professional development. The following is a list of ideas to help you do just that:
Consider a Master’s Degree
If you’re looking to advance your nursing career and gain the skills you need to become a leader in the field, consider earning a Master’s of Nursing degree. A Master’s in Nursing program will give you a solid foundation in clinical and leadership skills so that you can impact your patients and your community.
You will learn how to care for patients with complex needs, such as those who are chronically ill or have mental health issues. You will also learn about leadership styles, communication strategies, and managing staff.
The best thing is that with technological advancements, you can now pursue a Master’s degree from the comfort of your home. An online Master’s in Nursing program allows professionals who already work in the field and recent graduates from bachelor’s programs to study at their own schedule and pace.
Apply for Leadership Positions in Your Current Workplace
Leadership roles are available to nurses from all levels and disciplines, including clinical, administrative, and educational. The great news is that leadership opportunities exist for nurses at every stage of their careers. This can be in a hospital setting or the community.
A leadership role could also be outside of your current nursing practice. For example, if you’ve worked as an acute care nurse but would like to move into gerontological nursing, consider applying for an administrative position within a long-term care facility or home health agency.
As of 2020, 14.9% of the nation’s registered nurses held Master’s degrees, and 2.2% held doctorate degrees as their highest educational qualification, according to the Nurse Workforce Survey. There’s a shortage of nurses with advanced degrees. Getting that extra credential can put you ahead of the pack.
When considering taking on a leadership position, it’s essential to determine if the position aligns with both your passion and skillset. If not, you may find yourself struggling with motivation when faced with challenges during daily tasks or projects related to your new role – which could negatively impact patient care outcomes!
Look Into Certificate Programs
If you’re looking to advance your nursing career, it’s important to consider getting accreditation. According to the American Board of Nursing Specialties, in 2020, at least 1,013,362 registered nurses held one or more nursing specialty credentials.
A Basic Life Support certification that teaches you CPR takes a short time to complete but can be extremely valuable in the long run. You may also consider taking on a certificate program that teaches new skills, such as leadership or management techniques.
As you gain more knowledge and experience within your field, you’ll become more marketable to employers and have an easier time finding work that aligns with your passion and skillset.
Develop and Hone Your Management Skills
Take the time to learn how to manage your time efficiently, delegate tasks, and motivate others. Delegation is an important skill that will allow you to concentrate on other aspects of your job. In addition, learning how to delegate effectively will help you develop as a leader and allow others to be more productive team members.
It also gives them a chance to improve their skills by taking on new responsibilities within their role and learning from their mistakes when they don’t perform well. Nursing managers need to have strong interpersonal, administrative, relationship, supervisory, and technical skills, according to research from the LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston.
Knowing how to motivate and inspire others can be both challenging and rewarding. Still, it’s one of those skills that can make all the difference between an average performer and someone who is highly successful in any career path they choose. Good managers know how important it is for all team members to feel valued to produce their best work, so effective leaders must find ways of motivating individuals through positive feedback.
Step Up Your Game in the Technology Arena
Technology has been around for a while now, but it’s arguably never been more critical to nursing than today. From electronic health records (EHRs) to patient portals and the internet of things, there are countless ways that technology can enhance the quality and efficiency of your work as a nurse.
To remain an effective team member, ensure that you fully understand how EHR systems work and how they don’t work. You’ll want to ensure that your facility has implemented an adequate system for managing patient information. Try asking some questions about this if something seems out of place or looks confusing or inconsistent.
If possible, see if there are any training sessions available where they show off their new software features. This way, when you start working with them firsthand, everything will be familiar territory rather than foreign terrain.
Consider Getting a Mentor
Consider getting a mentor even if you’re too busy to take a class or attend training. A 2022 study showed that nurses who participated in a mentorship program improved their self-confidence, professional communication, and problem-solving skills.
Mentors can help you advance your career in many ways:
- They can help you with your career goals.
- They can assist with your job search and connect you with hiring employers.
- They can offer advice on resumes, interviewing skills, and other aspects of job searching (especially important for candidates who have been out of work).
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article has given you some new ideas for advancing your nursing career. There are many ways to gain the experience and knowledge you need to become a better nurse, from taking classes at community colleges and continuing education programs to looking into certificates and graduate degrees.
And remember that while all of these options may take time, the most important thing is to keep learning.