Nursing remains a popular vocation among millennials since it requires minimal education to become an apprentice in the health sector. Nurses emerged as our nation’s finest soldiers against this deadly disease during the coronavirus pandemic. However, the nursing workforce faced different challenges reducing their productivity and undermining patient outcomes. For instance, staffing shortages influenced nurses’ efficiency while underskilled healthcare practitioners realized they needed to hone their skills. However, one can argue that these challenges encourage more RNs to pursue career advancement opportunities. How do our nurses build their careers during an ongoing global health crisis? We’ll discuss this here.
Tips for RNs to advance their careers
Government estimates indicate that RNs make over $75,000 each year on average. Moreover, BLS states that this field shall grow by 9% this decade. Therefore, nursing amateurs should consider advancing their careers during these volatile years. Remember that nursing remains a constantly evolving industry. Thus, you can’t succeed in this profession without continuously improving your capabilities. Nurses must hone their “soft skills” and “hard skills” to climb the ladder of success in nursing. We’ve seen RNs confused about pursuing promotions within an organization after starting their careers. Well, we’re sharing some well-researched suggestions with you to help our nurses build their careers.
1. Take online courses:
Enhancing your education promises success in the health sector. Today, nurses must leverage digital education to hone their educational credentials. For example, suppose any FNP wants to excel in their career. In that case, they can easily go for MSN Family Nurse Practitioner Degree to succeed as the primary caregiver in diverse settings. This degree allows you to hone your abilities while attaining greater autonomy and flexibility in your career. Earning the MSN degree, you’ll become capable of making evidence-based decisions in your practice. So, nurses should enhance their educational qualifications since BSN won’t always remain acceptable to your modern-day healthcare employers. Better education leads to better employment opportunities.
2. Earn specialization certificates:
Is it enough to earn an MSN? Nurses also obtain specialization certificates that make them eligible to apply for more roles within the organization. Earning these certificates improves a nurse’s ability to assume leadership positions in a medical setting. Therefore, we strongly suggest you attain these certificates after you have completed your MSN degree. Here are some of these degrees nurses can apply for today:
- Dialysis (CDN)
- Cardiac Surgery (CSC)
- Progressive Care (PCCN)
3. Find a mentor:
Don’t neglect the importance of finding your mentor in the health sector. This vocation often comes into contact with tricky issues a nurse cannot resolve without proper guidance. Learn to identify the right mentor and have someone show you the correct method of becoming an effective healthcare practitioner. Nurture your relationship with the mentor and look for juniors who require your guidance. You may also try engaging informal mentorship programs in your organization.
4. Build an image:
We suggest you build your image properly in your organization. Remember to cultivate your portrait as a hardworking, professional, and career-driven nurse in the hospital. Remember that how you appear in person is more important than what’s written on your resume! Show managers how you’re committed to devotion, excellence, and better patient outcomes within the organization. So, your reputation shall precede you, thereby helping you acquire more career-building options.
5. Join professional organizations:
You can boost your chances to succeed in the world of nursing by joining professional organizations in 2022. These associations let you establish new connections in the industry, and these contacts can make you closer to those career-building opportunities you desire. You may meet a nurse you can shadow for a while to learn about nursing practice. These organizations allow you to participate in nursing conferences at discounted rates. So, get more social within the health industry.
6. Discuss your ambitions:
Stop being shy about your career goals and discuss your ambitions with the nursing manager. You’re responsible for communicating your career-related desires to your supervisor/s. Since nobody helps you advance in your career if nobody knows you’re ambitious about career-building opportunities! A careful nurse should look out for career advancement options in further responsibilities. You can ask to be placed on committees to quickly climb the ladder of success.
7. Leverage networking opportunities:
You cannot create/discover career-building opportunities without leveraging your networking skills. And you can’t leverage these skills without any network on which you can rely now. Establish strong relations with people around you and continue nurturing these associations through your journey as a healthcare professional. You can leverage these connections to learn about internships along with employment opportunities in the future. This networking’s good for your “soft skills” as well.
8. Read nursing blogs:
In 2022, nurses should consider following nursing blogs/websites to enhance their learning. You can improve your medical know-how by reading these blogs constantly. These digital platforms help you gather relevant health-related information. You’re lucky enough to live in a time when thousands of nursing-related resources are available online. You can learn some cutting-edge ideas about nursing from these blogs. So, leverage the internet to enhance your learning and become well-informed.
9. Hone your skills:
In the end, we suggest nurses hone their “soft skills” to succeed in their careers. You can’t hone your healthcare competency without effective communication—a nurse should have cultural and psychological awareness. Develop critical thinking and problem-solving qualities to make yourself stand out among your colleagues. An effective healthcare practitioner has compassion that makes them connect with patients. These “soft skills” help you educate and empower your patients, ensuring improved medical outcomes. That’s how you build your career gradually and grab advancement opportunities. Don’t forget to focus on self-care and maintaining your well-being.
Conclusion
Education remains important for those nurses who attempt to advance their careers in the 21st century. We learned that some 57% of RNs in 2018 had BSN or higher degrees. Therefore, nurses should hone their academic qualities to empower their careers in the health industry. Moreover, consider a specialization to enhance your medical know-how. Find a mentor who can guide you. Don’t forget to leverage nursing websites to improve your knowledge. You may also consider joining a professional organization to hone your chances of being promoted within your organization. And leverage networking opportunities to bolster yourself professionally. So, these career-building strategies can help you become successful as a nurse.
