This guide outlines 10 smart strategies you can use to fast-track and advance your nursing career.
Nursing is one of the most challenging yet rewarding career paths. It’s a much more complex and competitive career than you probably think—with a lengthy academic route, heavy research, intense clinical hours, and various certifications to add to your portfolio. To excel in nursing, you have to go above and beyond basic expectations.
Way to advance a nursing career
Continuing education is the key to setting yourself apart from others, and you must consider it alongside networking and practical experience. Planning to advance your nursing career? Below are the other ways to take your nursing career to a new level:
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Further Your Education
While your bachelor’s degree can help you land a job as a nurse, you may not expect quick promotions if you’ll only rely on it. If you want to advance your career in the nursing field and enjoy a more rewarding profession, you should invest in your education. Even if it takes energy, commitment, and more time, it can make a difference in your nursing career.
The good thing about nursing is that it enables you to change your specializations throughout your career. With each nursing degree or certificate, you can get new opportunities.
For example, if you’re interested in surgery or anesthetics, pursuing additional certifications or courses may help you know more about the latest news and best practices in nursing. Browse the options available online by visiting helpful websites similar to the resource site Medicalaid.org.
Aside from gaining more knowledge, nurses with higher qualifications can earn better salaries. Therefore, your education level is vital to land your dream nursing career opportunities.
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Build A Network
Another way to advance your nursing career is by building a network. It allows you to meet new professionals with whom you can exchange work experience and ideas. With that in mind, you can approach your nursing career from new perspectives.
To build a network effectively, make friends in your healthcare community. You can also attend webinars, conferences, and workshops with colleagues and others with similar goals or interests.
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Try To Volunteer
Show your willingness and interest to get involved by volunteering. It may not only help you outshine others, but it can also be an excellent way to meet new professionals in the healthcare industry.
Volunteering also allows you to broaden your support network, which can be beneficial to advancing your nursing career. If you have time and are willing to help others by volunteering, look for the different organizations that accept volunteers. You can research online or ask your colleagues about volunteer opportunities near your area.
Doing this regularly will let you cultivate skills, hone your talent, and make more contacts to help you succeed tremendously in your future endeavors. Volunteering can also improve your chances of getting hired if you’re still applying for a job.
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Join Professional Nursing Organizations
Joining professional nursing organizations can help you make new contacts outside your former nursing school network and current colleagues. These connections may help you meet an excellent nursing mentor or advanced practice nurse who can help you learn more about your field.
Professional organizations for nurses also receive discounts or invitations to continuing education courses or nursing conferences. Some career resources and employment assistance are available to members. However, you can only reap such wonderful benefits if you choose the most appropriate organization.
If you want to join any professional organization in the nursing field, make sure it’s right for you and offers what you need for your career. If you don’t know which is best for you, consider asking around or searching for more information about the organizations you prefer for you to make a well-informed decision.
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Follow Some Nursing Blogs
Some people don’t think about nursing blogs, but they can help advance your career. Most of these blogs contain countless resources from nursing organizations or nurses, which can be accessed with a few clicks.
Nursing blogs also help you be aware of the nursing trends and learn about cutting-edge ideas in the nursing field from seasoned professionals. Plus, you’ll understand more about your local healthcare system’s workings and enjoy entertaining or relatable posts about your profession.
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Look For A Mentor
Another way to advance your nursing career is to look for a mentor. It’ll serve as your role model who can provide wisdom as you further your nursing career.
The best thing about mentors is that they can offer you real-life experience, which you won’t find in books. Fortunately, most health organizations pair experienced and new employees, but if your workplace doesn’t do this, there’s nothing to worry about because you can always find a mentor.
The only thing you should do is find a person you’re comfortable with. However, refrain from requesting mentorship from somebody you work with. If possible, find those with years of industry experience who can offer you the best nursing career guidance and advice. This way, you’ll be more motivated to achieve your goals, and it will help you stay on the right path.
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Explore Other Nursing Units
You can advance your nursing career by exploring other units in your field. It’ll help you get a taste of what you like or dislike. It’ll also make you marketable since you already have experience in various nursing units.
For most hospitals, nurses with experience in several units are valuable because they may help them fill the daily census changes. Having diverse experience also makes you a better candidate for promotions or management positions. Therefore, if you’re stuck in a particular unit and want to gain more experience and knowledge as a nurse, you might want to start exploring other units immediately.
If you don’t know where to begin, check if your workplace provides such options for their employees. If not, you can apply to other healthcare organizations that allow you to experience different units while working.
Conclusion
All in all, there are many ways to advance your nursing career. The best options for you depend on what you’re trying to achieve as a nurse. But regardless of your goals, never be afraid to ask for help from your loved ones and other professionals you look up to. This way, you’ll better understand which path to take.
