Top Tips for Advancing Your Nursing Career
Working as a nurse is an incredible job and one that is well-respected throughout the community. It can be a very challenging career at times, but it can guarantee stability as there will always be a demand for healthcare workers, as well as plenty of opportunities to progress and increase your salary. If you’re a nurse who would like to move forward in your career, below are some timeless tips that will help you achieve your goals.
Education and Further Training
You will need to have a degree-level education in nursing to practice as one, but if you want to move up in your career, you should consider getting a master’s or a doctorate in nursing as these will open the doors to more advanced positions. However, if you’re starting in your nursing career and are working as an LPN, you might want to look at becoming an RN first. You can choose to enroll in an online degree program if you’d like, as this can be a more flexible approach to your studies that you can fit around your work. This Excelsior College Bachelor’s in Nursingis a good example of the kind of online degree program you might need to advance your nursing career. You might also want to ask your supervisor about further training opportunities that you can get involved with at work too.
Look at Your Options
Consider what options you have in terms of your career. There are many specialist fields nurses can move into, or perhaps you’d like a role in management or education? Before you start putting your plans into action, you will need to decide which career path in nursing is right for you, so taking the time to research your options is key.
Mentorships
Another thing that could be useful to you in advancing your nursing career is getting involved in a mentorship scheme at your place of work. Being matched with another nursing professional who can take you under their wing can help you better understand your role and boost your confidence. Your mentor can help to assess your work and point out areas that you need to work on. They could also help you apply to jobs when you’re ready to do so and act as a reference for you. If there isn’t a mentorship scheme where you work already, ask if it is possible to start one or if there is a member of staff who is willing to take on this role for you.
Network
No matter what your career, networking is always a great way to get ahead. It helps to make you more visible to potential employers and make connections with other healthcare professionals. Whether it’s getting tips on how to improve your resume or hearing about job vacancies before they have been officially advertised so you can get a head start on your application, networking will open a lot more doors for you by getting you noticed by the right people.
If you’re a nurse who wants to start making progress in your career, consider the tips above and how you can utilize them to get what you want.