Introduction
The coronavirus pandemic was an unexpected catastrophe that disturbed the world on a scale never imagined before. It halted the international economy and forced world leaders to focus more on improving healthcare facilities. Healthcare professionals acquired newfound respect among the masses for their dedication to diminishing the effects of COVID-19. No wonder nurses have always enjoyed the perception of being trustworthy professionals. The apparent increase in the demand for more registered nurses has motivated many to pursue success in their vocation. So, here are a few simple tips for nurses to advance in this career proficiently.
11 Nursing suggestions for career advancement
The shortage of nurses has created opportunities for youngsters while the veterans stand on the verge of retirement. Last year alone, there were around 4 million nurses in the United States. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated a 7% growth in the employment viewpoint of registered nurses. The department further predicted that each year around 175,000+ jobs would be present for prospective nurses. These numbers are sure to ascend when more people have a vaccination against coronavirus. Healthcare professionals now require career specialization to maintain their jobs and stay effective in this COVID-ridden world. That’s why we’ve gathered a list of recommendations for your career growth:
Make connections:-
Nurses can no longer succeed in isolation. They require extensive networking to survive and thrive in this constantly-evolving world. Associating with work-related individuals encourages an exchange of ideas that helps broaden your horizon. A group of colleagues can be supportive and informative for nurses who’re looking for advancement opportunities. We recommend that you print distinctive business cards to promote yourself as a professional and build dependable networks.
Invest in education:
Continued education will cease to be a luxury in the future since MSN will soon become the least acceptable credential for nurses in the United States. Working professionals can pursue an online MSN FNP program to gain the knowledge necessary for swift promotion. Remember that career advancement is impossible without continuing education. In the words of experts, an educated nurse is a safer nurse. It ascertains your survival and sustainability in this profession.
Polish your soft skills:-
Your medical expertise isn’t enough to progress as a professional nurse. You also need to improve your communication, public-dealing, critical-thinking, problem-solving, and time-management skills. A recent survey by SHRM received employees’ opinions regarding this matter. Some 97% of them considered soft skills to be either equally important or more important than hard skills. These abilities modify your reputation and elevate your chances to get promoted before colleagues.
Follow the blogs:-
Evidence-based nursing blogs are excellent resources for healthcare professionals who wish to remain informed about the latest developments in the field. It’s a great chance to learn from your seniors and get acquainted with veterans’ experience in the institution of nursing. Blogging has emerged as a useful mode of communication. Therefore, following blogs such as Fresh RN or DailyNurse brings you a daily dose of trending articles relevant to your career scope.
Find a good mentor:-
Florence Nightingale may not work for everyone as a career coach. Find yourself a competent and efficient sophomore who can teach you all about the profession of nursing. Try building a mentor-mentee relationship with someone you work with so you can shadow that person for a while. These trainers will help direct your career choices. Some institutes even offer mentorship programs, but it is best to find a person you feel comfortable with as a student.
Join an organization:-
You can’t make better connections than by becoming a part of some nursing organization. Attend conferences and join webinars to meet new people and connect with professionals. Social gatherings are resourceful places to speak with experts and befriend people with similar interests. Surround yourself with passionate professionals who can help you grow as a skillful nurse. These organizations also supplement your job search. Here are some associations to consider:
- Sigma Theta Tau
- National League for Nursing
- American Organization for Nursing Leadership
Enhance your EQ:-
Emotional intelligence or emotional quotient (EQ) enables you to sympathize with others and resolve conflicts efficiently. It also allows you to create rapport and establish strong bonds with people quickly. A nurse-patient connection is a fragile one and requires the nurse to understand the patient’s perspective. Not surprisingly, EQ accounts for 58% of professional success in all job categories. Boosting your emotional intelligence helps you effectively treat patients.
Be compassionate:-
But EQ doesn’t prevent nurses from being compassionate. As per NCBI, compassion leads to higher patient satisfaction and improved coping skills among the lot. However, a nurse requires to keep an emotional distance from their clients. As per one study conducted in 2018, nurses defined compassion as “deep care” and “desire to help” patients. This desire is the very foundation of this profession, without which a nurse’s entire career may crumble more quickly.
Become culturally sensitive:-
Did you know that ethnic minorities constitute around one-third of the American population? Unfortunately, just one-fifth of nurses belong to the same category. There are cultural and language barriers nurses should overcome to provide patients with high-quality healthcare facilities. That’s why cultural awareness has become a must-have for modern healthcare professionals. Understanding different cultures will help you transform into a more competent nurse.
Take care of yourself:-
Neglect in the matter of self-care may curb your productivity and expose you to emotional instability. A nurse’s biggest fear is losing patients to the clutches of death. A healthcare professional must be resilient enough to recover from such a shock. Manage your mental health and don’t enable burnouts to diminish your efficiency. You will experience pain and suffering as a crucial part of such a sensitive job. But that shouldn’t allow you to overburden yourself with responsibilities.
Act professionally:-
Professionalism isn’t limited to the workplace but also encompasses your private life. Nurses are supposed to practice confidentiality about their patients and express deep consideration for work ethics. Some healthcare institutions even check a candidate’s social media activity before deciding whether to approve/reject his/her request. Your content demonstrates your personality. Therefore, board members may even discard a candidate request who has posted unethical stuff online.
Conclusion
Our healthcare professionals’ services awarded 2020 the “Year of the Nurse and the Midwife” title. A hastened demand to multiply the nursing workforce has become a golden opportunity for individuals struggling to progress in this field. A 2016 research study shows that nursing professionals may facilitate career advancement via personal, interpersonal, and functional skills. This occupation has played a vital role in the development of health sciences and combating viral diseases. Even the mass vaccination and post-pandemic rehabilitation procedures will require the services of our frontline workers. Therefore, nurses can hope for growth in 2021 by honing their unique work abilities.
