Everywhere I turn I hear more and more about the career alternatives for nurses. Today’s nurse professional has options. You can go on to get advanced degrees and practice autonomously in clinical practice settings. You may enjoy writing and find yourself journeying towards becoming a nurse author. You might even want to take a cornucopia of your nursing skills and talents and turn these into reinventing yourself as a successful nurse entrepreneur.

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While there are many career alternatives in nursing, I want to remind you that your nursing career starts within. It’s what you enjoy, following your heart’s desires and being your unique expression of yourself.

So instead of reinventing your nursing career based on the rules and regulations of others, why not create your own nursing career. Here are five inspiring ideas to get you started:

• Come Center. A term I heard often growing up in dance class. “It’s time to come center” my teacher would say. To create the nursing career that you leap out of bed with joy to work at each day it may be time to take pause. How can you find the job of your dreams when you’re rushing from task-to-task, place-to-place? In the silence of stillness we may find the answers we search for.
• Let Go. Of everyone else’s opinions, judgements and advice. They know what is right for them based on their experiences, memories and perceptions. You can only be the one to find that nursing career of your dreams. Sure you can ask for feedback, and the loudest answers will come from within.
• Appreciate. Many times when we are the space of wanting something new it is because we are no longer enjoying where we are currently at. A nursing career is no different. We may be looking for a career alternative in nursing because we are unhappy with the work that we do. I challenge you to find what you do appreciate in your role, no matter how much you may feel dissatisfied. When we can find the good and feel it inside and out this is often what we receive. Focus on the joy of nursing and what lights you up. This will lead you to more answers from within.
• Be You. Similar to letting go it is time to bring your unique talents, skills and expertise to your nursing career. Make a list of all of the things you do well. Another list of what you enjoy. A list of what energizes and enthuses you about your nursing practice. The more you can be yourself in your nursing role the better off your career will be.
• PLAY. Allow yourself to take a break from finding that ‘perfect nursing job’. What we continue to search for often eludes us. Go out dancing. Take a hike. Submerge yourself in a hot springs bath. Whatever you choose to let loose and have fun, that is what will stir things up. I always notice that a new speaking opportunity, a client contract or a product sale comes to me when I am out having the time of my life.

What will you do first? Which bullet point resonates most with you? What else would you add to this list? I would love to hear from you so I invite you to leave a comment below. Enjoy your health today and thank you for reading.