Want A New Nursing Career? Do’s & Don’ts for Your Nursing Profession

by | Jun 11, 2015 | 11 comments

Want A New Nursing Career? Do’s & Don’ts for Your Nursing Profession #YourNextShiftLooking for a new job in nursing? Maybe you’ve heard of some different types of nursing jobs these days and you want to check out another career path. Well, before you jump headfirst into a new nursing career… let me share some do’s and don’ts for your nursing profession.

From someone who’s had experience with this, I can speak to what to do and what NOT to do as you transition into a new nursing role.

[Tweet “Here Are My Top Ten Tips for a Nursing Career Change”]

10. Do Your Research. There are a lot of things shifting in healthcare these days. From the reimbursement to the patient participation in their online charts, things are definitely different these days in nursing. Which can be great for us nurses since there are jobs popping up all over the place. If you’re thinking of changing jobs (or looking for your first nursing career), do your research. Talk with career counselors; visit organizations of all sizes; go online or attend a nursing career workshop. Be sure to know your options up front.

9. Be Clear with Your Goals. This is so important and can save you a ton of time. If you’re only looking to make a career change because you don’t like your current nursing job; you need to first get clear with what it really is that you want out of your nursing career. The cool thing about being a nurse professional is the amount of options we have. Take some time to get quiet and clearly map out your career path.

8. Ask for Help. Please do this. I have truly benefited along my nursing career from the advice, wisdom, experience, and expertise of many nursing career mentors. People like academic advisers, trusted colleagues, nursing leadership, or even friends and family who have ‘been there and done that’ can be your nursing career guides.

7. Read A LOT. You should see my bookshelves. And yes, I do say ‘shelves’ plural as I’ve got bookcases all over my home filled with books. I read on career guidance, self-care, energy modalities, self-help and improvement. I read and read and read. And when I think I’ve read it all, another person turns me on to some other text I have not yet heard about or read. Go to the library. Search on Amazon. There are nursing career books on every topic- find one that helps you.

6. Grow Your Professional Network. This is a great tip and, as of our recent times, can be done on a much larger scale. We can grow our professional networks through live networking events in our local communities AND we can utilize the power of technology. The internet, group discussion forums, nursing blogs, and social media are great channels that you can use to connect and build relationships with nursing professionals from across the globe.

Want A New Nursing Career? Do’s & Don’ts for Your Nursing Profession #YourNextShift5. Try Something On, First. A great idea is to test the waters before you dive in. If a nursing career that you are interested in offers an internship; if there are volunteer opportunities; or if you can set up a share day- it is a really great idea to get to know the potential employer before you start out to work full-time with them. It’s a wonderful way to see if the nursing role is a good fit for you.

4. Loosen Your Grip. Sometimes when we’re looking to change or get a nursing job we can create tunnel vision. It’s hard for us to see the opportunities surrounding us when we think we’ve set our eye on the prize. However, and I’ve had experience with this, sometimes that tight-fisted grip gets in the way of our ability to see the bigger picture (and a possible nursing career that we never even imagined possible). Learn to loosen up and go with the flow a bit. Open up to opportunity and see what shows up.

3. Shift on the Inside. I read something wonderful on one of the nurse blogger’s sites during my recent virtual book tour. Carrie Sue of Prenatal Empowerment described how my book doesn’t teach you how to become someone else. Rather, ‘Your Next Shift’ gives you the tools so that you can turn into your best self. The more you can show up as your true nurse within, the more enjoyable your nursing experience will be.

Nurse Blog Carnival 2. Learn. Now you might be thinking that reading everything and anything that you can get your hands on (as described in tip #7) speaks to this one. While reading certainly helps you to learn more about your nursing career and different types of nursing opportunities- what I mean here is that you learn from every experience. There really is no such thing as failure- only more opportunities for lessons learned.

1. Have Fun. If it doesn’t bring you joy- you are likely not going to enjoy doing it. You’ve got to find a nursing career that allows your nurse within to thrive. And the most important way to do this is to find what’s fun for you. Be yourself, laugh, play and enjoy your professional life to the fullest.

What would you add to this list? Let’s hear from you! Thanks for leaving your comment below.

Elizabeth Scala, MSN/MBA, RNAbout the Author: As a speaker, workshop facilitator, and Reiki Master, Elizabeth partners with hospitals, organizations, associations, and nursing groups to help transform the field of nursing from the inside out. As the host of the Your Next Shift Workshop, Elizabeth guides nurses and nursing students to a change in perspective, helping them make the inner shift needed to better maneuver the sometimes challenging realities of being a caregiver.

 

This post was contributed to the Nurse Blog Carnival. More posts on this topic can be found at http://www.straightanursingstudent.comIf you are interested in participating find out more details and sign up.

11 Comments

  1. Brittney Wilson, BSN, RN - The Nerdy Nurse

    “Have Fun” — I often found this difficult my first year on the floor. I barely had time to use the bathroom much less have fun. But I think part of that was because I didn’t try to find time for it or make it an important part of my nursing career. If that path would have continued much longer I know burn out would have come soon after.

    What tips do you have for new nurses to find time for the fun?

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      Hi Brittney,
      Thanks for your comment. It is true that most times we are running ourselves ragged just to stay afloat. So thanks for your insights and follow-up question. Tips I would share are the following:
      1) It’s just a job. Think about it. If you weren’t there… someone else would do the work, right? The organization will go on without you (hard to hear, but very true). So, that being said.. make sure you have a life OUTSIDE of work! That way you can find time for things that are fun.
      2) Quit taking yourself so seriously. I don’t mean you, Brittney… I mean ALL nurses. We can find laughter in almost any situation. So find things to joke, smile, and chuckle at during work.
      3) Done is better than perfect. We are often so hard on ourselves. And guess what, we’re the worst judge! No one is looking, thinking, or saying the hard stuff that we make up about ourselves. We’ve got to learn to be gentle on ourselves so that we can find the joy in what we do.

      Finally, if it ain’t fun… it won’t get done (as Richard Simmons once said). So if your job is no longer fun.. find something else to do!

      Thanks for asking and enjoy the day,
      Elizabeth

      Reply
  2. Joyce

    Great Tips Elizabeth. ‘Try something first’ is so important before we make the leap and jump. Nurses can try their career change on a part-time basis before resigning completely from their current position. The beauty of nursing is we have options to chose the hours we want to work. “Having Fun” is my motto! If I don’t enjoy what I’m doing, maybe I need to re-evaluate the job. Great post!

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      Thanks, Joyce. It is a great to hear that you enjoyed the post. And that we have so much in common. I appreciate your comments.

      Reply
  3. Big Red Carpet Nurse

    Elizabeth, thanks for your wise and well-organized advice. As for me, I teach by example. I learned rather the long and hard way about rash and ill-informed career changes. I’ve made multiple major, expensive decisions over the years without the benefit of your wisdom, and not surprisingly, the results were years-long hard lessons: deeply expensive, counterproductive and often quite unpleasant. They nearly killed me at least once and wasted many of my years. Fortunately, I’m capable of surviving and learning on my own, in time. Mistakes are also excellent teachers, if you’re open to their lessons and willing to apply them. Still, I would advise your readers to take an easier, safer, and more efficient path, as you lay out. Thanks again for your good work.

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      Greg, your point is well taken. We do make mistakes. And this is OK. We need to be gentle with ourselves and realize that we can re-frame them as opportunities for lessons learned. I appreciate your feedback on my post and thank you for the kind words of support. As always, thanks for visiting and taking the time to comment.

      Reply
  4. Brown

    Great post. Wonderful tips!

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      Thanks!

      Reply
  5. nurselyfe4115

    These are great, I wish I would’ve had this list a couple years ago! Now I’m on track but it took a little bit. I would have to say I think the most important one would be 3. Shift on the Inside. If you’re not happy about what you’re doing now because your attitude or dislike for nursing, chances are, making a change in your nursing career isn’t going to make the issues any better. First fix what’s wrong on the inside, and then fix everything else around you.

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      Well said. I agree. Just making a change in the external only creates a temporary fix. Changes on the inside impact our careers for a lifetime. Thanks for coming by and sharing your comment!

      Reply
  6. Kelly Payne

    Thanks Elizabeth, I’m in the middle of reinventing myself! What has always drawn me to nursing was that regardless of the job I do not ever have to leave my profession. These are great tips to use. I recently had my “eyes on the prize” when it came to my dream job and worked every avenue to reach my goal… when I did not get the position, I was devastated and after reflecting realized I needed to “loosen my grip” just as you described so well. It has opened up new possibilities and made me set new goals!

    Reply

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. How to Have Fun as a Nurse - […] weeks ago I shared a post about the do’s and don’t of our nursing careers. It was awesome that…
  2. Blog Carnival! Mentoring in the Nursing Profession - Straight A Nursing StudentStraight A Nursing Student - […] has got your back. She provides invaluable advice for transitioning into your new role at her blog Nursing from…

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