I get asked all of the time, “Elizabeth, how did you get where you are at today?” Another common question, when nurses find out I worked as a Registered Nurse at a wellness center monitoring an exercise program for physician referred clients, has been “How did you land that dream job?”

I got to thinking about this topic when we recorded today’s episode of the RNFM podcast. While the discussion was focused on nursing student graduates, new nurse professionals, and nursing career shifts- we somehow got onto a sidebar about networking with non-nursing professionals and the job opportunities for nurses via channels outside of nursing.

My co-host, Kevin Ross, was speaking to the notion that nurses could attend finance workshops, real estate retreats, and non-nursing networking events in order to build their professional networks. I chimed in and excitedly shared my experience of how I landed my ‘dream job’ at the gym.

It got me to thinking… as nurse professionals, some of us looking to become nurse entrepreneurs- others of us staying right where we are, content with clinical nursing- we all need to be mindful of the action steps we should (and shouldn’t take) as we journey through our nursing career.

[Tweet “Here are 3 Action Steps You Can Take to Thrive in Your Nursing Career”]

1. Don’t Act Too Quickly. As nurse professionals, we are typically very action-oriented. Our nursing careers often require us to pay close attention to detail. We like ‘to-do’ lists, check-boxes, and action plans. Well, here I would like to caution you to pause the action step for a moment. Instead of rushing into a career decision, take some time to do some research. Be sure to pause in reflection, asking yourself, ‘What is it that I DO really want out of nursing?‘  Be mindful of options and opportunities. You never know where the next career avenue will turn up. Maybe when you take the time to actually weigh your decisions, you will be pleasantly surprised at your ability to choose the right thing.
2. Don’t Listen to Everyone. We’ve got academic advisers, career coaches, other nurse entrepreneurs- the list could go on and on. There are plenty of nursing colleagues out there who would love to impart their wisdom upon you. Yes, asking for and receiving support is a very good thing. And sometimes there is someone else who knows best: you. By taking the time to pause and reflect, as was noted in step number one, you can become super savvy at hearing your inner guidance. Accept the information that aligns with your goals and leave aside the information that does not resonate.
3. Don’t Work All of the Time. All work and no play can make you a very boring nurse. That and an unhappy, unhealthy, and overtired one at that. Relationships are important. Hobbies are crucial. Downtime is a must. Play is something that everyone ought to take time for in their nursing careers. When you find the nursing job that suits you best and you open up to the support that is in alignment with your values, it will be much easier to allow yourself a healthy dose of work-life balance. Take it from me, a nurse entrepreneur who could work all day if she wanted to… all work and no play can drive any nurse insane!

Let’s hear from our colleagues! What would you add to this list? Let us know what we missed by leaving a comment below. Thanks for reading and feel free to share the post using the social media buttons on this page.

About 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 Art of Nursing virtual conference, 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.