Short and Sweet
Well, it’s that time again. The final day of another year. 2014. It comes to an end today. (Boy, does this sound dramatic.) And in some ways, it is. On the other hand, in the grand scheme of things, a year is but a blink of an eye.
But it is a chance for new beginnings. Opportunities. A fresh start. So to keep the post short and sweet today, I’ll get right to the point.
A Fresh Start?
Where are you with respect to your nursing career? Are you enjoying yourself? Do you feel resilient in the face of challenge? Are you looking for a career alternative?
It’s time to take stock of your nursing career and create clarity around where you’d like to see yourself in the year ahead.
Some Self-Reflection
Anyone who’s ever attended one of my webinars or workshops knows that I like to put the audience to work! Well, if I didn’t you know as well as I do what would happen- you’d leave the event, get busy with ‘life’ and miss out on implementing all of the great new strategies you’ve learned. So to avoid this, let’s workshop a bit in this blog post. Get out a piece of paper…
[Tweet “It’s time for some self-reflection on your nursing career.”]
I want you to answer the following questions. Please take your time. If you need to (let’s say you’re about to go out on-the-town for the big New Year’s bash) come back to this post and really DO the work. OK, here we go (and be honest, no one is looking except for you):
- Do you enjoy your nursing career?
- If so, how much?
- Do you jump out of bed, thrilled to get to work each day?
- What is it you like about your current nursing role?
- What is it that you don’t like about your nursing role?
- If you could do any nursing role at all, what would it be?
- If you had a magic wand and could create the nursing career of your dreams, what would that look like? (Even if it does not exist right now; what do you envision yourself doing?)
- Where do you want to be with respect to your nursing career one year from now?
- What is one thing you can do this month to move yourself forward towards this goal?
- What support do you need (or may you need) to move yourself forward to the job of your dreams?
Well, I want to wish you all a very happy and healthy New Year. I thank you for your continued support and engagement. Thanks for reading and following my blog!
As usual, I would love to hear from you. What is one thing you want to up-level with respect to your nursing career in the New Year? Leave a comment below with a response to a question above or to anything pertaining to the nursing career of your dreams. Enjoy the day.
Elizabeth,
Thank you for the reminder that nursing is an evolving field and self-reflection on our career path is part of our career path. As I have been fighting to reject the news that many years as a nurse have rendered my body less able, the event of an old year passing encourages such reflection. Even when all parts are in working order, nurses are known for considering what else they can do. One way to keep up on choices is to keep up on the literature. Our reading does not end with the conveyance of our degrees; nursing changes as we change.
A good friend, Deb, who has left bedside care after gaining a nursing informatics MSN, texted me the other day, bubbling with excitement over something she read. It involved the dynamics of the nurse patient relationship that had clear implications for nursing practice. We are in the position to do research, develop workshops and programs, and write books together. She is brilliant and I have a publisher; match made in Heaven. The literature informed our next steps.
The perfect next step, the fabulously evolving field that you did not know existed; the career of your dreams is constructed from effort. Read the literature, network, make strong collaborate connections with people who are smarter than you are and learn from them. If the day comes when you do not love what you do, find or create the next thing that you will love even more.
Happy New Year
Sherry.
Sherry,
This is a beautiful story. Excellent example of being open to follow your dreams, allowing life to flow and being aware of opportunities. I am so happy for you and your colleague. Keep us posted with your progress.
Thank you for coming by and sharing your experiences with us.
Enjoy the day,
Elizabeth
Lovely story ladies and reply.
Elizabeth, I am impressed with your words as I am a Nurse. I reflect probably weekly. This is because I am in further study but as nurses I think or feel we do it anyway with peers just in disccussion and daily in our work. I seem to always be reflecting what I see today, where my practice is going and how I fit my practice into this medical practice safely & holistically.
I graduated in 2000 in New Zealand, worked 3 to 4 years in hospital medical ward[small,rural, so we got everything] to get a base of skills, then managed to apply and succeed at a Practice Nurse position. My dream was to be a practice nurse or district nurse[never hospital] and that’s okay. I do actually fly out of my bed daily and leave my house with a smile as I am so passionate about my current job. I have a Degree, a Post Grad Degree in Rural nursing and now almost finished my Master in Nurse Practitioner. I love it. I see the benefit of it. I see how it will help my colleagues Doctors in our Practice. I read, study, watch the research, often make changes within our practice as the research advises. Rural primary practice is a challenge everyday, it’s acute care, chronic care, couples care, singles care, little ones care and it’s also about community care and for us, a part of the big picture & I really reflect on that.
I cannot wait for the day of masters completion. I love the patients look when I fix them.
I continually look back at where I came from, daily where I am going & future to where I will be. For me, that will always be primary practice and I revel in it….
Hi Carol,
This is wonderful. Thank you so much for coming by to read the blog and taking the time to share your story. It sure does sound that your journey through nursing has been a very meaningful and rewarding one. It seems that through your time of reflection and steadfast clarity around what you wanted your profession to look and feel like- you have created the profession of your dreams.
Best wishes to your success on your completion of your Masters degree. Enjoy the day,
Elizabeth
Thank you Elizabeth,
Its Friday in beautiful Hervey Bay, Queensland
The sun is shining and the see is glistening
Have a blessed fabulous weekend……
Great to hear where you are located. I love connecting with nurses around the globe! Wow. I will enjoy my weekend and please, you do the same. Thank you.