Portrait Of Multi-Cultural Medical Team Standing In Hospital Corridor
A career in nursing is rewarding, worthwhile and fulfilling. As a nurse on the frontline of care services, you will get to make an impact on the lives of others. Nursing offers many possibilities for career progression and a lot of opportunities too. So, how do you get started on the path to a successful nursing career? What should you be focusing your time on and what should you be putting your effort into?
Making a Difference
To begin the process, you have to decide what difference you want to make. The difference you want to make in nursing will be the guide for your whole career. So, do you want to make a difference in the care of younger people, or are you looking to offer palliative care to those who are nearing the end of their life? What type of care appeals to you and why? Deciding where you want to make a change is crucial, and this will form a strong part of your career.
Committing to Making a Career Change
You are possibly stuck in a career that you do not love or even enjoy at the moment, and this is why it is time to commit to change. When you commit to change, you can start to make progress. If you are still undecided about committing to a career in nursing, then you will struggle to get your nursing career off to the best start. So, take a step back from the career or job you are currently doing. Make a commitment to change for a better life, and for better prospects, then put this action into place.
Advantages of Becoming a Nurse
If you are weighing up the process of becoming a nurse and feel a little daunted by everything, then here are just a few advantages to get you thinking:
- The opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of others, including those receiving care (and their families too).
- Career progression is there should you want it. You don’t have to stay as a nurse, there is plenty of room for growth into areas such as leadership.
- Stability and security in the role, and in the healthcare industry. Aging populations and populations that are increasing in size will continue to rely on nurses for assistance in aid, in many years to come.
Expectations versus Reality
When you get started within your nursing career, it is important to weigh up the expectations, versus the reality. Nursing is not always glamorous, and there will be occasions where you are unable to enjoy a whole shift – perhaps due to an intense workload, or perhaps due to difficult patients. It is important that you weigh up the negatives, alongside the positives. Think about the great impact you are having within nursing, and this way you will always be able to see and handle the true side of nursing, and not the manufactured side – which often features glamour, long breaks and so on (as it is sometimes depicted on TV shows).
Earning a Degree
After you have weighed up the pros and the cons, and you have decided that nursing is the right profession for you, it is time for action. It is now time to start taking positive steps in the right direction, and this includes studying for your degree. You cannot be a nurse without a bachelor’s degree. When you are looking for programs to study, it is important to look at online BSN programs for non nurses because you will be able to study these in and around your existing commitments. Trying to study for a nursing degree at a physical campus will be restrictive and time-consuming, and it may leave you dreading the whole process rather than enjoying it.
Deciding on a Specialism
While you are studying for your degree, it is important to decide on a specialism that you wish to pursue. For example, do you want to focus on adult care, or would you prefer to be on the frontline in the accident and emergency department? What areas of nursing appeal to you, and where do you see yourself building a career? Choosing a specialism will help you to build a career from the outset, and it will help you to focus on areas that you will enjoy.
Getting Licensed
After you have gained your degree, and chosen your specialism, it is now time to get licensed. Licensing will vary dependent on your state, and it is important that you check what rules, laws, and regulations are applicable to your state/area of practice. If you are not suitably licensed, then you will struggle to find a position, because you will not be legally allowed to practice nursing.
Finding a Suitable Position
Finding the right position is important within nursing. You have to enjoy being around other care and nursing professionals, and you have to enjoy the setting within which you work. If you do not enjoy your position, then you will struggle to get the most out of it. To find a suitable position, you need to start your search online. Look online for local positions in hospitals, or in other primary care settings, and from here, you can then expand your search radius if you find nothing suitable.
Gaining Experience
When you start out in your first nursing role, it is important to embrace the good days and the bad times. You are building your experience, your knowledge and your awareness each and every day. Nobody is expecting perfection, so do not try and aim for perfection because it doesn’t exist. To get the most from your first nursing role, you need to think about what you have learnt, and how much you have progressed. All experience is valuable to your career moving forwards, so always learn to see the best in everything that you encounter. Never be afraid to ask for feedback, and never shy away from asking questions. If you need more support and guidance, then ask for it because it will help you build a sustainable nursing career.
