From Novice to Expert: Accelerating Your Growth in Nursing
As a nursing novice, you may be wondering, what can I do to get myself further in my career?
The path to nursing greatness can feel especially overwhelming when you’re first embarking on your journey as a nurse. If this sounds like you, you’re unlikely to have too many professional contacts in the field, a great deal of experience, or fully know the ropes of the nursing industry.
If you’re keen to learn how to speed up your growth and propel your nursing career, just keep reading.
Nursing Novice: What To Do When You’re First Starting out
So, you want to be a nurse. If you’re a newbie who’s completely fresh on the scene, however, you might be overwhelmed with everything you need to do on the road to becoming a qualified RN.
For ambitious individuals, qualifying as an RN (short for Registered Nurse) is just the first step on your nursing journey. To attain this title, of course, you’ll need to complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing - also known as a BSN degree. Once you’ve obtained this qualification, you’ll need to step it up to the next level if you want to accelerate your growth.
In some cases, this means you’ll have to take on postgraduate study. After you’ve completed your Master of Science in Nursing (or MSN) via online study methods, you might want to go from an online MSN to DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice). A DNP is the highest qualification you can obtain as a nursing student, and completing one can help your career soar. You may even end up in a general management or C-Suite role. If nothing else, you’ll be considered an expert in your field.
Ending Up An Expert: How To Get There As A Nursing Professional
Postgraduate study in nursing can take you far. This is especially true if you complete a Ph.D. Also known as a Doctor of Philosophy, achieving this level of qualification in your field is sure to grant you expert status.
Needless to say, though, undertaking a Ph.D. is not for everyone. It can be quite a commitment and has even been labeled by some as a complete waste of time. On the contrary, however, it can be argued there are many benefits to completing a postgraduate doctoral thesis, especially if you want to achieve great things in your nursing career.
Becoming the best nurse you can be is not just about completing higher education, however. There are other measures you can take to accelerate your growth in nursing. These include:
Making the Most of Your Professional Placement
As a nursing student, you’ll be required to undertake clinical job placements as part of your degree. These placements are a mandatory part of your studies, however, they are also key to your personal and professional growth.
When on placement, it’s important to ensure that you are making the most of every opportunity that is presented to you. Be proactive, take initiative, and always volunteer for those tough tasks. Taking on these challenges will help you grow, and will help set you on your path to career success.
Networking within the Nursing Industry
Building a network of professional contacts is essential to succeeding in almost any career.
Whether you’re happy to stay in your RN role, or you’re aspiring for more, networking within the nursing industry is vital. This will help get your name out there, identify potential job opportunities, and even boost your consideration for promotions. Further to this, you may even make contact with voices of authority in the field who could consider taking you under their wing as a professional mentor.
Conclusion
The road from novice to nursing expert can be a long one. From completing the relevant formal qualifications to undertaking professional placements, you truly need to put in the hard work to get yourself to the top. And it doesn’t stop there. Once you’ve landed your perfect role, you need to keep working on yourself, upskilling, and growing, to reach your potential.
Once you commit to the journey, however, attaining expert status is a reward in and of itself. Whether you complete a Ph.D. in the field or become an upper manager, your achievements throughout your nursing career will be worth celebrating.
Thank you Elena Stefan for contributing this article.
Guest Articles Written for Caregiverology
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