a focused career vision
Do you want a job that affords you both flexibility and stability? What is it in nursing that in these heights of unemployment, healthcare organizations are continuously hiring nurses across different specialties? Today, I would like to go over 3 straightforward, focusing steps to get started in nursing, cultivating your career, and creating a life of fulfilling purpose.
1. Focus on your goals in life and what you want.
You are destined for greatness. But what that entails depends on what your goals in life are. In these trying times, you want to move from uncertainty to stability. Part of that is attaining a consistent stream of income.
Recognize that you are great because you have unique strengths and skill sets. If you want to be a nurse, you can look to make concrete steps: do the appropriate research on the process, start a nursing program, and enroll in accredited schools. Generally, the process will require two years of schooling before you take the nursing license. But when you obtain your RN, and while you are furthering your schooling an additional year for your BSN, you can already start working as a registered nurse with a salary. Nursing is not easy, but you are on the path for a great career!
2. Have a focused career vision.
You may not know what you want specifically but you should still have a recognizable vision. If you know you want a certain sort of lifestyle or that kind of career, you can prepare and better set yourself up to attain that goal. But remember life and careers are all marathons. They are not races and it is not about the end for the sake of the end. It is about improving yourself so you become fit for your goals and you can attain the career you want.
Your goals might change, your career circumstances might shift, and your life may evolve. But as long as you are progressing towards something you desire and can visualize, you are on the right path. So it is important to invest in and develop yourself. Your skills are your asset and they will stay with you, even if circumstances change. You should hone your skills, solidify your strengths, expand knowledge bases, obtain new ones, and grow your competences. The more skills you attain, the more flexible your career becomes and more income you become qualified for. Nursing, just like any career, is only as stable as yourself and your assets are valuable!
3. Have a career mentor to build your professional network.
Nursing has a large diversity of career options that can tend to your family needs and personal life. It is a career that affords you a unique role in the employment market because the inherent demand for nurses is always high. There also are many programs, specializations, and pathways in nursing. But because there are so many options and because so many areas or levels require some networking, navigating the career itself can be nebulous and overwhelming. And so it is important to build and cultivate your own professional network. Find particular individuals that stand out to you who may be able to help elevate your career. Reach out to potential mentors about helping you in your current position and maneuver career moves. Establish relationships with peers, coworkers, friends, patients, and clients to build your character and arrange for potential references. A network of meaningful mentorships and relationships is extremely helpful; they can help you navigate the job professionally and help elevate you financially.
There are multiple career options in nursing with great income potentials, depending on your field of specialty. They depend on the skills you have and the professional network you have (or can have). More importantly, they depend on your particular career vision. The skills and the networking can be obtained, but you need to have a focused vision of what you want. In nursing, the demand for jobs is stable and high but also affords nurses flexibility in terms of time, income, specialty, and career movement. There are many potentials for growable income streams and considerable professional development. And so nursing is a fantastic career. The question is, what do you want to do after you get started? What do you become, beyond a nurse?
