By: American Nurses Association

Where do you want your nursing career to take you? To advance in the nursing profession, you need to take control of your future.

Consider these top tips to help you move up:

1. Be a Leader

In today’s health care environment, every nurse needs to be a leader. The most successful nurses don’t wait for someone to ask, they look for opportunities to lead. Developing your leadership skills – include problem-solving and communication – will make you more confident in your role and help you advance.

2. Get Certified

Gain an edge with certification. Becoming certified will set you apart from your peers. It’s impressive to employers and is sure to open doors to additional career growth. Certified nurses position themselves for increased pay, enjoy on-the-job perks, and are happier in their work. A growing body of research links certification to better patient care and outcomes.

Nurses and nurse leaders can find certification resources, here.

3. Earn an Advanced Degree

Consider advancing your education with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Earning an MSN can get you closer to your professional and personal goals. Benefits include increased pay, better working hours, and more career options, such as research nurse, nurse educator, and nurse administrator.

4. Find a Mentor

Is there a colleague, nurse friend, or former instructor who has useful insights to share or inspires you to be your best? A mentor is an excellent resource to help you develop your leadership skills and navigate your nursing career. Need help getting paired up? ANA offers a Mentorship Program. Enrollment for 2020-2021 opens this summer.

5. Join a Professional Organization

The right connections can help you get ahead. Build your own nursing network by joining a professional organization. Nursing associations such as ANA offer a great way to unite with nurses at the local, state, or national level. Network with your peers and other professionals to stay current in the field and boost your career.

 

Sources

https://diyhealth.com/five-ways-to-advance-your-nursing-career.html

Accessed: 2.12.20

https://www.nurse.com/blog/2018/03/14/enjoy-the-perks-of-nurse-certification/

Accessed 2.12.20

https://www.advisory.com/daily-briefing/2019/01/25/nurse-satisfaction

Accessed 2.12.20

https://nursefocus.org/lifelonglearning/

Accessed 2.12.20

https://nursejournal.org/msn-degree/25-best-reasons-why-to-get-a-msn-degree/

Accessed 2.12.20

Categories: Career Advice

Tags: Certification / Cert Prep