Page 126 - Advanced Communication in Nursing

Nursing Career Development

Healthcare and the world are changing as such as the innovative technologies, illnesses, new regulations, and nursing
opportunities. As a nurse with dreams, goals, and ideas for the future, it is necessary to make a career plan so that
you can work towards your vision. There are several things that nurse can do to keep growing in the nursing career.

If you find yourself stuck in a routine, craving change, or feeling under challenged, it is important to
take responsibility and ownership of your career. Go and look at how senior staff members fulfill their
jobs and learn through observation. Explain that you are interested in a promotion and share with

them your goals. You can also ask to be placed on committees within the organization to get to know
nurses from different departments. This will help you learn about other roles that might be interesting.

Networking within the healthcare field can be crucial, but do not overlook the opportunity to gain
information from the industry by networking outside of it. You can build a network and make friends
by attending workshops, medical conferences, participating in webinars, connecting via LinkedIn or
Facebook groups. You can build a network and make friends by attending workshops, medical
conferences, participating in webinars, connecting via LinkedIn or Facebook groups. As you increase
your network, news will arrive faster and will give you the opportunity to act.

The key to taking your career to the next step is to narrow your focus. The nursing profession offers
many specializations and ways to capitalize on the aspects of your job that you like best. Becoming

certified in an area of specialization will help you advance in your career and so it can also be reflected
on your paycheck. For instance, in the Netherlands it is common for institutions and hospitals to pay
attention to personal growth and professional development. This means that you are helped with
taking further steps in your nursing career. In addition to the compulsory courses, you have the option
to choose additional courses.

It is important to keep up with the latest developments and trends in your field. This can range from
following the news to joining relevant groups on social media and subscribing to newsletters to nursing
blogs or tuning in to podcasts. However, if you have the possibility to join a course, workshop, or
training, this is highly recommended as you are in direct contact with experts in the field and the
interaction can lead to in-depth discussions and exchange of ideas.

To summarize, discover what your nursing goals and aspirations are. Focus on your goal and use the tools available
to achieve it. Progressing in your career means that it is necessary to have the ambition and motivation to keep
developing yourself.

c. Based on the passage above, answer the following questions with your partner.

1. Among the mentioned aspects such as the innovative technologies, illnesses, new regulations, and nursing
opportunities, which one is the one that makes you most anxious? Why?
______________________________________________________________________________________
2. If your initiation to escape from boring routines fails, what will you probably do?
______________________________________________________________________________________
3. How do you look for the best network in your place if you are a new nurse in the facility?
______________________________________________________________________________________
4. What will you do to select the best specialization?
______________________________________________________________________________________
5. As a nurse, what will you do to select a course to stay up to date?
______________________________________________________________________________________

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