Three ways to rekindle your
nursing fire this year
BY KEITH CARLSON, BSN, RN, NC-BC
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rekindle your nursing |
Nursing is dynamic, but nurses
can still feel stagnant in their careers, even as the profession continues to
transform.
Feeling stuck is a dis-empowering feeling, so taking inspired action
is highly recommended for the nurse who wants to evolve.
is highly recommended for the nurse who wants to evolve.
For some nurses, acquiring new
knowledge and skills is enough to keep things fresh and the mind engaged. For
others, more is needed in order to feel empowered by actively moving in a
positive direction.
knowledge and skills is enough to keep things fresh and the mind engaged. For
others, more is needed in order to feel empowered by actively moving in a
positive direction.
Here are three methods for
injecting your nursing career with inspiration and continuing to grow:
injecting your nursing career with inspiration and continuing to grow:
- Seek intellectual challenges
Attending nursing conferences
and seminars can be a powerful way to accumulate knowledge and feel intellectually
challenged.
Conferences can offer a glimpse into a nursing specialty or novel
approaches that upend ingrained ways of thinking.
and seminars can be a powerful way to accumulate knowledge and feel intellectually
challenged.
Conferences can offer a glimpse into a nursing specialty or novel
approaches that upend ingrained ways of thinking.
When you attend a conference,
you have the opportunity to meet like-minded colleagues, hear the latest news
and views on a variety of topics, and find inspiration and motivation.
you have the opportunity to meet like-minded colleagues, hear the latest news
and views on a variety of topics, and find inspiration and motivation.
- Feed your mind and spirit
While volunteerism may not
seem like a powerful career booster, it may provide more than meets the eye
when you consider how such endeavors can positively affect your career.
Volunteering looks good on your resume, but also boosts your nursing
self-esteem and supplements your life experiences.
seem like a powerful career booster, it may provide more than meets the eye
when you consider how such endeavors can positively affect your career.
Volunteering looks good on your resume, but also boosts your nursing
self-esteem and supplements your life experiences.
If you work in a facility that
utilizes multidisciplinary committees to explore new protocols, investigate
innovative technologies, advance the adoption of evidence-based care or
otherwise improve outcomes or practice, volunteering for a committee can
provide you with insights and eye-opening information that may inspire you
professionally and also looks great on your resume.
utilizes multidisciplinary committees to explore new protocols, investigate
innovative technologies, advance the adoption of evidence-based care or
otherwise improve outcomes or practice, volunteering for a committee can
provide you with insights and eye-opening information that may inspire you
professionally and also looks great on your resume.
Outside of work, volunteering
for organizations related to health or healthcare can be inspiring and may
provide a feeling of connection and involvement.
Volunteerism is food for your
mind and your spirit.
for organizations related to health or healthcare can be inspiring and may
provide a feeling of connection and involvement.
Volunteerism is food for your
mind and your spirit.
- Take time to teach
There’s an old adage that we
learn most readily by teaching others what we know. We also feel good when
others support us and when we support others.
learn most readily by teaching others what we know. We also feel good when
others support us and when we support others.
Do you remember a colleague in
the course of your education or career who took the time to teach you something
important? How did it feel to have someone take interest in you? If that hasn’t
happened for you, why not make it a reality for someone else?
the course of your education or career who took the time to teach you something
important? How did it feel to have someone take interest in you? If that hasn’t
happened for you, why not make it a reality for someone else?
There are specific training
to help you become a consummate mentor; you also can learn to be a mentor by dint
of just diving in and doing it.
to help you become a consummate mentor; you also can learn to be a mentor by dint
of just diving in and doing it.
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| Mentoring another nurse can help you reconnect with your passion |
Mentoring another nurse can
help you reconnect with your passion and love for nursing; it also can empower
you by reminding you of the depth and breadth of your knowledge and expertise.
Seeing the light bulb switch on for your mentee may just create some sparks for
you, as well.
Rekindle the fire
If your career feels flaccid
or uninspired, it’s time to rekindle the fire within you. Whether it’s
mentoring, attending a conference, volunteering or another activity, your mindset
and motivation can be your guide.
or uninspired, it’s time to rekindle the fire within you. Whether it’s
mentoring, attending a conference, volunteering or another activity, your mindset
and motivation can be your guide.
Be the nurse who looks for
more; rekindle the fire, get inspired and move your career forward.
more; rekindle the fire, get inspired and move your career forward.
nurse.com