By Veronika Most nurses have aspirations to take their career forward and climb the ladder in order to get greater job satisfaction, earn more money and have a bigger impact on the healthcare system. Climbing the ladder can bring many benefits to a nurse that is driven, but the fact that so many have aspirations of doing this means that it can be competitive and hard to stand out from the crowd. So, what are a few of the best ways to climb the ladder as a nurse? Whether you are just getting started or you are a nurse with a few years of experience, here are a few of the best ideas for progressing your career.
Start Working Harder
The first place to start when looking to advance your career is to start making more of an effort and improving your daily performance. You need to be able to show that you are committed to the role and a hardworker before you start asking and looking around, so try to improve your performance each day and bring positive energy to work. This should include being willing to go the extra mile, especially when it comes to supporting your patients and their loved ones.
Improve Your Bedside Manner
Following on from this, bedside manner is extremely important when it comes to nursing, yet an area that many nurses lose focus on as they get more experienced. Good bedside manner is a key part of the patient experience and essential for developing trust, showing compassion, and providing a high level of care. It is easy to improve your bedside manner, but it is being consistent and providing a high level of care to each and every patient that many find a challenge.
Support Your Fellow Nurses
Any nurse who is a team player and willing to support their colleagues will always be looked upon favorably. It is also helpful for building relationships and developing a positive reputation. While nursing can be competitive, it is also extremely demanding, so nurses need to be there for one another to provide help and support. This can also give you the opportunity to develop and demonstrate your leadership skills, which will be so important if you want to make it to the top.
Learn from Experienced Nurses
Leading on from this, you should also look to the nurses above you and those that specialize in areas of interest to you to learn all that you can from them. You can do this simply by observing them, but it will be more effective to ask questions and to seek advice – you might even find that they take you on as a mentor who can be a great way to develop your abilities and improve.
Commit to Self Improvement
Nobody is perfect, but the nurses and other healthcare professionals that are able to climb the ladder and reach the top are the ones that are aware of their weaknesses and work on them to become well-rounded. This commitment to self-improvement will not only allow you to improve your abilities but will also show your passion for what you do and help you to stand out from the crowd. It is not always obvious what your strengths and weaknesses are, so it is also a good idea to ask for feedback that will show your commitment to self-improvement and help you identify the areas to work on, which will help you to get noticed.
Speak to Your Boss
The above should all help to get you noticed, but this will not be enough, and you will need to share your goals with your boss and discuss how they can be achieved under their supervision. They should be able to help you by suggesting areas to work on, offer training, mentorship, or additional responsibilities. Not only this but when you discuss that you want to progress, it will also stick in their mind as they will know that you could potentially move to another hospital if you are not able to progress with them.
Explore Other Opportunities
Leading on from this, you might prefer to progress at the same place that you are working at, but this will not always be possible. It might require a change, and sometimes the best way to progress will be to move around, so you need to be willing to do this if you want to climb the ladder. It is not always easy to move, especially when it comes to nursing, where you form strong relationships, but sometimes it is the best option for your career.
Network Often
Networking might not be everyone’s favorite activity, but it is something that you are going to need to make the effort with. Not only does it help to improve your professional reputation, but it can also open new doors, so it is certainly worth the effort whether you are attending healthcare events, training, or networking online. In addition to building relationships, keep in mind that these need to be maintained over time, so be sure to check in with people and show a genuine interest.
Take an Online MSN to DNP Program
Further study and qualifications are essential if you want to climb the ladder, and for those that want to rise to leadership positions, post masters DNP programs will be a smart move. MSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice programs will develop the skills, knowledge, and abilities required to affect change and manage in the constantly changing healthcare system. With this qualification, you will be able to lead teams, systems, and practices with confidence, and the fact that it is an online course enables nurses to fit it into their already busy schedule.
Continue Learning
In addition to further study, nurses should also look to continue learning and keeping current with the latest developments in nursing and healthcare. These are both areas that are constantly going through change due to trends, technological developments, global issues, and regulations. It is important that you keep up to date with all of this to stay current and show your dedication to your field. Nurses that climb the ladder are ones that see their profession more as a way of life, so you need to have passion and do all that you can to stay current. You can stay current by attending seminars and other industry events, networking, reading journals, and listening to podcasts, just as a few ideas.
Always Be Organized
One of the hardest aspects of being a nurse, but one which is vital for performing to a high standard and standing out from the crowd, is being well organized. Nurses that have excellent organizational skills will be able to deliver a high level of care to every patient, prioritize their workload, and never appear to be flustered or overly stressed. You can improve your organizational skills. This is certainly worthwhile if it is an area that you struggle with, particularly when you consider that this skill becomes even more important and valued when you start to climb the professional ladder.
Learn from Your Mistakes
Mistakes happen in nursing, and it is how you respond to these that will determine your ongoing success. Many young nurses make a mistake that sets them back and sees them lose their confidence, while others will make a mistake and see it as a chance to learn. Obviously, mistakes can be incredibly serious in this field, so you need to do all that you can to avoid mistakes, but when they are made, you need to take them in your stride and make sure that the same thing never happens again.
Look After Your Own Health
If you are to climb the ladder as a nurse, you must also make sure that you are in good health, both physically and mentally. Nursing is a physically demanding, stressful, and often upsetting role, and this only increases with experience, which is why it is so important that you look after your own health, and this is something that will help you to stand out. This will mean leading a healthy lifestyle and making the most of your free time, finding ways to unwind and de-stress, and reaching out for support if you need it. When you are in good health, both physically and mentally, it should help you come in with a positive energy, improve your performance, and get noticed for the right reasons.
If you have aspirations to climb the nursing ladder, then these are all effective strategies that will help you to do so. Climbing the ladder allows you to have a bigger impact on healthcare, get greater job satisfaction, and obviously earn more money, but nursing is also competitive, and it can be hard to stand out. It will require a lot of hard work, effort, and patience, but only those who are willing to put in the effort that will stand out, so this needs to be something that you are willing to do.
james