For the Experienced Nurse
Stepping into Leadership Roles
You've been able to gain a great deal of experience and knowledge by working as a staff nurse. For many experienced nurses, taking on leadership roles is the next logical step. Maybe you were the type of nurse who could guide your colleagues through a particularly busy shift with composure, or maybe someone asked if you could assist with additional training. You could sign up for a clinical ladder program that compensates you for increasing your level of responsibility, or you could research leadership development courses that hospitals generally offer.
I never imagined that I would be in charge of managing others when I first started working, but a leadership program taught me how to resolve conflicts and assign work efficiently. I became very good at directing junior nurses on the floor and organizing patient care. Check to see whether your hospital offers a preceptor or charge nurse training program. These nurse manager classes cover a variety of subjects, such as fundamental budgeting, effective communication strategies, and handling challenging conversations.
You don't have to relinquish your leadership role to be a great bedside nurse. Alternatively, you might apply your knowledge more effectively by improving your team and patients in more significant ways. Consider offering to chair a unit meeting or joining a committee, like the quality improvement council, to get your feet wet. My highly anticipated patient safety meeting, which I had been afraid I would fail at, was the high point of my year because of my suggestions for lowering the number of falls on our unit. Getting more involved is a win-win-win for everyone. It helps you develop confidence, it helps make the patients' experiences more positive, and it improves work quality and productivity for the organization and team.
- Miriam
Continued Learning
In the nursing profession, learning is a continuous process. Many experienced nurses can stay ahead of the competition by obtaining advanced certifications or by returning to school. Additional certifications, such as a BSN or MSN or a specialized certification, might create new opportunities, and a BSN is even becoming mandatory for more and more hospitals. I was shocked to discover how much the BSN courses transformed my perspective on evidence-based practice when I decided to pursue my degree. Numerous certifications broaden your scope of work, including critical care nursing (CCRN), geriatric nursing, progressive care certified nursing (PCCN), and more.
As is typical for critical care nurses, I gained more knowledge about ventilators and complex drips, for example, after obtaining a CCRN certification. My ability to prioritize my work and anticipate issues has improved as a result of the review process. Following the extra time I spent studying, my patients seemed to be receiving noticeably better care. The boost in self-esteem and the appreciation from peers more than compensates for the effort, even though studying for these tests is not always easy.
Beyond degrees, hospitals and state nursing associations also offer webinars and workshops for continuing education. I still make an effort to attend one or two conferences a year. A brief lesson on a new technology or a review of pain management techniques, for example, can accumulate to a significant amount of new knowledge. They also keep your mind sharp and demonstrate to your patients that you are committed to providing them with state-of-the-art care.
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- Miriam
Self-Care
Any seasoned nurse will tell you that working long hours is exhausting. Burnout and compassion fatigue take time to manifest. Providing care for individuals who are near death left me exhausted week after week, night after night. If we disregard our own needs, we cannot effectively care for others. I came to see that looking after oneself is crucial, not selfish. Find out what makes you feel refreshed. It could be as straightforward as eating a nutritious breakfast on your way to work or running before a long shift, or as complex as spending a short period in meditation and reflection during your lunch break. Following a very difficult few months, I started attending a weekly yoga session with a co-worker. It allowed me to unwind and have fun outside of the hospital's walls.
Dealing with compassion fatigue may also require setting boundaries. After a demanding workday, it can be difficult to set aside our emotions. My sage nursing friend claims that the best way to deal with a difficult shift is to write down her thoughts. She writes down her ideas and observations, then symbolically closes the notebook. Using an online forum or peer support group to network with other nurses is an additional choice. For example, use the forum on this site! There are people out there who "get it" and can offer you advice on coping strategies you haven't thought of, in addition to reminding you that you are not alone. Don't hesitate to use your employee resources as well. If your hospital offers counselling services or wellness programs, take advantage of them. I eventually found time for my annual exams, therapy, and the occasional massage after discovering the hard way that ignoring my fatigue caused my burnout. Starting from a solid ground is the only way to get higher. Being healthy and balanced will help you become a better nurse.
- Miriam
Staying Informed and Growing in the Field
Because the healthcare industry is constantly changing, it's critical to stay informed and keep developing. Regularly, new research, instruments, and suggestions for enhancements are released. For an experienced nurse, staying up to date with these changes is both essential and motivating. Using the nursing community is the first step in doing so without getting overwhelmed by data. Talk to your co-workers about anything new you've seen while you're on the clock, or trade articles (the kind you'd find in professional networks, not patient charts!). Maybe you could subscribe to a nursing news email list, which would send you updates on industry advancements. All you need to do is listen and share what you learn; there's no need to go back to your college days or stress over correctly citing sources in a casual conversation.
When our unit implemented new EHR software, for instance, I volunteered to be the resident expert and helped everyone get started. In addition to helping my colleagues, sharing this knowledge allowed me to stay up to date on advancements in my field. A course on a new patient monitor or a conference on infectious disease control are two more ways to keep your skills up to date. It's common for the more experienced nurses in the room to give their less experienced colleagues guidance and training. By doing this, you'll be able to remember information and stay current with evolving industry standards.
Getting to the top of the nursing profession is no small accomplishment. You are now standing on a higher platform after overcoming the difficult parts. From this vantage point, you can evaluate your current progress and plan your next move. There are lots of opportunities for you in the domains of innovation, wellness, education, and leadership. Your journey is far from over; rather, it is about to start a thrilling new chapter, and I can assure you that you are capable of handling it.