Nurses are in demand, and the better qualified they are, the more they are needed. If you have reached your Registered Nurse (RN) status, you may be looking at ways to move up the ladder in your caring role. Nursing is a vocation, and you will have already worked hard to get your degree and a license in the state you are located.
As well as studying for three years to get your degree in nursing studies, you will also have to have accumulated between 40 and 80 hours of practical experience in pediatrics, psychiatry, and obstetrics. These are in addition to the hours you will need to have worked in medical, surgical, and community situations.
Now you have your license, it is time to decide if you want to specialize in one of these areas or get more qualifications to be able to increase your options. These few tips may help you to make the right choice.
Opening New Avenues
You may think it is difficult to become further qualified while you are working, but that is not the case. You can complete an online RN to BSN degree no matter what state you are situated in. A course such as this has a unique focus on leadership and management skills, which could be vital if you want to progress to a senior position in your nursing career.
Online courses are a great way to earn more qualifications as they are flexible and will fit in with any lifestyle. It takes determination and self-discipline to do the work, but employers know that, and it will go in your favor when applying for jobs.
Your choices of career paths will be increased greatly with this extra qualification.
Gain Experience
Although you will need extra qualifications to take on some jobs in nursing, you will also need experience in the area you have chosen to work in. You can take advantage of internships or maybe volunteer. Although this does not pay you any money, the experience can be invaluable. If you want to work with children, for instance, see if your local clinic or hospital will let you help out for a few hours each week. This is also a great way to try different areas of nursing if you are unsure what you want your next move to be.
Be sure to record all that you do, whether it is a paid job or something for free. This should all go on your resume when you are applying for jobs at a later date.
Network in Your Profession
This applies to all trades and professions, not just nursing. Get to know as many people as possible and make your ultimate goals one of the things you tell them. The old saying that ‘it is who you know, not what you know’ can be very true in many careers, including nursing.
The healthcare profession can be a very rewarding one to work in, and if you have chosen nursing as your career, the opportunities are endless. Demand for nurses is growing all the time, and it is predicted that this trend will continue for many years to come.