tct-current

Guest Articles

First Steps In Career Advancement by Julie Pancarte

I have several years of experience in the medical care field. I started in nursing homes and switched to hospitals. I was a regular employee, but did some temp agency work too. This gave me a chance to see more facilities. I’ve seen much and been motivated to increase my education and training.

After taking many college classes and passing several nursing examinations, my last test is coming up. This month I travel to Wisconsin and take my CPNE, a clinical exam that is the final steeping stone to my nursing degree. If I pass, I’ll be a registered nurse and can sit for the licensing exam in my home state of Oregon.

I am nervous and excited about the possibilities that await me. I will have a career and not just a job. I know that I’ll make good money and always be able to find work. The demand for nurses is increasing. It’s a field that has tremendous opportunity and lots of career options for anyone who takes advantage of what it can offer.

Like most people getting ready for change, I wanted to check out the options. What specialty would appeal to me in my new role? I could work with infants, children, adults, and pregnant mothers. There are also different types and levels of care in hospitals such as intensive care, emergency room, surgery, orthopedics-neurology, and rehabilitation services. I decided that I needed a plan.

First, I got hired this past year at a large hospital and became a floater. I am sent all over the hospital to different departments. Taking this position has been a good opportunity for me. I get to look closely at different floors and think about where I will be happy.

Second, I made a mental list of my strengths and weaknesses. What kind of worker am I? What kind of people bring out the best in me? What area of nursing interests me? Where are the good managers? I also took the time to observe the nurses working together as a team. Do they help one another, and is the general atmosphere of the unit relaxed and happy?

Third, I listened to word of mouth around the hospital. Where was the most satisfaction among new hires? What kind of patients would I be servicing? How did the nurses deal with negative aspects of their job?

Gaining a better understanding of what kind of challenges await me has helped to alleviate some of my anxiety about new responsibilities. I think I’ve prepared myself to make a smooth transition from my current level of responsibility to a higher level.

I’m lucky that I have so much experience in the medical field. I’ve worked in hospitals for nearly ten years. In seeking advancement for myself, I had a lot of resources that I could utilize.

For those who are standing in my shoes, making a plan similar to mine is important. It decreases the risk of job dissatisfaction and reduces the surprises. It’s always good to have a clear and realistic picture of your job before you make a commitment.

Being prepared when you take the first steps into any new phase in your life can make the difference between falling and breezing through things. That way you won’t just be walking, you’ll be running.

YOUR OPINION - Let us know if you liked this article, and whether you agree or disagree with it? Provide your comments here

Click here to return to the top.