10 Tips for Becoming a Successful Nurse
Nurses make up the backbone of healthcare and are in a unique position to assist with patient wellness and health, but many nurses don’t know how to compete as they enter the healthcare market. There’s no better time than now for you to become a successful nurse. You entered a nursing career to help people. Striving to be the best you can be will help set you apart and will make your career more rewarding. There are a few simple steps you can take to give yourself the best chance of being successful, not only in your nursing role but also as a person.
How Can You Stand Out from Your Peers as an RN?
When new nurses first start out in their careers, it can be a very lonely time. All of the action is happening with the physicians, administrators, and other staff nurses; it may seem as if you’re lost in translation, and you may find that your peers are not always as helpful or supportive as you would like them to be. It takes time for nurses to become well-liked by those they work with so that they can form a team and create an environment of mutual respect. Here are some professional tips to help you stand out from your peers:
Tip #1: Follow the NCLEX-RN Exam Preparation Program
One of the best ways to stand out from your peers is through your NCLEX-RN course of study. Courses such as the DNP online course are a great option. Preparing well will give you a sense of ownership and accomplishment that will help propel you forward, even if it leads to taking some extra classes or studying for a few extra hours.
Tip #2: Work as a Clinical Instructor
Another great way to stand out from your peers is through gaining classroom experience. As much as possible, try to get clinical instructor experience in the hospital setting where you have the opportunities to assist students with their education and mentor on your own.
Tip #2: Study Early and Often
Nursing is a very difficult career to define in terms of specific duties. You’ll be expected to perform many duties and take on a variety of responsibilities, so it’s important that you always know what is expected from the role that you are hired for. It would be best if you met with your employer before you started working at their facility and made sure that you understand what is expected of you.
Tip #3: Make the Most of Your Nursing Education and Resources
Nurses are big believers in continuing education, and being a lifelong learner is a great way to make the most of your career. By taking the time to learn over the years, you’ll always be able to add something new and exciting to your repertoire.
Tip #4: Practice Your Skills on Patients Before Joining the Workforce
It’s important that you practice on local or volunteer patients before you start practicing on your own. Many nurses want to help others, but they don’t know how to get started. If you take the time to learn how to perform the most basic of tasks in a safe manner by practicing on people, you can impress coworkers, potential employers, and families alike.
Tip #5: Aim for Excellence in Nursing With Regular Reviews & Evaluations
If you want to be known as a leader in nursing, then being evaluated and reviewed will help you get ahead. For example, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day, but as a nurse, you’ll find yourself constantly reflecting on your performance and updating your skill sets. By asking for regular reviews of your nursing and communication skills, you’ll be able to keep up with the evolving needs of the medical field.
Tip #6: Know Yourself
You have to know what you want before you can get it. You may have already imagined yourself as the nurse that helps fight the spread of disease or disaster, but first, you have to know what it is that motivates you. Think about why you are getting into this line of work and determine what it is that drives and motivates you. Don’t just say, “I want to help people,” or “I like working with my hands.” You need to have a clear reason why you want to go into nursing, and going into the profession to help others is a top reason.
Tip #7: Communicate Effectively with Patient Advocates
It would be best if you also learned how to effectively communicate with your patient advocates so that you can work together for the benefit of your patients. When you work together, you’ll be able to increase the quality of care that your patients are receiving, and your success will be stable.
Tip #8: Be Passionate about Your Work
When you work, it’s important that you love what you do. If your passion for nursing is authentic, then you’ll be more likely to be successful.
Tip #9: Improve your CPD Opportunities
If your employer doesn’t have a means of delivering continuing education courses, then you should take the initiative and enroll in an online course.
Tip #10: Make yourself more marketable
If you want to become more marketable, you can start by learning how to effectively communicate with your peers and supervisors. Be sure to keep your name in circulation, learn as much as possible about your place of employment and the way that it operates. You’ll also want to show that you can work as a part of a team and try out new projects that allow you to work with other departments in your facility. This will help you be seen as a collaborative member of the working staff.
Conclusion: Be The Best Nurse Possible
There are no shortcuts in healthcare. If you want to be successful, you have to keep up with the best practices and constantly educate yourself. You can’t expect to come into a position and become successful overnight, especially if you’re new to the field. The most important thing is to always try something new, learn some new skills and make an effort to develop your unique abilities and strengths. By doing this, you’ll be able to advance your career as a nurse more quickly than those who don’t put in the effort. These tips will help you stand out from the crowd so that you can increase your chances of being hired and promoted within the medical field.
