Nurse Career Planning for Results!

Today's blog focuses on career planning and advancement. By defining your plan, you can ensure success. Recently, while working as an Interim Executive Leader in Alaska, I had the opportunity to catch up with a former nursing school classmate during a layover at Portland International Airport. We both graduated with Associate Degrees in Nursing, but she had since earned her Nurse Practitioner license and was starting her first job in Los Angeles. During our lunch, we discussed our careers, families, and life. I was impressed by her success at such a young age and asked for her secret to achieving it.

She continued explaining that it was a simple roadmap that she adopted after graduation and had been very effective for her. She explained some of the challenges she faced at each phase of her education.

She said her dream was always to be an NP and the road would be tough.  She explained that she knew it would take concise planning and faithful execution. 

She adopted the SMART method for setting her goals.   You may be familiar with this goal-setting tool. If not, I will be providing a summary of the details below.   The difference in how most folks use the tool and how this young person uses it is related to the focus.   Many Nurses would have the goal of becoming a Nurse practitioner.  This is a good start, however, it is too general and does not help with short-term goals.  Think of the analogy of eating the elephant.....you can not eat the whole elephant at one time;  however, you can eat the elephant if you break it down into smaller, manageable parts.  This is exactly how my friend used the SMART method to achieve her goals.

She explained that when she began working on her BSN, she had to take an online course that would give her flexibility since she was a mom and a working wife.  She took the whole syllabus and broke each course into its own Smart goal.  This focus on the details of each class gave her the ability to complete courses in a short time and advance to the next course rapidly.   This focus also gave her a sense of accomplishment because she was celebrating achieving individual goals!

SMART Goal Template

S - Specific: What exactly do you want to achieve? Be precise and clear. For example, my friend took the syllabus for the BSN course and listed each class as a SMART Goal

M - Measurable: How will you measure your progress or determine when the goal is achieved? The measure would be the completion of the class.

A - Achievable: With the resources and time available, is the goal realistic and attainable?  My friend set study time goals each day that would allow her to complete the class within a set time

R - Relevant: Is the goal relevant to your overall objectives and values?  Completing each class was aligned with graduation with the BSN

T - Time-bound: When do you aim to achieve this goal? Set a specific deadline.  Each class was mapped with a start and completion date

Example:

Goal: To improve my nursing skills in wound care within the next six months.

SMART Goal: By the end of six months (specific time frame), I will complete a wound care certification course (measurable) to enhance my knowledge and proficiency in wound care procedures. This certification aligns with my career aspirations to specialize in wound care (relevant) and is achievable given my current work schedule and financial resources (achievable). Once certified, I will be better equipped to provide comprehensive wound care to my patients (specific).

Remember that the SMART goal framework helps you create well-defined and achievable objectives to guide your actions and track your progress effectively.

Career planning isn't just about finding a job; it's about shaping a fulfilling, sustainable, and impactful nursing career. By aligning career choices with personal values and interests, pursuing continuous growth, and envisioning long-term success, nurses can experience heightened job satisfaction, personal development, and lasting success in the ever-evolving healthcare field. It's not just a plan; it's a journey toward a brighter future for nurses and the patients they care for.

Jim Blankenship, RN, BSN

www.NursingEdge.org