Even the most successful nurses can fall into a rut sometimes. Having a career and juggling other responsibilities means having a set routine and a list of boxes to check each day. In the midst of this ongoing cycle, you may find yourself feeling stuck. As you assess your career and try to figure out what’s next, it’s helpful to ask yourself the following questions.
Why do I feel stuck
Before you can solve a problem, you need to identify the root cause of it.
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Are you happy in your current work environment?
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Do you enjoy the area or specialty of nursing you are currently working in?
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Do you want to take on new roles and responsibilities?
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Is this feeling tied to outside factors such as your home life?
Exploring these questions can help you figure out exactly why you feel like you’re in a rut. Maybe you want to change your career path, or grow within your existing role. Maybe you want a career option that allows you more time with your family. Perhaps you simply want to take on more responsibility in your career. Once you chisel away the exterior of the problem, you can identify what needs to change in your nursing career.
What do I need to do to change it?
Now that you know what you want to do, it’s time to figure out what you need to do in order to achieve your goal.
Say for example, you decide that you would like to climb the career ladder at your current job to work in a specialized area of patient care. The next steps are to identify an opportunity to pursue, find out what qualifications are needed that you do not already have, and look into other training and preparation you can take on to make yourself a top candidate for the position. Planning out a road map for your transition will not only inform your next move, but also will keep you motivated.
How can I make the change happen?
Lastly, you need to consider the logistics of your plan. Some things to consider include where you can obtain the training you need to pursue your career goal, how much it will cost to complete the training, whether your current employer will provide aid, and when you will be able to spend time to complete your program of choice.
For example, the position you are interested in moving to may require you to earn your RN to BSN degree. Going back to school means finding a way to balance your current job and personal life with the added responsibility of coursework. Making a schedule, securing support from your friends and family, and shifting certain responsibilities at work and home can help make your foray back into coursework and study sessions more manageable.
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