Hi,
This week I wanted to write about crossroads metaphorically speaking, to help you learn how to decide what direction to take in your nursing career.
This week's topic is partly because I have been working recently with a lot of graduate nurses who are transitioning from their grad placements to RN positions and also because this is a topic that comes up regularly with my coaching clients.
There can be many times in a nurse's career when our circumstances change and we have to decide what direction to take next. This is often a time of anxiety and can cause a lot of stress for many nurses.
This can happen at any stage of your career and it is not something that only affects graduate nurses.
So how can you create a plan and a road map that helps you to make wise choices when it comes to deciding on your next career move?
Understanding your values
The first step in creating your road map comes from understanding who you are and learning about and identifying your values. Your values are the things that make you unique. They are the parts of your personality that either makes you like or dislike something
If you don't know your values you can take a free quick test to help you learn more about yourself, what makes you tick and identify your values ⬇️
Take the test here
Once you understand your personality type and your values you are starting to understand yourself better and this, in turn, helps you to form a picture of the types of work that are aligned with your values.
Here are some examples to help you.
If you are someone who values freedom, flexibility, action, excitement, stimulation and opportunity then you might want to consider a role in the Emergency Department, ICU or a trauma unit for example. You might be drawn to a highly technical, fast-paced environment and role.
If you are someone who values stability, structure, systems and processes, planning and predictability then a role in the operating theatre, policy development, infection control, safety and quality for example, would align with your values.
If you are someone who values learning, logic, research and development, science, accuracy and the bigger picture you might want to consider a role in education for example staff educator, staff development or a nurse lecturer.
If you are someone who likes working as part of a team, values relationships, involvement and contribution to the local community then a role that supports people with mental health problems, or a physical disability, aged care or working as a community nurse might be a good role to consider.
Of course non of these examples are set in stone but it helps you to understand why applying for a role that aligns with your values and plays to your strengths can help you to find a role that will give you a high degree of job satisfaction.
Once you better understand your values then the next step is to create your own personal road map.
Creating your personal road map
First, you need to set a little quiet time aside. Take a notebook, close your eyes and visualise what you see yourself doing in two years' time. Write down everything that comes to mind. Don't overthink this, just allow your imagination to create your future two years from now.
For example, if you have a young family and your values are freedom and flexibility, what do freedom and flexibility look like to you in the future? Are you working full or part-time? Are you working Mon- Fri or are you working nights and or weekends? Think about your ideal for child care arrangements and factor this into your map.
Repeat this exercise for every value that you have identified. If you have identified that teamwork is important to you what does that look like in your two-year vision in your mind's eye?
Once you have completed this for every value this becomes your personal two-year road map.
Next steps:
Now that you have identified your two-year road map you can extend this exercise to look forward to five years from now if you want to extend your road map.
Every time that you see a role that you are interested in applying for refer back to your road map and ask yourself does this role align with your two or five-year plan? If it does then great, continue and apply for the role. If it doesn't align then rethink if this is the best option for you.
Sometimes in my coaching work, I come across a client who has what I call a scattergun approach to applying for a job. They apply for anything and everything without really taking the time to consider if this role is really for them. They haven't considered the question do their values align with this role or not.
The road map helps to keep your focus on what you really want, based on understanding your values. We spend a large part of our life at work and when we are in a role where our values don't align this can lead to stress and eventually burnout.
Finding a role that aligns with your values helps to create a sense of belonging and provides a sense of job satisfaction even when there are challenges and busy times.
When your role doesn't align with your values then this creates discord and you might feel like you just don't fit in and you can find yourself in a situation where you might dread going to work.
Spending time on creating your road map is time well spent. It gives you a plan and acts as a tool helping you to make wise career choices that will serve you well in the future.
Until next time have fun creating your two-year road map!
Are you stuck at the crossroad, feeling stressed and confused about which path to take?
Contact me below to book a complimentary coaching session and take action to create your road map and identify the right path for your next role based on your values. ⬇️
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