There used to be a common saying that professionals need to have a 5-year plan in order to get ahead. Then, the Covid-19 pandemic hit and planning for anything has seemed like an overwhelming, almost impossible, lift. That’s okay, you can still make career goals a priority, with a bit of flexibility.
Professional development goals for nurses and healthcare professionals will help shape your career path. Remember, you are the architect of your own life, so own it!
Not sure where to begin? Consider these tips to get you started.
Create a goal calendar
Brainstorm all the big and small goals that you’d like to accomplish in your career. Then jot down the timelines of when you’d ideally like to achieve them. A goal calendar can help you stay on track, and if life or another pandemic or some other external event arises, you can adjust the milestones accordingly.
Keep up with continuing education unit (CEU)
Your profession requires CEUs, and using your goal calendar to schedule these classes will help stay on top of things. Don’t forget to pace yourself to avoid burnout.
Learn new skills
One way to advance in your career is upskilling. Learn about leadership and management if you’d like to be a head of a department. Try your hand at technical skills and boost your income. Talk to your trusted staffing agency to see which skills are in most demand and decide if any of those are a good fit for you. Remember to always keep learning, and in return, you’ll grow as a professional.
Get certified
In addition to mastering new skills and becoming an expert, getting professional certifications will not only impress your boss but help boost your confidence. Professional certifications are available at your local college and online. Browse job listings to get an idea of which certifications are in demand. But whatever you do, stay true to yourself.
Discover you values
This is so important. Know what you value, what motivates you will serve as a compass as you navigate the professional landscape. Perhaps compassion is a strong value of yours. Then you’ll want to seek out health organizations that value compassion in the workplace. If you’re not sure what your values are, look into career development books and career coaches to help you discover your core values. Sticking to your values will help you be authentic and in control of your of what decisions you make.
No goal is too small
Slow but steady wins the race. Small wins lead to big wins. As long as you’re being proactive and taking small steps toward any goal, you’ll be on your way to success. Small goals are more realistic to obtain and once you complete them the feeling of accomplishment will make you shine.
Consider the aforementioned goals and be sure to add your own. Keep up the good work and remember to contact your staffing agency once you’re ready to pursue your next workplace adventure.