In this article I’ll show you How To Build Your Career As A New Graduate Nurse
How To Build Your Career As A New Graduate Nurse
Congratulations, you are now a graduate nurse. Everyone will recognize you as a registered nurse, you will proud be of yourself and grade, that you walk with your shoulder high in the sky because you are already a graduate nurse. Chill darling, take a deep breath, in and out. I know you are now a graduate nurse, but then graduation is just the beginning of your career path. Here are 5 ways you can build your career as a graduate nurse.
Take your time to know what you want.
What exactly do you want as a nurse? Do you intend to work as a clinical nurse or as a public health nurse? You should make your decision as fast as you can.
If you find it hard making decisions in this aspect, just ask people around you questions. Ask senior nurses questions and seek counsel, so that you can know the right path to take.
Peter Abelard said, “The key to wisdom is this – constant and frequent questioning, for by doubting we are led to question, by questioning we arrive at the truth.”
Live everyday of your life seeking for questions, you do not always have to work in the hospital, if you do want to. You may never know the best option for you if you do not seek for other options.
Join professional organizations, initiatives that will enhance your career.
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Nursing in Nigeria is evolving, and it is gradually embracing the digital world. Make use of social media and search for organizations, there are over 20 different nursing organizations I know that can help on different aspect of your career.
Aside from joining organizations, join initiatives that are in line with what you want to do. Perhaps you want to be a mental health nurse; joining Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative will be of help. There are other initiatives that you can join; you just simply need to ask people on social media.
Attend seminars and network yourself more
You must be familiar with the quote, “Your network is your net worth.”
Yes, that is true. Your network is an important part of your career. Who are the five closest people to you in the nursing career? Write their names down in your journal and check how they have helped you in the past few months.
Attend seminars and network with people. Ask questions, meet with people. Comment on your celebrity nurse post on social media and connect with people. When next you are attending a seminar or webinar, attend with a prepared mindset that you are meeting new people just the same you are learning something new.
Have a compelling resume that specifies the position you are applying for
“Show me your resume and I will tell you what occupational diseases you may have”
– Steve Magee. If you are conversant with Twitter and LinkedIn, you will realize that a lot of employees complain about how a proper CV should be. Your CV should be compelling enough, that your prospective wants you to resume to work the next day. You can a CV for as low as #3,000, do not joke with your CV.
Seek for more knowledge
A lot of people know that knowledge is important when building a career; sadly, most people focus on the book-knowledge and nothing else. Knowledge is just a concept for all form of things teachings and lessons that will help you reach the top of your career.
- Have basic knowledge about social media, moreover, about LinkedIn and Twitter. That is where things professional are happening.
- Have a basic knowledge about digital devices like how to present a power point slides, how to create power point slides, the kind of picture to upload on social media.
- Have a basic knowledge on other things happening in other countries. They may look useless, but, they can play a major part when conversing with an interviewer.
- Read books! Books are the right places I can guarantee that you will get knowledge.
- Aside these, never settle for less with your school certificate alone. There are several free courses available on learning platforms. Enroll for them, learn and get a certificate. You can also get cheap courses for as low as #5000 on different platforms.
- Building a career is easy when you have a structure to the way you want your career to be.
Like Elbert Hubbard said, “Work to become, not to acquire”
Work to become an excellent nurse, not to just acquire money or fame or properties. Summarily, building your career is your sole responsibility, never joke with your digital presence, your network and your CV. Also, do not overlook any skill or hobby whatsoever. Nursing is gradually becoming more than just bedside, so own your career path yourself.
