Skills Required for Nursing Career Advancement

Admin April 11, 2017
Skills Required for Nursing Career Advancement

Why is it that some nurses are able to climb the ladder of success very rapidly, while others find themselves stuck in the same position for years on end, with no promotion in sight? Just professional capabilities are not enough- it has been found that nurses require a variety of skills, ranging from personal to organizational capabilities, to achieve nursing career advancement.

Take note of some of them:

  • People skills: It goes without saying that a nurse must have excellent people skills. You will be providing care for people of all ages and backgrounds, and should be able to handle their fears and put them at ease. For career advancement, it is important that you should also possess the ability to establish good interactions with your colleagues and other people in the organization. Good communication and appropriate interpersonal interactions are very significant professional capabilities that can help you move up many levels in your professional career.
  • Cooperation with the management: As a nurse, you must have sensitivity to hospital problems and be able to respond to organizational needs. Emergencies will happen and you should be flexible enough to take on an extra shift when needed. Staff shortages are a given in healthcare, and if you help the management by pitching in whenever needed they will be more likely to look favourably on advancing your career! Work with nursing managers’ expectations and plans, and always cooperate with nurse managers.
  • Work experience: Experience is always a key to career progression, and is an important prerequisite capability needed by nurses. As a nurse, you should be able to work tirelessly, and exhibit a practical commitment to professional duties. You should have high standards of work discipline, genuinely care about the profession, and be committed to patient care follow-up. A high level of work experience is always an effective indicator of competency for promotion.
  • Management capabilities: Nurses who are candidates for career advancement should possess managerial and problem-solving skills compatible with the positions that they are looking to fill. If you have leadership skills and the characteristics required of a leader, you will certainly have more chances of being promoted.
  • Mastery of Clinical abilities: If you have gained mastery over clinical competencies and skills, you will be able to see your career progress faster. Clinical skills are paramount to good nursing and competent nurses are more likely to be promoted. Managers will always take note of competent nurses, and you will become well-known and in line for promotions.
  • Professional values and high ethics: Make sure you work on developing professional values, including conscientious and diligent work habits, a good set of ethics, cooperation, and discipline. The management should feel that you can be relied upon to make the right decisions and perform the right actions, and this will take you a long way ahead in your career.
  • Professional development: Nursing is a field where there are advancements on a daily basis, and if you wish to demonstrate commitment to your profession then you must sign up for a professional development nursing program. By keeping in touch with current practices, you will be able to elevate your level of professional competencies and go far in your career.

 

Article by : Usha Sunil

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