A Five-Year Career Plan

The definition of a career put forward by Arthur et al. (1989), the evolving sequence of a person’s work experience over time, still holds true for a lot of people in that it incorporates the possibility of various types of employment, from self-employment through temporary roles, as well as the sense of a sequence of roles, not necessarily involving promotion. Most often, careers take unusual directions, including sideways and even downward steps in hierarchies and across organizational boundaries.

This article will discuss about a newly graduated nurse with a bachelor’s degree’s sample five-year career plan which would include career goals and steps to take to achieve them, methods for career management, and potential barriers to reaching the stated career goals. Aside from this, this paper will also discuss certain nursing skills, education and way of thinking to help reach his or her objectives.

Nursing is one of the most lucrative professions recognized worldwide. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States, registered nurses constitute the largest health care occupation, with 2.5 million jobs. They get paid around an average of $20-30 depending on their years of experience.[1]

There are three major educational paths to registered nursing: a bachelor’s degree, an associate degree, and a Master’s degree. The Bachelor’s degree in nursing typically takes four years and its curriculum includes a strong focus on the development of intellectual skills, as well as scientific, critical thinking, humanistic, communication, and leadership skills.  The Associate degree in nursing, also referred to as Associate in Applied Science (AAS), is devoted to the development of nursing skills and competencies. The two year program prepares them in providing direct patient care in acute or long-term care settings. Those who desire clinical, academic, research, policy, or administrative advancement, would opt to get a Master’s, and possibly a doctoral degree, as well, in nursing.

The usual career goal of a nurse is to be well-rounded. But to achieve this wide-ranging goal in five years, he or she could set sub-objectives to achieve in a short period, which have the components of a SMART objective: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Result-focused, and Time oriented.

In the first year of this newly graduated nurse, he or she would probably aim to get medically related hands-on experiences. His or her goal would most like include meeting new people who could mentor him or her into becoming a well-rounded nurse. Aside from this, he or she could aspire to learn a specific learning skill such as intravenous therapy. To achieve this, he or she would most probably start scouting for different training opportunities or volunteer to medical missions to start practicing his or her nursing skills. It is through these opportunities that a nurse could really get hands-on learning experiences and be exposed to different cases. By being in contact with patients with various diseases, one would learn how to handle different nursing dilemmas. This is where a nurse could apply everything he or she learned in school and the books he or she read. He or she could also learn from the experiences of his co-workers who have been employed or have been practicing their profession longer than he or she. To learn or specialize in a certain skill, he or she could enter certification programs which focus on specific nursing expertise such as intravenous therapy. It is also in this year that a nurse could really set a clear career goal since he will be experiencing a real scenario of what his chosen profession really is.

In the second to fourth year, a nurse’s objective could evolve into finding a hospital or work area which, not only will provide good compensation, but be able to offer a competitive training which would also help him or her into achieving the ultimate goal of becoming a well-rounded nurse. Since he or she will officially be part of the hospital/company, the nurse holds greater responsibility in his or her actions. Given that the world is constantly changing, it is recommended that a nurse would attend various medical or nursing seminars which would update his or her knowledge about nursing. Modernized nurses would be able to manage different clients faster and more effectively. Throughout these years, he or she could request to be rotated to different wards to have a larger opportunity for learning and practical experience.

Some nurses who aim for a higher position in the organization could start attending in their fourth or fifth year, a course which could earn them a Master’s degree in nursing. As mentioned previously, a master’s degree could qualify a nurse to become a head nurse, a nurse supervisor or a position of equal authority.

Resistance to change, unwillingness to learn, and inactivity are a few possible barriers to attaining his or her goals.

A strategic career management will certainly help not only nurses, but anyone who is driven to achieve their career goals. Every time you encounter experiences which test your patience, or you come across a problem which you are convinced you cannot solve, place yourself in it according to the years you’ve been a nurse, and assess yourself accordingly. (Vallano, 2008) Though you are encouraged to aim high, your expectations should always be realistic. Unrealistic expectations of yourself will not only cloud your capacity for critical thinking, but affect your confidence and eventually affect your ability to master nursing abilities and competencies.

Another strategy to achieve your goal is to find a Mentor and preceptors which will help you develop professionally and work toward your potential. It may take some proactive self-direction, but it is worth your time and energy. A mentor can provide an essential reality check and help ensure that potentially inaccurate beliefs do not erode your confidence or negatively influence your nascent nursing identity.

In any given profession, flexibility and the desire to develop are among the top keys to achieve success. But to make the whole journey more smooth sailing, enjoyable, and worthwhile, you shouldn’t put too much pressure on oneself, be open to changes and constructive criticism, believe in yourself and just try to be the best you can be.

[1] Career Research Center. (May 25, 2009). Hourly Rate Survey Report for Job: Registered Nurse (RN). Retrieved May 28, 2009. PayScale.

http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Registered_Nurse_(RN)/Hourly_Rate