Nursing is a profession that can provide excellent opportunities for personal growth as well as job-related knowledge and skills. Self-development and wisdom paths can be formal or informal, and they can lead to changes in practice areas or philosophical shifts in how a discipline is practiced, depending on the specialty. Certification in current or new areas of practice, changing specialties or areas of specialization, and continuing education are all formal means of personal development in nursing. Mentoring and volunteering are two examples of informal opportunities for personal development in nursing.
Certification is usually one of the first formal forms of personal development that a nurse takes. To maintain the new credentials, this process usually necessitates a minimum amount of practice time in the specialty, passing a certification exam, and often meeting continuing education requirements in the field. Credentialing is a public mark of competency for the nurse, in addition to the new initials denoting the certification to add to his or her signature. Changing specialties in nursing can also be a form of personal development. Because there are so many different areas, specialties, and types of nursing practice, burnout or fatigue in one area does not have to mean retirement from the profession.
In the field of nursing, education is a critical component of personal development. Continuing education may be optional or mandated the state or country in which a nurse practices. Regardless of the motivation, continuing education aids in the dissemination of up-to-date clinical information, regardless of when a nurse graduated from nursing school. As part of their professional development, many nurses formally pursue higher education, earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the field. These advanced degrees may enable a nurse to leave a clinical nursing specialty and work in management or as a teacher of future nursing students.
Mentoring a new graduate or a nurse new to a specialized unit is another type of personal development in nursing. This relationship may or may not be formalized, depending on the facility and the specific unit. Mentoring, in any case, is a beneficial experience for both parties because it allows the mentor to reflect on and summarize his or her own working knowledge for the mentee who is less experienced. In exchange, the mentee is given time to practice and learn new skills under close supervision.
Volunteering is another way to advance your career as a nurse. Traveling to third-world countries or volunteering at a local homeless shelter are both examples of these opportunities. Volunteer work can range from four hours per week on a regular basis to a six-month sabbatical. The nurse will be challenged beyond his or her usual clinical practice skills and problem-solving while giving to those in need, regardless of the type or length of volunteer work.