We celebrate nurses all over the country this month. You want to make sure and celebrate yourself as well! One way to start that celebration is to take some time to reflect on why you became a nurse and think about what you can do to continue developing in your profession.
Nurses tend to be a humble group. They do so much for so many people and add value that is incalculable in many ways. As with any profession, however, you can sometimes get stuck in the daily pressures of the job and lose sight of the reason why you became a nurse in the first place.
It is important to take time to reflect on the “Why?” of what you do. It can help you re-dedicate yourself to your profession if you have been in a rut or identify new areas for career progression and growth.
Complete the following exercise.
Write down why you are still in the profession. Take time to observe how you have grown and evolved over the years and then reflect on what that means to you. Here are some questions you can ask yourself:
- Why did I decide to become a nurse?
- Where do I want to be in 5 years?
- Is my current job satisfying?
- What one thing could I do this year to positively impact my current work?
- What is one thing I could do this year to begin moving into an advanced role?
- What are my strengths and how am I using those strengths in my career?
You may decide that you want to advance to the next level or maybe even try a different specialty. You might be surprised how taking time to reflect and then setting goals based your observations can help re-energize you!
For more information on setting goals or developing professionally, please contact the Career & Professional Development Center. Happy Celebrating!
