Nurse Professional Development
Nurse Professional Development could be a good new year’s resolution for a nurse in any stage of their career. Since it is the beginning of the year, it’s a great time to think about professional development. Learning new specialties, new techniques and refining existing skills is a good way to renew enthusiasm for any professional and especially with the grueling and exhausting last two years nurses have had, professional development can spark new energy.
The easiest and pleasant way to make a enhance your career satisfaction is by networking with other nurses at various stages of their careers. There are many ways to expand your network and meet new colleagues. Most nurses would say that they are too busy focusing on their work to invest time in developing a professional network. However, developing more helpful relationships with other health care professionals will ultimately bring value to your career and professional life. Career development experts suggest everyone should learn to love networking. According to Harvard Business Review, research shows that professional networks lead to more job and career opportunities, broader and deeper knowledge, and authority, which can lead to more career options. Building and nurturing professional relationships also improves the quality of work and increases job satisfaction.
Networking opportunities for nurses
There are professional organizations for most all types of nurses. There are general membership organizations or those organizations that are specifically for certain types of nurses, such as critical care nurses. Joining one of these organizations offers a great way to begin to network with nurses outside of your immediate work environment. These organizations offer provide an opportunity to have collaborative exchange of ideas and to learn from those with similar professional experience and those with very different experiences.
The professional nurse organizations listed below offer a variety of benefits for any registered nurse looking to enhance their career. (10 Nurse Organizations for Career Development (onwardhealthcare.com))
1. The National Student Nurses Association (NSNA)
This nurse organization offers career development support to students who are preparing for initial nursing licensure. The NSNA offers nursing student resource guides, NCLEX resources, and tools for career planning.
This professional nurse organization serves as an excellent resource for students who are seeking networking opportunities and information about potential career pathways.
2. Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (Sigma)
This organization has 135,000 members and 700 chapters in institutions of higher learning around the world. Sigma was the first organization in the United States to fund nursing research and continues to offer continuing education opportunities, career advice, and leadership development programs to its members.
3. The American Nurses Association (ANA)
Founded in 1896, the American Nurses Association (ANA) serves as one of the oldest and largest professional nurse organizations in the country.
Subsidiaries of the ANA include the American Academy of Nursing, the American Nurses Foundation, and the American Nurses Credentialing Center, making it one of the most comprehensive nurse organizations available to professionals.
4. The National League for Nursing (NLN)
The NLN was founded in 1893 and is the oldest of the professional nurse organizations in the United States. The NLN represents nursing education in healthcare organizations and institutions of higher learning.
The NLN offers extensive opportunities for networking, continuous education, and professional development.
5. The American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS)
The ABNS promotes specialty nurse certification and represents approximately 750,000 certified nurses around the world. The ABNS promotes lifelong learning and career development as a means to enhance patient safety and improve healthcare outcomes across a variety of practice settings.
6. Academy of Medical – Surgical Nurses (AMSN)
With more than 11,500 members, the Academy of Medical – Surgical Nurses (AMSN) represents the largest subspecialty of the nursing profession. The AMSN offers clinical practice resources, career guidance, professional development tools, and publications specifically related to the medical – surgical nursing role.
7. The Emergency Nurses Association (ENA)
This nurse organization currently has more than 42,000 members who practice in diverse emergency department settings across the world. The ENA offers members access to clinical resources, job opportunities, free continuing education, and global networking.
8. American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN)
With over 100,000 national and international members, the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) is the world’s largest specialty nursing organization.
The AACN offers critical care certification resources, continuing education opportunities, and networking events that help to support its core values of accountability, innovation, leadership, and collaboration.
9. American Academy of Nursing
Members of the American Academy of Nursing are among the most educated in our profession, with 90% holding doctoral degrees and the remaining 10% holding masters degrees.
The Academy places a heavy focus on advancing the nursing profession through innovative leadership and the distribution of expert nursing knowledge.
10. State Nurses Organizations
Nurse professionals at all levels should also join their state nurses’ organization. Each state may have unique policies and procedures that govern healthcare in that geographic region.
Membership in your state nurse’s organization provides easy access to leadership and information that directly impacts your day-to-day practice and professional role.
Other ideas for nurse networking during the age of Covid, are to join LinkedIn Groups for nurses. This is a good way to broaden your perspective and network. Some LinkedIn groups include:
Newly Graduated Registered Nurse Support Network
Nurse DON,Manager,Rehab,RN,Case Manager,Critical,Emergency,Medical,Surgical,Oncology professionals
Source: Harvard Business Review, May 2016. 10 Nurse Organizations for Career Development (onwardhealthcare.com)
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