There are countless reasons why a career in nursing can be so beneficial for working mums. For starters, the medical experience can be a comfort for families with younger children, as is the access to medical staff at local clinics and healthcare facilities. Being able to lean on your professional network for support while you’re raising your family is also invaluable for mums of all ages.
Alongside all of these practical benefits, however, a career in nursing is also pretty rewarding, and can provide plenty of versatile career advancement opportunities for those of us who are naturally ambitious, or even for those of us who want to be a force for change and make a positive impact on the lives of fellow mums, children, and families in our local communities.
So what does career progression look like for registered nurses? And how can you chart your own path for advancement after a career break or career change in an industry like healthcare that is always so fast-paced? Stick with us as we dive deeper into this topic below.
Pursue advanced degrees
Without a doubt, the first recommendation that any professional mentor would have if a mentee were to ask them how to get ahead in their industry is to secure some postgraduate qualifications. For registered nurses, you can opt to return to university to complete a master of nursing program, for instance. This postgraduate qualification can help you qualify for senior positions in hospitals and facilities, on top of maybe even opening doors in the context of research programs and community healthcare as well.
RNs with advanced degrees under their belt may also qualify to receive higher remuneration rates by their employer/s. So if you wanted to boost your earning power, going back to school could be the answer.
Gain specialty certifications
Alongside gaining tertiary qualifications, RNs can naturally also benefit from securing industry certifications like emergency preparedness training (i.e. CPR training and first aid for nurses, etc.), and clinical training like manual handling for nurses or nurse administration. Adding some business certificates to your resume can also help RNs qualify for practice management roles, if you do decide you want to transition away from nursing and towards clinic or facility management.
Keep in mind too, that some particular specialised clinical areas (like palliative care, NDIS care, digital health, or mental health nursing, for instance) may even require RNs to possess prerequisite specialty certifications before they can start working within these areas. It can be worthwhile doing a little independent research here to determine what experience and certifications you’ll need to enter any particular clinical stream.
Seek new professional experiences
Speaking of entering new streams, it can feel a little counterintuitive to start making career plans based on estimations that you may find a particular clinical stream to be more rewarding than another. But given how much regulatory red tape there is when it comes to RNs gaining experience across other specialities, this dilemma of not knowing where to grow is a common issue for nurses at all stages across their careers.
The good news here is that digital technologies have actually made it a little easier for RNs to deepen their engagement with and knowledge of different clinical streams with less professional risk or industry barriers. Services like telehealth or education or even volunteer opportunities can help RNs attain access to new experiences and gain exposure to different roles. From here, RNs can reflect on these experiences to better pinpoint streams that are most likely to be of interest to them. They can then use these insights to chart their career pathway with greater confidence and direction.
Chart a course with a career mentor
Granted, the healthcare sector is constantly evolving, and medical professionals are as such, required to be lifelong learners. This is why, in much the same way as doctors and surgeons, RNs can also benefit greatly from peer to peer learning. Being able to share your experiences with your colleagues can help support robust knowledge transfer, alongside empowering RNs to identify and vocalise when an opportunity is of interest to them.
For hospital nurses, the most relatable model here is making sure RNs have access to mentorship via their head of nursing or chief nursing officer. This leadership role doesn’t just oversee day-to-day inquiries at facility nursing stations, but also offers support to RNs who may be looking into career progression. So if you’re looking for an opportunity to step up at your facility or clinic, simply ask your head of nursing how you can contribute, and work with them to create a professional growth plan that’s mutually beneficial, helping you reach all your career goals and making sure your facility or clinic maintains your skills and commitment.
Collaborate with industry groups
Yes, there are likely to be plenty of opportunities available at clinics or facilities you’re already working at, but if you were looking to set your sights elsewhere, then you always have the option to contribute to industry organisations like networking groups, industry publications, or regulatory bodies.
For instance, if you’re interested in getting more involved in research initiatives, you may look to contribute to a medical journal as a collaborator on a report. Or you may even look to become more involved with events hosted by a particular group or organisation. Being an active participant in these industry initiatives may help you gain access to career opportunities that you otherwise wouldn’t have known about through your existing professional or clinic network.
Consider specialising in a particular field
Finally, if you have followed all the other tips we’ve outlined above and have a strong understanding of where you want your career to grow, then why not select a clinical specialty and become a bona fide expert in that field?
Specialising is a surefire way of being recognised as a leading authority in any particular clinical area, which ultimately equates to stronger job security and more leadership opportunities, be they at facilities or even across regulatory bodies. With the right strategy, you may even be able to qualify for a position with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, or other regulatory bodies, if that’s something you see yourself aspiring to.
Again, speaking with a mentor can be invaluable here, especially someone who’s tread the very particular path that you’re looking to proceed down. If you don’t have access to a mentor with experience in your selected clinical stream, then you can even seek mentorship opportunities via your tertiary course provider, or perhaps from other people in your clinic or industry network.
Bolster your career advancement as a registered nurse
Although it can take time to feel like you’re on the right path when it comes to career progression as an RN, sticking with the career planning strategies we’ve outlined above can help make sure you’re in the strongest possible position to act with the utmost conviction when the time is right. Just maintain a commitment to improving your skills, building up your qualifications, and saying yes to new professional opportunities that you feel are most of interest to you. So long as you keep yourself open, the right opportunities will undoubtedly come at the right time for you and your family.
