In your blog (Reflective Journal), thoughtfully record a personal career development plan.
I definitely viewed my job as a job not as a career until recently. Lately, I have been trying to increase my perspective. I definitely fall into the category like most new professionals who neglect long term career plans. I have big broad ideas. I know I do not want to stay on my floor forever. There are too many things in nursing that I want to try. I have always wanted to in pediatrics; I loved my clinical experience there. Right now, I am not sure what to do with my life. I'm not married and don't have any kids. I don't have all the pieces of the puzzle right now. I could be perfectly happy, working only 1-2 days a week, so I can be home with my kids. However, I don't know if this will ever be an option for me. I have applied to the University of Utah's DNP Family Practice program. I don't know if I really want to do it or not. I know that if I have to work full time and be a real bread winner, I would not like being a floor nurse forever. There already are parts of me that desires that next step up. I would like to be a DNP either on a Trauma Team or at a private clinicians' office. However, if I get to only work a little, I don't think I would get burnt out on being a floor nurse. Right now, I am happy being a floor nurse, there is still so much for me to learn. However, it feels so stressful that I want to do something else! If I am going to become a DNP, there is no better time than now. I have applied to keep my options open. Part of me really wants to get in, and the other part of me wants to just work and buy a newer car. I do know that I have to learn to make the job that I have now, more than a job, a step on my career ladder. I enjoy taking care of patients, but I get so sick of being the middleman with all the responsibility and at times it feels no back up from the docs. Nurses are the middleman that are greatly under appreciated. The patients do not have a clue as to what goes into organizing their care, and the docs often get frustrated with the nurses because of they do not like the way the system works.
So with all of this indecisiveness, how am I supposed to thoughtfully record a personal career development plan? Here it goes... I do have mentors on my floor; there are some really good nurses on the floor that I want to be like. I have set a goal not to grumble over education pieces, but to take every opportunity to learn that I can. I do keep a professional portfolio, which contains a career statement and personal goals. I want to be a good clinical nurse, but also a nurse who cares for the individual. Thereby practicing holistic nursing and evidence based nursing. I don't exactly know where my career will take me, but I can take these principles with me where ever I go. I also want to teach nursing someday. I never thought I would, but after working with my clinical educator I knew I would love teaching. My current plan if accepted to the DNP program, is to become a DNP now and also get a teaching certificate. Thereby, I will be able to fulfill both dreams. If I don't get in, I haven't decided whether or not I will try again next year or if I will wait maybe another 5-10 years and then try again. The good news is that I do not have to decide today. My personal career plan has some holes in it currently, but I am learning and growing everyday. I may or may not become a nurse practitioner ever, but it is up to me to turn my job into a successful, meaningful career.
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