Each new year people make resolutions for themselves. All too often they try to set goals that are not realistic or that set them up to fail in some way such as a resolution to lose 50 pounds by June.
This year try to set realistic goals for yourself. Think about your nursing career and try to find ways to grow professionally as well as personally.
Here are a few suggestions. Think of ways to modify them and make them fit your own lifestyle and career.
1) Learn a new skill. This could be something such as learning to insert PICC lines, or how to perform a (successful) venipuncture to obtain a blood sample.
2) Take some CEUs (continuing education units)in an area or subject you're totally unfamiliar with.
3) Even if you're completely happy with your role, explore another role and find out what type of training, education or experience you would need to move into that field.
Then explore how you could be trained to move into this field. Learn to keep your options open.
4) Encourage at least one person to become a nurse.
5) Plan something that you can do for your boss or colleagues for Nurses Day or Week.
6) Become a better team member. You might even take on some leadership responsibilities.
7) Buy a new drug book or drug software and toss your old one.
8) Preceptor someone. This could be a student nurse, a new nurse, a new staff member, or teach a colleague something new.
9) Review a body system or process you've forgotten or didn't understand well. Let your knowledge base and experience guide you through the review and see if you can learn something new.
10) Do something for YOU each week. Replenish yourself so you can continue to give to those who need you
