By Melissa Mills, MHA, BSN, RN
Do you ever leave work and wonder what you want to be when you grow up? Obviously, you still want to be a nurse, but maybe your current job isn’t where you see yourself five or ten years later. Well, guess what?
It’s okay if you feel this way. If you asked your colleagues, most would tell you they’ve felt this way more than once during their nursing careers. The great news is that there is help on its way. It’s called a “nursing vision,” and you need one!
Without proactively defining what success looks like for you, you can go through the motions, allowing success to be determined by external factors that don’t fulfill your needs or wants. Let’s explore how you can create your personal vision for success that will have you loving your nursing role, the initials after your name you worked so hard for, and keep you wanting to go back to work day after day! Before we dive into the steps you can follow to create your nursing vision, let’s learn why every nurse needs one.
The Importance of a Nursing Vision
Have you ever heard that company culture exists even when no one personally and intentionally sets it? It grows organically and can be okay or terrible. A culture that grows without anyone tending to it can resemble more of a dark alley with overgrown weeds.
The same is true about a nursing career you don’t tend to daily. Without a vision, burnout and career dissatisfaction can fester until you can no longer get up each day and face the unit. However, having a well-developed vision can set you on a path of purpose, professional development, and growth that makes you love what you do so much you want to shout it from the mountaintops. The energy and satisfaction you can find will enable you to make more intentional career choices and keep you from feeling lost, even though you love being a nurse.
Steps to Define Your Nursing Vision
Now that you know why you need a nursing vision, let’s explore how to create one in four easy steps.
Step 1: Self-Reflect
Pull out the old journal, some stickers, and fun colored markers because you are about to journal and think about your nursing career. First, identify your core values and passions. You could stand for compassion and empathy. If this is you, you will find joy in providing comfort and support to patients during vulnerable times. Or, maybe you're motivated by advocacy and justice that keeps you ensuring equitable access to healthcare services and empowering patients to make informed decisions.
No matter what comes to mind, jot it down in your journal and reflect on your positive and negative experiences. These will help you consider what motivates you in your career and nursing journey.
Step 2: Envision Your Future
Now that you know what motivates you, imagine yourself in your ideal nursing career five, 10, or even 20 years in the future. Where are you? What is your job title, and what are you doing every day in your new career?
Start imagining yourself in this role, and don’t leave out any details. Consider where you might work, who you work with, and how you impact your employer, community, and yourself.
Step 3: Set Specific Goals
Now that you have a glimpse into the future start breaking down your vision into actionable steps to achieve it. Establish short and long-term goals, such as going back to school, gaining experience in a specialty, or earning a specialty certificate that will increase your eligibility for the job of your dreams.
Remember that your goals must be SMART, which means each goal is:
Specific: Your goals must be well-defined and unambiguous.
Measurable: Develop goals with specific criteria that help you measure your progress.
Achievable: Always make goals attainable so you don’t risk giving up.
Relevant: Goals should be realistic, within reach, and relevant to your nursing vision.
Time-bound: Put a clear, defined timeline on your goals, including a starting date and target date for ultimate achievement.
Step 4: Explore Diverse Paths
The next step is to explore diverse pathways. One of the best gifts nursing gives us is that you can reinvent your nursing career 100 times over and still not run out of new ways to be a nurse! Consider the different paths that nursing allows and research every specialty or leadership role that interests you. Look for ways to get to your dream, but keep your eyes wide open because your vision can change over time as you learn more about yourself and where you want to be.
Step 5: Live Your Vision
Now, it’s time to live your vision. A nursing vision has an ongoing nature that requires full realization. Set times for regular reflection and adjustments as you learn and grow along the way. If you start to feel stuck, go back to the drawing board and seek mentorship and support from other trusted nurses and professionals around you. Your vision is only as strong and flexible as you make it, so take ownership of this great career and your pathway!
Get Ready for Success
Now that you know the steps of self-reflection, envisioning, goal setting, exploring diverse paths, and living the vision, you are well on your way to nursing success. Remember, the world needs your unique talents and passions. Your vision is not only a personal goal but a contribution to the future of the healthcare delivery system. Take the time to define, nurture, and let it guide you toward a gratifying nursing career.
Melissa Mills isn't just a speaker—she's a passionate advocate for nurses and healthcare improvement. She brings a unique blend of hands-on clinical experience and sharp leadership insights to every presentation. Her dynamic style and deep understanding of today's healthcare professionals' challenges and opportunities make her a compelling and engaging speaker. Melissa is on a mission to empower nurses to use their voices to drive positive change within the healthcare system.
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