A Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Career in Nursing
If you’re thinking of becoming a nurse, now is a perfect time. There is already a nursing shortage and it’s projected to get worse in the future. People who choose this career path will have plenty of opportunities available to them. That said, if you’re totally new to nursing, you may not know where to start. Don’t stress. The path to becoming a nurse is pretty straightforward—but you will have to jump through a few hoops to achieve your dreams. Here’s a quick guide to what it takes to get started.
Educate yourself about the different types of nursing career paths
In general, nurses are on the front lines of patient care, working directly with ill or injured adults and children to make them comfortable and support their day-to-day care. Nurses can work in a variety of settings, from doctor’s offices to hospitals. There are also many different kinds of nurses focusing on various specialties. Indeed offers a roundup of some of the fastest-growing nursing fields, including home health nurses, hospice nurses, and intensive care unit nurses. You’ll also find salary information for each category.
Get the education you need to start your career
In order to work as a nurse, you’ll have to get the appropriate education. Usually, the first step is to get a Bachelor’s of Nursing or an Associate’s Degree in Nursing. If you want to specialize in a certain field, like pediatric nursing, you may need additional credentials and training. The good news is that there are plenty of educational opportunities for would-be nurses. You can even pursue an online nursing program, giving you greater flexibility in how, when, and where you study.
Prepare to apply for nursing jobs
Once you’ve got the credentials you need, it’s time to find your first job. When applying for nursing jobs, you’ll need a personalized cover letter and resume. This guide explains how to write a nursing resume that works, and provides templates for different types of nursing job resumes. When writing your resume, make sure to highlight your education and any relevant experience. You may also want to provide references. If you don’t have nursing experience yet, these could be teachers, coaches, or bosses from other fields you’ve previously been in.
Find your first nursing job
With your application materials prepared, it’s time to start the search for your first nursing job. You can look on job search engines, nursing job boards, or even contact healthcare facilities directly to see if they need people. If you’re having trouble finding a gig you like, you can also use a recruiter. RNA Search, Inc. is dedicated to placing healthcare professionals in jobs they love, connecting people with employers who are a great fit. They offer staffing solutions for both nurses and travel nurses.
Master the soft skills that will help you become a better nurse
After you start your nursing career, you want to do all you can to be a great nurse. Note that this takes more than simply having a nursing degree. There are many soft skills that nurses can master to improve their performance. According to the Lippincott Nursing Center, the top soft skills for nurses include communication, teamwork, empathy, professionalism, and adaptability. It’s also important to have good conflict resolution skills, allowing you to smooth over potential issues with patients, doctors, or fellow nurses.
Nursing can be a dream job, offering good pay and steady demand. Plus, it can be incredibly fulfilling to help care for people in need. If you want to pursue this path, trust the guide above to get you to your goal.To learn more about what it takes to become a nurse, visit the blog