Make Next Year Yours!
Although 2021 has been a rough year for many, that should not stop YOU from looking forward to a New Year. YOU deserve greatness and the new year is the perfect time to not only reflect on yourself but also the time to focus on where you want to go from here.
This is your time to set new goals for your future and to think of what new adventures and professional changes you want to make for your nursing career. We are always here for our nurses, so we’ve compiled a list of New Year’s resolution ideas for nurses to consider for the New Year.
1. Advance Your Education
There is always more to learn and depending what nursing direction you are planning on going on, many nursing positions require advanced knowledge and specialized certifications for you to practice and/or lead effectively. As the U.S. healthcare system continues to change, there is always room for you to gain new skill sets and advanced your degree.
Think about what direction you want to take your nursing career and invest in time to get to know what you want and don’t want in your next nursing job. Research the different programs that are available and the steps you can take to achieve meeting those requirements needed for your next nursing career move.
2. Stay Updated with Laws
As nursing practice laws and regulations vary by state to state and change periodically, consider updating yourself on these laws. This is especially important for our travel nurses. Research what you need to know especially if you’re planning on traveling to different states for the New Year. Familiarize yourself on each state’s legislations and set up Google alerts on nursing related topics for your inbox or sign up for various nursing publication sources to help you stay connected with industry news.
3. Stay Updated with the Latest Technology
As you continue to grow as nurses so does the world and technology around you. Technology software and devices are advancing at a rapid pace and as nurses, it is important for you to stay informed. It is especially crucial for nurses to have the ability to adapt to the new systems and equipment. Being updated on the latest technologies will also help you as you apply for different travel nursing opportunities across the state that may be carrying different types of equipment from previous hospitals you have worked for.
4. Volunteer
As a nurse, you possess unique skills that can help in your communities in ways that others can’t. If you have the free time, consider giving back to your community by volunteering at local organizations that provide health screenings and wellness evaluations. By giving back to your community you will gain a greater connection with them and you’ll feel good about yourself afterwards too.
5. Attend Trainings and Courses
Take the new year to attend trainings for other skills you may be interested in learning and would like to get certified in. Also think about attending a trauma and abuse training course to help you learn the warning signs of human trafficking or domestic violence to help those patients you may encounter.
6. Build Your Connections
Effective communication is not only important with your patients but with your fellow peers. Make sure to build more connections with your fellow peers and connect with your unit by attending more meetings or setting up procedures to help learn from each other.
7. Take Care of Yourself
The best New Year’s resolution you can give yourself is to remind yourself that your wellness comes first. Make sure to take care of your mind, body, and spirit because YOU matter. You can’t save others if you’re not healthy so make sure to always make the time to take a day off or a moment to breathe when you need to.
Happy New Year!
We hope you and your families have a joyous, healthy, prosperous, and safe New Years! Just because the Year of the Nurse is coming to an end, let this be the year that reminds all of us that all our nurses are valuable in every way. We are so grateful for you and all you do for our community. Thank you for being here for us and we are wishing you all the best for the new year to come!
