How to Climb the Nursing Career Ladder

By Your Health Magazine

Nursing is a diverse and rewarding career and one that can become a lifelong pathway for many healthcare professionals who decide to take up the mantle. Demand for nursing is high, and as both life expectancy and also the number of American citizens with chronic illnesses increases, that demand is expected to only grow. As you progress along your nursing career, you’ll naturally start to climb to the career ladder, but for those who want to take a more proactive hand in their journey, here are some ways to turbo-charge your career

Earning an advanced degree

Deciding to pursue an advanced nursing program can be an overwhelming decision. You might be wondering whether you’d prefer online or in-person classes, how to find information on financial aid, or asking yourself: “What is CCNE accreditation?”

If you are currently working as a nurse after having completed a certification like a licensed practical nurse program (LPNP), diploma program, or an associate degree, it might be time to explore getting a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, or a BSN. A BSN will take more time and is more expensive, but secures your position as a career nurse, and guarantees higher earnings both in the short and long term. It also helps to differentiate you as a nursing job candidate, and can allow you to apply for entry jobs with a higher starting salary.

If you already have your BSN, you might look at getting your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). While these are large investments, these graduates are also among the highest earning in the entire nursing profession, with Nurse Anesthetists earning over $200,000 a year on average.

Getting a certification

If you’re not interested in undertaking an advanced degree, or feel intimidated by the high investment both in terms of money and time, a specialized certification like a surgical nursing certification or a certified burn registered certification might be a good option for you. These certifications allow you to differentiate yourself from the rest of your peers, and are also a great option if you feel particularly drawn towards a particular field of nursing.

Choosing a specialization

In much the same vein, choosing a specialization in general is a good idea for the long term. While multi-skilled and flexible nurses are, and will always be, valued employees, specializing in a field can not only increase your income by making you a more skilled and valued professional, but can also increase your work satisfaction and happiness by allowing you to work with patients or in a field that aligns with your personal passions. You can find complete lists of common nursing certifications online, or explore the certifications offered by your university of choice.

Taking on additional responsibilities

Much like any other workplace, taking on additional responsibilities outside of your portfolio can signal to your employer that you are competent, dedicated, and hard-working and are ready for more complex or challenging roles and tasks. This reflects well on your performance come review (and promotion) time, and can also informally diversify your skill set by broadening the scope of your experience over time.

If you’re looking to climb the ladder by getting into senior management, it’s also important to have a holistic understanding of how the organization works, and throwing yourself fully into your work is a great way to get to that goal. This is also a great way to build the network necessary to connect with people who can offer you opportunities for growth, and get your name and face out there.

Finding a new workplace

Finally, if you feel that your current workplace is overlooking your skillset and does not have room for growth, it’s never a waste of time to look for a new workplace. This is especially relevant if you have recently undertaken a new specialization or certification, and your current workplace is not well-placed to support you in your journey into this more niche field, or if your current workplace simply does not service patients related to your specialization.

At the end of the day, there are many ways to progress in a nursing career. Whether through further education, networking, experience or even changing jobs, nursing remains a highly in-demand job, and good nurses who want to climb the nursing ladder will always be able to find the next rung up, if you only have the courage to reach up and grasp it.