How to progress in your nursing career

Experienced dedicated nurses at all stages in their nursing careers continue to leave at an unprecedented rate with a recent survey by Mckinsey finding that 31% of nurses surveyed intended to leave the profession within the next two years.

This trend is not a new one, especially post-Covid-19, but equally does not show any signs of slowing, even given some of the initiatives and improvements that have been implemented by trusts and the wider NHS in an attempt to support nurse retention.

Among the many issues that have been identified, career development and career progression opportunities for nurses is one of the key contributors to the attrition we are seeing in the nursing profession.

In a recent roundtable discussion with nurses at the Nursing Times Summit 2023, I explored this issue with a group of nurses and their insights and observations were compelling.

Nurses feel they are not appreciated, not being developed, are not given the space and time to think about or be guided in their career development, and most importantly have no idea what their career next steps could be because of a lack of appropriate resources. This appears to be compounded by no centralised or comprehensive and clear view of career pathways that nurses can be guided by to support their career progression once they have qualified. They felt pigeonholed once their speciality had been selected, with little or no opportunity to experience, be exposed to or try new areas within nursing.

Although burnout was not identified as a key determinant for wanting to change career by this group, other surveys and research have found the long-term effects of the daily physical demands, the lack of flexibility and the high pressure, high levels of accountability and lack of authority and control of the profession are playing a part in the decision of many to leave.

The last piece of the puzzle is nurses themselves. Many would admit they have not been proactive in their career development and have abdicated responsibility for their career progression to their line manager, organisation or fate.

So, when the ‘system’ is slow to change, is under intense pressure and the improvements and initiatives being made are patchy, how can you take back control of your career?

How do you get the support you need to have a career that is resilient, and will bend and flex to meet your personal and professional needs?

How do you do this in an environment that is challenging, demanding, time poor and understaffed?

How do you take advantage of the pathways, opportunities, and resources the system, even under pressure, has created and is making available to you to progress your career?

The only way to have the career you want and to progress in your career they way you want is to take back responsibility and ownership for your own career development journey.

Of course, your organisation has a part to play in supporting you in your career development but can someone else really have more clarity about you, what you want, where your interests and aspirations lie, match them to the perfect role that uses and develops all your talents and fulfils all your personal development needs, and keep you stimulated, motivated, interested, and happy?

“The bottom line is it is your career and your life, and no one knows you or what you want better than you”

Patricia Ezechie

Your career is your choice. Your career is in your control, and you have the power to make your career into the career you want. The problem is when we reach the pinch points and blocks in our careers, we often lose site of or forget this, waiting for someone else to solve the problem and that is what keeps us stuck and not progressing.

So, if you are not happy in your career, do something about it.

If you are not being developed, find the resources you need and get the development yourself.

If you are stuck or unsure what you want next in your career, get the help and support you need to get clear about what you want.

If you have lost your confidence or need to develop it, get the support you need to rebuild your confidence.

If you feel so depleted you don’t have the mental or emotional energy or capacity to know where to begin to do any of this, then you are in the right place as breakthrough is a career development resource that has been developed to provide you with the knowledge, information coaching and support you need to overcome the barriers in your career and progress in your career as you choose.

The support you need is here.

The help you need is here.

It’s your career and your life. If it’s not working for you, let’s do something about it starting today.

You can find more details about Breakthrough at: patriciaezechie.com/breakthrough