Have the Best of Both Worlds

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1 Expanding Title Subtitle AUTHOR BYLINE d Do you enjoy providing patient care at the bedside, but sometimes yearn for a change or a new challenge? This article explores how acute-care nurses working in the ever-changing, fast-paced environment of health care can find opportunities and the support needed to reach new heights in their nursing profession while still remaining at the bedside. Autonomy and Empowerment for Nurses Many institutions have adopted organizational frameworks that afford nurses professional autonomy, empowerment to contributing Have the Best of Both Worlds Professional Growth Opportunities for Bedside Nurses CHERYL SWIFT, BS, RNC, MSN to decision-making, and recognition for their expertise. These models are better known as shared governance and display the principles of partnership, equity, accountability and ownership (Bamford-Wade & Moss, 2010). The terminology isn t as important as what you actually see working in your hospital. Thus, the number, titles and arrangement of committees under your shared governance umbrella aren t as important as the people who compose , AWHONN

2 open relationship with managem ent Expanding improved patiene t car increased nur retentisoen improved work life them. The ideals of shared governance are centered on clinical nurses who participate in the decision-making process that affects their practice, so the expertise and knowledge you use to guide your daily practice, along with the power invested to you from others, can mean success for your desired professional growth that is central to your mission. responsibility for their own professional growth and development (American Nurses Association, 2010, p. 28). Nurses from greater than 50 percent of the states across the country are required to obtain continuing education hours to stay current in their field and maintain their nursing license; but is there more than just maintaining in the nursing profession? Registered nurses assume Opportunities for Professional Growth a responsibility for their own professional growth and development Overall, the benefits of shared governance encompass patients, nurses and the institution that cares for both. Bedside nurses who are empowered in the decision-making process harness a collective intelligence that produces improved patient care, increased patient satisfaction, improved work life, increased nurse retention, opportunities for all nurses to get involved with leadership, an open relationship with management, increased availability of information and improved professional growth (McDowell et al., 2010). Ultimately, as a practice discipline and as a profession, registered nurses assume a August September 2011 In my experience, participating in one opportunity often leads to new opportunities. So let s talk about the possibilities that may be available to you. Education Many employers offer tuition reimbursement for the pursuit of an advanced degree and some may offer classes at your workplace and allow for altered work schedules to accommodate class schedules. Once an advanced degree is earned, an increase in pay may follow. If you decide to take the journey on this path, consider taking a friend along for the ride; mutual support and encouragement may help sustain you both through the journey. Continuing education doesn t necessarily mean pursuing an advanced degree. Technological advances have made it easier than ever to find Cheryl Swift, BS, RNC, MSN, is a labor and delivery nurse at Christiana Care Health System in Newark, DE. The author reports no conflicts of interest or relevant financial relationships. Address correspondence to: cswift@ christianacare.org. DOI: /j X x Nursing for Women s Health 335

3 new methods to acquire the credits you need. Opportunities include online webinars, journal clubs and local and national conferences. One of the most gratifying aspects of professional growth is the personal growth that often occurs along with it Certification National specialty certification is highly supported and when obtained is recognized as a mark of excellence in nursing (Seagraves, 2010, p. 12). There are more than 200 nursing specialties and subspecialties that offer the opportunity to become certified. Achieving certification in your nursing specialty (see Box 1) is a rewarding personal experience and is one step in defining you as an expert in your field. My facility organizes review courses for preparation, reimburses for the cost of the exam and offers an increase in pay for passing. Councils Shared leadership councils are an integral component in the structure of shared governance. Consider becoming a member of a work group, where you can learn the administration and leadership functions of your department and be creative with ideas that address education, evidence-based nursing practice, patient safety or policies and procedures. Choose a unitbased council that interests you, and once you ve been involved for a while, consider seeking further leadership as a chair or co-chair. Participation in this manner enlightens you to the inner workings of your department and facility and opens the path for professional networking. Council membership within your department could be followed by membership on a hospitalwide council. Conferences Attending local, regional or national conferences can be educational, inspiring and nourishing to your professional growth. Nurses attend conferences for a variety of reasons, including obtaining continuing education contact hours, networking, learning about the latest evidence and trends, and travel. Others attend as poster presenters or speakers. The first opportunity I had to attend the Association of Women s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) annual national convention was because of a peer who encouraged me to be a poster presenter. This experience taught me how to develop an idea, write and submit an abstract, collect and analyze data, create a poster for presentation and finally reap the rewards of this challenging work by attending the convention with the support of my employer. After this first experience, the seed was planted Box 1. Specialty Certification Examples Certification Diabetes Educators Emergency Nursing Gastroenterology Nursing HIV/AIDS Nursing Infectious Disease Nursing Infusion Nursing OB/GYN, Maternal, Neonatal Nursing Oncology Nursing Pain Management Perioperative Nursing Plastic Surgical Nursing Peri- and Postanesthesia Nursing School Nursing Organization National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators Board of Certification of Emergency Nursing American Board of Certifcation for Gastroenterology Nurses HIV/AIDS Nursing Certification Board Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology Infusion Nurses Certification Corporation National Certification Corporation Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation American Academy of Pain Management Competency and Credentialing Institute American Society of Plastic Surgical Nursing American Board of Perianesthesia Nursing Certification National Board of Certification for School Nurses 336 Nursing for Women s Health Volume 15 Issue 4

4 and my desire to participate yearly grew and continues to grow in the form of sharing this opportunity with others each year. Recently I was offered an additional role as a moderator of one of the conference sessions further evidence that opportunities often lead to new opportunities. Mentorship/Preceptorship Being a mentor or a preceptor allows you to share your knowledge, skill and expertise with others in two different manners. A mentor relationship can be hierarchical or peer-to-peer, but will most likely become a long-lasting relationship as the mentor and mentee share their strengths and knowledge. A preceptor relationship is typically a designated period of time dedicated to providing practical training to a student or new nurse. Many nursing programs have students who need a senior practicum experience. When you volunteer for this type of preceptor role, the student follows your schedule (for hours). Together you develop and help give you a competitive edge as you become a more informed member of the nursing profession. By connecting with other nurses through professional organization membership, you may find yourself feeling energized, rejuvenated and reminded of why you became a nurse. Authorship Many of us have cared for a patient with an unusual or remarkable clinical course. Some of us have developed an innovative plan of care or worked on a special project with a significant outcome. Writing for publication is a way to share this knowledge with many others who may benefit from the information. While it may seem daunting, getting started in scholarly publishing is often not as difficult as you might think. Seek a published author to co-author your article and ask peers from within your facility to review what you ve written before you submit it to a journal. Consider attending a how-to-write for publication class or workshop at a conference or perhaps one sponsored Expanding Whatever your reason to seek change while remaining at the bedside personal challenge, sharing your expertise, increased pay professional growth and shared governance can go hand in hand shape their experience. Either of these relationships (sometimes one can lead to the next) offer professional growth. Check to see if a mentoring program or preceptor workshop is established where you work. Organization Membership There is strength in numbers. Meetings with peers, mentors and nursing leaders furnish networking opportunities and a chance to exchange ideas and collaborate on issues. Membership in a professional nursing organization provides the opportunity for you to develop an understanding of the bigger picture of nursing and health care overall (Frank, 2005). There is also the potential for election to local or national office, special project or program volunteering and increased visibility and professional support. Many places of employment require membership in your nursing association if you are representing them in the community or at national conferences. Active participation will by your professional advancement council. And be sure to study the Instructions for Authors or Guidelines for Authors that nearly all publications link to on their Web sites; these provide guidance and tips on exactly how to prepare a manuscript for a particular publication. Clinical Ladders Many hospitals are developing professional advancement programs for clinical nurses. These types of programs exemplify the shared governance principles of accountability and ownership. Clinical ladder promotions are awarded to nurses who demonstrate superior clinical expertise and complete professional development activities and continuing education. The criterion for each ladder level is clearly defined and can be a helpful tool to begin your climb. The clinical ladder program is an excellent example of an opportunity for career development and advancement while maintaining a clinical focus on patient care at the bedside. August September 2011 Nursing for Women s Health 337

5 Potential Barriers Road blocks can hinder us from achieving potential goals. Factors such as time, money and family commitments are a few barriers that may stand between you and an opportunity. Trying to maintain an optimal work-life balance isn t always easy; prioritizing and creating boundaries for the two can be difficult but is possible. If you have a desire to deepen your roots and reach new heights in your career while staying with your current employer (Seagraves, 2010, p. 12), don t let road blocks hold you back. Investigate your opportunities, utilize the limitless support and the start small and grow. Motivation, or lack thereof, can sometimes be a barrier to advancement. According to Bartzak (2010), motivation, a key element of the professional work ethic, is an internal process that can be leveraged by nurse self-reflection and management support. Shared governance has created an abundance of opportunities, support is bountiful and blue prints have been designed to help you build your professional career. Find your motivation to overcome the road blocks and achieve the possible. Conclusion It s important to remember that professional growth is a journey rather than a destination. Shared governance, as well, is a journey with similar qualities. There is always more power to share and more members to bring along on the journey. One of the most gratifying aspects of professional growth is the personal growth that often occurs along with it. Surmounting challenges instills pride, confidence and a broader openness that increases motivation to deliver high-quality patient care. Whatever your reason to seek change while remaining at the bedside personal challenge, sharing your expertise, increased pay professional growth and shared governance can go hand in hand. NWH References American Nurses Association. (2010). Scope and standards of practice for nursing professional development (2nd ed.). Silver Spring, MD: Nursesbooks.org Bamford-Wade, A., & Moss, C. (2010). Transformational leadership and shared governance: An action study. Journal of Nursing Management, 18(7), Bartzak, P. (2010). Professional work ethic: Strategies to motivate bedside nurses to deliver high quality patient care. MEDSURG Nursing, 19(2), Frank, K. (2005). Benefits of professional nursing organization membership. AORN Journal, 82(1), McDowell, J., Williams, R., Kautz, D., Madden, P., Heilig, A., & Thompson, A. (2010). Shared governance: 10 years later. Nursing Management, 41(7), Seagraves, K. (2010). Growing in your career. Lippincott s 2010 Nursing Career Directory, 40(1), Nursing for Women s Health Volume 15 Issue 4