Because of the increased demand for nurses, there are many opportunities in the nursing field. With most nursing roles expected to grow from 2020 to 2030, there’s never been a better time to be a nurse, which may have you wondering “Why is nursing a good career?” However, with such a high likelihood of job growth also comes competition, so it’s crucial to consistently invest in your abilities.
- Pass your board exam. After completing your education, you’ll need to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) before being able to work as a nurse. …
- Match with your ideal position. …
- Succeed in your preceptorship. …
- Continue to learn. …
- Improve your communication skills.
5 short-term goals for nurses
Five quick objectives to think about pursuing in your nursing career are listed below:
1. Pass your board exam
You must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) after completing your education before you can start working as a nurse. Consider the NCLEX as a short-term objective and a crucial step in starting your nursing career. Nursing students have access to a number of resources and test preparation materials that can help them further prepare for the NCLEX despite the fact that the education they receive in nursing school programs may be helpful in giving them the knowledge they need to pass the exam.
To improve your chances of passing the NCLEX, look into joining study groups, taking practice exams, and using online resources.
2. Match with your ideal position
Consider the short-term objective of finding employment with your ideal hospital or position to gain experience as an entry-level nursing professional after finishing your education and passing the NCLEX. Starting a fulfilling career as a nurse requires finding employment with a hospital or position that matches your long-term objectives and current nursing skills.
As a recent nursing school graduate looking for entry-level positions, try to identify specific areas, units, or hospitals where you’d most like to work and tailor your job-seeking efforts to meet their specific requirements.
3. Succeed in your preceptorship
When you start working as a nurse, you’ll frequently participate in a training program with a preceptor on your floor or unit. Preceptors are teachers or instructors who will train you and keep track of how you do in your new job. Your preceptorship serves as a probationary training period, during which your employment status is decided. Because of this, achieving success in your preceptorship is a crucial short-term objective for pursuing a rewarding nursing career.
Applying your educational knowledge to your current position, asking questions, practicing active listening, and getting help from more seasoned staff members are all crucial for success in your preceptorship.
4. Continue to learn
A short-term objective that you can revisit throughout your nursing career is to keep learning. Continue looking for new chances to expand your knowledge and develop your skills. You can achieve this by learning new techniques, mastering cutting-edge medical tools and technologies, or by participating in regular industry educational events like seminars and conferences.
5. Improve your communication skills
Another short-term objective you can revisit throughout your career is improving your communication abilities, but it might be especially crucial for entry-level nurses to be able to communicate effectively and accurately with their patients and supervisors. Throughout every stage of your career, providing the best possible patient care may require effective communication on your part.
Try your best to put active listening into practice, hone your paraphrasing skills, and interact with people from various backgrounds and communication styles in order to improve your communication skills. You can do this by participating in discussion forums, reading relevant books, and using online tools for effective communication.
Why is it important for nurses to set short-term goals?
Setting short-term goals is crucial for nurses to succeed for a number of reasons. Setting short-term objectives can help you succeed in your nursing career by:
Contributing to long-term goals
To accomplish long-term objectives and career path objectives, short-term goals are frequently required. By establishing goals you can reach now or in the near future, you may be able to achieve more difficult ones later on in your career. Consider the potential impact your short-term nursing goals may have on your long-term career goals when setting and achieving them, and adjust your efforts to best position yourself for future goals.
Holding yourself accountable
A great way to hold yourself responsible for your success is to set short-term goals. To keep track of your progress and inspire yourself to keep advancing your career, think about setting short-term goals. Each goal you complete could give you a feeling of accomplishment and motivate you to keep honing your nursing skills.
Discovering your interests
Early in your nursing career, setting short-term goals can help you identify your interests and passions. Decide which healthcare specialties and fields you feel most passionate about pursuing by setting and achieving short-term goals that aid in your career exploration.
Optimizing patient care
One of the most important goals in the healthcare industry may be to provide the best possible care for patients. Setting short-term objectives to improve your performance and advance your nursing abilities may help you give your patients the best care possible. Think about setting short-term goals to enhance your nursing skills and discover fresh approaches to providing first-rate patient care.
Tips for setting short-term nursing goals
These pointers will assist you in establishing your own short-term nursing objectives:
Set specific goals
Setting clear objectives will help you work more effectively to achieve your goals. Consider using the acronym SMART to develop goals that are:
You might be able to make more informed decisions about your nursing career goals and increase the likelihood that you will succeed in achieving them if you make sure your short-term goals have each of these qualities.
Consider your passions
Consider your interests and reasons for entering the nursing profession when setting short-term goals for your nursing career. Your passions and motivations may include:
Knowing why you chose this career path may help you prioritize your short-term objectives based on which are most likely to enable you to pursue your nursing passions.
Reflect on your strengths and weaknesses
Setting short-term goals for your nursing career requires reflection on your strengths and weaknesses. Making more informed, precise decisions about your short-term goals can be facilitated by having a clear understanding of the areas where you have already achieved success and those where you would like to make improvements. Try to recall your professional nursing experiences and think of situations where your abilities helped you succeed or where you could have performed more effectively. Then, based on the areas you’d like to improve, consider resources you can use to achieve short-term goals.
Tips for reaching short-term nursing goals
Here are some pointers to assist you in achieving your own immediate nursing objectives:
Understand your resources
Understanding the resources at your disposal is crucial if you want to achieve your short-term nursing goals. Look into learning and career development opportunities offered by your institution, workplace, and community. You might be able to locate programs, training materials, additional certifications, or professional gatherings that can give you useful tools to help you accomplish your short-term nursing goals.
Measure your success
Implementing methods to gauge your progress is a great way to organize your goal-achieving efforts and keep yourself accountable. Try to establish precise deadlines and benchmarks so you can monitor your progress and change your strategies as necessary.
For instance, you decide on a specific date to pass the NCLEX exam. You can change your schedule to allow time for additional review if, as the deadline draws near, you feel you need to go over the material again or spend more time studying.
Seek mentorship
To help you reach your objectives, consider looking for a mentor who is a fellow nursing professional. With an experienced nurse, you could discuss your short- and long-term objectives and ask them to assist you in your endeavors. They might be able to offer insight and professional experience that could help you accomplish your immediate objectives. Having a mentor is a great way to maintain responsibility for your actions and can serve as a resource for any queries or worries as you advance in your career.
Please be aware that Indeed is not connected to any of the organizations mentioned in this article.
Nursing Goals: What is your goal in nursing
FAQ
What are the 5 SMART nursing goals?
Any objective you can complete in a year or less is considered short-term. Examples of short-term objectives include developing a morning routine, quitting smoking, reading two books per month, and exercising twice a week.
How long is a short term nursing goal?
- Safety.
- Patient Care.
- Efficiency.
- Accuracy.
- Professional Development.
