Photo credit: HBO.com
I've mentioned what a big Game of Thrones fan I am, right? So, it's only fitting that I draw comparisons between the blockbuster HBO show about a fantasy medieval country's civil war and how we should manage our nursing careers. Stay with me
Know your worth
The character arc Daenerys goes through is super inspiring. She was underestimated throughout the 7 seasons of the show. Time after time, she's had to prove her worth and her right to the throne of the Seven Kingdoms.
As a nurse, it's not enough to simply submit your resume to companies with advertised openings and wait for a callback. You've got to be proactive. Seek out the employers you want to work for. Establish your nursing brand to highlight all the valuable assets you bring to the table. Showcase your skill set and personal nurse brand on a your own website, nurse resume, LinkedIn profile and prove why you are worthy of the Iron Throne…ahem, job. Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse, Licensed Vocational Nurse, ADN, BSN, NP, we should ALL know our worth from a salary point of view. Use websites like Glassdoor.com or Salary.com to research salary for nursing jobs you might be interested in.
To get your head right about this critical concept, read one of my favorite books: You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero.
For further inspiration, check out NBC's new campaign called Know Your Value, launched by kickass journalist, Mika Brzezinski based on her book, Know Your Value: Women, Money, and Getting What You're Worth (Revised Edition)
Acquire New Skills
When “promoted” to Khaleesi (aka
As nurses, we are lifelong learners. Continuing education is a requirement for nurses as healthcare and medicine evolve. New medications, treatment options, medical procedures are all areas that we continuously learn about throughout our professional lives. To relaunch your nursing career, you may need to acquire new skills required for a new job. If you're strapped for time and can't make it to a physical class, there are a ton of online options to learn everything from spreadsheets to public speaking to finance to Spanish.
Aside from taking traditional academic courses, over the years, I've purchased a boatload of professional development courses. They usually last a couple weeks and can be completed online. You won't earn college credit, but you might get CEUs or a certificate of completion. There's no investment better than investing in yourself.
I love to learn new things and I get waaaay more value from them than my boring grad school classes. I HIGHLY recommend them to give you the edge on the competition and to stay sharp. Plus, it'll be a nice addition to your nurse resume. Think of it as a “quick win” for boosting your value and establishing your nurse brand.
We are so fortunate to live in a time where the opportunity to learn something new is so easy. Check out Skillshare.com, LinkedIn Learning, or Udemy to pick up new skills to make yourself more marketable for the next position and get a job offer faster.
Network and Find a Mentor
Daenerys understood early on that she would need some help in order to be successful. She sought advisers and mentors like Jorah Mormont and Tyrion Lannister to help her accomplish her goals. She also set big goals, which many around her thought were out of touch. Daenerys' unlikely partnership with Tyrion has been great to watch because it's obvious they have great respect for each other, even though they're from very different worlds.
When you're open to new ideas and learning from people who aren't like you or even in your profession/industry, you might learn something unexpected or pick up a new skill by forming partnerships with unlikely sources. When I left nursing, I formed partnerships with several colleagues in the Information Technology (IT) industry. I credit those partnerships with a lot of my IT skills today. Reading this blog demonstrates your willingness to learn from your peers and potential mentors around you. Be open to opportunities to network and find a mentor to help guide your career aspirations. Learn about alternative nursing opportunities by scheduling some informational interviews with companies you're interested in working for.
Can you tell how inspiring Game of Thrones is to me?
If you're frustrated with your current patient care nursing job, remember that your circumstances don't define you. You have the power to rise up, out of a job that might not be ideal for you. Know that you don't have to stay. There are other opportunities and employers looking for someone with your unique experience. Try new things and don't be scared to go down the road less traveled.
