Leveraging Your Nursing Career for New Opportunities (Podcast)

For nurses considering their next career move, professional growth doesn't necessarily mean leaving the bedside – or even leaving clinical care. An expanding range of opportunities allows caregivers to apply their knowledge and experience in new ways, both within and beyond traditional nursing.

“Nursing opens doors to so many opportunities, and sometimes we just need to take a step back and recognize the skills and strengths we already possess,” explains Lindsey White, MSN, RN, an organizational development consultant at Cleveland Clinic's Mandel Global Leadership & Learning Institute. “Whether you're working at the bedside, leading a team or contributing to broader organizational initiatives, you're still making a difference as a caregiver. Professional growth is about understanding what brings you joy, being curious about what's possible and finding new ways to make an impact.”

For nurses interested in exploring alternative career paths, White recommends starting with some self-reflection. In this episode of Nurse Essentials, she describes how networking with colleagues, joining committees, seeking mentors and shadowing other professionals can help nurses identify new possibilities. She also outlines how caregivers can share their clinical perspective to inform organizational initiatives and decision-making and describes her own journey from NICU nurse leader to organizational development consultant.

Click the podcast player above to listen to the episode now, or read on for a short, edited excerpt. Check out more Nurse Essentials episodes at https://my.clevelandclinic.org/podcasts/nurse-essentials or wherever you get your podcasts.

Podcast excerpt

Podcast host Carol Pehotsky, DNP, RN, NEA-BC: What practical advice would you offer a nurse who’s interested in taking their healthcare career in a different direction?

White: As nurses, we're constantly asking ourselves: Is there way to make this better? Should we be doing something different? I think those are important questions that can trigger curiosity and inspire new opportunities. I suggest networking with other nurses…explore different organizational programs and committees.

Ask other caregivers to tell you about their roles. Can I shadow you? Go online and research…connect with a mentor…talk with your leader. Don’t be afraid to say: I'm interested in this. What might be the path to get there? Where can I go to learn more?

Pehotsky: How can nurse leaders empower caregivers to explore non-clinical roles?

White: Regular check-in conversations can help reinforce ongoing performance and build relationships…but we should also be exploring ways to expand the networks of [our caregivers]. Can you see an opportunity for that nurse to lead a committee? Is there a group they can join that might provide them with more exposure and visibility? Who can help inform the process?

It’s essential to understand the goals of [the individuals on your team] to connect them with the plethora of resources that are available.