Developing an Advanced Nursing Career

Individuals who enjoy the most success in Developing an Advanced Nursing Career have worked as nurses in several departments for several years. In most cases, this prior experience enables a nurse to make sound choices when picking an Advanced Nursing Career direction.

Time in nursing practice is the best teacher when discovering areas of interest and strengths. Some nurses are attracted to working with a specific patient population or disease, while others find their strength in leading others.

What kind of work environment do you like? Do you like the hustle and bustle of a large university medical center? Would you prefer a quieter clinical practice?

Do you have an affinity for a particular type of patient? Would you prefer caring for children or older adults? Do you wish to care for patients in generally good health or those who are acutely ill?

Think about what brings you joy in your work. Is it the act of caring for patients, or are you motivated by analytical problem-solving? Do you like teaching – sharing your knowledge with others? What do you find exciting? What do you find fulfilling? What are you good at doing? What kind of work comes to you naturally?

Examine how your career choice may affect your personal life. Does a chosen career require that you live in specific locations? Some practice roles require a great deal of emotional strength. Will you be able to maintain your emotional well-being?

Finally, understand that your decision can evolve. If you are uncertain, look for a position that will expose you to different experiences. Talk to as many people as possible to learn how they chose their careers. Find out about their positive and negative experiences and what, if anything, they would have done differently.

Having decided on a career path, Advanced Education is the most important avenue of professional advancement. The right educational background is the primary requirement for most advanced nursing or other healthcare jobs.

If you choose an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) role, you must obtain a minimum of a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Master of Science, Nursing Major (MS-NM), or Master of Nursing (MN) in your selected practice role. However, the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is quickly becoming the required degree for APRN positions. You can earn a Certificate in your practice role if you already hold a Master’s-level degree in another area of nursing. These degrees or certificates are the minimum educational requirement for licensing.

In non-APRN positions, employers almost universally require a minimum of a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Master of Science, Nursing Major (MS-NM), or Master of Nursing (MN). These include Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL), Nurse Educator (NE), or Nursing Administration and Healthcare Leadership positions. The advantage goes to job seekers with advanced degrees, certificates, or certifications.

In certain APRN practice roles, states require specific certifications to obtain a license to practice. While certifications are not a licensing requirement for non-APRN practice roles, they will likely be prerequisites for many nursing or other healthcare jobs.

Certifications demonstrate your knowledge and expertise in areas of specialization. Short of returning to graduate school, obtaining and renewing certifications is the most effective way to remain current with developments in your practice area. Read more about the importance of certifications.

If you have chosen an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) practice role, licensing is the final step before working in your practice role. You must obtain an APRN license from the state where you intend to practice. As an APRN, you will be subject to state licensing Scope of Practice regulations, which vary by state.

If you choose a APRN nursing career, you must receive the appropriate license (i.e., Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), or Nurse Practitioner (NP)) from the state where you intend to work. You receive a multistate license if you hold a license from a APRN Compact participating state. You may transfer this multistate license to any other APRN Compact participant state.

If you choose a non-APRN nursing career, you must receive a Registered Nurse (RN), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), or Vocational Nurse (VN) license from the state where you intend to work. You receive a multistate license if you hold a license from a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) participating state. You may transfer this multistate license to any other NLC participant state.

Professional associations enable you to connect with peers and resources outside of your place of work. These connections are beneficial in several ways:

• Connections with healthcare systems and nationally recognized university medical centers,
• Connections may be future employees for your organization or a job opportunity for yourself, and
• Connections may provide opportunities for you to mentor others or be mentored by highly experienced experts in your field.

Professional associations provide many resources and activities that can play a vital role in the growth and development of your career. Read the 10 Reasons why joining a professional association is essential for career growth.

Professional associations present most of the Conferences and Workshops for nurse professionals. These events are an opportunity to listen to and converse with leaders in their field. Larger conferences include breakout sessions with panel discussions. These events are an opportunity to make a presentation or chair a committee. These can be career-boosting opportunities. Many of these events include exhibitors ready to answer questions about their products and services. Read more about why participating in conferences will contribute to your career growth.