In my area, the job market for nursing is really difficult. Although we expect that the current market will change at some point, nursing jobs aren't easy to find: the vacancy rate in my organization is less than 3%. Many different things are affecting the market, but we can't wait for those things to change on their own. We all should be thinking about what we need to do to keep ourselves marketable should we have the need or desire to find a new position.
Have you ever thought about running your nursing career like a business? In this issue, Rod Colon, a speaker, author, career coach, and radio show co-host, shares his perspective on what it takes to succeed in today's global economy. Rod shares some practical tips that we as nurses can use to prepare to navigate the 21st-century jobscape.
Rod tells us that a job search should be built around being the CEO of your own nursing career, aka "Me, Inc." He talks about the importance of establishing your personal board of directors, and describes driving our business through networking. He stresses the importance of understanding that "to be an effective networker you must follow the golden rule of networking: Discover what you can do, offer, or share that makes others genuinely look forward to meeting you again."
You may have heard companies talk about branding, but what about personal branding? Rod describes how to find your competitive advantage, and market yourself by differentiating yourself from your competitors.
You're selling your nursing knowledge, skills, and experience. So what are you doing to enhance your nursing knowledge, skills, and experience? Do you attend professional conferences? Are you active in any professional nursing organizations? How many nursing journals do you truly read each month? Do you sit on any of your hospital's committees? Are you truly engaged in your current organization or do you just go to work for your scheduled shifts? Are you going back to school for an advanced degree? Have you ever written an article for publication? What kind of volunteer work do you do? These are some of the questions that you should be asking as the CEO of Me, Inc.
In the spirit of networking, our website quick poll asks if you have a business card to hand out at networking or professional events. You can vote in the poll by going to http://www.nursingcriticalcare.com.
Until the next time, be healthy, be happy, be great advocates for your patients, and think about becoming the CEO of Me, Inc.!
AnneMarie Palatnik, MSN, RN, APN-BC