Keith Carlson BSN, RN, NC-BC at NurseKeith.com | Minority Nurse
When you decided to apply to nursing school, a vision or purpose likely drove you. We generally don’t decide to pursue rigorous academic study on a whim. Those who choose nursing often have a special heart for serving others, and that spark can ignite our energy and push us to pursue our goals, reconnecting-with-your-nursing-vision
If you’ve somehow lost touch with your vision of why you became a nurse, you may need to reconnect with that vision to feel that original spark in your heart again. And if that first impetus no longer holds, something else must keep you on the nursing path. No matter what’s driving you, being in touch with it can only do you good.
The Original Spark
Several forces were at play when I decided to apply to nursing school. In the most immediate sense, I needed direction. I was 29 years old, had only a high school diploma, and had dropped out of art school. I also suddenly found myself the stepfather of a growing and curious ten-year-old boy who looked up to me very much. At this point, I needed to set a positive example for my son, and I decided that embarking on a meaningful career would be a wise step.
Looking around for a profession to call my own, I examined my life and my work as an unlicensed caregiver. I realized how much I felt gratified by the experience of caring for the elderly and disabled.
My family’s nursing legacy was strong; my three aunts were nurses. Coupled with my positive experiences in caregiving, nursing school seemed like a no-brainer for a career with good earning potential and opportunities for advancement and personal satisfaction.
Where did your original spark come from? What made you decide on nursing? Perhaps you were inspired by the nurses who cared for a sick loved one. You may have had a nurse or two in your family. Or maybe you needed a solid, reliable career providing a roof over your head and food on the table.
No matter where your inspiration originated, something has kept you in the game for however long you’ve been a nurse, and it’s wise to occasionally reexamine the root of what you do and why you do it.
Your Deeper Motivations
As mentioned above, you might have chosen nursing for plenty of reasons. Unless you’re independently wealthy, you likely need to make a living to survive, but survival alone is usually not enough to keep us inspired and moving forward. Thus, looking inside ourselves can help us reconnect with our deeper motivations.
Whether you’ve been a nurse for two years or several decades, there’s something internal that drives you, and there are plenty of questions you can ask yourself:
Why did I choose nursing?
Is that original impetus still true for me?
What other motivations, ambitions, or goals keep me moving forward?
Are there other professionals who inspire me? Can I seek to emulate them in how I approach my career?
Does the environment where I currently work motivate me to be the best I can be?
Is my current professional focus intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually satisfying?
Is there some professional path I’m curious about that’s worth exploring?
Is there anything I can change in my work environment to help me feel more inspired and on track with my motivations?
Do I need a change, and if so, what kind of change would be helpful?
What would it be like to go back to school?
Are there certifications or training that would empower me?
Would having a mentor or coach be helpful at this juncture?
Keeping in Touch
Everyone’s lives and priorities can change. We get older, get married, have children, lose our parents, and our needs morph over time. In light of these changes, it’s wise to keep in touch with what we want, how we feel, where we’ve been, and where we’re going.
Once you’re in touch with where your motivations and desires are at this point in your life, you can decide if any actions can be taken to move forward in a positive direction and with renewed energy.
Reconnecting with your nursing vision isn’t rocket science. Still, it can take energy, time, and attention to assess the state of your life and career, get in touch with your feelings, identify what’s happening, and decide what steps could be taken. You might find a career coach or mentor helpful or be comfortable engaging in this process on your own.
No matter what, it’s advisable to periodically take stock of your career and find a way to reconnect with whatever your true nursing vision is at this moment in time. And once you have your vision dialed in, the possibilities for continued professional satisfaction and success are endless.
Keith Carlson, BSN, RN, NC-BC has been a nurse since 1996. As a holistic career coach, nurse podcaster, writer, blogger, and well-known motivational speaker, Keith empowers nurses regarding personal branding; professional networking; entrepreneurship; resume, job search, and interview strategies; emotional and relational intelligence; personal wellness; and the building of a dynamic nursing career. Keith happily resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico with his wife, Shada McKenzie, a gifted and highly skilled traditional astrologer. He can be found at NurseKeith.com and The Nurse Keith Show podcast.
