Six Ways Nurses Can Upskill Their Practice

Nursing is a fundamental pillar of the healthcare system. Nurses support physicians and specialistsin performing their duties, often acting as a patient’s consolatory family member. The profession is multi-dimensional in that nurses can diligently perform their duties to the patient while also being a source of emotional comfort.

To do their job as efficiently as possible, nurses must upskill their practice. Since nursing isn’t a stagnant field, they often feel they’re constantly scrambling to keep up with the latest technologies, procedures, and medicines.

If you’ve just graduated from nursing school, you may be wondering what skills might help you propel your career forward.

Look around you. There are a few qualities every successful nurse possesses. These are a mix of technical and soft skills to help interact with their environment.

Before we begin, remember that nurses with advanced credentials can be particularly invaluable to the healthcare system. So without further ado, let’s get started.

Choose an RN to BSN Program

Advanced qualifications set you apart from nurses who have just started. That is due to experience and knowledge. With added capabilities, you bring more to the table regarding patient care. You can become an X-ray technician, a travel nurse, MRI technician, and many more. If you’re interested in pursuing a radiology program, there are many colleges that offer this course of study. It’s important to research and choose a reputable institution that meets your educational needs and career goals.

Most medical institutions will consider a BSN-qualified nurse over an RN. This is one of the main reasons you should apply for a BSN program.

If you’re a registered nurse (RN), this is perhaps the best way to add value to your practice. According to some nurses, there are 4 reasons to choose an RN to BSN program, and they are:

• You’re Eligible for More Jobs

BSN-preparednurses are readily given leadership opportunities hiring power and charge shift management.

Would you like to move your career towards becoming a clinical supervisor? Or maybe you want to go on to research and consult. If so, your best bet would be a BSN program.

In short, with a BSN program, you can expand your nursing roles and apply for higher positions.

• You Could Earn a Lot More

Don’t be disheartened if you’re stuck in the same salary bracket after attaining your BSN program. What matters is the potential jobs you can apply for,which could boost your salary.

Most healthcare institutes offering a higher salary require a BSN-prepared nurse. Thus, you can successfully negotiate a higher pay at an interview because you’ll have the edge over other contenders.

• You’ll Be Better at Your Job

Wanting to be there for and care about others is a significant part of the nursing job description. Thus, if you choose this career, it is clear that you care about others.

Opting for an RN to BSN program will help you negotiate better pay and become a more meticulous nurse.

According to a study, BSN nurses are typically responsible for keeping hospital-acquired infections minimum. This can be due to their advanced skills and knowledge.

Check out: 5 Work Practices That Can Help Nurses to Improve Their Performance

1. You Can Study While You Work

Many people think that enrolling in a BSN program will mean you’ll have to quit work to study full-time.

This is a common misconception. In reality, many online courses for the program allow you to schedule classes around your busy life.

We suggest opting for a CCNE- accredited online program that makes returning to school easily. As long as you have a laptop and a stable internet connection, you can study whenever and wherever you want.

2. Become Flexible and Adaptive

One of the most valuable skills a nurse can learn is flexibility and adaptability. Part of being in the healthcare system is knowing how dynamic it is.

No day is the same. To be quick on their feet, nurses must adapt to any situation that comes their way.

As a nurse, you need to be able to deal with last-minute changes in plans and treatment plans regarding patients and their health.

3. Pay Attention to Detail

Being detail-oriented is going to take you far in your career. This is mainly because the situations they deal with are a matter of life or death.

Thus, the field of nursing has a very slim margin of error. As a nurse, you need to follow the doctor’s instructions to the T.

In some cases, they need to consult with the doctor on the best course of action regarding the patient. All these duties demand an excellent eye for detail and changes in the patients’ health.

4. Develop Critical Thinking

Hospitals make for stressful and fast-paced work environments. Whether in an ER or tending an in-patient, an emergency is always around the corner.

Developing good critical analysis and reasoning is a great way to stand out and establish yourself as a dependable team member.

As a nurse, you’ll be encountering many different patients. Some may have common diseases, while others may be more difficult to diagnose.

Thus, you’ll be expected to see the whole picture for eachcase and then develop an effective treatment plan.

5. Hone Your Communication Skills

Communicating crucial information to doctors and patients is essential foryour job. To be seen as a reliable member of the team, you need to beaware of the patients’ history and progress and can communicate this efficiently.

Since you’re the person who’s in constant touch with your in-patient, you need to be able to enunciate their treatment plan, what diet they need to adhere to, and explain to them which medical procedures they’ll be going through.

6. Network

Regardless of your field, networking is an essential part of getting ahead.We suggest connecting with others and cultivating relationships. Remember that networking can start in school or during your BSN.

The nurse you were assigned to in the clinic could be your nurse manager a couple of years down the line.

Conclusion

Since nursing puts you in diverse environments where you have to deal with different patients and doctors constantly, you must learn skills that can help build your practice.

As a nurse, you must develop communication skills to converse with your patient, their family, and the medical staff on their case.

Moreover, you should have the ability to analyze cases and come up with action plans quickly.

Additionally, it would help if you were detail-oriented in that you must know all the ins and outs of the patients’ cases to consult with other medical staff members.

Going from being an RN to enrolling in a BSN program can be a career-defining step. You will come back with more medical expertise, but you will also have made a bunch of new connections in the medical field. However, perhaps most importantly, you must be willing to get a higher education.

Read more: Want To Improve Patient Safety? Ways To Invest In Your Nurses