Career Progression in Nursing: A Guide to Help Moms Juggle Family and Work Commitments

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With the combined schedule of a working nurse and a full-time mom, you know just how difficult it can be to balance work and family commitments. With the never-ending demands of growing children and a continuous need to put food on the table, it may feel as though there is little room for career advancement. In fact, some working moms wrongly regard putting their own needs first, such as career progression, as selfish. However hard it may seem, placing focus on your career can result in many advantages for your family. Your household can benefit from a motivated, productive mom, a higher income to play with, and a well-adjusted parent who is happy at home and work. So, whether you are a registered nurse with vast experience or you have recently graduated, here is a comprehensive guide to help you take the next step in your career while juggling commitments at work and home.

Continued Education

As a working nurse, you probably already know that lifelong learning and continuous professional development is a given in your line of work. There are many studies that associate excellent patient outcomes with well-trained nurses. Nowadays, higher education for nurses has become the norm, and many organizations require registered nurses (RNs) to possess a BSN at the minimum. In fact, the American Association of Colleges of Nurses (AACN) states that 64.2 percent of nurses have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, a Master's of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree or a Ph.D. Continuing education is a surefire way to accelerate your nursing career besides keeping up with recent trends and staying updated on the latest medical and healthcare news. Further education gives you the ability to go for a huge range of nursing jobs that are unavailable for nurses lacking in qualifications. With continued education, you can earn a higher salary, and you will also benefit from job security.

Get Qualified Online

Continuing your nursing education may feel impossible for working moms, but with an online degree, it can be a cinch. Getting your education at home enables parents to learn in their spare time. You can fit your studies around your social life and your work schedule too. There are plenty of high-quality degree programs out there offered by top-rated educational institutions. When choosing a course, make sure it is accredited by a reputable organization such as the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.

Choose a Career That Complements Your Lifestyle

Nursing professions are often associated with unpredictable hours and long shifts, and this can result in an unhealthy work-life balance. Although the routine of a typical nursing professional can indeed be chaotic, there are certain roles that can complement the life of a working parent. When considering career progression, it is important to think about the type of position you wish to fulfill in the future and the types of shifts that will suit your lifestyle.

Part-Time Roles VS Full Time Roles

Part-time nursing roles can provide more flexibility for busy parents with young children. Hours can often be negotiated with the employer so that you can fit work around your family commitments. Unfortunately, a part-time role equals a part-time wage. Not to mention, they are often more difficult to come by than full-time positions. Although it can be difficult to fit in full-time nursing roles around your family, certain work settings, such as an educational environment, will allow you to do it. However, it is important to consider the nature of the role. A strenuous job that involves physical activity that keeps you on your feet all day can be exhausting. Coupled with a hectic home life, this can be an energy-draining option.

Shift Type

The type of shiftwork a job role entails is important. As mentioned previously, a full-time role can be incredibly strenuous for working parents, but it can be beneficial in certain environments. For example, working in an educational setting, such as a school, often means that you can benefit from working the same hours as your children. In addition, a nursing role in a doctor's office will likely come with regular 9 to 5 hours. Furthermore, homecare nurses often have the autonomy to work through their list of patients as they see fit. In turn, this gives nurses the flexibility to create a visitation schedule that suits them.

Suitable Nursing Professions For Parents

Picking the right nursing profession to suit your needs can make a huge difference to working moms. Parents who need a lot of energy to manage their household will benefit from a role that is less physically demanding, while a role with flexible hours will suit a mom with an unpredictable home schedule.

Nurse Practitioner

Responsibilities Include:

  • Assessing, diagnosing, and managing patients
  • Prescribing medication
  • Ordering diagnostic tests
  • Providing treatment

According to the U.S. News & World Report, the nurse practitioner (NP) role is the second-best healthcare job in the United States, and it ranks as third overall. Nurse practitioners benefit from a higher average annual salary than registered nurses. A qualified NP can expect $117,670, while a registered nurse can expect $75,330 per year. In addition to the increased earning potential, NPs have a favorable career outlook with a 45 percent growth rate from 2019 to 2029, which far exceeds the national average for other job roles. Furthermore, with the projected deficit for physicians in the United States and a need for healthcare due to an aging population, there is a huge demand for certified nurse practitioners. This opens up doors of opportunity for NPs, and in some states, they act as primary and preventative care providers and can even practice independently.

How to Become a Nurse Practitioner

NPs are considered advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and must follow a specific educational route if they wish to practice legally. Registered nurses must gain relevant field experience and obtain an MSN or a DNP. With an advanced degree, NPs then need to pass a national certification exam and then obtain the correct state licensure. There are many degree programs for RNs to choose from depending on the type of NP you wish to become. For example, you can obtain an online DNP that helps registered nurses gain the right experience, knowledge, and skills to become an expert family nurse practitioner. These programs are achieved online and provide clinical placement services.

Home Care Nurse

Responsibilities Include:

  • Assessing and monitoring patient health at home
  • Administering medication
  • Assisting with personal needs

A home care nurse is responsible for providing one-to-one care in patients' homes. Patients who require this type of care are usually elderly, have mobility issues, or are experiencing chronic conditions that prevent them from leaving their homes. This profession can be physically demanding; however, schedules can be consistent, and homecare nurses have the flexibility to work through their list of patients autonomously.

School Nurse

Responsibilities Include:

  • Assessing and treating school children
  • Prescribing and administering medication
  • Assisting children with special needs (physical and emotional)
  • Alerting authorities when child abuse is suspected
  • Assisting neglected children and dealing with socioeconomic issues

Generally, nurses that work in a school setting have a lower median wage than other registered nurses. On the other hand, they have a higher job satisfaction rate. The role of a school nurse can be rewarding in many ways. Working with kids is a joy for some parents, and helping children can truly give meaning to a nurse's career. Additionally, school nurses benefit from working similar hours to other school staff members. In turn, they can enjoy regular hours, free weekends and evenings, and long vacation breaks. This type of nursing profession is excellent for working parents with children of school age as they can easily fit their work schedule around their kids-and take advantage of all the free time together too.

Consultant

Nursing consultants can benefit from a working from home environment. They can set their own hours and forgo the long, inflexible shifts that other nurses are subjected to. This is good news for parents who need to ferry their kids around their extracurricular activities. In addition to this, consultants can pick the type of work they want, which means that they are more likely to feel fulfilled in their job role. Consultants are able to negotiate a high rate. Medical consultants earn an average annual salary of $70,594, while legal nurse consultants can expect an annual median pay of $76,503.

Nurse Professions in an Office Environment

Nurses who work in an office environment can enjoy regular downtime and consistent scheduling. These roles exist in private practices and physician's offices, and they provide working moms with the opportunity to spend their mornings and evenings with their children. Nurses working in this type of work setting are able to meet up with friends and family who share similar work hours.

Reliable Childcare

All working parents should have someone they can trust their kids with. People who lack reliable childcare will risk worrying about their kids while they are meant to concentrate on work. Moms who have a desire to progress their nursing careers need to focus on professional goals while at work. Unfortunately, entrusting your kids to people who may let you down can have a severe impact on career progression. Ensuring your kids are cared for properly when you are busy can help you focus on your career. Nurses who live with a partner, or have close family nearby, can make suitable childcare arrangements. After-school clubs and daycare centers are also effective childcare choices. Alternatively, you can seek out reliable options in the form of babysitters and other childcare services. Just make sure you do your research before entrusting strangers with your children.

Social Support System

A working social support system with excellent communication is key to maintaining an efficient work-life balance. As a living, nurses provide care and support to benefit the lives of others. It is just as important for you to have a support network you can rely on in your personal life. A social support system can significantly impact your mental health, and your network should consist of people you trust. Whether it is combatting daily challenges, facing crisis situations, or helping you get through life's difficult moments, you need a good social support system you can rely on when times get tough. Your social support network can include your live-in partner, your family, and close friends. Whoever you choose, make sure you keep an open dialogue with them. Let them in when life becomes a drag, and allow them to celebrate your victories too. Speaking up about issues you are experiencing will give them the best chance to support you properly.

Excellent Work Relations

For a healthy lifestyle and a chance of career progression, effective communication is vital both outside and inside of work. Maintaining good relationships with your peers and superiors can improve your work environment and help you get assigned favorable shifts. Being honest about your career aspirations at work can also expose you to more career opportunities. Your superiors are much more likely to keep you in mind when a promotion is on the horizon, and colleagues who know you wish to progress are also more likely to inform you about relevant positions that have opened up.

Mentorship

In addition to maintaining good work relations, networking with other healthcare professionals and seeking out a mentor can also benefit your personal and professional life. A mentor is an experienced professional who you trust and respect. They should be knowledgeable in the field you wish to progress in, and you should be completely comfortable in their presence. In a mentor, you will gain a professional confidante you can turn to for work-related matters, be that if you need emotional support, a pep talk, or even some guidance and education so that you can perform your job at a higher standard.

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