60 // Stuck, Exploring, or Growing? Discover Your Stage in the Nursing Career Journey

In this episode, I introduce the Nurse Career Growth Roadmap, a practical guide to help you identify your current stage and take the right next step.

You’ll learn:

• The 5 stages every nurse experiences
• Why even highly educated nurses struggle with clarity
• Action steps to create momentum in your career (without waiting for permission)

Whether you’re an RN, APRN, or nurse leader, this episode will help you gain clarity, confidence, and direction in your nursing career journey.

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One of the things that I've discovered is that we need a path. We need a path, but we can't necessarily get a path until we get clarity and self-awareness, the path is not going to be straight. It's not going to be linear. It's not gonna be A to B, and we have to be okay with that if we really want a career that is going to be impactful. Are you feeling stuck in your current clinical environment? Do you want to make a change in your nursing career, but not sure what to do next? Exhausted, burnt out, and maybe even ready for different leadership? I'm Bonnie Meadows, a board ified clinical nurse specialist, influential leader, career coach, and wellbeing coach. Being in the nursing and healthcare profession since 2004, I have felt stuck and unsure about what was next for me. I wanted to be fulfilled in my purpose, to have a voice at the table and to be a resource for others. I kept telling myself I wanted more, but didn't have the direction I needed until I found clarity and career growth strategies for experienced nurses like. Me. In this podcast, you will find simple tactical steps that allow you to gain the clarity you need solutions for how to grow even without supportive leadership and guidelines for setting boundaries at work so that you can grow purposefully in your career as a nurse with a graduate degree who makes a huge impact in the profession. So get ready to trade your scrubs for yoga pants, pop in those earbuds and let's chat. Hello, my fellow nurses. It's good to be back with you again this week. I have a, topic that will extend from the conversation we had last week. To really talk about career clarity and what does that really mean and what do you need in order to get the clarity that you would like to have. When talking about career clarity and understanding, um, when you feel stuck and need a higher level of awareness to get unstuck. One of the things that I've discovered is that we need a path. We need a path, but we can't necessarily get a path until we get clarity and self-awareness, the path is not going to be straight. It's not going to be linear. It's not gonna be A to B, and we have to be okay with that if we really want a career that is going to be impactful. We go from care plans, client roadmaps, mind maps, evidence-based guidelines, procedures and clinical guidelines. When we're in the clinical setting and when we are a nurse, every step of our clinical work is mapped out for us, but then we get into the world of other areas of healthcare and it's not as rigid. However, there is still a process. To map out the implementation plan, write a note for the patient navigate the differential diagnosis and write the policy. What we don't get is a roadmap or a plan for our careers. So in this episode today, I am giving you a roadmap you can follow to assist you with some clarity for your career. Have you ever wondered what's next for me in my nursing career? If so, you're not alone. And more than likely, that's why you're listening to this podcast and that's why you're here today. So today I'm diving into the career clarity roadmap. It's a simple way to identify where you are and what steps to take next because what I've found in my conversations with nurses and in my coaching. Usually the crux of the issue is that you don't necessarily know where you are. You're just trying to muddle through and figure it out. So I have come to put a name, a label on, here's where I am. And then what steps do I need to, and then I'm gonna give you a few pieces on working on what steps you need to take next. So I found in my coaching, there are five stages in a career where you need clarity. Those five stages are as follows, feeling stuck, exploring, preparing. Advancing and growth. These five stages are specific to the nurse making steps towards a graduate degree or those with a graduate degree seeking more, not necessarily another graduate degree, but more they can do to make an impact. More of the work that they enjoy versus the work that's just handed to them and just, I'll do it 'cause I have the degree to do it and the skills to do it. The path for a nurse making steps towards a graduate degree is probably a bit more defined than those already with a graduate degree. We, I, and I will tell you this because I, I have two graduate degrees. And in the process of making plans to go back and get a doctorate. But my thought process in going back and get, getting my doctorate is different. And, and, and then the fact, and so I'll start with me. I, I will say. I knew that I was already going to get, go back and get a doctorate, but I, after my second degree, after my second master's, I really had to think, what am I going to do with this degree? Most people walk into the DNP and or the PhD and say, oh, well. This degree is going to help me get the job I want or this, that and the other. I am walking in this path in a much different head space of I know generally what I want. I know the path that I am in. I've also learned that things can grow along the way and job positions can be created and what's what's relevant today may not be May or what's not even in existence today. Might be in existence by the time I'm done with my degree. I'm walking into the degree. Really already knowing what I wanna pursue, what I needed to help me to validate in the profession of nursing what I needed to help me to carry forward. Most people do not walk into the degree with that. They go in thinking, i'm going to learn so that I can figure out what I'm gonna do next. I know what I'm passionate about. And I want to use this degree to further my thought process on that particular passion. That is a side note in this whole conversation about the career clarity roadmap, but more to come with that. If you'd like for me to do a podcast episode on. Pursuing your doctorate degree, whether it be PhD or DNP, let me know. I'd love to dig into it because I'm already working through that process, and I can definitely just do a podcast episode on how I'm making the decision to go for my, what we would call terminal degree in nursing. All right, so many may think that you only need a graduate degree, which will solve your problems. If anything, it exacerbates your need for clarity because there are so many more options, this is one of the things that I say a lot. Getting a degree, and this is usually this, this is the verbiage that I give to encourage people to go back to school. If they're really feeling stuck, but they're resistant to going back to school or they just real, they're just not aware. I don't force people to go back to school. I don't think every nurse has to get a graduate degree. I believe. That if you're open to it, but need more convincing once you get a graduate degree, it opens up more options for you. But in this case, when it comes to clarity, once you get that doctorate degree, that master's degree. It actually exacerbate, unless it's the path of I'm going to be a nurse practitioner, I'm going like the doctor degree. That's the DNP that's connected to an advanced practice, registered nurse role. Then you get a little bit more cloudy once you've gotten that degree. The most significant benefit of getting a master's or a doctorate is the doors it will open and the possibilities it provides. However, in many cases, you will need the degree and the experience to truly grow as a nurse in the profession of nursing and healthcare with joy and feeling like you're making an impact. So let's jump into it. How do you recognize which stage you're in? I'm gonna break it down to what each stage means. Feeling stuck is, I don't know, my next step. You're looking around and nothing excites you anymore. You know you need a change, but every option feels overwhelming or worse, non-existent. Maybe you have a vague idea of what you might want, but you don't even know if it's possible, and the fear of moving into something worse than where you are now keeps you frozen. And let's be honest, between long shifts and exhaustion, who even has the time to figure it all out. You're stuck and it's frustrating. Exploring means you have thoughts of, considering different options. You are now aware, that you are stuck. Exploring means you've come to the awareness that you are stuck and you are open to considering different options. You've moved from wondering if you should move to knowing it's time to move, you're ready to make a move, but which move you're researching, asking questions, looking at jobs. Maybe even applying for jobs or considering grad school, but nothing feels like a solid yes. Perhaps you've interviewed and you didn't land the job. Maybe you did land the role and it's still not what you wanted. The uncertainty is exhausting, and you just want some clarity. This stage is probably harder than being stuck because now you know, and you have an awareness that moving and taking action is the best move. But the actions that you've taken have not been fruitful, so it tends to be frustrating. That's the exploring stage. Let's talk about the next stage. Preparing. I know what I want, but I need guidance. That's the preparing stage. You found it, the role, the specialty, the career move that excites you. You've shadowed others, you've done research and know this is your desired direction. But how do you actually make it happen? The path to get there isn't crystal clear, and you need a strategy. You're ready to take action. You just need the roadmap to get there. This is a much better place to be because you see a light at the end of the tunnel, but this is also the stage to prep for promotion. You need a little bit more experience and or education under your belt before you can make the next move. This one I identify, as when I was getting ready to leave the bedside I knew what I wanted. I knew I wanted to work in quality. I knew I wanted to work in all things hospital business, as you would say. So I didn't wanna work in operations. I wanted to work on what we would call the logistical side, so, risk management, case management, quality. I really wanted quality. But I was just trying to figure out the best path to get there. There was a little bit more preparation that I needed before I got to quality, but I eventually got there. So the next stage advancing. I'm ready to step into a leadership or new role. So you've invested time, built your experience, and proven yourself. You've taken on projects gone above and beyond, and now it's time to step up. Whether it's leadership, a more advanced role or a new challenge, you're ready to move beyond your current comfort zone. But imposter syndrome, uncertainty, or just not knowing how to take the leap, might be holding you back. These are my people who have been the worker bees behind the scenes. People likely have been telling you for a while, it's time to spread your wings, and you finally decided to make the move. That is the advancing step. Now, you might think, well, that seems like it would be the last step advancing, right? I believe that advancing and the next stage growth are two different things. They are two different paths. Growth is the last stage. Growth is, I have the job that I like, I have the degrees. Now what, there is still a stirring for me to do more. But that more, I can't get done where I am. So you've checked all the boxes, you've got the degrees, the certifications, the experience, but you're not just here to exist in your career. You're here to make an impact. These are my impact driven people. You pretty much. Have the salary that you want. So it's like you're, I'm, I'm good where I am. Could I make or could, I could always make more, but I'm good where I am. You're ready to grow beyond your unit, beyond your organization, beyond your department. And maybe you want to contribute at the state or national level, speak at conferences, mentor others, or shift the future of healthcare. But where do you even start? If you're at this stage, the possibilities are endless, which can be a little scary, but also very exciting. However, you've been in the game for so long that the money also needs to match the possibilities or maybe not. So that's go, that goes back to my conversation of you're likely good with your money where you are if you're at this stage. You might like a little bit more like, but sometimes even in the work that you see, that could be a growth stage versus an advancing stage. It might be a lateral move. It could also be a step back because you're wanting to grow in a certain skill. Many in this category are looking for their next level of an executive director, VP role, or leadership outside of the organization while still working in their organization. So let's talk about your action steps for moving forward with this nurse career growth roadmap. Did you identify yourself in any of those stages? If you did, I would encourage you to download my nurse Career Growth Roadmap. These stages are embedded in this roadmap. There are action items attached to these steps that can give you a hint of what is the next step to take when you identify yourself in those stages, you will find the link to the roadmap in the description, so your call to action today is to download the growth roadmap, identify your step, your stage, and then look at the action steps that I've lined out to see what is the next step that you can take remember those five stages, feeling stuck, exploring, preparing. Advancing and growth. I have the job. I have the degrees. Now what? See you next week. I hope you enjoyed today's episode. If so, would you take 30 seconds and share it with another nurse who may be unsure of where to go next in their career or maybe need some career clarity? Also, please leave a quick review for the show on Apple Podcast. It brings me so much joy and so much encouragement to know this podcast is helping you now go get the career you want and not the one you settle for. And I'll meet you back here next Thursday for another episode. See you soon.