February 13, 2025 • 30 mins
This podcast was one of the top 10 podcast episodes of 2024. I am bringing it back as a replay for your enjoyment as I work on new episodes for 2025.
This week's episode peels back the layers of why embracing a career mindset in nursing benefits personal growth and improves the nursing profession.
We also discuss the impact of a career-focused approach on workplace morale and patient care. Actionable advice is provided for those currently stuck in a job-focused mindset and who want to change to a career-focused mindset.
We explore how to evolve our roles beyond the daily hustle of nursing and into a pathway that instills pride, direction, and a voice that resonates within the healthcare community.
This episode is for you if you're ready to transform your perspective and propel your nursing job into a meaningful nursing career.
Want to continue the conversation? Send me a text right here.
Ready to take the next step in your nursing career with confidence?
The Nursing Growth Starter Guide gives you proven strategies to move past uncertainty and advance with clarity.
Grab your free guide today! Click Here
Join me for a **1:1 Nurse Career Clarity Coaching Call**—a 1:1 coaching session where we’ll get you unstuck and find clarity to make the next move in your career.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:05):
I'm teasing out the differencebetween a job versus a career.
And I'm going to talk about thedifferences between.
Being in a mindset of being in achild mode.
Um, versus being a career mindednurse.
There is a difference betweenthe two.
(00:25):
There are things that we do onwhere on a chop path.
We might not even know thatthat's what we're doing.
Versus when we're on a careerpath.
And you might be even startingto think.
Okay.
Like, what would that look like?
I'm going to jump into that inthis episode.
I'm also going to just kind oftalk about some things that you
(00:47):
can do to take action.
If you are.
Currently in a job mode and youneed to switch your mindset to
more of a career mode becauseyou realize that.
Being in the job mode might behurting you And so I want you to
understand these two paths andthen be empowered about making a
(01:09):
decision to be on one pathversus another.
Are you feeling stuck in yourcurrent clinical environment?
Do you want to make a change inyour nursing career but not sure
what to do next?
Exhausted, burnt out, and maybeeven ready for different
leadership?
I'm Bonnie Meadows, a boardcertified nurse.
(01:30):
Clinical Nurse Specialist,Influential Leader, Career
Coach, and Well Being Coach.
Being in the nursing andhealthcare profession since
2004, I have felt stuck andunsure about what was next for
me.
I wanted to be fulfilled in mypurpose, to have a voice at the
table.
And to be a resource for others,I kept telling myself I wanted
(01:52):
more, but didn't have thedirection I needed until I found
clarity and career growthstrategies for experienced
nurses like me.
In this podcast, you will find.
Simple tactical steps that allowyou to gain the clarity you
need, solutions for how to groweven without supportive
leadership, and guidelines forsetting boundaries at work so
(02:16):
that you can grow purposefullyin your career as a nurse with a
graduate degree who makes a hugeimpact in the profession.
So get ready to trade yourscrubs for yoga pants.
Pop in those earbuds and let'schat.
I have a quick story.
About.
When I was a nurse aid.
(02:38):
When we didn't call ourselveshealth care texts.
At that point in time, we were.
A nurse aid.
And I was working in thehospital.
I was, um, in nursing school,working night shift I y'all out.
I'm one of those people who Ilove night shift, like it worked
the best for my.
Life while I was in nursingschool.
(03:00):
And so I would work the 11 toseven shift, maybe about 20
hours a week.
15 to 20 hours a week.
And, um, there was oneparticular night and I was in
the float pool.
So there was one particularnight and I was working on a
surgical unit.
And.
I was talking to a nurse who.
(03:20):
Was she was working there andsomehow, or another, we at
Katten on the conversation of mebeing in nursing school.
And she started going off about,I just don't know why anybody
would want to sign up to be anurse.
And I was shocked.
And I was like, why.
Why are you here?
(03:42):
And that was probably the firsttime that I had just really
developed that mentality of whenpeople start like really
complaining bad about work.
My first thought is why are youhere making everyone else
miserable?
And that's what she was doing.
And so I would put her in aplace of you are.
(04:04):
On you are.
Job minded.
You're really just here.
Ticket the paycheck.
Because why else would you behere?
Like why, why would you putyourself through that misery?
Of showing up every day.
Now, some people don't know howto work themselves out of the
misery.
(04:25):
I'm one of those people I'velearned to work myself out of
misery.
Like I don't.
I don't.
I don't stay long.
Once I've realized I'mmiserable.
I develop my exit plan at thatpoint.
But why.
And then why would youdiscourage others?
Nursing is such a greatprofession.
It is needed.
(04:47):
Why would you discourage anotherperson?
And so that really got me in themindset of.
Really thinking about nursing asa career versus nursing as a
job.
And there there's so much talktoday about it being a gig
(05:08):
profession.
Um, and how, yes, we wantflexibility as nurses.
Yes.
We want flexibility in our hoursand our time.
But I will tell you that manytimes when you do hop around
like that, and I'm not what I'mnot doing is bashing anyone for
hopping around in order to.
(05:29):
Get their piece in order togain, you know, the flexibility
and the autonomy that theydesire for their life.
But it kind of, it puts you inthat place of.
Making others think that you'rereally just about the job now.
There are some.
(05:50):
Who really care about nursing?
You just want the flexibility.
And I applaud you and I'mthankful for you.
Um, For pushing us as aprofession because we need to be
pushed.
We needed to be pushed.
Um, but the question is how longare you staying in it and what
is your plan in it?
(06:11):
Y'all know, I'm all about aplan.
Um, so I'm just going to talkthrough.
A few things.
A few key points.
What are those things that standout the, say that your job
minded versus career-minded.
Um, so one thing.
That distinguishes a job mindednurse from a career minded
(06:33):
nurse.
Is your intention.
What is your intention in thework?
And the intentions set versuswhat set, whether you are
long-term focused or whetheryou're short-term focused.
So for example, You can have theintention.
(06:54):
Too.
Be in one role and have theintention to get out of another
role and go into another job.
That might be just a little bitmore simple than what you are
already doing.
But.
You have a long-term focuseither you are in school.
Or you're looking for the nextjob.
(07:17):
But you had to get out of thatlast job in order to really get
clear.
On how to make a plan.
And so you get into another job.
You're really there just to dothe job.
You're not there to grow yourcareer in that.
Particular space.
So say you go from being an NP,then you go back to working at
(07:41):
the bedside because you decidedyou didn't want to be in a nurse
practitioner anymore.
And so you go back to working atthe bedside, but you're really
only there.
To figure out what your next is.
You're still career-minded.
You just had to go from one jobto another.
But your intention is.
(08:03):
I'm more than likely not goingto be here in this space for
long, but I needed a reprieve inorder to figure out what my next
step is.
And so your purpose for workinga job, if you are job minded is
really just to your intention.
Is to get money.
Now everybody's intention forworking is to get money, but
(08:24):
your primary intention.
Is to get money versus yourprimary intention being.
I want to make an impact and I'mgaining skills in order to.
Grow in my career.
And tap into what is the nextlevel of where I want to go in
(08:47):
my growth and advancement as anurse.
And so.
In your career, you're still,you know, support yourself.
Um, but you also work towardsreaching your goals and
ambitions when you are careerminded.
And when choosing a career, youbase your decision.
(09:07):
Have a job based on your talentsand your passions.
Versus.
Basing it on.
Oh, well, they make that type ofmoney.
So I want to, I want to go forthat job because it gets paid a
lot.
Okay, well, but is it part ofyour plan?
Is it your intention to grow inthat area?
(09:29):
Because we know more money, moreproblems.
And so.
The politics get a littlethicker and you just got to be
able to recognize if this isthat thing that you, if this is
that area, that specialty, that,that work, that you want to put
your muscle into.
(09:49):
In order to grow.
So two.
Your goals.
And.
Pretty much jobs for focus onshort term goals, careers focus
on long term goals.
So if your job minded you'refocused on a short-term goal.
I need to make money.
Or.
I need to do whatever.
(10:10):
When you are career minded,you're focused on long-term
goals.
So.
For example.
When you are.
Job minded.
You will more than likely unlessyou are.
Oh, The intention of, I'm stilltrying to find my specialty.
When you are job minded, yourshort term goal.
(10:34):
Is to.
Either your short term goal ismoney or it's flexibility in
time.
So you're going to pretty muchjust work wherever.
You want to work wherever?
Wherever.
And.
There's no.
Intentionality to where you'reworking, where you're gaining
skills, what skills you'regaining.
(10:54):
Versus when you are careerminded, your goals are
long-term.
So you look at jobs, even if youare sliding into a job that is.
More, so something that is anin-between.
Why you figure out what yournext step is?
You tend to.
(11:16):
Be more intentional and your,your longterm.
So you're thinking, okay, I'mstill gaining skills.
I'm still staying on top of myskills.
And I can still speak to thework that I did in this
particular job.
And how it will apply to what Iwant to do next.
Like, it's still got to apply.
(11:37):
Number three.
Kind of goes back to goals andintention.
And it's when you're job mindedand when you're career minded,
you're thinking about whereyou're learning the skills.
And your continued education.
So goes back to the skills areconnecting.
So your main intent.
(11:58):
Again, are we a job is eitherTom or flexible money or
flexibility and more than likelyit's money.
Sometimes your main intent ofthe job is.
And some, somebody would say wasalways money.
Like I want to have the freedomthat, that that's money, um, and
that's time.
So you want to have the freedomand the flexibility.
(12:20):
To be able to focus on.
Maybe a side business, or youwant to folk that has nothing to
do with nursing.
But this job is fueling.
Your funds.
For you to help build thisbusiness or for you to help.
Um, volunteer in some type ofway, or for you to take care of
(12:40):
your kids.
Your job binded.
And that's okay.
Just show up and do your work.
Be the best you, you can be.
So I digress.
When you are career minded.
Where you learn your skills andwhat skills you're learning in,
what job makes a difference.
(13:01):
And you're very intentionalabout.
Going to jobs.
That will help you to gain theskills.
Where you want to go longterm.
Those skills.
Translate into more of a career.
And can translate into otherparts of your career.
(13:24):
You also understand that youneed continued education.
With those skills.
So as a career minded nursery,you don't mind.
When someone says, oh, we neededucation on this.
So we need education on that.
You're not the first one.
That's like.
We always have education onsomething.
(13:44):
Like, I don't have time forthat.
No, that's not your complaint.
You're like, okay.
All right, give me the skills.
Bring it on.
When I was working at thebedside.
Uh, I've always been,career-minded very intentional
about.
Um, what I did.
And so.
When my nurse manager would askme, not that I said yes to
everything, but when they askedme to do certain things or when
(14:06):
I saw certain things, Or certainactivities that.
They needed a volunteer for.
I knew.
I was very intentional about,okay.
Is that skill.
Going to help me in thelongterm.
Now you can't predict thefuture.
But you'd know those generalskills that we'll be able to
(14:27):
help you in the longterm.
Be a project management skills,leading a team.
Developing education.
Like I was asked, my husbandwould say I was collected and
chips.
And so I, in my mind wouldalways think, oh, that's a good
resume building.
(14:48):
Let me do that.
Ooh, that's a good resumebuilder.
Let me do that.
And so you are.
Intentional about where you'relearning your skills when you
are career minded, when you'rejob minded, you're just like, I
got these skills.
And I can use them here.
Versus when you're careerminded, you're thinking.
(15:09):
Okay, well, What skills can Ialso gain?
While I'm in this place.
I was talking to a nurse who.
Was getting her DNP.
And she was working in ahospital.
But she needed a change.
Like she was working in thehospital.
(15:29):
And she was working in a rolefor a long period of time, but
she needed a change.
And so I saw her at a conferenceand we were talking and, you
know, I was asking her, so whatare you up to now to the.
Um, And she said, oh, well, I'mdoing this.
And I was like, so are you goingto kind of do that?
Long-term I was like, oh.
(15:51):
And she was like, I asked her ifshe was going to do that
long-term or what she was goingto do with it.
And she was like, ah, I don'tknow how long I'm going to stay.
I said, oh, so you're dibblingand dabbling.
She said, yes.
Cause right now it works for.
My.
Flexibility.
And I'm able to make money inorder to finish school.
(16:11):
But.
In the meantime, she knew whatskills she wants at the table.
And she knew what skills shecould pick up.
From that particular job, it wasstill an intentional move.
And she picked up some strongskills from that job.
And she saw the possibilities inthe company in which she worked,
(16:34):
or if not in that company, inthe industry.
And so she was still looking toexpand her skills in the
industry, but she needed a rolethat was a little bit more
flexible.
And so I.
I want to just encourage you,even if you are in a space of.
I don't know what I want to donext.
(16:54):
So I'm going to just going to S.
I'm just going to find a jobwhere I know it's just a little
bit easier.
And I know I'll have some timeto really think about how to map
out my career plan, go with it.
One key difference between themindset of having a job versus a
career, is that the jobs giveyou the paycheck, whereas the
careers gave you experience andexposure.
(17:18):
You might even consider it aform of a life education.
So for example, When management.
Becomes your career goal.
Your goals are completelydifferent.
Versus.
I'm deciding.
Your.
Your goals are completelydifferent.
Your goals are more long-term.
(17:39):
Versus very short-term goals.
And I'm not even saying thestaying at the bedside and
deciding that you are going tobe a nurse at the bedside and
expand your skills.
It's a short term goal.
It's not.
It's.
And it's it.
Doesn't make you a job mindednurse.
It makes you a very intentionalnurse.
(17:59):
To dig in where you are.
Grow where you are.
Mentor where you are develop thenurses who are coming in because
you know that you're going tostay there long term.
Management is as decent I cantolerate what's going on.
I like it here.
I'm going to stay.
You can still grow.
(18:20):
You can still be a growth mindedtype of person.
So.
Why is it important to reallyknow this.
So jobs and careers areinterconnected.
As a lifetime of jobs makes upthe career.
You choose.
So even if you're like, yeah, Idon't.
(18:40):
Now more than likely.
If you're listening to thispodcast, you are career minded.
You probably just need to makesome tweaks.
But even if you're piecingtogether jobs, by the time you
get about 20 years in, you'vemade a career, something.
If you're still.
In nursing.
It, it just, it's just.
(19:01):
It does it, doesn't tell astory.
But you've made a career ofsomething.
But no one will be able toreally, not that that matters.
That anyone can tell a storyfrom.
Your work.
You tell the story.
But everyone can work towards acareer trajectory in nursing and
it doesn't always have to bemanagement.
It doesn't always have to beyou're the SVP of this, that,
(19:24):
and the other.
It doesn't doesn't have to bethat.
Uh, career minded nurse elevatesthe profession and gives you
confidence.
That your voice matters.
It helps you to make moreownership.
It helps you to take moreownership of your work
environment.
(19:44):
Because you're invested in it.
That's why I say.
Even if you're deciding to stayas a bedside nurse, you're
taking ownership of thatenvironment.
And that is a part of growth.
To make the work environmentbetter.
You can pat yourself on theback.
And say we're the best unitbecause of dah, dah, dah.
(20:08):
this is why you should workhere.
Like, there's just some thingsthat you can really be proud of
because you've taken ownershipof where you work.
Career paths and careermindedness.
Provides more meaning andpurpose.
So if that's what you're lookingfor.
Then you need to check yourselfas to if you are job.
(20:30):
Minded or are you career minded?
Because career mindedness.
Helps you to make sure that youare staying locked in.
On finding your meaning.
And your purpose.
And working towards that.
So, how do you develop a careermindset?
If you know what career path youwant to pursue.
(20:53):
Figure out the expertise and theexperience.
That you need to get there andthat sometimes you don't know
that.
And you're going to have to ask.
Or you're going to have to testsome things out.
So that goes back to the nursewho was getting their DNP and
they were now in a pivot intheir career.
She now has to test some thingsout.
To see what works best for her.
(21:15):
She was testing out.
She saw some positions thatwould be great for her going
forward in her career.
She's you sometimes you have todibble and dabble.
That's why I tell people likesometimes your next step.
Especially when you're comingout of a position.
That is.
More, so a salary position andyou're making a change to
(21:36):
something else or you're wantingto grow into something else.
And you don't know what thatnext thing is.
Sometimes you got to land softlysomewhere else in order to get
clarity about what you reallywant.
And so.
When you're developing a careermindset, you need to work
towards determining which skillswill benefit your career.
The most.
(21:57):
Look at successful professionalsin your industry, reach out to
them.
If you can.
And ask for their advice.
Yeah, people want to tell theirstory.
Because most people are amazedat where they've, how far
they've come.
And, and not that they.
Like most of them.
(22:18):
They've come that far becausethey've been intentional.
But the majority want to telltheir story.
Those who don't want to take youunder their wings and tell you
their story.
And say I did it.
You can do it too.
They're just selfish bull.
I said it.
There's your selfish.
This selfish.
(22:39):
And their ego is getting intheir way.
So you move on from them.
If they don't want to help, ifthey don't want to tell you
this, if they don't want to taketime.
Now not, oh, I don't have timetoday.
But if they're just alwaysavoiding you and they're not
wanting to tell you their storyof how they got where they are.
They're selfish.
Their ego is in a way.
(22:59):
And they're thinking that you'regoing to take their position.
So move on from them.
Get a mentor.
Or hire career coach.
So.
Seek out a mentor.
Or two with an upper levelposition or experience that you
desire in your field.
So that's different from askingsomeone for advice.
(23:21):
Versus a mentor and a careercoach.
They're a little bit morelongterm.
That can be short term.
The career coach, they both canbe the career coach can be
short-term or long-term.
The mentor is a little bit morelongterm because they have seen.
How you've walked through yourcareer.
(23:41):
You're getting a little bit moredeeper with them.
They're understanding yourstory.
And they're also helping you topace through and make decisions
on.
What.
You need to do next.
And so in order to getcareer-minded shift from job
mindedness to career mindedness,You need to find a mentor.
(24:01):
If you want more episodes onmentors and mentors versus the
word sponsor comes up a lot.
Um, well, let me know.
Let me know.
I could definitely put thattogether.
Um, cause I like talking aboutmentorship and there's not
enough of it in nursing.
We have way more bullying andlateral violence than we do
(24:22):
mentorship in nursing.
And that's one of my passionsalso, and that's one of the
things that I like to change.
I also at an ask that mentor, ifthey would consider supporting
and advising you.
Professionally.
So that you can ask.
Specific questions.
And think about topics todiscuss.
(24:44):
So it's an ongoing conversationwith mentors and with coaches
and with career coaches, it's anongoing conversation.
It could be again, a short-termconversation with a coach, even
with a mentor.
That's it.
They, they ebb and flow.
And then expand your network.
Yeah, I'll networking has takenmy career so far.
(25:07):
And I realized at a point that Iwas networking, it didn't
realize I was networking.
I'll tell you more about thatlater.
But I can't say enough aboutnetworking and expanding your
network.
So that means going in person toworkshops, not hiding anymore.
Going in person and online toworkshops, going to conferences,
(25:28):
going to seminars, going tosocial events.
Those are great places to meetother professionals in your
field, introduce yourself andget to know other people in what
other people do so that you canhear like what other people do.
And you're like, huh?
I didn't realize that was athing.
You'll be surprised.
(25:49):
At how many times you will say,I didn't realize you could do
that.
So to wrap up.
Job minded versus career minded.
What is it?
It's about your intentions.
It's about your goals.
It's about where you learn yourskills and what education.
Do you want to get as to whetheryour job minded versus your
(26:11):
career minded?
I remember that key differencebetween the mindset of having a
job versus pursuing a career.
Is the jobs, give you thepaychecks, whereas careers give
you the experience and theexposure.
Why is this important?
Because jobs and careers areinterconnected as a lifetime.
Time of jobs makes up thecareer.
(26:33):
You choose.
Career paths.
Provide more meaning andpurpose.
And a career-minded nurseelevates the profession of
nursing and health care.
How do you develop it?
Continued learning.
Continue developing.
Figure out what expertise andexperience you need to get
(26:53):
there.
So they, you know, that comesback to that.
Self-awareness.
Get a mentor or hire a careercoach.
And expand your network.
If you want more information.
You found a topic or a piecethat I talked about and you want
to dive in a little bit further.
Email me, let me know.
Um, what you would like to hearmore of.
(27:16):
I'd love to hear from more fromyou all.
Um, and if you found thisinformation valuable, make sure
you leave a five-star review.
So that this podcast can get outto more people.
And to so that I will be able toread them and know what you'd
like to hear of more also.
Um, so there are two places thatyou can, you can do that.
You can either send me an emailor you can, um, You can leave a
(27:42):
review and then leave thatinformation in a review.
Thanks.
Y'all.
I hope you enjoyed today'sepisode.
If so, would you take 30 secondsand share it with another nurse
who may be unsure of where to gonext in their career, or maybe
need some career clarity?
Also, please leave a quickreview for the show on Apple
(28:04):
podcast.
It brings me so much joy and somuch encouragement to know this
podcast is helping you.
Now go get the career you wantand not the one you settle for.
And I'll meet you back here nextThursday for another episode.
See you soon!
I'm teasing out the differencebetween a job versus a career.
And I'm going to talk about thedifferences between.
Being in a mindset of being in achild mode.
Um, versus being a career mindednurse.
There is a difference betweenthe two.
(00:25):
There are things that we do onwhere on a chop path.
We might not even know thatthat's what we're doing.
Versus when we're on a careerpath.
And you might be even startingto think.
Okay.
Like, what would that look like?
I'm going to jump into that inthis episode.
I'm also going to just kind oftalk about some things that you
(00:47):
can do to take action.
If you are.
Currently in a job mode and youneed to switch your mindset to
more of a career mode becauseyou realize that.
Being in the job mode might behurting you And so I want you to
understand these two paths andthen be empowered about making a
(01:09):
decision to be on one pathversus another.
Are you feeling stuck in yourcurrent clinical environment?
Do you want to make a change inyour nursing career but not sure
what to do next?
Exhausted, burnt out, and maybeeven ready for different
leadership?
I'm Bonnie Meadows, a boardcertified nurse.
(01:30):
Clinical Nurse Specialist,Influential Leader, Career
Coach, and Well Being Coach.
Being in the nursing andhealthcare profession since
2004, I have felt stuck andunsure about what was next for
me.
I wanted to be fulfilled in mypurpose, to have a voice at the
table.
And to be a resource for others,I kept telling myself I wanted
(01:52):
more, but didn't have thedirection I needed until I found
clarity and career growthstrategies for experienced
nurses like me.
In this podcast, you will find.
Simple tactical steps that allowyou to gain the clarity you
need, solutions for how to groweven without supportive
leadership, and guidelines forsetting boundaries at work so
(02:16):
that you can grow purposefullyin your career as a nurse with a
graduate degree who makes a hugeimpact in the profession.
So get ready to trade yourscrubs for yoga pants.
Pop in those earbuds and let'schat.
I have a quick story.
About.
When I was a nurse aid.
(02:38):
When we didn't call ourselveshealth care texts.
At that point in time, we were.
A nurse aid.
And I was working in thehospital.
I was, um, in nursing school,working night shift I y'all out.
I'm one of those people who Ilove night shift, like it worked
the best for my.
Life while I was in nursingschool.
(03:00):
And so I would work the 11 toseven shift, maybe about 20
hours a week.
15 to 20 hours a week.
And, um, there was oneparticular night and I was in
the float pool.
So there was one particularnight and I was working on a
surgical unit.
And.
I was talking to a nurse who.
(03:20):
Was she was working there andsomehow, or another, we at
Katten on the conversation of mebeing in nursing school.
And she started going off about,I just don't know why anybody
would want to sign up to be anurse.
And I was shocked.
And I was like, why.
Why are you here?
(03:42):
And that was probably the firsttime that I had just really
developed that mentality of whenpeople start like really
complaining bad about work.
My first thought is why are youhere making everyone else
miserable?
And that's what she was doing.
And so I would put her in aplace of you are.
(04:04):
On you are.
Job minded.
You're really just here.
Ticket the paycheck.
Because why else would you behere?
Like why, why would you putyourself through that misery?
Of showing up every day.
Now, some people don't know howto work themselves out of the
misery.
(04:25):
I'm one of those people I'velearned to work myself out of
misery.
Like I don't.
I don't.
I don't stay long.
Once I've realized I'mmiserable.
I develop my exit plan at thatpoint.
But why.
And then why would youdiscourage others?
Nursing is such a greatprofession.
It is needed.
(04:47):
Why would you discourage anotherperson?
And so that really got me in themindset of.
Really thinking about nursing asa career versus nursing as a
job.
And there there's so much talktoday about it being a gig
(05:08):
profession.
Um, and how, yes, we wantflexibility as nurses.
Yes.
We want flexibility in our hoursand our time.
But I will tell you that manytimes when you do hop around
like that, and I'm not what I'mnot doing is bashing anyone for
hopping around in order to.
(05:29):
Get their piece in order togain, you know, the flexibility
and the autonomy that theydesire for their life.
But it kind of, it puts you inthat place of.
Making others think that you'rereally just about the job now.
There are some.
(05:50):
Who really care about nursing?
You just want the flexibility.
And I applaud you and I'mthankful for you.
Um, For pushing us as aprofession because we need to be
pushed.
We needed to be pushed.
Um, but the question is how longare you staying in it and what
is your plan in it?
(06:11):
Y'all know, I'm all about aplan.
Um, so I'm just going to talkthrough.
A few things.
A few key points.
What are those things that standout the, say that your job
minded versus career-minded.
Um, so one thing.
That distinguishes a job mindednurse from a career minded
(06:33):
nurse.
Is your intention.
What is your intention in thework?
And the intentions set versuswhat set, whether you are
long-term focused or whetheryou're short-term focused.
So for example, You can have theintention.
(06:54):
Too.
Be in one role and have theintention to get out of another
role and go into another job.
That might be just a little bitmore simple than what you are
already doing.
But.
You have a long-term focuseither you are in school.
Or you're looking for the nextjob.
(07:17):
But you had to get out of thatlast job in order to really get
clear.
On how to make a plan.
And so you get into another job.
You're really there just to dothe job.
You're not there to grow yourcareer in that.
Particular space.
So say you go from being an NP,then you go back to working at
(07:41):
the bedside because you decidedyou didn't want to be in a nurse
practitioner anymore.
And so you go back to working atthe bedside, but you're really
only there.
To figure out what your next is.
You're still career-minded.
You just had to go from one jobto another.
But your intention is.
(08:03):
I'm more than likely not goingto be here in this space for
long, but I needed a reprieve inorder to figure out what my next
step is.
And so your purpose for workinga job, if you are job minded is
really just to your intention.
Is to get money.
Now everybody's intention forworking is to get money, but
(08:24):
your primary intention.
Is to get money versus yourprimary intention being.
I want to make an impact and I'mgaining skills in order to.
Grow in my career.
And tap into what is the nextlevel of where I want to go in
(08:47):
my growth and advancement as anurse.
And so.
In your career, you're still,you know, support yourself.
Um, but you also work towardsreaching your goals and
ambitions when you are careerminded.
And when choosing a career, youbase your decision.
(09:07):
Have a job based on your talentsand your passions.
Versus.
Basing it on.
Oh, well, they make that type ofmoney.
So I want to, I want to go forthat job because it gets paid a
lot.
Okay, well, but is it part ofyour plan?
Is it your intention to grow inthat area?
(09:29):
Because we know more money, moreproblems.
And so.
The politics get a littlethicker and you just got to be
able to recognize if this isthat thing that you, if this is
that area, that specialty, that,that work, that you want to put
your muscle into.
(09:49):
In order to grow.
So two.
Your goals.
And.
Pretty much jobs for focus onshort term goals, careers focus
on long term goals.
So if your job minded you'refocused on a short-term goal.
I need to make money.
Or.
I need to do whatever.
(10:10):
When you are career minded,you're focused on long-term
goals.
So.
For example.
When you are.
Job minded.
You will more than likely unlessyou are.
Oh, The intention of, I'm stilltrying to find my specialty.
When you are job minded, yourshort term goal.
(10:34):
Is to.
Either your short term goal ismoney or it's flexibility in
time.
So you're going to pretty muchjust work wherever.
You want to work wherever?
Wherever.
And.
There's no.
Intentionality to where you'reworking, where you're gaining
skills, what skills you'regaining.
(10:54):
Versus when you are careerminded, your goals are
long-term.
So you look at jobs, even if youare sliding into a job that is.
More, so something that is anin-between.
Why you figure out what yournext step is?
You tend to.
(11:16):
Be more intentional and your,your longterm.
So you're thinking, okay, I'mstill gaining skills.
I'm still staying on top of myskills.
And I can still speak to thework that I did in this
particular job.
And how it will apply to what Iwant to do next.
Like, it's still got to apply.
(11:37):
Number three.
Kind of goes back to goals andintention.
And it's when you're job mindedand when you're career minded,
you're thinking about whereyou're learning the skills.
And your continued education.
So goes back to the skills areconnecting.
So your main intent.
(11:58):
Again, are we a job is eitherTom or flexible money or
flexibility and more than likelyit's money.
Sometimes your main intent ofthe job is.
And some, somebody would say wasalways money.
Like I want to have the freedomthat, that that's money, um, and
that's time.
So you want to have the freedomand the flexibility.
(12:20):
To be able to focus on.
Maybe a side business, or youwant to folk that has nothing to
do with nursing.
But this job is fueling.
Your funds.
For you to help build thisbusiness or for you to help.
Um, volunteer in some type ofway, or for you to take care of
(12:40):
your kids.
Your job binded.
And that's okay.
Just show up and do your work.
Be the best you, you can be.
So I digress.
When you are career minded.
Where you learn your skills andwhat skills you're learning in,
what job makes a difference.
(13:01):
And you're very intentionalabout.
Going to jobs.
That will help you to gain theskills.
Where you want to go longterm.
Those skills.
Translate into more of a career.
And can translate into otherparts of your career.
(13:24):
You also understand that youneed continued education.
With those skills.
So as a career minded nursery,you don't mind.
When someone says, oh, we neededucation on this.
So we need education on that.
You're not the first one.
That's like.
We always have education onsomething.
(13:44):
Like, I don't have time forthat.
No, that's not your complaint.
You're like, okay.
All right, give me the skills.
Bring it on.
When I was working at thebedside.
Uh, I've always been,career-minded very intentional
about.
Um, what I did.
And so.
When my nurse manager would askme, not that I said yes to
everything, but when they askedme to do certain things or when
(14:06):
I saw certain things, Or certainactivities that.
They needed a volunteer for.
I knew.
I was very intentional about,okay.
Is that skill.
Going to help me in thelongterm.
Now you can't predict thefuture.
But you'd know those generalskills that we'll be able to
(14:27):
help you in the longterm.
Be a project management skills,leading a team.
Developing education.
Like I was asked, my husbandwould say I was collected and
chips.
And so I, in my mind wouldalways think, oh, that's a good
resume building.
(14:48):
Let me do that.
Ooh, that's a good resumebuilder.
Let me do that.
And so you are.
Intentional about where you'relearning your skills when you
are career minded, when you'rejob minded, you're just like, I
got these skills.
And I can use them here.
Versus when you're careerminded, you're thinking.
(15:09):
Okay, well, What skills can Ialso gain?
While I'm in this place.
I was talking to a nurse who.
Was getting her DNP.
And she was working in ahospital.
But she needed a change.
Like she was working in thehospital.
(15:29):
And she was working in a rolefor a long period of time, but
she needed a change.
And so I saw her at a conferenceand we were talking and, you
know, I was asking her, so whatare you up to now to the.
Um, And she said, oh, well, I'mdoing this.
And I was like, so are you goingto kind of do that?
Long-term I was like, oh.
(15:51):
And she was like, I asked her ifshe was going to do that
long-term or what she was goingto do with it.
And she was like, ah, I don'tknow how long I'm going to stay.
I said, oh, so you're dibblingand dabbling.
She said, yes.
Cause right now it works for.
My.
Flexibility.
And I'm able to make money inorder to finish school.
(16:11):
But.
In the meantime, she knew whatskills she wants at the table.
And she knew what skills shecould pick up.
From that particular job, it wasstill an intentional move.
And she picked up some strongskills from that job.
And she saw the possibilities inthe company in which she worked,
(16:34):
or if not in that company, inthe industry.
And so she was still looking toexpand her skills in the
industry, but she needed a rolethat was a little bit more
flexible.
And so I.
I want to just encourage you,even if you are in a space of.
I don't know what I want to donext.
(16:54):
So I'm going to just going to S.
I'm just going to find a jobwhere I know it's just a little
bit easier.
And I know I'll have some timeto really think about how to map
out my career plan, go with it.
One key difference between themindset of having a job versus a
career, is that the jobs giveyou the paycheck, whereas the
careers gave you experience andexposure.
(17:18):
You might even consider it aform of a life education.
So for example, When management.
Becomes your career goal.
Your goals are completelydifferent.
Versus.
I'm deciding.
Your.
Your goals are completelydifferent.
Your goals are more long-term.
(17:39):
Versus very short-term goals.
And I'm not even saying thestaying at the bedside and
deciding that you are going tobe a nurse at the bedside and
expand your skills.
It's a short term goal.
It's not.
It's.
And it's it.
Doesn't make you a job mindednurse.
It makes you a very intentionalnurse.
(17:59):
To dig in where you are.
Grow where you are.
Mentor where you are develop thenurses who are coming in because
you know that you're going tostay there long term.
Management is as decent I cantolerate what's going on.
I like it here.
I'm going to stay.
You can still grow.
(18:20):
You can still be a growth mindedtype of person.
So.
Why is it important to reallyknow this.
So jobs and careers areinterconnected.
As a lifetime of jobs makes upthe career.
You choose.
So even if you're like, yeah, Idon't.
(18:40):
Now more than likely.
If you're listening to thispodcast, you are career minded.
You probably just need to makesome tweaks.
But even if you're piecingtogether jobs, by the time you
get about 20 years in, you'vemade a career, something.
If you're still.
In nursing.
It, it just, it's just.
(19:01):
It does it, doesn't tell astory.
But you've made a career ofsomething.
But no one will be able toreally, not that that matters.
That anyone can tell a storyfrom.
Your work.
You tell the story.
But everyone can work towards acareer trajectory in nursing and
it doesn't always have to bemanagement.
It doesn't always have to beyou're the SVP of this, that,
(19:24):
and the other.
It doesn't doesn't have to bethat.
Uh, career minded nurse elevatesthe profession and gives you
confidence.
That your voice matters.
It helps you to make moreownership.
It helps you to take moreownership of your work
environment.
(19:44):
Because you're invested in it.
That's why I say.
Even if you're deciding to stayas a bedside nurse, you're
taking ownership of thatenvironment.
And that is a part of growth.
To make the work environmentbetter.
You can pat yourself on theback.
And say we're the best unitbecause of dah, dah, dah.
(20:08):
this is why you should workhere.
Like, there's just some thingsthat you can really be proud of
because you've taken ownershipof where you work.
Career paths and careermindedness.
Provides more meaning andpurpose.
So if that's what you're lookingfor.
Then you need to check yourselfas to if you are job.
(20:30):
Minded or are you career minded?
Because career mindedness.
Helps you to make sure that youare staying locked in.
On finding your meaning.
And your purpose.
And working towards that.
So, how do you develop a careermindset?
If you know what career path youwant to pursue.
(20:53):
Figure out the expertise and theexperience.
That you need to get there andthat sometimes you don't know
that.
And you're going to have to ask.
Or you're going to have to testsome things out.
So that goes back to the nursewho was getting their DNP and
they were now in a pivot intheir career.
She now has to test some thingsout.
To see what works best for her.
(21:15):
She was testing out.
She saw some positions thatwould be great for her going
forward in her career.
She's you sometimes you have todibble and dabble.
That's why I tell people likesometimes your next step.
Especially when you're comingout of a position.
That is.
More, so a salary position andyou're making a change to
(21:36):
something else or you're wantingto grow into something else.
And you don't know what thatnext thing is.
Sometimes you got to land softlysomewhere else in order to get
clarity about what you reallywant.
And so.
When you're developing a careermindset, you need to work
towards determining which skillswill benefit your career.
The most.
(21:57):
Look at successful professionalsin your industry, reach out to
them.
If you can.
And ask for their advice.
Yeah, people want to tell theirstory.
Because most people are amazedat where they've, how far
they've come.
And, and not that they.
Like most of them.
(22:18):
They've come that far becausethey've been intentional.
But the majority want to telltheir story.
Those who don't want to take youunder their wings and tell you
their story.
And say I did it.
You can do it too.
They're just selfish bull.
I said it.
There's your selfish.
This selfish.
(22:39):
And their ego is getting intheir way.
So you move on from them.
If they don't want to help, ifthey don't want to tell you
this, if they don't want to taketime.
Now not, oh, I don't have timetoday.
But if they're just alwaysavoiding you and they're not
wanting to tell you their storyof how they got where they are.
They're selfish.
Their ego is in a way.
(22:59):
And they're thinking that you'regoing to take their position.
So move on from them.
Get a mentor.
Or hire career coach.
So.
Seek out a mentor.
Or two with an upper levelposition or experience that you
desire in your field.
So that's different from askingsomeone for advice.
(23:21):
Versus a mentor and a careercoach.
They're a little bit morelongterm.
That can be short term.
The career coach, they both canbe the career coach can be
short-term or long-term.
The mentor is a little bit morelongterm because they have seen.
How you've walked through yourcareer.
(23:41):
You're getting a little bit moredeeper with them.
They're understanding yourstory.
And they're also helping you topace through and make decisions
on.
What.
You need to do next.
And so in order to getcareer-minded shift from job
mindedness to career mindedness,You need to find a mentor.
(24:01):
If you want more episodes onmentors and mentors versus the
word sponsor comes up a lot.
Um, well, let me know.
Let me know.
I could definitely put thattogether.
Um, cause I like talking aboutmentorship and there's not
enough of it in nursing.
We have way more bullying andlateral violence than we do
(24:22):
mentorship in nursing.
And that's one of my passionsalso, and that's one of the
things that I like to change.
I also at an ask that mentor, ifthey would consider supporting
and advising you.
Professionally.
So that you can ask.
Specific questions.
And think about topics todiscuss.
(24:44):
So it's an ongoing conversationwith mentors and with coaches
and with career coaches, it's anongoing conversation.
It could be again, a short-termconversation with a coach, even
with a mentor.
That's it.
They, they ebb and flow.
And then expand your network.
Yeah, I'll networking has takenmy career so far.
(25:07):
And I realized at a point that Iwas networking, it didn't
realize I was networking.
I'll tell you more about thatlater.
But I can't say enough aboutnetworking and expanding your
network.
So that means going in person toworkshops, not hiding anymore.
Going in person and online toworkshops, going to conferences,
(25:28):
going to seminars, going tosocial events.
Those are great places to meetother professionals in your
field, introduce yourself andget to know other people in what
other people do so that you canhear like what other people do.
And you're like, huh?
I didn't realize that was athing.
You'll be surprised.
(25:49):
At how many times you will say,I didn't realize you could do
that.
So to wrap up.
Job minded versus career minded.
What is it?
It's about your intentions.
It's about your goals.
It's about where you learn yourskills and what education.
Do you want to get as to whetheryour job minded versus your
(26:11):
career minded?
I remember that key differencebetween the mindset of having a
job versus pursuing a career.
Is the jobs, give you thepaychecks, whereas careers give
you the experience and theexposure.
Why is this important?
Because jobs and careers areinterconnected as a lifetime.
Time of jobs makes up thecareer.
(26:33):
You choose.
Career paths.
Provide more meaning andpurpose.
And a career-minded nurseelevates the profession of
nursing and health care.
How do you develop it?
Continued learning.
Continue developing.
Figure out what expertise andexperience you need to get
(26:53):
there.
So they, you know, that comesback to that.
Self-awareness.
Get a mentor or hire a careercoach.
And expand your network.
If you want more information.
You found a topic or a piecethat I talked about and you want
to dive in a little bit further.
Email me, let me know.
Um, what you would like to hearmore of.
(27:16):
I'd love to hear from more fromyou all.
Um, and if you found thisinformation valuable, make sure
you leave a five-star review.
So that this podcast can get outto more people.
And to so that I will be able toread them and know what you'd
like to hear of more also.
Um, so there are two places thatyou can, you can do that.
You can either send me an emailor you can, um, You can leave a
(27:42):
review and then leave thatinformation in a review.
Thanks.
Y'all.
I hope you enjoyed today'sepisode.
If so, would you take 30 secondsand share it with another nurse
who may be unsure of where to gonext in their career, or maybe
need some career clarity?
Also, please leave a quickreview for the show on Apple
(28:04):
podcast.
It brings me so much joy and somuch encouragement to know this
podcast is helping you.
Now go get the career you wantand not the one you settle for.
And I'll meet you back here nextThursday for another episode.
See you soon!
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