https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2024/07/29/demarche-judicieuse-vers-la-reussite
How an acronym can help guide you to achieve a long and successful nursing career that leaves a legacy
By Mary Ghazarian
July 29, 2024
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When you became a nurse, your identity changed — a subtle shift at first, then altogether. Sometimes this shift goes too far, leading to pathologic altruism that results in predictable depression and burnout. It is a professional imperative to work authentically in a way that aligns with your personal identity and to take care of your body, mind, and soul.
My fingers tingled and my breath was quick as I walked into the hospital for my shift on a cool October morning. As each step brought me closer to the day’s assignment, a wave of uncertainty caused by the mounting pressures of chronic understaffing washed over me. Gone were the days when I eagerly entered the hospital fuelled by the desire to make a difference.
Courtesy of Mary Ghazarian
“Rather than walk away from your job or nursing licence, I recommend examining what you need to continue in your career — and even leave a legacy — early and often,” Mary Ghazarian says.
“What next?” I thought.
I wanted to hand in my badge and retire my credentials. Thankfully, that’s not how my nursing career story ended and it’s not how I want your story to end either.
I found clarity with a blank journal page and a glass of merlot. Putting pen to paper was both anxiety-provoking and liberating. On that page was complete honesty. I wrote about what I wanted and needed in my career.
Over the next several years I made progress toward that vision: a master’s degree, becoming a nurse practitioner, a clinic director, business owner, nursing business and career coach, and author.
As I reached new pinnacles, I revisited my journal. Over time, several journals were filled with my musings on career and nursing. Then, I decided to make sense of it all, and a career framework came to light.
The framework consists of six pillars that form the acronym WISELY. I hope this framework will guide other nurses to better understand how to achieve a long and successful nursing career that leaves a legacy.
The first pillar is defining what worthwhile means to you. Worthwhile is an exchange of time, energy, or money that you find of value. It is also tied to your needs, self-worth, and values. While your values may remain relatively stable, your needs and your paradigm of self-worth may change over time, requiring you to revisit this concept as you mature in your career.
The second pillar is about keeping your career interesting. It’s hard to believe that nurses in most acute settings might encounter boredom, but even the most exciting and unpredictable areas of nursing can feel overly routine. Risks of boredom include disengagement, depression, anxiety, feelings of worthlessness, and self-sabotage.
The third pillar is sustainability. In the past few years we’ve seen nurses leaving the profession in record numbers. The systems and circumstances in which nurses have been working have long been unsustainable.
Rather than walk away from your job or nursing licence, I recommend examining what you need to continue in your career — and even leave a legacy — early and often. This will help to smooth transition points and provide a compass for important decisions, because nursing is ever changing.
The fourth pillar is empowerment. Being empowered is about having confidence in yourself and giving yourself permission to expand your career. Knowledge, creativity, communication, resilience, and embracing feedback are all elements you can leverage.
The fifth pillar is having a limitless mindset. For many, limiting beliefs have been built over a lifetime. As a nursing professional, it’s time for you to question their validity and create changes where your belief system is not serving you.
The last pillar is to put yourself first. When you became a nurse, your identity changed — a subtle shift at first, then altogether. Sometimes this shift goes too far, leading to pathologic altruism that results in predictable depression and burnout. It is a professional imperative to work authentically in a way that aligns with your personal identity and to take care of your body, mind, and soul.
I encourage you to rate your nursing career from 1 to 10 in the following areas (1 = not at all and 10 = absolutely):
Worthwhile: My career is valuable to me and worth the effort, time, or money.
Interesting: My career pursuits interest me and keep my attention.
Sustainable: My career is something I can see myself pursuing into retirement and beyond.
Empowered: My career gives me confidence and purpose and involves lifelong learning.
Limitless: My career goals have no boundaries and are not held back by limiting beliefs.
Putting yourself first: My career goals are authentic and meet my needs first.
For anything you rated less than 10, consider one thing you can do to increase the score. I encourage you to be honest and use the six pillars as a catalyst for growth and professional transformation.
Mary Ghazarian, MN, NP-PHC, is a nurse practitioner with a focus in primary healthcare. She is also a best-selling author, speaker, educator, and nurse career coach. She spent her early career working in acute, emergency, and intensive care, where she learned about the importance of work-life balance, preventing burnout, and career planning.
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