Advancement opportunities as a professional nurse

Nursing is one of the fastest growing professions in the healthcare sector.  More than 60 % of the nurses work in hospitals, and the remaining work in the physicians practices, clinics, research centers, governmental organizations, etc.  With relation to advancements, nurses have several in relation to the field that they have chosen.  Advancements depend on experience, training, skills and knowledge.

If a nurse possesses advanced knowledge and skills, they could be considered for a promotion.  The chances of growing for nurses professionally are unlimited.  However, nurses would also have to upgrade their knowledge by attending continuing education programs, workshops, etc (Healthcare Careers, 2007 & Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 2007).

A staff nurse can be promoted to a nursing supervisor or head nurse.  She would play a supervisory role and ensure that a small team of nurses delivers appropriate patient care.  A staff nurse could also be promoted onto a managerial post depending on the experience and training received.

They would play a role in the management, marketing, quality assurance, monitoring and planning out the clinical services.  Such nurses would be having a leadership role (Healthcare Careers, 2007 & Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 2007).

Nurses also play a major role to play in clinical research and could seek advancement of positions in this field also.  Nurses would play a major role in drug trials.  They would participate in several activities such as the informed control process, ensuring that the protocol is followed and implemented, administering the drugs to the patient, determining the response to treatment (including benefits and risks), etc.

  Nursing would be working as ‘study coordinator’ in the field and would report directly to the principal investigator.  Nurses frequently provide data regarding safety issues, and feasibility to the principal investigators.  They also ensure that the regulatory guidelines are being followed.

The position of nurses in the field of nurses could also be advanced.  They could be placed in specialized positions in which the study is highly specialized to one specialty or super-specialty of medicine such as psychiatry, molecular medicine, neurology, oncology, etc.  Such nurses would be dealing with advanced forms of drug therapy and using advanced devices in biomedical research.

They would more closely have to monitor implementation of the protocol and management of the patient.  Nurses would be enjoying greater independence and more responsibilities when their positions are advanced.  They would be playing a leadership role controlling the activities of several other nurses who would be working under them (Stromberg, 2007).

References:

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (2007), Professional Development, Retrieved October 4, 2007, from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Web site: http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/careers/nursing/ed.htm

Healthcare Careers (2007), Employment and Advancement Opportunities for Registered Nurses, Retrieved October 4, 2007, from Healthcare Careers Web site: http://www.health-care-careers.org/registered-nurse-career-employment.html

Stromberg, S. (2007), Clinical Research Nurses — , Retrieved October 4, 2007, from The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Web site: http://www.mdanderson.org/publications/conquest/display.cfm?id=ad4b5b2d-e960-4129-8cabc56c89f96769&method=displayfull&pn=b52ca1cb-dc3f-4683-b023d13993bfdd62