Building and Managing a Career in Nursing, Terry W. Miller, editor. Indianapolis, Ind, a joint publication of the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau and Nurseweek Publishing Inc, 2003. 411 pages, softcover.
The editor was assisted by 13 contributors. The book contains 24 chapters and is divided into 5 sections. These are (1) Discovering a Career; (2) Developing a Career; (3) Changing a Career; (4) Reclaiming a Career; and (5) Useful Tools for Career Decision Making.
The preparation of a professional resume starts with the notion that the reviewer will be impressed. It is essential that the desired reaction should occur in a strongly positive way. Mentoring often plays a strong role in enabling progress. It is valuable to have an insightful mentor as well as being one to aspiring others.
Career opportunities abound in a rapidly changing health care environment. The exponential increase in scientific theory that is abounding around the world, especially that which spans international efforts, is enormously increasing the amount of knowledge that can be applied to health care. The applied technology and its growing complexity and efficiency is on a steady and rapid increase. This reality should reduce illness per individual if used intelligently. The growing length of life, with the widening array of conditions, is an outcome of genetics, work environments, and many similar modifiers such as religion, educational level, gender, and subtle differences that separate each person from the average one in constant presence and change the outcome for each person. The more thoroughly and sophisticatedly nurses utilize this approach the more effective and valuable will they be to society.
The major cap on ambitions will be the educational level. Nurses throughout the world tend to lag behind the other professions in university and advanced university preparation.
The physicians in Scandinavian countries are almost all prepared at the MD-PhD level and most of the other clinical professions are at the master's and doctoral levels except nursing.
Those who either are fortunate in having a strong mentor or who diligently seek one have an advantage over those who plod without one or drift with the professional opportunities.
This book explores, in depth, the best ways to assure success and influence.