A colleague recently asked what I thought about changing her current role and doing something different in nursing. I’m sure every one of you have had the exact same thought. I told her to think about where she wanted to be in a year, 5 years, or 10 years and how that goal fit in with her life and family.  I asked her, “What fulfills you in this profession? What brings you joy?”

We are lucky. Nursing is a unique profession; it provides opportunities to move from one role or specialty to another yet, to continue working in our profession. I remember when I was a direct care nurse on a med/surg unit and was pulled to critical care. That experience made me aware of a different specialty and I used the opportunity to learn all I could about critical care nursing. I eventually applied for a vacant position, was given the job and I loved it! Throughout my career I’ve utilized that same strategy to develop my own career path.  

Many of us don’t know where our career journey will lead us until we do some investigation and determine which opportunities provide us with a path forward in our career. I have always structured my career journey based on two things: making sure I find a role that is fulfilling and one that brings me joy.  I’ve listened to people outside our profession who say they are only working for the money and they actually hate what they do. Nursing is different; there are enough different roles and specialties in nursing that we can find something that is fulfilling and brings us joy if we look for it. 

Over the past several years I’ve watched people change their role or their specialty and they’ve been successful. Much of this career evolution is the result of the pandemic aftermath; for others it’s the result of growing older and needing a change. Regardless, it’s a win for the profession if they find their new role in the profession and not outside it. The nursing profession needs to keep those with experience to help grow the next generation of nurses. Opportunities in nursing education, professional development, and working to develop clinical and non-clinical nurse leaders is paramount to our profession’s future success.

Your nursing career is a journey, and you evolve as you go. My career path is no different. Today I move forward to a new role as a fulltime nurse educator while continuing to practice as a nurse practitioner integrating the art and science of nursing. For every nurse out there, who has a dream of doing something different –  if the opportunity presents itself, just do it!  In the words of Walt Disney, “We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.  Our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.”
 
We’d like to thank Dr. Anne Dabrow Woods for her years of leadership as the Chief Nurse of Wolters Kluwer Health Learning, Research, and Practice. Anne’s knowledge, expertise, and leadership are unparalleled and there is no doubt she will continue to impact the nursing profession for years to come. We are grateful that we have been part of Anne’s nursing journey and we wish her all the best in her new role!
 

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