Career Planning

The Donner-Wheeler Model Phase one: scanning your environment Phase two: completing your self-assessment and reality check Phase three: creating your career vision Phase four: developing your strategic career plan Phase five: marketing yourself Career planning for students should begin at the start of your career. Miller, Shortridge, Woodside and Gutjahr (1984) suggest that nursing has a great deal to offer students who are able to articulate their strengths and who have a process of developing their career goals Students are most often concerned about lack of experience will disadvantage them : students possess many attributes that will serve them will in the current job market. The key is to start thinking about that now by taking the time to develop your plan doing so will provide you with a definite advantage The career planning process involves thought, insight and dedicated time: the most important resource to this process is you Incorporating the career planning process into your nursing education will help you develop the knowledge and resources to shape your student experience

Scanning Taking stock of the world in which you live What are the current realities/current trends? Using your nursing skills of assessment, observation, planning Look around you regionally, globally, what is happening? Read nursing journals, go online, attend conferences Discussions about current trends in nursing practice and descriptions of skills outlined in job advertisements can identify clues as to which nursing skills are considered necessary

Self-Assessment Recognizing the attributes that make you who you are and what you have to offer to the environment Need to have a high degree of self-knowledge Reflect on both personal and professional attributes and accomplishments Identify needs for further development Be aware of your values, skills, strengths and areas that you would like to develop further Focus on the reasons why you chose to enter this profession, reflect on your professional experiences in academic and clinical areas…what have your instructors identified as strengths and weaknesses? Because of the amount of self reflection that you already do as students you have an advantage

Who am I? Values Knowledge and skills Interests Accomplishments - Values reflection page 116-117 of reading

Reality Check Seeking feedback about your strengths and weaknesses…expand your view of who you are by reflecting on what others’ say about you

How do others see me? Take the initiative Seek formal and informal feedback Listen and accept positive feedback Acknowledge areas where change is needed Ask for ideas on how to develop new skills

Creating your career vision Looking at what is possible Making use of your resources Having the ability to harness and focus your energy What do I really want to be doing????

Developing your plan Putting down on paper the specific strategies you will use to change your career

Goals A purpose or objective towards which an endeavour is directed They need to be specific, time framed, reachable and relevant

How can I achieve my career goals? Action steps Resources Timelines Indicators of success

Marketing yourself Articulating who you are, what you want and what you can do Persuading others that what you have to offer meets their current needs

How to best market yourself? Establish a network Acquire a mentor or coach Develop your written and verbal communication skills: professional speaking, presentations & interviews Have a targeted resume and cv Business cards publications

Portfolios Tool to help you identify, collect and reflect upon and value your experiences, learning and accomplishments Helps you see how you are developing as a professional Provides a system for identifying your goals for future learning and development

How to do it? Begins with reviewing your past and gathering documents Requires ongoing maintenance Save anything that identifies your skills, attributes, contributions and put that in your portfolio Can be used as a means of completing your QA for CNO

What do I want from my portfolio? What goals do I have in mind? Components: beliefs about nursing, life review, learning plan/learning log, self-assessment, peer feedback, any attachments