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Abstract Th e fi eld of nursing off ers a wide variety of roles and opportunities. Nurses seek to change jobs for several reasons, including burnout, work/life balance and personal growth. Th is article off ers suggestions for making a smooth transition to a new job, including how to research the market, network and write an eff ective resume. DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-486X.2012.01702.x

Keywords career | career planning | nursing roles

ExpandingHorizons

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Americans ages 18 to 44 have changed jobs an average of 11 times (United States Depart-ment of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2011). While job changes are common for a variety of reasons, professional growth is a good cause for seeking a new job.

New ChallengesNurses who have developed excellent maternal/child nursing skills and happily held the same position for years may change jobs simply to challenge themselves. One former labor and de-livery nurse who now works in a women’s HIV clinic notes, “Although I had been away from ‘medicine’ for a while during my years in L&D, I

When my high school senior daughter surprised me by declaring she was applying to colleges as a nursing major, I reeled off a list of the ben-efi ts of a nursing career, particularly the array of nursing specialties and roles she could experi-ence within a single career, if she desired. Th e many opportunities for professional growth inherent in the fi eld of nursing off er a chance for personal fulfi llment. However, to seize op-portunities, nurses may need to seek to expand horizons by changing jobs. According to a lim-ited analysis by the Bureau of Labor Statistics,

Changing JobsStrategies for Finding

the Best Fit for You

LYDIA HENRY, RNC-OB, MSN, CCE, IBCLC

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Lydia Henry, RNC-OB, MSN, CCE, IBCLC, is a maternal/child educator at Christiana Care Health System in Newark, DE. The author reports no con-flicts of interest or relevant financial relationships. Address correspondence to: lydhenry@comcast.net.

found this new realm both fascinating and chal-lenging.” She expresses satisfaction with her new role and especially with the prospect of learning something new every day. She asserts, “Change is growth.” Her new position has allowed her to continue the mission of providing quality pa-tient care to women.

Similarly, I recently challenged myself by attaining a new nursing position in maternal/child education. My new role as a childbirth educator and lactation consultant requires that I develop public speaking skills, facilitate group discussions and provide counseling. Meeting these challenges has made changing jobs per-sonally rewarding.

Th e thrill of exploring a new aspect of nurs-ing can be cause enough to change career paths. Another peer was attracted to the idea of using her years of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nursing experience to generate ideas through a new role as a lactation consultant.

The Need for Change For some, a nagging need for change emerges. If your passion for your current job is dwindling, it might be time to consider making a change. Braithwaite describes “burnout” as when “an in-dividual no longer fi nds any meaning in his or her work” (2008, p. 343). Creatures of habit, we oft en become comfortable with the familiar. Be-ing an expert nurse in your fi eld or on your unit brings a confi dence in nursing skills, assessment and even the environment. Yet keeping this sta-

tus quo may fail to yield a sense of personal ac-complishment for some.

Even so, the idea of pursuing an unfamiliar role oft en provokes decision-halting fears. Mo-tivational speaker and registered nurse Kathy Dempsey notes that “a staggering 95 percent of humans indicate that fear is the number one thing that holds them back at work and in life” (2011, p. 49). In her survival guide, Dempsey describes the process of “shedding” to achieve professional growth by “letting go of the old—all those things that are unhealthy or are no

longer serving you” (2011, p. 19). “Shedding” can be scary but allows for embracing the new skills and knowledge that cultivate growth. A little courage can power you into transition-ing nursing roles. If fear of the unknown inhib-its your growth, think of your current nursing knowledge as a security blanket. Th e women’s HIV clinic nurse mentioned earlier recogniz-es that she relies on her previous nursing ex-perience in her new role: “Th at’s what is so great about nursing—you build on what you’ve learned in the past.”

Lifestyle ChangesChanges to home and family life can sometimes make seeking a new job necessary. My long-held night-shift position fi t my family life for many years, but my needs changed as my chil-dren grew older and I entered a new stage of life. Rebalancing life and work became a prior-ity. Nurses oft en cite the demands of shift work as motivation in changing career paths (Chich-ester, 2011). A former night-shift NICU nurse echoed this sentiment, pointing out the better hours that her current Monday through Friday position off ers her.

Other schedule issues prompt changes. Merely moving from a large department to a smaller one may ease the crunch of acquiring vacation time during coveted summer weeks for those who prize this. Physical challenges such as a back injury can redirect a nursing career. Older nurses oft en fi nd themselves more physi-cally tired at shift -end and seek nursing units that are less physically demanding. Improved work arrangements can create a dream job for some. One nurse landed a job that required only a 3-minute commute, which was a much wel-comed lifestyle change for her. Balancing life and work reduces stress, contributes to job satis-faction and is a practical incentive for seeking a new job (Braithwaite, 2008).

Envision What You WantTaking on a new job without planning can back-fi re on you. To make a successful transition, Jenkins (2006) directs nurses fi rst to consider their motivation in transitioning. She suggests making a list of advantages and disadvantages of both your current job and potential career path to clarify what your priorities for your nursing practice are. Interviewing someone in a role you

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increased temporarily, she gained the realization of the joys of working with eager nursing stu-dents, something that she couldn’t have foreseen otherwise.

Knowing your personal strengths will guide you in the best direction in the job hunt (Rose, 2011). Are you the go-to person for computer-related issues? Technical skills can be valuable in a variety of nursing positions. A nursing infor-matics role allows nurses to integrate technol-ogy into patient care. Whether your strength is writing, public speaking, leading groups or pure enthusiasm, deciphering how it would trans-late to the intended role increases your chance of successful role transition. Your potential em-ployer will be eager to hear how your strengths will transfer into a new role, too.

Th rough exploring your options, you may fi nd that the ideal career path requires further education or certifi cation. Jenkins (2006) rec-ommends writing out a plan of specifi c steps along with a timeline as a way to propel you toward your transformation. Breaking down a large project into smaller steps makes it less daunting. Revisit and revise the plan periodi-cally. Changing nursing roles can mean a salary adjustment and the potential cost/benefi t in dol-lars warrants investigation. According to a vol-untary survey of nurses, a move from hospital staffi ng to outpatient services lowers the aver-age salary nearly $8,000 (Nursing2011 editors, 2011). Compensation for nursing faculty fell

are considering may help you understand some pros or cons not considered before. Choose someone to interview who has no personal in-centive to infl uence your decision one way or the other. I queried a nurse exiting the position I sought and found that the job entailed much more direct patient care than I had anticipated, which was a plus for me.

Another way to research a potential new role is to experience it fi rsthand, whether by shad-owing an experienced nurse currently in the role or by completing a formal educational re-quirement, such as a practicum in the chosen area. One peer completing her BSN held a vague idea that she wanted to teach. She was able to arrange for a practicum in a hospital depart-ment dedicated to maternal/child education and discovered that a position there would allow her to participate in educating nurses as well as pa-tients. She also found that she desired a greater autonomy in her practice, something she could experience in this new position. In fact, she ini-tiated and developed a program to have lacta-tion consultants in the hospital’s NICU during her fi rst year.

While shadowing can reveal much about a new career path, taking on a short assign-ment is another route to discovery. One la-bor and delivery nurse interested in teaching nursing students arranged to work as a clini-cal instructor for one semester without leav-ing her full-time job. Although her workload

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below several nursing positions, such as nurse managers and charge nurses. Many factors infl uence the actual pay level off ered, including regional loca-tion and hospital type. Personal attri-butes of education, years of experience and certifi cation status may infl uence salary. Having a general idea of salary rates typical to the position you seek will avert unpleasant surprises later.

Dust Off Your ResumeIt’s always wise to keep your resume up-to-date, but resume writing intimidates many. Blanche (2010) off ers tips. Th e good news is that declaring stunning accomplishments is not a requirement of an impressive resume. Readabili-ty, however, is a major factor. Recruit-ers merely scan the resume looking for pertinent details related to the position. Too many embellishments can detract from the resume, so be brief. Blanche suggests using bulleted lists of specif-ic skills and experiences. Use caution in strictly listing previous job duties; employers want to know what you ac-complished in prior positions. Include any volunteer activities that could relate to the intended position. Applying as a school nurse? List your summer youth camp volunteer experience. Addition of any academic awards or scholarships

enhances educational background, but other details are unnecessary. Provide licensing and any required certifi ca-tion information. A standout resume allows the recruiter to see your current skills quickly and clearly. Tailoring the resume specifi cally for the job require-ments gives you the edge.

Write a Great LetterAn attention-getting cover letter may just get you that coveted interview for a position that gets fl ooded with ap-plications (AWHONN Nursing Career Center, 2011). Take this opportunity to sell yourself, and don’t be shy. State how your skills and experience direct-ly relate to the intended position and add any pertinent information not ex-pressed in the resume. Give examples that elaborate on your resume rather than just restating that information. If you held an elected position in a profes-sional nursing organization, what did you accomplish in that position? Un-derstand the organization’s mission and exactly what the position entails. Th en focus your letter on detailing how you intend to meet organizational goals in that position. A generic cover letter will not accomplish this. Name-dropping is acceptable in the job search if you happen to know someone within the

organization. End the letter by directly asking for an interview.

NetworkingAWHONN’s Nursing Career Center of-fers online job searches by career cate-gory or level, employer location and by employer (2011). Posting your resume online allows recruiters to search for you. You can also connect with employ-ers at upcoming conferences by pre-registering your contact information at this site. Networking is an excellent way to fi nd out about job openings. Attend-ing national or regional nursing confer-ences can put you in contact with not only recruiters but also fellow attendee nurses who can off er a lead on potential jobs. For instance, if an attendee shares with you that their department will be expanding, then get the name of the de-partment head to contact about your interest in jobs that may open. Health care career fairs, some specifi c to nurs-ing, oft en held in major cities attract both national and local organizations.

Having many recruiters together maxi-mizes your exposure on the job search. Nursing career fairs oft en off er continu-ing education on trends in health care in addition to events for networking that may give you an edge. Spreading the word of your job search with col-leagues and friends can lead to valuable insider information such as upcoming retirements that will leave coveted po-sitions open. Jenkins (2006) advocates approaching potential employers who are not advertising jobs as this shows initiative. Using many approaches will expand your opportunities.

Once you have grabbed the re-cruiter’s attention, Sheth (2010) advises to respond to requests for interviews

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Holleran, RNC, BSN; and Julie Moorehead, RN, BSN.

ReferencesAWHONN Nursing Career Center. (2011). Create

killer resumes and cover letters. Retrieved from http://www.awhonn.org/awhonn/content.do?name=Nursing-Career-Center/Resume.htm

Blanche, J. (2010). How to create attention-grabbing nursing resumes. Retrieved from http://www.healthecareers.com/awhonn/article/how-to-create-attention-grabbing-nursing-153 resumes/158423

Braithwaite, M., (2008). Nurse burnout and stress in the NICU. Advances in Neonatal Care, 8(6), 343–347.

Chichester, M. (2011). Lifelong learning: Part 2. Nursing for Women’s Health, 15(2), 171–175.

Dempsey, K. (2011). Shed or you’re dead: A fast acting change Rx for healthcare professionals. Phoenix, AZ: Trey Press.

Jenkins, A. (2006). Planning a new direction. Nurs-ing Standard, 20(23), 72.

Nursing2011 editors. (2011). Nursing 2011® salary and benefi ts survey report. Retrieved from http://www.nursingcenter.com/pdf.asp?AID=1235582

Rose, A. (2011). How to reinvent yourself in a changing world. Retrieved from http://www.healthecareers.com/awhonn/article/how-to-reinvent-yourself-in-a-changing-world/164535

Sheth, S. (2010). Th e best nurse and allied health jobs recruitment advice: Top recruitment questions uncovered. Retrieved from http://www.heal-thecareers.com/awhonn/article/the-best-nurse-and-allied-health-jobs-recruitment-advice-top-recruitment-questions-uncovered/158447

United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistic. (2011). Number of jobs held in a lifetime. Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/nls/nlsfaqs.htm#anch41

within 24 hours. Be prepared to answer ques-tions about why you are seeking a new job as well as what you are looking for in a new posi-tion. Use the time to ask pertinent questions that will help you evaluate if this position would fulfi ll your needs.

Conclusion Now embarking on her nursing career, my daughter is already keeping her eye on the ho-rizon. Even while enthralled in her critical care experience, she recognizes how it could apply to other career options. She recently asked if I had ever imagined that I would be in my current role when I graduated from nursing school al-most 20 years ago. I recalled being happy just to have successfully obtained my nursing license! What followed was not a mapped-out career, but a journey tailored by embracing opportunities.

In my new nursing role, I fi nd that I’ve come to a perfect place professionally. Much of my current job satisfaction lies in having found a role where I’m able to share my previous knowl-edge and skills with others while still having a lot left to learn. For experienced nurses, chang-ing nursing career paths can appear intimidat-ing, but many nurses discover personal accom-plishment in navigating the process and fi nd job satisfaction at the end of the journey. Changing jobs might just be your best avenue to fi nd your perfect place. NWH

Acknowledgment Th e author acknowledges the following nurses who off ered their insights for this article: Kar-en Hall, RN, MSN, IBCLC; Rebecca Hayman, RN, BSN, IBCLC; Erica Henry, RN; Dianne

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