Keeping up with the Joneses: the importance of training and personal development for nurses - You+Aus
Nursing 25 November 2020

Keeping up with the Joneses: the importance of training and personal development for nurses

Are you a battle-hardened nurse looking to further develop your nursing expertise?

Or perhaps you’re a recent graduate, big-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready to take the world of nursing head-on with your freshly earned degree?

Whether you’re only just beginning your nursing career or are twenty years in already, if there’s one thing a nurse can’t afford to do, it’s to stand still. After all, health care is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the Australian economy, not to mention one of the fastest-growing subjects at Australian universities.

With this much competition, nurses can’t afford to rest on their laurels if they want to remain employable in nursing jobs. For nurses, the pressure to be on your feet and constantly training is immense.

Fortunately, nurses have a range of options open to them to keep themselves relevant and ahead of the curve…

Learning is a never-ending process

Regardless of your profession, it’s good advice to always stay on the lookout for ways to improve, develop, and further your career.

It’s true that a diverse mix of qualifications and experiences is the best way to give yourself an edge over your fellow nurses when applying for positions. However, it’s not only during the job application process that your personal development is showcased.

Your skills and training will be heavily relied upon by your colleagues… and your patients! Every little bit of training and experience can make a difference, especially when people’s health is on the line.

So how can you improve on those skills you’ve learned in university and deliver the best care possible? Fortunately, we’ve got some great options for you to not only try to demonstrate to your coworkers your initiative and competence but to also deliver the best care possible.

Enrol in one of our short courses

They say you learn something new every day.

And nursing is no different!

No matter your specialisation, it pays to stay on your toes.  Through our training partnerships, we can offer our nurses a range of training designed to keep their skills up-to-date with the latest professional and medical developments.

Of course, these courses look great on your resume and show initiative to employers… but most importantly, they’ll empower you, enabling you to contribute to your team and perform even better as a nurse!

On-the-job learning

Courses and classes aren’t the only means of developing your professional skills.

Common wisdom says that the vast majority of your training takes the form of on-the-job learning and experience, rather than formal education. This idea is so well entrenched, that there’s actually an academic name for it: the 70/20/10 model.

And while there’s disagreement about the exact portions, it can’t be denied that experience obtained on the job plays a huge part in your development as a nurse.

Our advice for nurses everywhere is simple: seize the initiative! Classroom education is great, but there’s nothing that really compares to experience gained on the job.

Instead of shying away from new tasks and responsibilities, instead, take it as an opportunity to gain further insight into areas you might not normally be exposed to.

Who knows, you might pick up some useful skills or find a vocation that truly calls to you!

Here are a few of our tips.

  • Volunteer

The best way to expose yourself to new tasks and experiences is to simply put yourself forwards.

Putting yourself forward demonstrates initiative and confidence – supervisors remember those people who put their hands up first.

  • Don’t be afraid to ask questions

If you don’t know how something is done, don’t stay quiet and try and struggle through it alone. What happens if you get it wrong, after all?

If you ever feel out of your depth, there’s no shame in just asking. A simple question is all it takes to know you’re on the right track!

  • Be enthusiastic

Enthusiasm shows a passion for your industry and is a great attitude to bring into every shift, even during the very long ones. Never forget the reason you became a nurse in the first place: use that motivation to drive you. Through the You+Aus (You and Aus) boutique family of healthcare agencies across Australia we can offer you work and training opportunities to diversify your skill set and the chance to work in unique locations all over the country.

If you’re ready to take the next step to work in Australia, then register with You and Aus and we will support you through the process. Australia is a great place to work with flexible working conditions, great patient-to-staff ratios and a laid-back lifestyle. We look forward to welcoming you to the land down under.

 

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