5 Career Progression Tips For A Part-time Nurse

As a part-time nurse, it might feel as though you are stuck in one role for the rest of eternity. However, there are many ways you can improve your standings, without having to commit to a full-time role straight away.

How you progress as a part-time nurse is really down to which branch of nursing you decide to move into. You may want to specialise in paediatrics or mental health, both of which require a very different set of skills. In either case, though, nurses need to be compassionate, caring and committed to their patients. Traits like these help you stand out from a crowd that views part-time nursing job as just another obstacle to surmount.

Get The Right Qualifications

Just because you’re working part-time, doesn’t mean you should only put in part of the effort. A qualified nurse is much more likely to get noticed by their employer than one without any senior certification. Even in a part-time nursing job, you can still find time to work towards your PHD or nursing certificate. On the job assessments are incredibly common nowadays, meaning you can learn while you earn. In the long run, qualifications will enable you to move between workplaces far more easily.

Make The Most Of In-House Training

As with qualifications, many hospitals offer nurses the chance to train on the job too. Part-time nurses can benefit hugely from this kind of training, as it enables them to build their skillset without making sacrifices in their home life. If your workplace doesn’t currently offer this scheme, then campaign for it. Employers can actually save themselves money by implementing on the job training, as it means part-time nurses will be able to handle tasks without requiring the input of a busy specialist.

Strike Up A Partnership With An Experienced Practitioner

If you want to get the nod over your colleagues, then the advice of someone who has been there before can be invaluable. Asking a senior nurse to mentor you can help you learn the ins and outs of the job quickly and efficiently. As a part-time nurse, you may feel out of pace with those who work the wards full-time. But with the help of a mentor you will soon get up to speed. An old hand can be just the kind of guidance a new head needs and most experienced nurses will attribute their success to the wisdom of their mentor.

Volunteer For New Tasks And Patients

Hard workers are generally rewarded for their efforts. If you show a willingness to take on new patients and put yourself forward for more opportunities, then you will soon be the go-to nurse and selected for more stimulating tasks. Whilst it may take a few months of hard graft to get your reward, there’s no substitute for high quality performance. A part-time nurse who is able to use their initiative when confronted with a foreign task is a much sought after professional.

Form Useful And Lasting Relationships

The best way to get ahead in a part-time nursing job is to be known as the best. Getting noticed requires some clever networking on your part, as well as more than a little desire to succeed. Along with the relationship you forge with your mentor, you should also be keen to curry favour with your superiors and the rest of your team. Acquainting yourself with the key players on the ward can help you stay in the minds of those with the biggest sphere of influence. Make sure the people around you know where you plan to be in five years time and can recall specific attributes of yours when new positions become available.

At Jobs4Medical we work full-time to ensure your part-time nursing job career gets off to a flying start. Our niche job board makes it easier to search jobs by location, salary and flexibility, so you know you are entering the perfect workplace for your skills. For more information on the services we provide, call us today on 01256 336632 or get in touch via our contact page.