Every nurse has a particular career journey fueled by something inside that makes that journey personally fulfilling. Some nursing careers are straightforward, and some involve out-of-the-box thinking and unusual pathways to success.

No matter what your nursing career may look like, there are ways for you to stoke the fire of your nursing career

to maintain your momentum and propel you forward into the future.

A Sense of Personal Mission

Ask any nurse why they chose the profession, and you’ll hear as many unique stories as there are nurses.

One commonality among many nurses is the desire to serve and help others. The nursing profession is deeply grounded in caring and compassion, so it’s no surprise that this is likely a top motivator for nurses the world over.

It’s also common to hear stories of inspiration from relatives who were nurses. An aunt, uncle, mother, sister, grandmother, or cousin who worked as a nurse can have a significant impact; thus, continuing a family legacy can drive an earnest individual toward a career in nursing.

Some of us were once patients who received nursing care that demonstrated the value of nurses and their work, or we had the opportunity to witness a loved one being skillfully cared for by a nurse. Either way, seeing an excellent nurse in action can seal the deal for many who feel the call.

No matter where it originates, a personal mission can keep the fire burning, even amidst the everyday stress of employment in the healthcare industry. And if you’ve lost touch with your sense of personal mission, you can ask yourself a few questions:

What drove me to pursue nursing as a career?

What has changed for me since I first began this journey?

What has remained constant throughout my career?

Where do I currently find fulfillment in my work?

What values mean the most to me when it comes to my work?

Are there any values that still need to be expressed in my work as a nurse? If so, how can I move towards fulfilling those values in my mission as a nurse?

What do I believe about my career and the impact my service as a nurse provides to the world around me?

Getting back in touch with your sense of personal mission can reinvigorate a career that has lost some of its original purpose. And when you have a fully formed sense of mission, your career can regain some of its previous fire that you may have lost.

The Ember of Possibility 

From the earliest days of human civilization, people have always loved stories. Just like the aforementioned stories of family members, there are stories that other professionals can tell.

If you need your nursing career fire-stoked, offer a colleague a coffee and question them about their life and career. Be curious about their career journey, why they pursued nursing, and what they’ve experienced. Such conversations can be pure inspirational gold.

You can also reach out to people you admire on LinkedIn or through nursing organizations you belong to. Finding like-minded nurses and learning about their pathways to success and fulfillment can help you see your life and career in a new light.

Other sources of fuel for your nursing career fire may include podcasts, videos, articles, and books that convey a strong sense of why a particular nurse pursued their unique professional path. Sometimes, one insight or “aha” moment is all we need to ignite one single ember of possibility that propels us into the future.

The Future is Unwritten

Your nursing career future is unwritten. You may sometimes feel that you have few choices, but the number of options available may be more unlimited than you think. Whether you find inspiration and fuel through others’ stories or by revisiting your sense of personal mission and values, the result can be the same: renewed inspiration for your own nursing trajectory.

If you can allow curiosity to be your guide, there are no boundaries to what your nursing career may hold for you.

Are you ready to reignite your fire?

The post Stoke the Fire of Your Nursing Career first appeared on Daily Nurse.