Career Map

As I considered what I wanted my legacy to be, I found myself going back to the very beginning to examine how I’ve gotten to where I am now. That’s why my map is so detailed. When I became a nurse, I built a solid foundation working in adult and pediatric med-surg settings. After a couple of years, I transitioned to inpatient psychiatry, where I gradually assumed more roles and developed new skills. Early on, my love for mental health nursing combined with education was formed. Each degree I earned led to new opportunities and allowed my skills to grow.

I’ve now been in my current role for more than 12 years. Wanting something new is part of the reason I chose to return to school, as there are few opportunities for advancement without the next degree. Much of what I aspire to do can already be done now, but earning my DNP will provide me with further knowledge to make a greater impact. It’s really that simple.

As I reflected on the nursing legacies I’d like to leave behind, I discovered that being active in policymaking and policy revision is one of my interests—something I hadn’t realized before. Outlining the path to those goals gave me a clear perspective and helped me see that they’re truly within reach.

There are a few things I’ve started doing (and yes, should have started long ago) to help me get there, such as participating in professional organizations. Networking is crucial to getting my name out there and sharing my passion for mental health and safety in the nursing profession. I’ll need to gain others’ trust to advocate on their behalf in a leadership role or to engage with them directly. This involves being approachable, being able to speak with authority as a subject matter expert, and showing up.

I plan to start by becoming actively engaged in my local Texas Nurses Association and Sigma Theta Tau chapters. Of course, earning my DNP is an essential step in achieving these goals.