By Whittney LaCroix, President and Chief Nursing Officer of Tribal Health
This year brought one of those big life milestones: my oldest son started college to pursue a nursing degree. I am a nurse, my mother was a nurse, and seeing my son carry on the family tradition made me proud, hopeful, and a little emotional.
It also made me think about the next generation of nurses. Nursing is a dynamic occupation, affected by population changes, technological advancements, policy decisions, and other factors. The nurses of 50 years ago would likely be surprised to see today’s nurses pursuing advanced degrees, using AI and telehealth, and significantly expanding their scope of practice.
But some elements remain the same. Nursing still offers lifestyle flexibility and the satisfaction of doing meaningful work. And some of the lessons learned from working on the unit floor are just as applicable today as they were when I started out.
Because I’m involved with HOSA and other mentorship programs, I talk to new and aspiring nurses quite a bit – and from what I’ve observed, the patients of the future will be in excellent hands. In that spirit, I wanted to share nursing advice and 7 tips on making the most of your nursing career.
- Be open.
Healthcare is a vast field of opportunities – and you won’t always know what works for you until you experience it. Life begins at the end of your comfort zone, so try new things and say yes to new nursing opportunities.
- Explore the sheer variety of paths you can take.
Nursing is more than bedside care. Maybe you’ll enjoy the adventure of flight nursing or maybe you’d like to teach nursing students. Clinical leadership, research, and public health are other options. Even a clinic versus a hospital can suit different nurses. There are so many ways to grow in this profession.
Before you spend your life in just one environment, visit the many ways you can use your nursing degree.
- Prepare for hard moments.
Working in high-stress environments like the ICU or Emergency Department can be exciting and rewarding, but it’s work that can also bring heavy emotional burdens. Do it long enough and you might even experience burnout or a desire to leave the nursing field.
If that happens to you, remember that you have options. Sometimes a change in setting or focus can revitalize you and reignite your passion. Or you may decide to reduce your hours for a while and later return to full-time nursing when you’re ready.
- Use your voice.
“But I’m just starting my career,” you say. Your perspective still matters. Nurses see and understand things that others don’t. We need more of the next generation of nurses speaking up and sharing their ideas to improve patient care, working conditions, and overall healthcare systems.
Never underestimate the power you have to drive meaningful change.
- Be intentional about your work-life balance.
I won’t lie to you: constantly prioritizing work can come at a personal cost. My solution is to talk to my family about my work life, helping them understand my role and the responsibilities I carry. This builds a bridge between my two worlds. My family knows that what I do is not just a job, it is a passion – and they support me because they understand the “why” of what I do.
But this communication goes two ways. I ask my family to tell me when something is important to them so that I can show up fully for them too. It’s about being present. When I’m at work, I give it my all. But when I’m home, I do my best to be fully engaged there as well. That kind of presence is where real balance begins.
- Learn the importance of community.
Nursing is a team sport. When you lean on others and let them lean on you, work becomes more gratifying and powerful.
I work with an incredible group of nurse supervisors, charge nurses, and frontline staff. We look out for one another, and we communicate openly so that we can all find moments of balance when we need them. When you work with people who genuinely care about one another as people, not just coworkers, it makes a difference.
- Look for mentors.
One of the most important things I’ve learned is that leadership is not about having all the answers. It’s about collaboration, humility, and knowing when to ask for help.
I have been so fortunate to work alongside incredible mentors throughout my journey. These people have shown me what it means to lead with compassion and integrity. Their lessons have shaped how I approach every challenge.
Nurses – what’s your advice for the next generation of nurses? I’d love to hear the lessons you’ve learned and how we can help new nurses find their way into a rewarding professional career.
