Nursing professional Development Job Positions

[sh3rylanne, BSN, RN]

Looking for advise.

I have a goal to be in a nursing professional development position but I have having a hard time trying to get there. I have my MSN in education from Capella about 2 years ago and only working in the pulmonary clinic as  a staff Nurse.

Planning to teach adjunct to maybe an LVN program.

 I have no formal official teaching role or never held such a title and looking for recommendations on how to get to where I want to be if I have no experience?

 

Also looking into getting my DNP in professional leadership, other than educational leadership-- thinking it may open a little more doors? correct me if I am wrong. It would be through Post University online.

 Send me your advise, words of encouragement-- 

(recently applied to a mentorship program but I didn't make the cut)

 

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

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looking for recommendations on how to get to where I want to be if I have no experience?

If you want a staff development position, you're going to need the experience to back it up. There may be some academic centers that have a nursing professional development role for their ambulatory clinics. If you're looking for a hospital NPD position, you'll need hospital experience in the same unit that you'd seek an NPD position in. Think outside the box - where can you use your clinical experience in an educator role?

A DNP in professional leadership will not help with an NPD position without experience.

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

I agree with @Rose_Queen that a DNP will not directly help in landing an NPD position, although if an organization is looking to add more doctorate-prepared nurses to staff, it's possible. Additionally, a DNP in Leadership is broader than one in Education and provides a versatile skill set, so in that sense, it's not a bad idea.

I myself hold a Master's degree in Nursing Administration and am a Nursing Professional Development Specialist (certified NPD). I was able to leverage my advanced degree because, sometimes, employers respond more to the fact that you have an advanced degree than to the specific field of study. I worked in Staff Development in acute care and co-authored a Nursing Professional Development certification review book, as well as numerous other side projects, including writing test questions.

Here are a couple of thoughts:

• Consider volunteering or creating opportunities to lead small educational sessions within your current role. Offer to lead educational projects or conduct an in-service. This helps to build your portfolio. 
• Serve as a preceptor or similar role at your current job.
• Look for online side jobs that involve creating educational content, such as developing exam questions or providing continuing education. Again, this boosts your resume.
• Teaching in an LVN program could be a great first step. Begin by contacting local nursing schools to inquire about adjunct teaching opportunities. Don't be discouraged if positions don't open right away—network and be persistent.
• Network. Attend local professional organization meetings, join LinkedIn, attend educational seminars, and network with people.

Job Landing Skills

You must maximize every opportunity you get. You landed an interview for a mentorship program, so your application was good. Try to determine why you didn't make the cut and use the feedback to inform your future interviews. 

Improve your interviewing skills. There are several articles here to help with all aspects of landing a job. Here's just a couple.

Dos and Don'ts of a Cover Letter

Fumbled During Interview and Lost the Job

How To Get Past ATS Software In A Resume

 Continue applying, continue improving, and use the feedback you receive to fine-tune your approach. Very often, it's just a matter of timing and opportunity. The right doors will open when you least expect it.

You've got this! Keep pushing forward, and you'll find your way to that nursing professional development role.

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth