Stay on Top of Your Game by Exercising Your Mind

Years of hard work helped you develop a comfortable routine in which most days are predictable. People seek you out because you know the policy and procedure manual by heart, the cafeteria specials for each day and you have every phone extension memorized. Perhaps some of your methods haven't changed from when you began your job and if questioned you might respond with, If it's not broke, don't fix it. Although perhaps there's nothing wrong with tweaking it, or determining that your way may be good, but there could be a better way.

The way you're doing things might be the best way, but how do you know that if you haven't wandered off your unit or read the latest information? Once you've finished your nursing education and landed your dream job it doesn't mean that you're done learning if you want to keep your mind sharp. Embracing the mindset that there's always room for improvement might help you avoid following the path of the dinosaur and having you, and your ideas, end up extinct.

That's the Way We've Always Done Things

After spending so much time learning in school, and then at your job, it's easy to get comfortable in routine and forget that there might be new methods, or ones new to you, that you might find exciting. Once you've done something for so long it's easy to fall into the false belief that it is the only way. Innovations in healthcare and technology happen almost daily and what you learned in school may no longer be relevant, the most effective, or productive, method. If you're not seeking new knowledge you may be unknowingly clinging to outdated facts.

Most people find change uncomfortable, but it doesn't have to be that way. If you embrace a learning mindset you're not just working against dementia, you can avoid having your knowledge decay faster than that mysterious lunch bag in the break room.

Been there, done that- With an influx of new nurses brimming with ideas it's easy to become defensive when they're suggesting an idea that was tried, and failed, in the past. Keep an open mind and encourage the discussion of rationale. It could be that the time wasn't right for the idea in the past, but it's perfect now, or you could use the opportunity to teach about considering how it impacts the big picture. Instead of immediately setting up a roadblock, look for a detour.

Reverse mentoring- Try to remember the excitement of discovering something new when you were taking your nursing courses. Ask a new nurse, or one who has worked in other facilities or specialties, curious questions about their biggest achievements, the latest technology they've worked with and what they find the most exciting. They may be new to your unit, but they could have new information for you.

You Don't Know, What You Don't Know

Make time for ongoing learning by considering it a necessary skill. Whether you're working your way up the career ladder, or hoping to maintain your current position until you retire, new knowledge is essential to stay competitive. If you, or your organization, is trapped in a time warp then recruiting new talent might be a challenge, and you might find yourself stuck if you decide to move to another job. Consider it an investment in yourself, and your career.

Stay relevant- With the plethora of information online, it's easy to incorporate small chunks of time to dedicate to staying up-to-date with current trends. You can gain information by:

• Taking an online course
• Reading online journals, articles or nursing blogs
• Subscribing to newsletters

Workout your mind- Keeping your mind sharp means looking for new experiences and to challenge your mind to think a different way. It doesn't have to be related to your position, or even nursing, to renew your enthusiasm for learning. Find inspiration in other areas:

• Challenge yourself with crossword puzzles
• Relax with hobbies to inspire creative thinking
• Change something in your routine to gain a new perspective

Break out of Your Routine

We spend a lot of time worrying about maintaining a healthy diet and exercising, but how about nurturing your mind? Don't wait until it's time to complete your continuing education units (CEU), or your organization requires it, to learn something new. You might discover renewed excitement for your position when you stimulate your mind with new knowledge or a change in your routine.

How Do You Keep up with New Knowledge in Your Old Job?