- Become familiar with the hospital setting very early on. This can be done in a number of ways. One way is to volunteer at a hospital before or while pursuing an academic career. This will allow for gaining experience and can serve as a foot in the door for potential future employment. Another way is to work as a hospital aide before becoming an RN. This will not only provide familiarity with a hospital setting but will also yield direct patient care experience.
- Get an advanced degree or certification. Professional nursing organizations, through their certification boards, have voluntary certification exams to demonstrate clinical competency in a particular specialty. Completion of the prerequisite work experience allows an RN to register for an examination, and passage gives an RN permission to use a professional designation after their name. For example, passage of the American Association of Critical-care Nurses specialty exam allows a nurse to use the initials "CCRN" after his or her name. Other organizations and societies have similar procedures. The American Nurses Credentialing Center, the credentialing arm of the American Nurses Association, is the largest nursing credentialing organization and administers more than 30 specialty examinations.
- Maintain a positive attitude. This will prove invaluable to someone whose profession will require him/her to be caring and therapeutic. It will also help immensely in coping with the hard work and perseverance that will be needed to succeed in this field. A positive attitude can provide inspiration to an RN to take his/her game to a higher level by seeking new opportunities and not being afraid to try new things.
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