Advancing Your Career Checklist Use these strategies to help avoid possible legal problems related to a career change :
• Ask for a mentor .
• Be sure your orientation is sufficient .
• Read your job description and policies and procedures .
• Review your state ’ s nurse practice act and any position statements related to your new role .
• Access standards from the ANA and specialty associations .
• Review required and suggested competencies from local , state , and federal organizations and from national associations .
• Conduct a self-assessment to determine what skills you have and what skills you need to develop .
• Ask for help as needed .
• Explore online resources such as websites for associations and boards of nursing . For example , board of nursing websites often have answers to commonly asked questions about scope of practice .
• Notify your insurance provider of any change in role and responsibilities to ensure you have adequate coverage .
• Once you gain some experience , consider becoming certified . Studying for the certification test can help boost your expertise and your confidence .
Disclaimer : The information offered within this article reflects general principles only and does not constitute legal advice by Nurses Service Organization ( NSO ) or establish appropriate or acceptable standards of professional conduct . Readers should consult with an attorney if they have specific concerns . Neither Affinity Insurance Services , Inc . nor NSO assumes any liability for how this information is applied in practice or for the accuracy of this information . Please note that Internet hyperlinks cited herein are active as of the date of publication but may be subject to change or discontinuation .
References American Nurses Association ( ANA ). ( 2021 ). Nursing : Scope and Standards of Practice . 4th ed . Silver Spring , MD : American Nurses Association .
American Organization for Nursing Leadership ( AONL ). ( 2015 ). Nurse Manager Competencies . Retrieved July 7 , 2022 , from www . aonl . org / resources / nurse-leader-competencies .
CNA & NSO . ( 2020 ). Nurse Professional Liability Exposure Claim Report : 4th Edition . www . nso . com / nurseclaimreport .
L ’ Ecuyer K . M ., von der Lancken S ., Mallow D ., Meyer G ., & Hyde M . J . ( 2018 ). Review of state boards of nursing rules and regulations for nurse preceptors . J Nurs Educ , 57 ( 3 ), 134-141 . https :// journals . healio . com / doi / 10.3928 / 01484834- 20180221-02
New York State Nurses Association ( NYSNA ). ( 2018 ). Position statement on floating . Retrieved July 7 , 2022 , from www . nysna . org / position-statement-floating .
Sherman , R . O . ( 2021 ). The Nuts and Bolts of Nursing Leadership : Your Toolkit for Success . Rose O . Sherman publisher .
Texas State Board of Nursing . ( 2018 ). Position Statement 15.23 : Nurses engaging in reinsertion of permanently placed feeding tubes . Retrieved July 7 , 2022 , from www . bon . texas . gov / practice _ bon _ position _ statements _ content . asp # 15.24 .
Cynthia Saver , MS , RN , is the President of CLS Development in Columbia , Maryland .
Georgia Reiner , MS , CPHRM , is a Risk Analyst at Nurses Service Organization ( NSO ).
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