first Beacon award, I accepted my first assistant nurse manager role and found myself seeking a professional organization that would support this new role. This was when I joined the American Organization for Nursing Leadership( AONL). Through another volunteer position with the AONL Publication Committee, I found myself in AONL’ s headquarters in Chicago, Illinois. I was in a room of chief nursing officers and nursing leaders from across the country, filled with an incredible sense of imposter syndrome, convincing myself that my presence in that committee was a mistake. By getting to know these strong leaders at this retreat, I learned what strength, resilience, and innovation looks like. As we got to know one another, they expressed a genuine curiosity in my goals and perspective, offering ongoing support and encouragement. Their interest in my success gave me a great sense of confidence in the value I brought in that room and beyond. Six years later through a commitment to the organization and further relationship-building, I now serve on the AONL Board of Directors with many of the same great leaders who made me feel so valued and welcomed at that same retreat years prior.
Seek New Perspectives
Ever since I began my journey in healthcare as nurse, I knew I wanted to do something beyond traditional bedside nursing; however, the specifics of what, how and when were all unknown. While my contacts at AACN and AONL were instrumental to my success and professional identity, relationships outside of traditional nursing helped me think about goals differently and process my potential without limitations.
After the pandemic, I was looking for a new way to contribute to the healthcare industry with a little distance between myself and the patient. I began pursuing consulting, a very different world with its unique network and language. Starting fresh with a new contact list, I thought back to high school, college and family friends who went this route. I reached out, expressed my interest, and asked for contacts with similar backgrounds and goals. As I continued down this journey, I utilized this growing network for resume review and interview preparation. I moved to the final round of interviews at one consulting firm before ultimately not receiving the offer, but I am very grateful for this brief tangent as it taught me several lessons that have carried through my career.
Primarily, these conversations and connections widened by vocabulary. They showed me how vast healthcare truly is and the great scale of work non-healthcare leaders are looking to support. It inspired me to move forward with an MBA program because I was excited by how little I knew about healthcare more broadly.
While I don’ t think it’ s necessary to pursue a new career path to land similar insights, it instilled in me a beautiful sense of humility and in my career, great opportunities for expansiveness. I strongly encourage you to surround yourself not only with strong nurses, but also consultants, teachers, finance professionals— anyone who can help you think differently.
Create Meaningful Professional Relationships
While professional organizations and new perspectives can certainly help you build your arsenal of professional connections, it is important to remember that your network is about quality, not quantity. I encourage you to treat your professional relationships with respect and recognize the value of those who have invested in you. Regularly engage with your mentors and professional contacts, offering support when appropriate and leveraging their insights as a sounding board for ideas. Mentors can be lifelong guides, offering valuable support and insight as you navigate both your personal life and professional career. When the time comes, consider paying it back— you already have great experiences to contribute as a mentor to fellow nursing students.
Call to Action
Now, it’ s your turn. Join a professional organization, seek a new perspective, and treasure your growing network. Building your community will always be your next step to creating a sustainable, fulfilled career in healthcare.
Bio
Crystal Schiano, DNP, MBA, MSN, RN, is an accomplished healthcare leader with experience in clinical and academic settings. As a Service Line Manager at Children’ s Hospital Colorado, she oversees operations and finance for the section of neurology. She holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice and an MBA from Johns Hopkins University and serves as an Appointed Board member for the American Organization for Nursing Leadership, representing early careerists. Passionate about evolving healthcare systems, she aims to address healthcare access gaps and care quality variances. Outside of work, she enjoys skiing, cooking, and fitness.
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