Career

Planning
For
Nurses

NURSES ASSOCIATION OF NEW BRUNSWICK

May 1994
Revised February 2001

Nurse Refresher Program Fact Sheet

New Brunswick Nurses Association
Nurses can no longer automatically re-register as practising members when they have not
practised as nurses in the past 3 years (minimum 450 hours of practice). Other nurses who hold
a practising membership may wish to assume different roles in their profession and need to
refresh their knowledge and skills. One of the options for these nurses is to successfully
complete the approved nurse refresher program.
The approved refresher program includes theoretical and clinical practice components. The
course offers 22 modules of nursing theory as well as six specialized modules, all in a homestudy format. After theory completion, clinical experience of 150 to 300 hours is arranged at the
nearest available facility meeting with the NANB Refresher Program Guidelines.
The program is available in both languages. For more information, contact NANB
at: 1-800-442-4417 or (506) 458-8731 or e-mail: nanb@nanb.nb.ca

Table of Contents
Career Planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Career Planning Worksheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Rsum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Sample Rsum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Cover Letter - Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Networking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Job Interviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
NANB Interest Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Career Options for Nurses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Acknowledgement

NANB gratefully acknowledges the information which was

generously shared with us by the Registered Nurses Association of
British Columbia, specifically for granting permission to adapt
their publication, Career Planning for Registered Nurses.

Career Planning
Professional development is a continuous process. It involves assessment, planning,
implementation and evaluation so that you can take control of your practice and of your life.
Most career nurses work for 35-40 years, so it is important to develop a career plan early and
to assess your career on a regular basis. Updating your rsum and reviewing the attached
Career Plan and Goals exercises once a year, perhaps on your birthday or on January 1st, are
useful assessment tools. You should also ask yourself the following questions:
1.

What have I done to improve my own personal level of practice?

2.

What have I contributed to my profession?

3.

In what specific ways am I going to improve my practice and confirm

my professional commitment during the next year?

Your assessment wont necessarily result in a drastic change of direction. Sometimes minor
changes such as learning a new skill, becoming involved with your professional association,
attending a conference, or joining a committee are enough to increase your job satisfaction.

At other times you will need to make major changes. Whether you decide to return to school,
modify your current job, or make a major career shift, youll need a strategy as individualized
as your needs and priorities. You may wish to adopt some of the following strategies:
Change specialties within your hospital.
Apply for a different position within your hospital (e.g. Infection Control
nurse). Move to a larger hospital.
Move to a smaller hospital.
Switch to a job outside a hospital (e.g., community health, a health-related
agency, correction, nursing home).
Take a short course.
Enrol in a university program.
Modify your current job (e.g., switch to part-time, volunteer for added
responsibilities such as preceptorship or change nurse duties).
2

Forks in your career path should allow you to adapt to personal and professional changes. For
example, many nurses find that casual or part-time jobs suit their lifestyles while they are
attending university or raising children.
Many nurses have at one time or another dreamed of leaving nursing for a job with better
hours, more pay, and less stress. Some of us have tried other jobs for at least short periods of
time. However, most of us have found that we would rather change direction within the
nursing profession than to start a new career. One enormous advantage of nursing is that we
have more options than other professionals.
When changing direction, it is unlikely that you will immediately find your ideal job.
However, you may decide to accept a position that will teach you new skills and provide you
with credentials and contacts to eventually achieve your goal.
Many nurses underestimate the value of networking to their professional development.
Networking is the process of developing and using your contacts for information, advice and
moral support as you pursue your career. Maintaining and expanding your network should be a
continuous process in your career development.
Todays career path is more like a series of crossroads than rungs on a ladder. At each crossword
you must decide which direction to take to get closer to your goal. Remember, some jobs will be
more like bridges than steps. Your career plan will help you to make the right decisions.
Good Luck!

Career Planning Worksheet

My strengths

My limitations

Qualities I want in a job

Qualities I need in a job

Jobs I would like

What do I need for this job?

My sources of support (financial and emotional)

Goals

Short Term

Long Term

PROFESSIONAL

PERSONAL

Rsum
Name A rsum is a brief
summary of ones career.
Street Address It must be neatly typed
on good neutral paper.
City, Province, Postal Code A rsum should be 1-3
pages in length. Consult
Home Phone the yellow pages of your
telephone directory for
rsum and typing
services.
CAREER SUMMARY
EXPERIENCE
Dat
es
From

Job Title
To
Employer
Job Description

Dat
es
From

Job Title

Employers should be
listed in REVERSE
chronological order.
The
job descriptions
should
briefly describe your
roles and
responsibilities.

To
Employer
Job Description
Dat
es

From

Job Title
To
Employer
Job Description

EDUCATION
Date of
Graduatio
n
Date of
Graduatio
n

Degree/Diploma/Certificate
Earned

Education is also listed in

REVERSE chronological
order (HIGHEST Degree
or diploma first).

Name and Location of School

Degree/Diploma/Certificate
Earned
Name and Location of School

Course Description

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Date

Course Title
Include short courses, workshops, seminars, etc.
A course description, if necessary, should be
very brief.

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Date

Include special projects,

assignments of a
professional nature.

Achievement
Membership # / Position

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Date

Name of Group

OTHER ACTIVITIES
Activity

List your involvement

with committees,
volunteer organizations,
etc. Include only if
relevant.

PUBLICATIONS
Date

Title of Journal / Book

Title of article

REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

Sample Rsum
FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE
1234 CRIMEA STREET
SAINT JOHN, NB E2L 1N0
Telephone: (506) 123-4567
Fax: (506) 234-5678

CAREER SUMMARY:
My strong interest in intensive care and emergency nursing is reflected by a career of progressive
responsibility and involvement in decision-making. My competent assessment, monitoring and
interpretation of critical-care needs has earned me numerous positive evaluations. I am registered in
courses to qualify for a degree in Nursing at the University of New Brunswick. My long term career
objective is a nursing management position in intensive care.

EXPERIENCE:
June 1988 - Staff Nurse - Emergency
to date Scutari Hospital, N.B.
Assessing and sorting (triaging) emergency patients, thus recognizing
respiratory, cardiac or hemodynamic deterioration. Initiati
ng
treatme
nt as
require
d
(resusc
itation,
intrave
nous
therapy
,
venipu
ncture,
EGC,
first
aid).
Monitoring hemodynamic status (dysrhythmias interpretation,
vital signs, fluid therapy, medication monitoring).
Evaluating and interpreting data related to blood
results, dysrhythmias and ventilation.
Assessing and initiating recognition of psycho-social needs.
9

Jan 1983 May 1988

Staff Nurse - Intensive Care

Unit
Scutari Hospital, N.B.
Assessing and monitoring critically ill patients and
initiating corrective measures.
Supervising a medical surgical intensive care unit as acting
unit manager.

Jan 1981 Dec. 1982

Staff Nurse - Surgical Unit

Scutari Hospital, N.B.
Assessing, initiating interventions, monitoring and evaluating
patients
on a 22 bed general surgical unit

EDUCATION:
1981

Diploma in Nursing - Nightingale School

1978

Kennebecasis Valley High School

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:
1994

Clinical Leadership for staff nurses

1993

1987

Non violent crisis intervention

Emergency Medical Care Assistant Standard First Aid
Recertification
- Saint John Ambulance
Advanced Cardiac Life Support - New Brunswick Heart
Foundation

1984

Lifting and transferring

1992

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENTS:
1993

Project Leader for one-day health promotion workshop for Irving

Pulp and Paper employees, Saint John, N.B.. Publication in Info
nursing Health Promotion Issues.

10

199
2

Organized the first Region 2 Emergency/Critical Care

Nursing
Conference

199
0

Triage nurse for mock disaster exercise at Scutari Hospital

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:
Nurses Association of New Brunswick
Canadian Association of Critical Care Nurses
New Brunswick Emergency Nurses Association

OTHER ACTIVITIES:
19
91 - Present
19
88 - 1990
19
86 - 1988
19
85

(123456)

Scutari Hospital Policies and Procedures

Committee
Nursing Advisory Committee
New Brunswick Nurses Union - Local
Representative
Nursing Practice Conference, NANB
REFERENCES AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

11

Cover Letter - Guidelines

Every rsum must be accompanied by a personally written letter of application. Its main
purpose is to secure for you an interview with a prospective employer.
Use high-grade, regulation size, neutral, unscented stationery. If possible, your cover letter
stationery should match your resum. Use 9 X 12 envelopes so the rsum and cover letter
are not folded.
Type your letter or write in ink. Never send a letter with words crossed out, erasures or ink
blots. Never write a letter of application in pencil.
Address letter to name and company title.
Use only one side of the paper. The letter itself should not exceed one page it typed, two if
written in longhand.
Leave proper margins and generally space your letter so that it is easy to
read. Check carefully for errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar.
Keep letter brief. It is a business letter and should be restricted to its function of introducing
the resum and emphasizing significant parts of the resum.
Avoid clichs.
Develop your letter in three parts:
1) A first paragraph indicating the position in which you are interested;
2) One or more paragraphs that state clearly, factually and specifically just how your
background, personality, training and experience have prepared you to do the job well;
3) Concluding paragraph politely requesting an interview so that you may present
additional information (e.g., I would be pleased to meet with you in the near future. You
may contact me at the following number 123-4567).
Sign the letter in such a way that an employer can make out your
name. Never use the printer letterhead of any firm, hotel or school.
Write your letter in rough and review several times.
1
2

Dont appeal for a job on the basis of your need. Apply for a specific job, not just anything.
If possible, avoid mention of salary until the time of the

interview. Avoid too much use of the pronoun I.

Be sure to date your letter.
Include your address and telephone number.
In replying to a job advertisement, cut the ad from the paper or magazine and keep it
for reference.
Keep a copy of the letter, you may need to refer back to it.

1
3

Networking
Networking is the process of developing and using your contacts for information, advice and
moral support as you pursue your career. Maintaining and expanding your network should be a
continuous process in your career development.
Become Cinderella instead of Sleeping Beauty. The difference between Sleeping Beauty
and Cinderella is that Sleeping Beauty slept for a hundred years. Cinderella got up in the
morning and got out of bed. She got dressed. She used her step sisters... to give her
information about a very key event. Then she plugged in to her mentor, the fairy
godmother, who had resources (little animals and a pumpkin) that were utilized on her
behalf. When she got to the ball, she was imaged appropriately and knew how to dance.
And then, she knew when to leave.
Aline Novak
Keynote address, 1981 Annual Conference on Continuing Education in
Nursing, American Nurses Association
Council on Continuing Education, Washington, D.C.
YOUR NETWORK
Name three people:
To whom you go for advice
Who support you
Who inspire you
Who come to you for
advice Whom you support
Whom you inspire
WAYS IN WHICH TO EXPAND YOUR NETWORK
Attend a conference
Join an NANB Professional Practice
Group Join a committee
Write letters, thank you notes, announcements,
etc. Join your local NANB Chapter
Volunteer for a project
Present a workshop/Teach a course
Find a mentor
Attend
work-related
social
functions Write an article
Get involved with NBNU
1
4

Job Interviews
GUIDELINES FOR APPLICANTS
Ask for a job description prior to the interview.
Ask who will be interviewing you. Will it be one person, a panel of a series of interviewers?
Address the interviewers by name. Use titles unless invited to use a first name.

Find out as much as you can about the organization and the job so you can ask
relevant questions.
Take a list of pertinent questions.
If appropriate, take a portfolio containing your resum, evaluations, projects,
publications, etc.
Smile!
Dress appropriately.
If you are not feeling well, call and reschedule the interview. Dont blow your chances by
not being at your best.
GOOD LUCK!

QUESTIONS YOU MAY BE ASKED AT THE JOB INTERVIEW

Describe the duties and responsibilities of your present and most recent
positions. Why are you leaving your present position?
What kind of performance appraisals have you
received? Why did you choose nursing as a career?
Why do you want this job?
Define your philosophy of nursing.
With which nursing models are you familiar?
Describe how you use the nursing process.
Which professional journals do you read?

What are your career goals and how do you plan to attain
them? How do you cope with stress?
15

What do you plan to be doing in five years?

To which professional organizations do you belong (e.g. NANB, NANB
Chapters, Professional Interest Groups, etc)?
What do you perceive to be your greatest strengths and weaknesses as they pertain to
this job?
Tell me about yourself.
What interests do you have outside your profession?
Why should we hire you over other equally qualified candidates?
QUESTIONS YOU MAY WANT TO ASK AT THE JOB INTERVIEW
What is the philosophy of nursing of the organization or
unit? What are the goals of the organization or unit?
Does the unit practice primary or team
nursing? What type of patients? Acuity level?
What is a typical patient assignment?
What length and type of orientation is provided? Is this
flexible? What percentage of the staff are nurses?
What opportunities are there for continuing education (e.g. leave for courses, inservice programs)?
To whom do I report?
What are the criteria for performance appraisals?
How often are performance appraisals given?

What

opportunities

exists

for

growth

and

advancement? Ask for a tour of the unit and hospital.

1
6

NANB Interest Groups

Association of Womens Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
Canadian Association of Critical Care Nurses -- New Brunswick Chapter
Canadian Council of Cardiovascular Nurses -- New Brunswick Chapter

Canadian Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associate -- New Brunswick Chapter

Chief Nursing Officers Group
New Brunswick Directors of Nursing for Nursing Homes
New Brunswick Discharge Planners Nurses Group
New Brunswick Emergency Nurses Association
New Brunswick First Nations Nurses

New Brunswick Head Nurses

New Brunswick Health Services Centre Nurses
Group New Brunswick Mental Health Nurses Group
New Brunswick Occupational Health Nurses Group
New Brunswick Office Nurses Interest Group
New Brunswick Oncology Nurses Group
New Brunswick Operating Room Nurses

New Brunswick Public Health Nurses Interest

Group Nursing Informatics of New Brunswick

1
7

Career Options for Nurses

When planning your career, it is important to remember that nursing provides a great many
career options. The following partial list may help you to develop your career goals. More
comprehensive information is available through the Nurses Association of New Brunswick.
Administration

Camp Nurse

Clinical Instructor

Clinical Nurse Specialist

Community Mental Health

Public Health

Home Health Nurse

Insurance Companies

Occupational Health

Outpatient Clinics

Pharmaceutical Sales

Physicians Office

Private Duty

Enterostomal Therapist

Infection Control Nurse

I.V. Therapist

Nurse-Midwife

Patient Education Coordinator

School Nurse

Poison Information Nurse

Staff Coordinator

Nursing Informatics (Computers)

Blood Donor Clinics

New Brunswick Nurses Union Staff

Palliative Care Nurse

Quality Assurance Coordinator

Canadian Armed Forces Hospital

Nurses Association of New Brunswick
Staff

Liaison Nurse - Extra Mural

Nurse Lawyer

Nurse Journalist
Student Health Services Nurse
(Colleges,

Nursing Consultants

universities)

Department of Health
Private Practice
Industry

Nurse Practitioner
Nurse Anaesthetists (U.S.)

Lactation Consultant

Nurse Educator, Hospital

Outpost Nursing

Nurse Professor, University

Corrections Nursing

1
8