The field of nursing is no exception. Sometimes networking can be an annoying term, especially when you consider that a lot of people only get involved for their own self-interest, but when you look at the overall benefits, there are plenty of reasons why nurses should put networking on their to-do list.

The best way for nurses to find jobs

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We shall begin with the obvious.

Professional networking is one of the best ways to find new jobs in the department or location you are interested in, or get news about openings. In fact, the UCLA career guide claims that networking accounts for 80 per cent of all jobs.

Employee referrals thrive in the recruitment departments at hospitals and healthcare organizations. Typically, they offer generous referral bonuses for employees which encourage their employees to make more referrals.

Professional networking is probably the best way for nurses to land the jobs they want, given all these variables.

For example, through being part of the right nursing network, graduate and experienced nurses looking to settle with Oklahoma travel nursing jobs can get the information and connection that they need to apply and get accepted.

Career progress

When it comes to this, career advancement is getting a job that is a step above the one you currently have, whether it’s a leadership role or a more specific field.

The difference between a position that is more advanced and an entry-level position is that the employer expects the transition to be seamless and there will probably be minimal training.

Networking can facilitate career advancement by helping you acquire the necessary knowledge and skills needed from working directly with people already in the desired position.

Provides career support

Nursing is a physically as well as mentally extremely demanding career. Burnout is understandably a real problem for nurses.

Studies show that job dissatisfaction among hospital nurses is four times that of the national average. And job dissatisfaction is a key nurse burnout indicator.

Experts agree that having a group of fellow nurses helps ease the stress that leads to burnout of nurses.

Networking as a nurse enables you to find support systems that can provide an opportunity to share your struggles and frustrations with others. Networking can bring you and seasoned professionals with tips on how to manage stress.

Access to trends and advancements

With the constant updating of research, new technology and advancement, the nursing sector is incredibly dynamic.

Since nurses are the people who deal with patients directly, any changes in patient care need to be learned as soon as possible. To be able to network professionally with people who are the first to know about these types of changes gives you an edge in your workplace.

The development of professional relationships, the attendance of professional events and the use of professional networking platforms all serve to facilitate the exchange of ideas and information vital to keeping the knowledge of a nurse fresh and appropriate.

Tips for Successful Networking for Nurses

It is not possible to create a strong professional network in a single day. It requires devotion and readiness to connect with like-minded professionals. To point you in the right direction, here are a few ways to grow your professional nursing network:

Join a professional society:

This type of organization brings together nurses who have things in common. Nursing societies can focus on location, type of care and many more. Professional societies resources can be found on-line.

Attend Events:

Seminars and events allow you to meet dozens of people in your chosen field working diverse jobs. For younger professionals, this can give you a sense of what kind of career path you might want to pursue in nursing.

For those with more experience, those events help to forge connections that can lead to opportunities for advancement.

Use social networks and media:

Even though keeping patient information and privacy in mind is always crucial, social media can be a great platform for finding and interacting with other nurses. Try looking for the like-minded medical professionals on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Maintain Your Network:

There is more to networking than just developing new connections. You also need to work actively to maintain relationships within your sphere.

Congratulate contacts on new jobs or promotions, and try to think about what you can offer in your network to other professionals.

Wrapping up

We live in a networked world so it is important to your career success to develop your networking skill set. You never know what new opportunities you will encounter or who you will encounter until you stretch out your hand, introduce yourself and ask questions.