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Throughout my journey of being a nurse, and now mentor for nurse entrepreneurs, I’ve noticed that so many nurses blindly and unhappily follow a set path to success. Often without any awareness of whether it aligns with how they actually want to live their lives.
This paved path to success in nursing, for the most part, guarantees employment (there is and always will be a need for nurses) and a steady stream of income.
So why are so many nurses unfulfilled on this path to success?
The Hard Truth
The hard truth is this: As nurses, we were only trained to go to work.
Our nursing education did not cultivate creativity nor reveal the limitless options and potential that we have as nurses.
Our career programming was structured to make sure that we follow a set path to success and higher education without question. Not to the sole benefit of us, our career goals, lives, individual talents, or gifts.
That’s why I’m going to break down the typical path to success in nursing, how some get creative and pursue more aligned careers, the problems that prompt many nurses to feel unfulfilled in the typical path to success in nursing and I’ll end this article by sharing what I did to pave my own career path.
The Nursing Career Path
Diploma in Practical Nursing
LVN/LPN
Many jumpstart their nursing career with a diploma in Practical Nursing. The median salary for LPNs ranges from $48,820 – $65,520 and is experience-based.
While many continue on this career path as far up as doctoral degrees, oftentimes accumulating thousands in student loan debt, some go on to start profitable businesses.
Throughout my career, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting LPNs who have opened nursing/community homes, PICC line businesses, secured contracts with major hospitals, started profitable coaching businesses and found creative ways to utilize their knowledge, skills, and education outside of the healthcare industry.
Registered Nurse
Associate Degree in Nursing or Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing
This is where I jumped on the path to nursing success. I started my nursing studies in 2008 at Prairie View A&M University receiving my Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2013.
The ADN and BSN level of nursing allow you to obtain your RN license after passing your curriculum and passing the state board exam, NCLEX.
The median salary for registered nurses ranges from $75,330 – $116,230. Contrary to what we were taught in nursing school, the salary within this level of nursing is also experience-based rather than credential based. I learned this much later in my career.
While many continue along the nursing career path, there are some that get creative with their degree, skills, and experience. Opening IV therapy clinics, health & wellness centers, and passion-driven coaching businesses help their communities on a more direct level outside of the healthcare industry.
Master’s/Advanced Practice Nurse
Nurse Practitioners, Nurse Midwife, Nurse Educators, Nurse Administrator, Nurse Anesthetists
Many nurses shoot for this career level because they want more options in their career choices.
Master-level nurses can become Advanced Practice Nurses and can perform more extensive tasks like ordering and evaluating test results, referring patients to specialists, and diagnosing and treating ailments allowing them the freedom to work independently on a more clinical level.
If they decide to work in collaboration with a physician, practice, or hospital, their salary is experience-based with a median salary of $111,680 – 117,670.
It’s not uncommon for nurses to veer off the paved path to success and get creative with their degree, knowledge, and experience at this level. Many open businesses like weight loss, health and telehealth clinics, wellness centers, or providing health coaching and consulting to those in their communities.
Doctoral Degree
DNP, Certified Midwife, Nurse Anesthetist, Clinical Nurse Leader
The Problem
In my conversations with nurses, there are two common problems with the nursing career ladder.
First, no matter how far you go, you will always trade your time and freedom for money. There is very little flexibility outside of the exchange of time for money within nursing. In order to make more than your experienced-based salary, you’ll need to work overtime, accept a second nursing position or be open to taking travel contracts.
Making it very difficult to exit the rat race and achieve any level of freedom without sacrificing even more time, freedom, holidays with family, and time at home with loved ones. And for many nurses, the thought of seeing their coworkers more than their family is becoming unbearable.
The second most common problem with this career path is that there is no real autonomy within these roles. As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, nurses lose more autonomy while simultaneously gaining more responsibility. Being forced to take on more roles to fill holes within the continuity of care has left many passion-driven nurses burnt out and falling in line with the way things have always been in the healthcare industry, just to get by.
Being one of the most hands-on providers in patient care with the knowledge and skills to cultivate and advocate for real change in the healthcare industry, many nurses have learned that very little change is actually being made.
There are still major disparities that have been present for decades.
The healthcare industry is still a battleground for people of color and other vulnerable populations in the United States.
Black women are still dying in numbers compared to other races within the healthcare industry.
Marginalized communities -like the lower class, homeless, and poor – are still being stereotyped and neglected rather than receiving quality care.
Racism still exists systemically within the healthcare industry for patients, nurses, and other healthcare professionals of color.
Affecting status, hiring, and opportunities for growth for many of us. But ultimately, this affects the current state and evolution of our healthcare industry.
Pave Your Path, Be The Solution
After overcoming homelessness as a teen, hustling my way into nursing school, and having a 10+ year career in nursing, I also saw problems with the career ladder to success in nursing.
In 2020, I decided that I would pave my own path in my career, just as I have done in my life. I took a leap of faith, followed a path less traveled, and started my own coaching business.
Now as The #1 Coach for Nurse Entrepreneurs, I’m known for helping my clients leverage their skills, start, launch and grow their online businesses, expanding their nursing careers in aligned and intentional ways through my various offers.
My mission is to revolutionize healthcare in black and brown communities by supporting leading nurses and health professionals as they courageously use their platforms to speak out, create safe spaces, and empower their communities.
Are your career goals aligned and intentional with how you envision living your life?
Let’s talk about this in the comments!
