Your day is already full juggling budget cuts, staffing demands, regulatory requirements and reimbursement issues. Your patients are older and sicker than ever before and their procedures are more complex. The staff needs an in-service on a new piece of equipment that the surgeon wants to use tomorrow. Who has time to plan a career? Is there a trend or event lurking that could ambush your career? By avoiding common pitfalls you will be better prepared for whatever challenges lie ahead.

Mistake #1: Not maintaining work-life balance

"Most people struggle with life balance simply because they haven't paid the price to decide what is really important to them."
                                                                                     Stephen R.Covey

Healthcare professionals often put the needs of others before themselves. The demands of the current healthcare environment make self care essential. Schedule time for family, friends, hobbies, exercise and spiritual renewal. Not doing so may lead to burnout or compassion fatigue. Burnout fades with time off or a change of work environment. Compassion fatigue is a state of mental, physical and spiritual exhaustion that requires professional help.

Mistake #2: Ignoring trends in healthcare

"Change before you have to."
                                                      Jack Welch

Technology is advancing at an unprecedented rate. Rapidly evolving trends in healthcare are influencing every aspect of how care is delivered and paid for. There have never before been so many driving and restraining forces affecting healthcare professionals. Having to do more with less is reaching critical mass. Become a trend watcher. What are healthcare strategists predicting for your industry?

Mistake #3: Failing to plan

"Failing to plan is planning to fail".
                                                     Alan Lakein

Not having a career plan is like living in Florida and not planning for hurricanes. Both are potentially disastrous. Your career plan could be simple or complex. Write down your goals of where you want to be in one year and five years. The next step is to identify the actions you need to take to achieve your goals. Evaluate your progress and adapt the plan as needed.

Mistake #4: Remaining in comfort zone

"Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new."
                                                                                 Brian Tracy

The problem with comfort zones is if left unchallenged they shrink over time. If something feels a little scary that is probably the best place to start. Think back over your life and career to times you stretched your self and succeeded. Growth can occur with small incremental steps. With each risk you take your comfort zone expands and so does your self confidence.

Mistake #5: Neglecting professional development

"Work harder on your self than you do on your job."
                                                                          Jim Rohn

We are now living in the knowledge age. The combination of experience, skills and education equals intellectual capital. Your intellectual capital is your most marketable asset. Keep your career portable. Document all that you have accomplished in a portfolio. Regularly update your resume and practice interviewing skills. Invest in your professional development by attending seminars, reading journals and books, networking at professional organizations and researching information on the Internet.

Mistake #6: Communicating ineffectively

"The way we communicate with others and with ourselves ultimately determines the quality of our lives."
                                                                                     Tony Robbins

Communication skills are as vital as clinical skills. Are you able to effectively communicate with your team? How are your presentation skills? Can you capture and maintain the attention of decision makers? In order to accelerate your communication skills join Toastmasters International. Meetings are held at various times and locations in most communities. For more information please visit www.toastmasters.org .

Mistake #7: Lagging behind technology

"Adapt or perish, now as ever, is nature's inexorable imperative. "
                                                                           H.G. Wells

As a healthcare professional you must continuously keep up with advances in both medical and communications technology. A huge disparity of technological competency exists between individuals and generations. The inability to master technology will stunt your career growth. Computer classes are offered by most organizations and community colleges. You must catch up to the herd or risk being picked off by predators.

Mistake #8: Depending on employer for security

"He that is too secure is not safe."
                                                Thomas Fuller

All healthcare organizations are in a state of dynamic flux. Entire departments and facilities are closing over night. There is no guarantee that any position is stable. Survival is the name of the game for both you and your employer. Adopt the philosophy of the self employed and treat your employer as a valued customer. Create solutions where challenges exist. The ability to solve problems is a highly marketable skill in today's healthcare market. Remember that your employer owns the job but you own your career.

Mistake # 9: Underestimating yourself

"Circumstances don't make the man, they reveal him."
                                                                        James Allen

Give yourself credit for surviving in this tumultuous industry. That same tenacity and creativity can be applied to designing a more resilient career. Record your successes and celebrate your accomplishments. The Chinese symbol for crisis is a combination of the symbols for danger and opportunity. By being aware of the dangers you will be more prepared to seize the opportunities in today's healthcare environment.

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Laura Wisniewski RN BS CIC is an education specialist, member of the National Speaker's Association and president of Nursing Voice Communications Inc. Contact Laura Wisniewski at laura@nursingvoice.com