In a Word document, develop your own career mapping concept map (which highlights your own stages of progression). Your concept map should include and identify future stages of your nursing career progression, as well.

My career concept map as a nurse may look something like:

• Stage 1: Beginning Registered Nurse
  • Acquire nursing license
  • Working as a nurse staff in a healthcare facility or hospital
  • Get experience in different nursing specialties
• Stage 2: Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs)
  • Earn a Master’s degree in nursing
  • Become certified as an APRN in a specialty area such as family, adult-gerontology, pediatrics, or women’s health
  • Work as a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse midwife, or nurse anesthetist
• Stage 3: Management and leadership roles
  • Pursue a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) or a Master’s degree in Nursing Administration
  • Take on a management or leadership position in the field of healthcare such as a nurse manager or director.
• Stage 4: Nursing education
  • Nursing in the college or university environment
  • Get a PhD in Nursing, or a Doctor of Nursing Practice.
• Stage 5: Entrepreneurial nursing
  • Starting a nursing agency such as an home health service, consulting company, or health coach practice is a great way to get started.
  • Continue your education in business and entrepreneurship.

Each stage represents an opportunity for career development. Along the way, there could be additional opportunities. It also shows future goals, like pursuing entrepreneurship or getting a DNP. These may not be your immediate goal, but they could still be in consideration.