The concept and practice of goal setting are important in any career, particularly those interested in pursuing a nursing career. Knowing how to set goals both realistic andattainableallows nurses to not only improve their own professional prospects but also improve their patient care techniques.
Many nurses find that usingSMARTgoalsallow them to set both short-term and long-term goals that allow them to reach professional milestones.
What Are SMART Goals?
According toIndeed,SMARTgoalsare defined as goals that are:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Relevant
- Time-Based
WhileSMARTgoalsare used universally in the world of business and across various fields,SMARTgoalsin nursingare particularly powerful. Nurses who rely onSMARTgoal setting are often able to improve their own professional prospects while simultaneously providing patients with improved, personalized care.
How Are SMART Goals Used in Nursing?
SMARTgoalsare widely used in the nursing profession because this goal-setting technique allows nurses to identify and pursue goals bothattainableand relevant to their career. SMARTgoalsin nursingare beneficial because they:
- Help keep nurses motivated, as they know their goals are within reach.
- Help nurses better understand and identify their professional goals.
- Allow nurses to hold themselves and others accountable as they work toward their goals.
- Increase an individual’s chances of successfully achieving their short-term and long-term goals.
Benefits of Using SMART Goals for Nursing Career Development
To grow and further their careers, nurses must be intentional. For example, it is possible to secure an entry-level position in nursing by earning an associate’s degree, but the best way to truly advance your career as a nurse is to earn a BSN degree. By utilizingSMARTgoals, nurses can identify their goals and take theactionablesteps needed to develop their careers over the course of their lifetime.
How to Apply SMART Goals to Nursing Careers
Learning about the concept ofSMARTgoalsand learning how to applySMARTgoalsin nursingcan allow you to grow and develop your career on your own timeline. It is important to note thatSMARTgoalscan always be adjusted over time. This allows you to personalize the trajectory of your nursing career and accommodate any new interests that you develop as you practice and work with patients.
You can applySMARTgoalsin nursingby doing the following:
Identifying Specific Career Objectives and Aspirations
Regardless of where you are in your nursing career, you can useSMARTgoalsin nursingto begin identifying the next steps you want to take in your career, or your long-term goal for your career. With so many different specializations in the field of nursing, it is important to identify where your passion lies and where you want to go within your career. For instance, you could useSMARTgoalsin nursingto identify the steps you need to take to become a pediatric nurse.
Measuring Progress and Success in Achieving Career Milestones
One of the hallmarks of theSMARTgoal-setting process is that the goals identified are bothactionableandmeasurable. WithSMARTgoalsnursing, you will do more than identify your goals, as you will also be able to track your progress and enjoy success along the way.
Ensuring Goals Are Realistic and Aligned With Personal and Professional Growth
The intentional process of settingSMARTgoalsalso allows you to verify that your goals are both realistic andattainable.SMARTgoalshave a timely element to them, which makes them more achievable. Through the goal-setting process, you can verify that the goals you are establishing for your nursing career align with your personal expectations and your professional growth goals.
Setting Timeframes and Deadlines for Goal Achievement
It can be easy to set a vague goal for some point in the distance, and then produce hundreds of reasons why it is not possible to reach that goal. WithSMARTnursing goals, you are forced to establish goals that are realistic, and that can easily be accomplished within a specific time frame. To note, you might decide that you are going to earn your BSN degree to pursue more advanced positions in the field of nursing. ThroughSMARTgoal setting, you might determine that you will apply to three RN to BSN online degree programs by the end of the calendar year.
Examples of Practical SMART Goals for Nurses
SMARTgoal setting is a versatile process that can be applied in many ways, particularly within a nursing career. These are just a few of thenursingSMARTgoalsexamples:
Attaining Advanced Certification in a Specialized Nursing Area Within 12 Months
If you would like to attain an advanced certification in a specialized nursing area within 12 months, yourSMARTgoalsmight look like:
- Obtain an advanced certification in a specialized nursing area within 12 months.
- Submit my application to an advanced certification program.
- Begin the certification program and completing it within 6 months.
- Complete all extra requirements for certification within 6 months.
- Earn my certification within one year.
- Increasing Patient Satisfaction Scores by 10% Within Six Months Through Enhanced Communication Strategies
Increasing Patient Satisfaction Scores by 10% Within Six Months Through Enhanced Communication Strategies
To achieve this goal, yourSMARTgoal might look like:
- I would like to increase my patient satisfaction scores by 10 percent within six months using improved communication strategies.
- I will begin using new communication tools to personalize the experience for my patients.
- My improved communication will allow me to provide my patients with a better experience.
- I will see my patient satisfaction ratings climb by 10 percent within six months.
Completing a Leadership Development Program and Applying for a Charge Nurse Position Within Two Years
If this is my professional development goal in nursing, mySMARTgoalsmight look like:
- I would like to complete a leadership development program and apply for an advanced nurse position within two years.
- I will apply to a leadership development program within three months.
- I will gather all required materials for the program and complete the program within one year.
- My newfound skills will allow me to become qualified for advanced nursing positions.
- I will apply to advanced nursing positions within two years.
Strategies for Implementing and Monitoring SMART Goals
Identifying your nursing goals is the first step to using theSMARTgoal-setting approach. That said, these strategies for implementing and monitoring yourSMARTgoalscan help you ensure that your dreams become a reality.
Breaking Down Goals Into Actionable Steps
One of the best ways to develop aSMARTgoal for your nursing career is to first identify your goal, such as obtaining an advanced certification or earning your BSN degree, and then breaking that down intoactionablesteps. By dividing your long-term goal into several short-term goals, you will find that it is easier to take the steps needed to reach your primary goal. To illustrate, if you want to earn a BSN degree, you can break your goal down into the following steps:
- Research RN to BSN online programs.
- Apply to anRN to BSN online degree program.
- Begin pursuing an RN to BSN online degree to reach your goal by your specified deadline.
Setting Milestones to Measure Progress Along the Way
One of the most important aspects ofSMARTgoalsin nursingis that these goals aremeasurable, which means that you need to be able to track your progress along the way. To transform a goal into ameasurablegoal, you can establish milestones that you need to reach by certain deadlines. To demonstrate, if you are interested in becoming a nurse practitioner, some of your milestones may be:
- Applying for several nurse practitioner programs.
- Being accepted into a nurse practitioner program.
- Earning your advanced degree by a specific date.
Utilizing Tools and Resources for Goal Tracking
Tracking goals in a visible way can help you maintain your motivation and feel more accomplished. There are a variety of digital tools and online apps that allow you to establish a goal, set a deadline for when you want to achieve it and input data so that you can track your progress along the way. Seeing your progress can help you stay focused and excited about reaching your goal.
Establishing Accountability Partners or Supportive Networks
Working toward a goal is always easier when you have someone working alongside you. By establishing an accountability partner or creating a support network within your nursing community, you and your fellow nurses can encourage each other along the way and provide support when you encounter challenges or setbacks. When you feel part of something greater than yourself, you will be more likely to keep working toward your goal.
Conducting Regular Reviews and Reflections on Goal Progress
While your digital tracking tools can help you monitor your progress, you also should try to reflect on a regular basis and ensure that your goals still align with your personal preferences and vision for your career. By regularly reviewing yourSMARTgoals, you can adjust as necessary and ensure that you are enjoying both personal reward and professional success throughout your nursing career.
Stay Open to Feedback
As you are identifying yourSMARTgoalsand developing your strategies for implementing them, you will want to connect with professional mentors in the nursing field. These mentors can provide you with constructive feedback that you can use to adapt and improve your goals, allowing you to advance your career in the most rewarding way.
Celebrating Achievements and Recognizing Efforts
Within yourSMARTgoals, there are always several minor goals and milestones that you will reach along the way. Every time you reach a milestone, be sure to recognize that success and celebrate your achievements. Knowing that you are taking small but important steps toward reaching your larger goal will allow you to stay focused and motivated. The key to reaching any goal is knowing that it is both achievable andattainable, and in many cases, those smaller milestones are just as important and monumental as the larger goal itself.
Learn About the Importance of Actionable and Measurable Goals in Nursing at Nevada State University
SMARTgoalsin nursingare an advanced nursing concept, one emphasized and perfected throughout a BSN degree program. At Nevada State University, we offer anRN to BSN online programthat allows nurses to build upon their foundation and streamline their path toward earning a BSN degree.
Request more informationabout our online nursing degree programs today.
