10 Nursing Career Goals to Help You Grow and Excel

Anytime is the perfect time to set new goals and take your nursing career to the next level. In fact, studies show that people who set goals are more successful, especially when they’re specific. And, you don’t have to wait until the New Year to start going after them!

Whether you’re looking to expand your nursing skill set, transition into a new specialty, step into a leadership role, and/or increase your earning potential, this complete nursing career goals guide will help you get there.

Keep reading for practical ideas and tips to help you grow, stand out, and thrive in this challenging yet rewarding career path.

Goal 1: Strengthen Your Core Clinical Skills

There are a few foundational skills that all nurses should focus on mastering, regardless of their specialty or years in the field. These skills include, but aren’t limited to:

Patient assessment

Patient education, care, and communication

Medication administration

IV therapy and line management

Wound care and dressing

Basic life support (BLS) and other emergency response protocols

Charting and patient documentation

Infection control and patient safety protocols

Any other specialty-specific competencies, such as ventilator management for ICU nurses or wound vac care for LTAC nurses

The best way to refine your skills in these areas is through consistent, hands-on practice in various healthcare settings. You can also take classes at simulation labs, sign up for workshops, and take targeted courses to enhance your skills. These opportunities can be especially helpful for new nurses or those looking to deepen their skills outside the clinical setting.

Learning from experienced nurses, seeking a mentor, asking for feedback, and rotating through different units or specialties also helps with skill application and building competency.

Additionally, for nurses looking to expand their experience, travel nursing is an excellent option. It exposes you to various patient populations and clinical challenges, which help enhance your versatility and adaptability as a nurse. However, if travel nursing isn’t your goal, consider cross-training, specialty rotations, or mentorship programs to continue growing in your expertise.

Goal 2: Earn Specialty Certifications

Depending on your specialty, you’ll have a required set of certifications to receive before you can begin practicing, including BLS and ACLS (which are both required for all nurses). Beyond these and any others required for your specialty, there are many “optional” certifications you can pursue to enhance your skills and build confidence.

Consider your specialty and career goals when choosing certifications. Some options for popular specialties include:

Med-Surg: CMSRN (Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse)
ICU/Critical Care: CCRN (Critical Care Registered Nurse)
Emergency Nursing: CEN (Certified Emergency Nurse)
Pediatrics: CPN (Certified Pediatric Nurse)
Oncology: OCN (Oncology Certified Nurse)
Surgical/OR Nursing: CNOR (Certified Nurse Operating Room)

Some additional options that you can pursue, no matter your specialty, include:

TNCC (Trauma Nursing Core Course): Advanced trauma assessment and care
WOCN (Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurse): Expert wound care
IV Therapy Certification: Advanced IV and line management skills
CPHQ (Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality): Patient safety and care expertise
PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support): Pediatric life-saving skills (this is required for all pediatric nursing specialties; though any nurse can go through the training)

Goal 3: Improve Your Communication and Leadership Skills

If you’re looking to transition into a nursing leadership role or simply want to improve your communication skills in healthcare settings, there are various courses you can take. Taking the time to develop these skills will not only help you guide and support your team more effectively but also strengthen patient care. Here are some options to keep in mind:

CNL (Clinical Nurse Leader) Certification: This is a structured program created by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses focused on leadership, management, and professional development.
Nurse Executive Certifications (NE-BC / NEA-BC): These certifications are for nurses moving into leadership or management roles.
TeamSTEPPS® (Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety): This is an evidence-based teamwork and communication training to improve performance and patient safety.

You can also talk to your supervisor and see if there are any options for refining your skills on the job. This way, you can combine your targeted learning with hands-on experience, helping you grow as a confident and capable nurse leader in your specialty!

Goal 4: Stay Flexible and Adaptable

Healthcare settings are challenging, fast-paced, and often unpredictable, so staying flexible and adaptable as a nurse is essential. Patients’ conditions can change in an instant, and there are times when patient volume or acuity spikes unexpectedly, requiring you to think on your feet and remain calm under pressure.

Strengthening the core skills we’ve discussed so far—including clinical expertise, communication, and leadership—will naturally improve your adaptability and confidence on the floor. However, you can also strengthen these skills by cross-training in different units or considering travel nursing opportunities.

At the same time, it’s crucial to avoid overextending yourself. Asking for help and taking scheduled breaks all help prevent burnout and critical errors. Remember: Being flexible and adaptable is also about knowing your limits and when to ask for support.

Goal 5: Prioritize Self-Care

In addition to not overextending yourself at work, maintaining a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and learning stress management and mindfulness techniques are some self-care techniques nurses can benefit from. Also, having support both at work and outside of it plays a crucial role in sustaining your well-being and resilience.

Here are some basic self-care tips to get you started:

Prep balanced meals in advance that include protein, complex carbs, and healthy fats, even if it’s just a few grab-and-go options for the week.
Stay hydrated throughout the day (think water, electrolytes, and herbal teas to keep energy levels steadier than coffee alone).
Use guided meditation apps to fit mindfulness into your schedule. Some nurse-friendly options include Headspace, Calm, or Insight Timer.
Take short walks outside during breaks to decompress whenever possible.
Stretch in staff rooms or your locker area to release tension.
After work, consider taking a gentle yoga class or a relaxing walk outside.
Save longer or more intense workouts for your days off.
Listen to your body. Rest and recovery are just as important as movement, and overdoing it can add stress instead of reducing it.
Create a bedtime routine to support relaxation, such as drinking herbal tea (like chamomile), reading a book, and limiting screen time if you can.
Seek professional support if stress feels overwhelming. Speaking with a counselor or therapist can give you tools to manage your emotions.

Click here to learn more about how self-care can improve your performance as a nurse, with additional tips on nutrition, sleep, stress management, external support, and more.

Goal 6: Build Your Professional Network

There are many ways to build your professional network as a nurse, and doing so can help you find new job opportunities, advance your skills, and find community. Some popular ways to build professional connections in the nursing industry include:

Joining professional associations and committees: This includes organizations such as the American Nurses Association (ANA), National Association of Travel Healthcare Organizations (NATHO), or specialty-specific groups like the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA).
Joining social media groups and online communities: Platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Reddit have nursing communities where you can share experiences, ask questions, and learn from other nurses. Nursingworld.org also has links to online communities that you might find supportive.
Seeking out experienced mentors: Nursing mentors come in many forms. They might be colleagues at your hospital, connections you make through your travel agency, or other professionals in your network who can support your clinical decision-making and personal development. At Gifted, our recruiters also serve as mentors, connecting you with opportunities and experienced nurses to learn from!
Volunteering: Consider volunteering at blood drives, health fairs, and other community events to meet like-minded people in your field. You never know where these connections might lead you.
Cross-training: Working in different units can help you meet more professionals while strengthening your nursing skills. Ask your current supervisor if there are any opportunities to cross-train and learn from other colleagues.
Attending seminars and conferences: Conferences like the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) National Teaching Institute and TravCon provide opportunities to meet peers, recruiters, and leaders in the field while earning CEUs.
Other: Staying in touch with previous colleagues, building relationships with coworkers, and being a team player can naturally help grow your professional network and open you up to potential opportunities.

Goal 7: Set Career Goals & Milestones

Are you looking to transition into the ICU? Are you a staff nurse but desire to become a travel nurse? Are you aspiring to be promoted to Charge Nurse in the future? Depending on your goals, it’s essential to set career milestones and lay out the requirements and steps needed to achieve them.

Start by asking yourself questions such as:

What specific skills, certifications, or experience do I need to make the transition? For example, if you want to transition into the ICU, you’ll typically need a minimum of 1-2 years of acute care or critical care experience, along with any required certifications, such as BLS and ACLS.
Which units or assignments will give me the exposure I need? Consider the skills you’re looking to strengthen.
If I want to become a travel nurse, do I meet the minimum experience requirements (typically 1-2 years) in my specialty? Am I licensed to practice in other states? Read more about what it takes to become a travel nurse.
For a Charge Nurse promotion, for example, what leadership or management skills should I develop? Who can mentor, coach, or guide me along the way?
What timeline is realistic for achieving each milestone?
How will I measure progress and celebrate milestones as I reach them?
Are there opportunities for cross-training that can accelerate my growth?
How will I balance skill development with self-care to avoid burnout?
How can I lean on my recruiter for support and career guidance?

At Gifted Healthcare, our recruiters are dedicated to your success. We can help you set actionable goals and connect you with the right opportunities—whether you’re looking for a travel, local, permanent, or per diem position. Apply now!

Goal 8: Create a Financial Plan

In addition to setting career goals and milestones, it’s important to consider your financial goals. Nursing salaries can vary widely depending on location, facility type, specialty or unit, years of experience, and demand. To align your career goals with your financial goals, ask yourself questions like:

What is my target salary or hourly rate?
Am I looking for opportunities with higher pay, such as travel nursing assignments or per diem shifts, or more stability with permanent and local positions? Our recruiters at Gifted Healthcare can help you weigh the pros and cons to figure out the best path forward!
Which benefits or incentives matter most to me (housing stipends, bonuses, overtime pay, health insurance, retirement contributions, tuition reimbursement)?
How much flexibility do I want in my schedule, and how does that impact my income goals?
Do I want to work night or day shifts? (Night shifts typically pay more).
Am I focusing on short-term financial gains or long-term financial stability?
Are there specialties or certifications I could pursue that might increase my earning potential?

Goal 9: Showcase Your Value

We understand that updating your resume can feel like a chore, but it’s essential for staying ready for your next amazing opportunity! Take some time to revisit, revise, and improve your resume, so it accurately reflects your skills and experience.

Highlight your clinical expertise, special procedures you’re trained in, unit-specific patient types, unusual cases, leadership skills, and so on. Being thorough will help your recruiter find the best matches for your skillset. Also, don’t forget to update your LinkedIn profile, as having a strong online presence can open doors to more opportunities.

Goal 10: Check In with Your Recruiter

Building a strong relationship with your recruiter through regular check-ins and open communication is key to landing the best assignments! Keep your recruiter updated on new skills, certifications, or career goals.

At Gifted Healthcare, we treat our nurses like family. We are nurse-founded and nurse-led, so we understand the importance of supporting and advocating for you, matching you with assignments that truly align with your goals, and celebrating your successes every step of the way.