I thought having a master’s degree would be the golden ticket to my dream job.

I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Someone in my program asked me if I actually thought I was going to be a manager after graduation.

Naively, I thought I would. I was going to show them.

I barely had any bedside experience, so no one would take me seriously.

It was a huge blow to my ego.

Eventually Iearned: if no one will give you experience, get “adjacent” experience.

-I volunteered for just about every committee I could: Unit Council, Magnet, Nursing Week, workflow process improvement

-I went to just about every conference I could get reimbursed for

-I volunteered outside of work for the experience (most recently finished a term on a board of directors)

None of those opportunities came with a promotion.

But they gave me something equally valuable:

Evidence that I would contribute beyond my job description.

Looking back, the master’s degree opened doors.

The experience is what helped me walk through them.

Let me know what you think by replying to this email-I’d love to hear from you!

The nurses have spoken!

What others are saying:

“This really resonated with me as I step into my own nursing leadership journey. It is incredibly reassuring to know what these transition challenges are universal, and I appreciate your practical advice on finding the right fit.“

“I think sometimes we forget we are like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz…’you have had the power to change the whole time’…but instead we are often relying on others to create our reality.”

“it’s all about the experience and getting your foot in the door. Having a degree is a plus but that experience part is crucial.”