How I Landed My First Nurse Consultant Job

Several nurses have asked how I landed my first nurse consultant job. It’s really not that difficult.

Most of the time, it’s about who you know...and proving your ability to assess, plan and mentor.

Don’t neglect networking and keeping in touch. It is extreamly important in landing your any consulting job.(See the link to Networking Tips at the end of this article.)

Road to Nurse Consultant Job

My road to nurse consulting began with a Critical Care Supervisor position I took at a small community hospital. I had about ten years experience in critical care…mostly charge and relief ICU supervision.

This new position was quite a challenge, as the ICU had been poorly managed and was understaffed. Over about six months I was able to turn the unit into a respected ICU with well-trained staff. I developed a critical care training program, and wrote scores of policy and procedures. Our JCAHO inspection was stellar.

You have probably have similar experiences that could lead to a nurse consultant job. What have you done that benifits your hospital?

Opportunity to Expand My Nursing Career

After two years, the DON who hired me decided to move on and recommended me for her position. Although I didn’t feel qualified, I decided to take the offer.

It turned out to be my favorite job in my long and varied nursing career. When you’re in charge at a small hospital, you wear many hats…including pitch hitting as the ICU nurse when understaffed.

I love variety. Every experience you gain adds to your nurse consultant skills.

Unfortunately, our dearly loved community hospital was swallowed up by a larger, near-by hospital. It then set out to close us down.

Each Change Can Add to Your Nurse Consultant Resume

It was time for me to move on. After two years as DON, I ventured out on my own and started a nursing agency.

I had kept in contact with my previous boss, the Don who had recommended me for her position. One day she called me and asked if I would consider consulting for the hospital she now worked for. Their ICU/CCU was poorly managed and had several new, untrained nurses.

She remembered how I had turned around the other ICU. She needed a nurse consultant to do the same thing and thought of me.

If I had not kept in contact with her, I may not have landed that first nurse consulting job.

I jumped at the consulting opportunity. Again, I love variety.

Using Prior Experiece for My First Nurse Consulting Job

I was there four different times, for about a week each. Here’s a brief outline of my consulting assignment:

• The first week was spent going through the unit with a fine tooth comb…assessing the management, dynamics and physical layout of the unit.
• Between the first and second visits I wrote a report of the unit’s strengths and weaknesses. Included was a report of my recommendations and a confidential report of a recommended plan of action for the ICU manager.
• On my second visit I worked on the plan to build on their strengths and improve their weaknesses. Lack of training was a huge issue, so I set up a crash course in critical care, with hands on training. I also trimmed down the overstocked supplies…saving the hospital a lot of money… and rearranged them in easier to find shelving.
• On the third and forth sessions I mentored nurses on all shifts to strengthen their critical thinking and critical care skills.

Networking and keeping in touch with my contacts landed me my first nurse consulting job. You can do the same thing.

You too can turn your experience and network into a nurse consultant job.

For more information return from nurse consultant job to Nurse Consultant

For more tips on networking for your first nurse consultant job, Click here

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This modified article comes from the Nursing Career Tips Newsletter

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