Professional nursing networks serve many benefits. From learning through mentorships to discovering new career opportunities, connections to colleagues in any field are a huge part of succeeding professionally. If you are a new Nurse Practitioner, here are some tips for finding and cultivating professional nursing networks in the industry.
Related: Optimizing Your Career as a Nurse Practitioner
Where can Nurse Practitioners find out about professional networking events?
The first step to building a professional network is to put yourself in the right place at the right time to make the connections you are looking for. Joining a professional association has many benefits, and the opportunities for professional development and networking are two of the best.
How Nurse Practitioners can network at conferences
There are many professional associations for Nurse Practitioners, and they all put on conferences, seminars, workshops and other events throughout the year. These events are generally meant for continuing education and dissemination of new medical advancements, but they are also excellent networking opportunities.
When attending professional association events, it is important to be active, friendly, and engaged. Ask questions, introduce yourself to people, get people’s business cards. Most Nurse Practitioners, no matter how experienced and well-regarded in the field, will be happy to form connections with new professionals. After all, they were once new themselves, and with the right mentoring and support, you may one day find yourself in a leadership position like them.
One tip for forming relationships at events like this is to invite a potential connection to grab a cup of coffee or eat lunch with you between sessions. Buy someone lunch in exchange for picking their brain about their career development. Come up with a list of questions beforehand, about their trajectory, what worked for them, and what they wish they did differently. Afterward, make sure to send them a nice email thanking them for their time and all you learned.
How Nurse Practitioners can leverage social media for career development
Social media platforms are a powerful tool, when used right, for building professional networks and cultivating business relationships. To be done well, it is important to present yourself respectfully, with appropriate pictures and professional content. Social media is of course also used for friends and personal connections, and it’s okay to have content that you wouldn’t share with your boss – as long as it’s private.
Maybe you have a private account on Instagram or Facebook and a public LinkedIn profile for your professional purposes. LinkedIn is the best social media platform for professional networking, and developing and maintaining a strong presence on this platform can help in numerous ways. It may help you find or land a new job, as many employers use LinkedIn to recruit and vet candidates. It can also help you find a mentor or other professional connections.
Tips for building a professional nursing network via social media
Social media is also a great way to stay in touch with people you have met in real life, say at a professional association event. Maintaining these professional relationships will keep you top-of-mind when employers have new job opportunities or when association leaders have openings on advisory boards.
The best way to develop a professional nursing network via LinkedIn is to stay on top of your news feed. This is where you can learn about your colleagues’ successes, such as new positions or publications. Be sure to read as much as you can, and then congratulate your colleague in a personal, detailed manner. Social media can feel very impersonal and sending off a short message will not stick in someone’s mind.
If you want to truly engage with professional mentors in the field, showing that you read their article by asking a detailed question will impress them. Getting ahead as a Nurse Practitioner often means having the right connections and making yourself stand out among the competition. Make yourself memorable by being engaged, doing the extra work, and connecting in an authentic and substantial way. Not only will you learn more and become a better Nurse Practitioner, but this will also improve your reputation among colleagues and potential future employers.
How new Nurse Practitioners can network at work
When looking for professional connections, don’t forget to consider your workplace. If you like your clinical setting and plan to stay in your job, networking can be hugely beneficial for getting ahead. Showing your superiors that you are engaged and passionate about the field will convince them to prioritize you when it comes time to consider promotions.
Especially as a new Nurse Practitioner, it is important that you demonstrate that you aren’t just there to clock in and out. You want to become a member of the team by asking questions, offering support, and getting to know your colleagues.
Even if you plan to move to a different practice area down the line, supervisors can be helpful mentors in this as well. You may benefit from a referral or letter of reference. Every professional connection you make has an entire network of their own, and you never know who it can lead to.
Where else can Nurse Practitioners build a professional nursing network?
New Nurse Practitioners can be creative about how they form professional connections. Starting with your job, consider if there is an employee resource group or board you could join or get a seat on. There are always opportunities within healthcare professions for motivated employees to put in extra work and earn extra rewards. While these positions are usually volunteer, they are a great way to spend more time with potential mentors and they look great on resumes, too.
Getting involved in community events and volunteer organizations is another great way to set yourself apart as a new Nurse Practitioner. Pick a topic you are passionate about or ask a colleague if you can join them for their next volunteer shift. Not only are you likely to find the work fulfilling, but you may also make impactful connections with other community leaders.
Many professional associations also have leadership positions and advisory boards or panels you could join. Professional associations often put out position statements, policy briefs, or recommendations. These may be about the field of nursing or specific health topics or medical advancements. Seats on a panel through your professional association are typically prestigious positions with huge career benefits. These volunteer positions are great ways to expand your knowledge base, round out your resume, and form meaningful connections with other Nurse Practitioners in your specialty area.
Why new Nurse Practitioners should care about building a professional nursing network
No matter what methods you choose, developing and maintaining a professional network takes time. You need to be willing to do research, learn about your colleagues, and contribute to conversations in meaningful ways. But it is also very worth the effort. Professional networks are the primary way to hear about new jobs, get recommendations, and land career-advancing positions. Cultivating a strong professional network is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your career as a new Nurse Practitioner.
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