According to the statistics, about 60% of us make New Year’s resolutions, but only about 8% of us achieve them. Given that most nurses are trained to be organized and efficient, it’s safe to assume that many of us make resolutions but also achieve them. What are some of the best resolutions for nurses to consider? 

Best New Year’s Resolutions for Nurses 

Inc. reports that the majority of us set goals for the New Year. Their research shows some commonalities between the resolutions that people tend to set: 

• Saving money is consistently in the top five resolution list for most people—but also in the top five of the most commonly failed resolutions. 
• Over half of the people that set resolutions consider them a failure by January 31. 
• Women make more health-focused resolutions while men resolve to find another job. 

Most nurses, like everyone else, tend to reflect on their personal and professional achievements at the end of the year. Nurses may set goals for their professional development, or to give back by volunteering. Taking time to reflect is particularly important for these professionals because their work is so foundational to the healthcare industry. Nurses should spend time reflecting on how they can improve both the quality of the patient care they individually provide as well as how the healthcare system or facility they work for can achieve better patient outcomes. Some other suggestions for nurses to consider include: 

• Advancing your education will pay you back in career advancement. That’s why this is a good resolution for nurses considering advanced specialization or knowledge in the field. Working toward your BSN or MSN is a solid credential to add to your CV and a good New Year’s resolution. 
• Serving on a committee in your hospital to help advance care outcomes. Nurses play an important role in leadership on issues like infection control, patient satisfaction, and preventing medical mistakes.  
• Seeking continuing education on some of healthcare’s most pressing issues, such as the opioid addiction crisis or human trafficking. Nurses serve as the front line for both of these issues, so understanding their effects will help clinical teams be more effective and stay current on the latest in treatment modalities. 
• Learning a new technology is a great way to update your skills. Most nurses handle electronic medical records like a pro, but researching and then learning about the host of new clinical apps on the market is a good way to stay on top of some of the big changes coming to healthcare in the future. 

Committing this New Year to become more active in your healthcare facility or in the community you serve are important ways to give back. Personal and professional goals can merge as you work to expand your clinical skills, become more educated, or improve the care you give to patients. 

One New Year’s resolution to consider may be to seek a new career path.  The looming shortage of nurses has opened up a host of opportunities that you can pursue. Before making this resolution, why not have a confidential conversation with the recruiting team at MAS Medical? We can help you explore your options in the New Year.