Spring is almost here; once the snow recedes totally, it is still nippy in central Ontario. Spring has me reflecting on my retirement status and some pearls from four decades of experience.
I recognized that I was building a career early in my professional life — drawn from my own reflections and from mentors I met early on. The nursing profession has evolved from an apprentice model to the qualities of a knowledge worker. An environment that directs responsibilities via protocols and policies to the innovation and cultivation of vigilant awareness of how to access evidence-based practice, building on a foundation of clinical judgment and critical decision-making.
Back in the 1980’s there were a series of courses that increased the knowledge and skills of clinical leadership for nurses. An initial topic was did you have a job or a career?
A job was a specific role/function the advantages of this view were that you could plug in and carry out the tasks. It was considered low risk and provided stability. There was limited decision-making, low pressure, and generally no conflict of personal or professional goals. Back in the 80’s there was a term used for nurses who filled in and had no interest in career building “appliance nurses” their motivations when asked were to work and get paid to augment their families’ needs.
The disadvantages of a job orientation were that an employee could reach a stagnant state — minimal growth, no challenges, no power, perceived their role as having no intrinsic value —that could contribute to low self-esteem. Not being valued, perhaps they were seeking that recognition in other domains of their life.
A career is a definite path to personal and professional growth, you invest time and effort into goals, engage in a building process from simple to complex in all attributes of a clinican and professional. Mentors invested time and guided you to consider the risks and challenges and be alert for opportunities to grow professionally and personally. Careerists cultivated a self-directed approach, gained expertise in one or more specialities of practice and leadership. A career guided nurse may reach a stage of building on legacy work–who did you influence, what skills and knowledge have you contributed to the profession? Mentorship can range from skill acquistion to coaching one’s “thinking” about ethical and moral dilemmas. Reaching a point where advocacy is one of the skills attained in a career. The vision of how to make nursing, health care, communities better without losing sight of core knowledge and skills.
The disadvantages can be high risk of failure; those who dare greatly risk failing deeply. The time invested may take away from family and friends, there is the expense financially, and missing key events of family and friends. Peers who hold different values on job versus career may not understand your pursuit.
Either path if confronted with limited resources such as time, equipment, may lead to a value mismatch and lead to the outcome of stress. Those who care most also run the risk of burning out and the work environment needs to have the characteristics to encourage success for the job and the career-minded nurse. Nurses are knowledge workers and not widgets that at times have been equated to “bodies” staffing a unit, clinic, or service.
Today’s young adults have an uncertain future i.e., to climate change, complexity within a scarcity environment, conflicts like war. All parties (employers, employees) would be advised to consider how to manage failures, funding challenges, and all display a strong commitment to quality care that holds promise that effectiveness and efficiency can be partners not adversaries. An organization needs to reflect the values of their community served and their employees who navigate the care paths that results in quality, safety, and in stellar moments excellence.
Job or career that would be the question today, what do the twenty something employees value in 2026–for those who have valued and practiced in both modes it’s worth a check in to see if a future will be hopeful or bleak? Namaste.
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Paula M
Retired Registered Nurse (Non-practicing) Storyteller, Healer, Scribe, Transformational Leader
Life of a Nurse 
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