Spring is here! You may not feel it outdoors, especially when you’re leaving for your shift or coming home at odd hours. But March 20 was officially the first day of spring and Easter is the spring holiday, so chill in the air or not, we’re going to talk about spring!

The best thing about spring is that it’s a time of renewal. Flowers start sprouting from the ground, coats are stored away and you can finally bask in the sun on your breaks. It’s a great time to start thinking about making positive changes in your life.

If you’re looking to renew your career, we recommend looking into ways to further your career in both the short and long term.

In the short term, consider increasing your income by working better shifts. For instance, national holidays are often time and a half days for those who don’t take off. Since nursing is all about shift work you can easily schedule your celebrations around your work hours so you don’t have to miss out on the holiday just because you’re working.

You may also want to consider taking on more shifts. When you work full time you will always come out ahead. If you work part-time for a higher per-hour rate you will ultimately take home less than if you work full time at a lower rate. In order to facilitate work-life balance, choose shifts that maximize your family and leisure time without cutting out hours.

For the long term, think about going back to school. Get the next level of credentials to change your job title from CNA to LPN or from LPN to RN. Working and studying simultaneously does take extra effort, but it pays off in the long run!

Nursing is one of the noblest professions and it also has tons of room for career advancement. The beginning of spring is an excellent time to start thinking about how you will advance your career this year. Get started now and start blooming along with those flowers!

Happy Easter!