Networking in nursing school and throughout your nursing career can benefit you in many ways. Networking in health care offers socioemotional support, as well as career guidance, potential job connections and opportunities for career growth and advancement. Build your network with in-person networking events and digital platforms.
According to a report by Deloitte, the future of employment relies on networking. As technology and job definitions change, job seekers will need to build rich social networks to keep up with their industry. Networking is vital for every career field, and it can be beneficial regardless of whether you’re still in school or currently working and either actively looking for a different job or happy with your current position. Networking in nursing is no exception.
At Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU), we strive to provide an enriching environment for our students that encourages professional networking for a successful career after graduation. NDMU’s Accelerated 2nd Degree BSN (ABSN) program combines didactic learning with hands-on clinical experiences that also provide networking opportunities.
Whether you’re already in nursing school or just considering attending, you’ll want to examine what networking entails and why it’s necessary for your career. You can begin by learning how to start networking as a nursing student or as a working nurse and reflect on the opportunities for networking in nursing organizations.
What Is Networking in Nursing and Why Is It Important?
Relationship building is at the heart of professional networking. Your network consists of all the professional contacts you’ve made and nurtured over time. These professional contacts can be in your current field, a related field related or the industry you’re interested in.
Professional networking is a two-way street. These relationships are supposed to be mutually beneficial, fostering the exchange of useful information. Professionals can support each other, connect each other to potential opportunities or provide valuable insights.
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The Importance of Networking in Nursing School
Nursing students are busy, so why take the time to start building a professional network? First, networking doesn’t have to be time-consuming, yet the benefits for your growth in school and future career are tangible. When you start networking, you may gain:
- Support in nursing school: Your professional network doesn’t have to consist solely of established clinicians. It can also include other students in your cohort, faculty members and student support personnel. By building a network early, you can benefit from additional support to navigate the challenges of nursing school.
- Guidance on career options: Nurses have a range of career opportunities. You may not know which specialty is right for you. Your network can guide your career options. Even if you already know which specialty suits you, insights from your network might help you either confirm your decision or explore other possibilities.
- Mentorship opportunities: Mentoring in nursing can benefit the mentee, mentor and health care organizations as a whole. It can start as early as nursing school. Faculty members or working clinicians may be willing to form mentoring relationships.
Of course, networking in nursing school can also benefit your future career prospects. After passing the NCLEX and obtaining your RN license, you might discover that some of your professional contacts can connect you to potential career opportunities.
The Importance of Networking as a Working Nurse
Networking in health care is critical for working nurses. It can offer the following:
- Professional support system: Just as support is essential during nursing school, it’s also helpful for working nurses. Nursing is demanding, and nurses risk burnout unless they take proactive steps to care for their socioemotional wellness. Turning to a professional support system can help manage stress.
- Job opportunities: The contacts in your professional network can connect you to job opportunities. In fact, many hospitals have referral programs that encourage current employees to refer prospective applicants.
- Career exploration: Perhaps the first nursing specialty you chose doesn’t suit you, or you may be interested in a different work environment altogether. Your professional network can introduce you to new opportunities to consider.
- Career development and advancement: Networking for nurses allows them to pursue career development and advancement opportunities. You might find a mentor who can coach you as you work on reaching the next level in your career.
As you gain clinical experience, you may find that networking in health care allows you to use your voice to influence the health system itself. You can advocate for organizational and policy improvements that improve care delivery, strengthen work cultures and improve patient outcomes.
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How to Start Networking as a Nursing Student
There are plenty of ways to start networking in nursing school. First, focus on building strong working relationships with your nursing instructors. Bring your questions to office hours, ask for additional help when needed and discuss the nursing career path.
Next, focus on your clinical rotations. You’ll want to make a strong impression during each clinical experience. Arrive early for each shift, maintain a floor-ready appearance and always remain professional. Treat everyone with courtesy and respect, keep an open mind and be receptive to feedback.
Other ways to network as a nursing student include attending networking events and joining student organizations, such as the National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA).
The Role of Networking Organizations for Nurses
In addition to joining student organizations in nursing school, you can utilize professional organizations as a working nurse. These organizations can connect you to networking events and professional development opportunities.
One of the top organizations to consider joining is the American Nurses Association (ANA). When you choose a nursing specialty, look for an organization that is relevant to that specialty. Some examples include the Emergency Nurses Association and the American Psychiatric Nurses Association.
Attending Networking Events
Attending networking events is a great way to meet people, particularly because other attendees are also keen to build their own professional networks. Consider attending events such as:
- Nursing conferences
- Hospital-sponsored events
- Continuing education lectures
- Job fairs
- Social events for nurses'
After the event, remember to send a follow-up message to new acquaintances on LinkedIn.
Digital Networking for Nurses
In-person and digital networking work together to build your professional contacts. Start by creating a professional presence online. Set strict privacy settings on your social media profiles or scrub any public-facing content that isn’t professional. Consider making a dedicated social media profile specifically for work and networking purposes. In addition, create a robust LinkedIn profile.
As helpful as digital networking can be, it is important to maintain professionalism at all times. You must remain mindful of HIPAA violations and avoid breaching your health care employer’s professional conduct policies. Before posting any health information, verify its accuracy to prevent inadvertently spreading misinformation.
Start Networking at Our ABSN Program
Networking for nurses can begin as early as nursing school. Notre Dame of Maryland University’s ABSN program places students in clinical experiences at local practice partners in the Baltimore area, such as Anne Arundel Medical Center, University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) and Johns Hopkins Hospital. These clinical experiences provide invaluable opportunities for building your professional network.
In addition, our ABSN program can allow you to graduate in as few as 15 months. We provide exceptional student support services, including Academic Success Coaches, tutoring services, an individualized learning approach and faculty mentoring. You can choose from online or on-campus coursework and get started sooner with no waitlist.
Contact our admissions advisors today to learn if you’re eligible to apply.