Setting goals is always a good idea, whether you pursue registered nurse or nurse manager. This is especially true when it comes to nursing evaluations. Having specific goals in mind ensures that your evaluation process is as effective and efficient as possible, also goals help you make your nursing process.
Having goals can also minimize the amount of stress and anxiety associated with the evaluation process. There are a variety of goals that you may want to consider when it comes to positive nursing evaluations. Let’s check out some examples of professional goals for healthcare providers. But before that, let’s find out what smart goals are.
Goals for Nursing Evaluations
What Are SMART Goals?
Most people create goals for themselves, but they are unsure if they are effective. The acronym “SMART” can help individuals create effective goals for themselves.
- S stands for Specific
- M stands for Measurable
- A stands for Achievable
- R stands for Realistic
- T stands for Time-Bound
Using the smart goal approach can help you succeed with your nursing evaluations and other professional endeavors. Now let’s find out what each segment means in nursing practice.
Specific
When we say “Specific,” that means there is a specific target that you want to hit. This could be a certain number of patients you want to see in a day or week, a goal weight you would like to achieve, or even the percentage of patients who should improve as a result of your nursing care.
Measurable
“Measurable” means that the goal can be quantified in some way. You may want to track how many patient visits result in an improvement, how much weight you lose over some time, or what percent of patients show significant improvement in their health condition after working with you. This type of data will help you measure your success and strive for excellence. This data must be noted down according to the hospital policy.
Achievable
Your goals should be realistically achievable. That doesn’t mean they can’t be challenging, but they should be attainable. If your goal is to see 100 patients in a day and you’re currently only seeing 30, that goal is not achievable and may be setting you up for disappointment. However, if your goal is to see an additional 10 patients in a day, that’s much more realistic and something you can strive for.
Realistic
“Realistic” means that the goal reflects the current reality of your life and situation. It’s important to have goals that push you to improve, but they should also be grounded in reality. Don’t set yourself up for failure by aiming too high or low.
Time-bound
Setting a period of time for your goals helps to keep you on track. You may want to achieve a specific goal within a certain number of days, weeks, or months. You are more likely to stay focused and motivated when you have a goal time in mind. Also, this improves your time management nursing skills.
5 SMART Goal Examples for Nurses
When it comes to sounding like a nursing professional, you need to have critical thinking about every step you make with your nursing profession. Writing smart goals is one way to ensure success. Let’s start with our first goal.
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#1 Example CCR Certification
- I will get my CCR and certification within six months.
- I will sign up for a review course in the next 30 days.
- I will sit for my exam within three months.
#2 Example Education
- I plan to research various schools and financial solid plans within the next 60 days.
- In the next 90 days, I will decide which schools to apply to.
- I will begin my first course during the next semester.
#3 Example Courses
- I plan to take the precepting course provided by our hospital in the next 30 days.
- I plan to take and complete the preceptor pro online course by freshening within the next 30 days.
- I plan to be precept new nurses in our unit within the next 30 days.
- I plan to successfully precept 2 to 4 fellow nurses on our unit by the end of 2022.
#4 Example Charge Nurse
- As a charge nurse, I plan to shadow Brittney for the next three shifts.
- I Will Take and Complete the Training Within the Next 30 Days and Be a Functioning Charge Nurse Within 60 Days.
- Within the next 2 to 3 months, my goal is to be an efficient, high-functioning charge nurse with my staff regularly getting lunch breaks, clocking out on time, and positive reviews from my health care team.
#4 Example Patient Care
- My goal is to take the CCRT review course next week with Brittney and take on CCRT patients independently by the next 60 days.
- I will have CCRT patients discharged with a home health plan by the next 90 days.
- My goal is to have 0 CCRT complaints or write-ups in the next 6 months.
Creating a nursing care plan is what I like to do. So as you can read, the above smart goals are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound. As a nurse, it is important always to be looking for ways to improve and set goals for oneself. These are just a few examples of how to do that, but the sky’s the limit.
Video on SMART Goals for Nursing Evaluations:
Why Is It Important to set Goals for Nursing Evaluations?
When you have professional ambitions or goals in your mind, it’s essential to write them down. Not only will this keep you accountable, but it can also help you track your progress and stay motivated. You’ll be surprised at how much you can achieve when you have specific goals to work towards.
Why Are Smart Goals Important for Nurses?
Well, nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system. They provide care and support to patients and their families, often in challenging circumstances. Nurses need to think on their feet and make quick decisions to provide quality patient care. This can be tough, especially when dealing with a lot of stress. That’s where goal setting comes in.
How Do Your Business Goals Overlap with Your Personal Goals?
Everyone has a personal life that they want to protect and maintain, in addition to their professional aspirations. It can be difficult to balance the two, but it’s not impossible. Many people find that their business goals help them achieve their personal goals.
Final Thoughts on Smart Career Goals for Nurses
Professional development for nurses is very important. Nurses need to be able to stay up-to-date with the latest advances in their field, as well as best practices for patient care. This can be difficult to do when you’re working long hours and dealing with a lot of stress.
That’s why nurses need to set smart goals and stay focused on their career ambitions. Nurses with higher knowledge can offer higher standards of care.
When you have specific goals to work towards, it’s easier to stay motivated and focused on your career. As a nurse, you’re responsible for the well-being of your patients and your team members. It’s essential to think on your feet and make quick decisions to provide the best possible nursing quality plan of care.
This can be tough, especially when dealing with a lot of stress. That’s why nurses need to set smart goals and stay focused on their career ambitions. I hope after reading this post you have gained some nursing knowledge.
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