Why Traditional Nursing Career Advice is Keeping You Stuck—And What to Do Instead

For decades, nurses have been given the same career advice:

• Find a stable job and stick with it.

• Get your next degree, and the doors will open for you.

• Put your head down, do the work, and trust the process.

And for decades, nurses have followed this advice—only to find themselves burned out, frustrated, and wondering why they still feel stuck.

Here’s the truth: The healthcare industry is shifting under our feet. AI-driven healthcare, funding cuts, policy changes, and a workforce crisis mean that the old career playbook for nurses no longer applies.

If you’ve ever felt like every time you get comfortable, something changes—or like your career path is more unstable than you expected— you are not imagining things.

It’s time to drop the outdated career myths that are keeping nurses stuck and start thinking strategically about what it actually takes to build a career that lasts.

Bad Career Advice #1: Find a stable job and stick with it.

There was a time when nurses could find a stable job, stay there for decades, and retire with a pension.

That world no longer exists.

There is no such thing as a truly stable nursing job in 2025.

Every role—**from bedside to administration to academia—**is being affected by systemic changes that are beyond individual control.

• Hospital jobs? Understaffed, underfunded, and increasingly controlled by private equity and corporate interests.

• Outpatient and community roles? Struggling with shifting reimbursement policies and funding instability.

• Advanced practice roles? Facing increasing scope-of-practice battles and shifting regulations.

  
  

Even if you love your current role, change is coming whether you’re ready for it or not.

What to Do Instead: Build Career Adaptability

The only way to create stability in an unstable industry is to build career adaptability.

Nurses who thrive in the next decade won’t be the ones clinging to an employer for stability. They’ll be the ones who know how to navigate change and future-proof their skill set.

This means:

• Anticipating industry trends instead of being blindsided.

• Developing leadership and systems-thinking skills so you’re indispensable anywhere.

• Positioning yourself as a change-maker, not just an employee waiting for orders.

  
  

If you’re asking, “Where can I find a stable job?” you’re asking the wrong question.

Instead, start asking: “How can I make myself indispensable in any setting?”

Because the only real job security in 2025 is the skill set you bring with you.

Bad Career Advice #2: Get your next degree, and doors will open for you.

For years, nurses have been told that more degrees = more opportunities.

And while education can be valuable, too many nurses are using grad school as a default next step, instead of a strategic move.

Here’s the hard truth: The degree alone doesn’t guarantee anything anymore.

We now have more nurses than ever getting advanced degrees—but that doesn’t automatically translate to career advancement.

If you assume that grad school is a “magic ticket” to a better job, you may be disappointed.

What to Do Instead: Collect Strategies, Not Just Credentials

The nurses who actually move forward aren’t just collecting degrees.

They’re:

• Building strategic skill sets that make them essential in any role.

• Developing leadership and influence skills that set them apart.

• Making intentional career moves based on their goals, not just what feels like the “next step.”

  
  

Before you sign up for another degree, ask yourself:

• Am I using grad school as a strategy, or as a safety net?

• Do I have a clear plan for how this degree will advance my career?

• Could I get the same career results by developing skills and relationships instead?

  
  

Because in today’s healthcare landscape, the most valuable nurses aren’t just the most educated—they’re the most strategic.

Bad Career Advice #3: Put your head down, do the work, and trust the process.

If there’s one piece of advice that has actively harmed nurses the most, it’s this one.

We were told that hard work speaks for itself.

“Do your job, and good things will come.”

Except… in today’s healthcare system, that’s not how it works.

Hospitals benefit when nurses overwork themselves without asking for more pay, more respect, or more career growth.

If you think you’ll be rewarded just for being a hard worker, you’re waiting on a system that is not designed to reward you.

What to Do Instead: Learn How to Create Your Own Opportunities

If you’re waiting for an invitation to the table, you’re going to be waiting forever.

Instead, you need to:

• Position yourself as someone who drives change, not just someone who follows orders.

• Build relationships with decision-makers so your work actually gets noticed.

• Understand power dynamics in your organization so you can advocate effectively.

  
  

Because putting your head down isn’t a career strategy—it’s a career risk.

Want to Future-Proof Your Career?

If you’re tired of feeling stuck and ready to think differently about your future in nursing, Change Maker Essentials might be exactly what you need.

This 12-week program is designed for nurses who want to:

• Develop career adaptability so they can pivot and thrive no matter how healthcare changes.

• Master leadership and influence skills to position themselves strategically in any organization.

• Learn systems thinking frameworks to drive change instead of just reacting to it.

  
  

This isn’t just another leadership course. It’s a roadmap for designing a career that works for you—not just the system.

If this resonates with you, visit the program page and join the waitlist. You’ll get details about the next cohort, plus an inside look at what you can expect when enrollment opens.

Visit the program page and join the waitlist here.

Final Thoughts

The most successful nurses in the next decade won’t be the ones clinging to outdated ideas of stability and hard work.

They’ll be the ones who understand how to navigate change, position themselves strategically, and build careers that are resilient.

So, let’s start thinking differently. Let’s build careers that actually work for us.

If this resonated with you, send me a message on Instagram (@nursing.the.system)—I’d love to hear your thoughts.

And if you want more insights on leadership, career strategy, and systems thinking, sign up for Systems Sunday—my weekly email packed with real strategies to help you build a career that lasts. You can sign up here.