“Plan like a grandmaster, hustle like a student nurse on free pizza day.”

Disclaimer

Opinions expressed here are my own and do not represent my employer or the NMC.

Everyone loves asking how I keep tripping over jobs I like.

Spoiler: there’s no enchanted stethoscope—just a very un‑glam combo of long‑game plotting and downright sweaty leg work. If you want to be a ward superstar in 2035 (and not rage‑quitting to stack tins in Tesco), grab your coffee and let’s talk strategy.

Quick disclaimer for the OR crowd: I’ve never officially worked in theatre/OR—my natural habitat is the surgical ward. I’m the one untangling drips at 03:00 while you lot are counting swabs. 😎

The Four Pillars—Now Served With Extra Dad Jokes

1. Team Structure & Culture – a.k.a. “Will these people make me hide in the sluice room?”
2. CPD – “Can I stretch my brain without selling a kidney?”
3. Specialty Fit – “Does this spark joy (and adrenaline)?”
4. Salary & Banding – “Will my direct debit to Spotify still clear?”
   (Yes, AfC is non‑negotiable, but your spine‑point and unsocial‑hours uplift still matter.)

Cheat Code: Pillars are stacked, not juggled. A wobbly first pillar (team) topples the rest—no matter how sparkly the salary.

Long‑Term Plotting: Your 10‑Year Netflix Series

Step 1 – Write the Season Finale first.
Where do you really want to star? CNS? ACP? Research Jedi? Scribble the title on a Post‑It.

Step 2 – Reverse‑engineer the episodes.
What certificates, mentors, and war stories need to happen before the big reveal?

Step 3 – Keep it binge‑worthy.
Refresh the plan yearly. Life (and rota coordinators) love plot twists.

My Timeline: From New‑Grad to First Upper GI CNP in the Trust

Step	Move	Why It Looked Mad—but Wasn’t
1	Qualified; all‑surgical wards	Broad base combined with industrial‑strength biscuits in staff room.
2	Floated to random wards	Sneaky hospital safari = contacts galore.
3	Interventional Radiology gig	New toys + pays the bills while I wait for…
4	Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi (Med/Surg ward)	Sun, tax‑free cash, global credentials.
5	Back to UK; Day Surgery Unit	Re‑entry strategy. Kept peri‑op liaison skills fresh.
6	Band 6 Bowel Cancer Screening Practitioner	Endoscopy nerd‑heaven + mandatory SSP course.
7	Upper GI Clinical Nurse Practitioner	Mission unlocked: first in trust.

Translation: Every sideways hop filled a skill gap, earned a badge, or got me face‑time with the right humans. That’s the leg work people underestimate.

Leg Work 101: Get Those Steps In (Metaphorically and Literally 🏃‍♀️)

Tactic	Why It Works
Shadow everywhere.	IR, ICU, Endoscopy—you name it. Curiosity beats any CV template.
Ask “why?” until someone buys you earplugs.	Inquisitive nurses get noticed; mute ones get forgotten.
Offer to help before you’re asked.	Suddenly you’re that reliable legend they recommend for openings.
Network without being cringe.	Share papers, swap shifts, show up at journal club (bring biscuits).

Pro‑tip: Visibility + curiosity = career rocket fuel. Stay kind, stay nosy.

The Home Team: Career Plot Twists at 0200 hrs

Behind every allegedly super‑organised nurse is a spouse rolling their eyes and reheating dinner. My wife is also a surgical nurse, which means our kitchen sounds like a micro MDT.

• While I played job hopscotch, she parked her own career so our son always had one parent whose shift pattern didn’t resemble a Sudoku puzzle.
• She’s cheered/cursed me through PACR essays, IR night shifts, and that brief love affair with Abu Dhabi sunshine.
• Now it’s her turn to level up—cue me mastering the school run and discovering the mysterious world of packed‑lunch portion control.

Moral: Your long‑term plan isn’t just yours. Factor in the humans you love—then pass them the spotlight when the timing’s right.

What’s Next? (Plotting the Sequel)

So, what’s on the horizon? Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) status, if the budget gods (and a few gentle arm‑twists) align. Landing an ACP course place in today’s cash‑strapped NHS is like persuading theatre staff to soundtrack list changes with Beyoncé—possible, but you’ll need timing, charm, and a signed business case thicker than Grey’s Anatomy Season 1.

• Start the lobby early. I’m already dropping audit wins, patient‑outcome stats and the odd tray of doughnuts into my manager’s inbox—so when funding portals creak open, my name’s laminated on the shortlist.
• Show ROI. Every CPD credit, QI project and poster presentation goes in a tidy little folder marked “Reasons to Invest in Me.”
• Evolve the plan. The 10‑year map doesn’t retire when you tick a milestone; it just downgrades from Grand Strategy to Sat‑Nav—fewer recalculations, same forward motion.

Wrapping Up (Before the Bleep Goes Off)

A killer nursing career isn’t luck; it’s LEGO. Map the final build, gather the bricks, and snap them together one shift at a time. Do the leg work, stay inquisitive, and make sure the people around you are more Avengers than Dementors.

Now, grab that notebook and sketch your 10‑year plot—then ask who at home needs the next turn on the career trampoline. Future‑you (and your Spotify subscription) will thank you.