As nurses, we face tough competition before we step foot into our first nursing school class. There is fierce competition just getting the honor of a seat in a nursing school. These seats often require academic prowess and experience to acquire. Think about this statistic: “U.S. nursing schools turned away 52,115 qualified applicants from baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs in 2010 due to insufficient number of faculty, clinical sites, classroom space, clinical preceptors, and budget constraints1“. With this statistic, competition is inevitable! But you worked hard and earned one of those coveted seats – on your own terms!
Okay, you made it into nursing school, worked you way through and are now a registered nurse. Can you stop being competitive now? I guess not. “Research shows that 60% of new graduates leave their first position within six months because of some form of horizontal hostility2”. “Horizontal hostility” sounds a lot like competition to me!
Other than horizontal hostility, I was curious what some other synonyms of “competitive” are. I found the following: “Aggressive, ambitious, antagonistic, at odds, combative, competing, cutthroat, dog-eat-dog, emulous, killer instinct, killer, opposing, rival, streetwise, vying3”.
None of these phrases - in particular “cutthroat”, “dog-eat-dog” and “killer” - bring out warm and fuzzy visions in my mind! Can we compete without being too competitive, and frankly, mean to our peers? I say, “ABSOLUTELY”!
First, realize that nice guys don’t necessarily finish last!
Set Your Own Goals: Have short-term and long-term goals in mind and stick with those goals. Focus on the goals and not how to achieve them in a devious or quick manner. Tend to the tasks you must perform as an individual to achieve your dreams.
Work Hard to Achieve Those Goals: Reaching your individualized goals does not mean you have to plot against your peers or compete in a negative fashion. Your diligence, hard work, academic record, and ethics speak for themselves.
Don't Step on Others To Get Ahead: You will enjoy reaching each of your goals along the way when you realize you did so on your own terms and without unnecessarily harming others. The fashion in which you have built your reputation and name IS your competitive edge!
Be A MENTOR - Not a RIVAL: We are all in this together. If you see a peer struggling, don’t look at them like a lion looks at a weak antelope! Do not be one of those "nurses who eat their young". Be a mentor, not a lion!
It is NOT Just About Achieving Your Goals That Matter, But How You Get There. Know that in the end you will get where you are going and be respected in the process. Don’t compromise your values, your social status, or your reputation to get what you want. Instead, use your individual talents, hard work and diligence, and let them be your guideposts to success!