Setting goals for yourself is essential to any career, including nursing. By setting SMART goals, nurses can effectively plan and work towards achieving short-term and long-term objectives. Many topics are associated with successful goal setting for nurses, from clinical objectives to personal development goals. Here, we discuss SMART goals and provide examples tailored explicitly for nurses.
Table of Contents
What are SMART Goals?
SMART goals are specific and measurable objectives that help nurses track and achieve their professional development. In other words, they are actionable steps that lead to a particular outcome. They also help nurses focus on what is essential and create a path for reaching more significant goals.
What are the Elements of SMART Goals?
SMART goal-setting has five key elements: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound.
Specific
Goals should be specific enough that they can be easily understood and tracked. For example, instead of setting an overall goal to “improve patient care,” you might develop a more specific purpose, such as “reduce wait times for new patient admissions by 10 percent in the next three months.”
Measurable
Goals should be measurable to track progress and evaluate results. For example, if you set a goal to “reduce wait times for new patient admissions by 10 percent in the next three months,” then you would track the average wait time for new patient admissions before and after the implementation of your plan.
Attainable
Goals should be attainable and possible. Setting a goal that is too lofty or difficult to achieve can be disheartening and lead to burnout.
Relevant
Goals should relate to your job role or area of expertise so that they will contribute to your professional improvement and progress. Setting irrelevant goals won’t help you further your career or benefit your organization.
Time-Bound
Goals should have a timeline or deadline to keep you accountable and on track for achieving them. For example, if you set a goal to “reduce wait times for new patient admissions by 10 percent in the next three months,” then you know that after three months, it’s time to evaluate whether you’ve been successful in achieving your goal.
By establishing SMART goals, nurses can stay focused on their objectives and work toward a successful professional development pathway.
Advantages of SMART Goals for Nurses
- Helps create actionable steps to achieve desired outcomes
- Increases focus and accountability
- Motivates nurses to reach bigger goals
- Brings clarity and direction to career aspirations
- Ensures that goals are realistic and attainable.
By following the SMART goal-setting model, nurses can create meaningful objectives to help them progress in their careers.
Examples of SMART Goals for Nurses
Example 1: Within the next 6 months, I will improve my patient satisfaction scores by 10%, as measured by formal patient surveys.
Example 2: I will become certified in a specialty within 12 months.
Example 3: Within 1 year, I will develop a weekly schedule that allows for quality time with my family and friends.
By setting SMART goals, nurses can work towards achieving their desired outcomes quickly and efficiently while gaining valuable skills along the way. It is important to remember that plans should be reviewed and adjusted regularly based on changing circumstances to remain relevant and achievable.
How to Create SMART Goals
Step 1: Identify your goal- First, identify the outcome you are trying to achieve.
Step 2: Make it measurable- Then, create specific criteria for measuring progress towards achieving that goal.
Step 3: Make it achievable- Ensure the goal is realistic and achievable, given the available resources.
Step 4: Make it relevant- Ensure the goal is relevant to your overall mission and vision.
Step 5: Make it time-bound- Set a timeline for achieving the goal, including milestones that can be used to measure progress.
By following these five steps, nurses can create SMART goals to help them achieve their desired outcomes quickly and efficiently.
Final Words
SMART goals can be an invaluable asset in nursing, helping keep nurses focused and motivated toward their career objectives. By setting clear and achievable goals, nurses can reach their desired outcomes quicker and more efficiently. Additionally, by creating measurable targets and tracking progress towards them, nurses will better understand how their actions contribute to their end goal.
Mrs. Marie Brown has been a registered nurse for over 25 years. She began her nursing career at a Level I Trauma Center in downtown Chicago, Illinois. There she worked in the Emergency Department and on the Surgical Intensive Care Unit. After several years, she moved to the Midwest and continued her nursing career in a critical care setting. For the last 10 years of her nursing career, Mrs. Brown worked as a flight nurse with an air ambulance service. During this time, she cared for patients throughout the United States.