5 Ways to Build Your Network of Nursing Career Allies

In the course of your nursing career, you need allies who can support you in elevating and advancing your journey as a professional nurse. Allies are easier to come by than you think, but so many nurses don't appear think strategically about this important aspect of nursing career development.

Since such a large number of nurses seem averse to consciously and purposefully building a professional network, here are five strategies to do just that.

Nurse Keith's LinkedIn Roundup!

Most readers of Digital Doorway know that I provide holistic career coaching for savvy 21st-century nurses and healthcare professionals. And some of you may know that I'm the only LinkedIn expert on the Internet (that I can find, anyway) who is also a nurse and nurse entrepreneur. Some readers have requested a one stop shop for the podcasts, articles, and posts that I've published this year on the subject of the savvy use of LinkedIn; so, here's a little end-of-2015 LinkedIn roundup just for you!

The Collective Genius of Your Network

I was talking to a nurse career coaching client the other day, and we were discussing the importance of networking. During the course of the conversation, I mentioned the notion that the power of your professional and personal network is the collective genius that can be tapped when you need it most. What I took away most from that conversation is the idea of collective genius, and how I'd like to share it with you.

Are You A Powerful Networker?

Are you a powerful networker? Many nurses and healthcare professionals aren't aware of the crucial importance of networking for the development of their careers. After all, do they even talk about networking in nursing school? In my latest podcast (The Nurse Keith Show, Episode 3), I lay the groundwork for how networking is one of the keys that can unlock the door that opens onto a landscape of vibrant professional success.

Hop Aboard the LinkedIn Train!

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Since its inception, LinkedIn has been helping savvy professionals connect and build robust networks with like-minded colleagues the world over. Are you on board with LinkedIn, or is your profile gathering digital dust? Do you feel confused by LinkedIn? Do you want a robust profile but don’t know where to begin?

Nurse Keith on Local Networking

Those of you who are familiar with me know that I'm a big fan of nurses using social media, and I've published many blog posts and videos about online networking. But what about local networking? Isn't it just as important to have a robust professional network right in your home town?

Creating Authentic Linked In Connections

I love Linked In, and I also believe that building an authentic professional network is paramount. So, when you want to connect with someone on Linked In, why send them a generic invitation instead of a personalized one? This video is about my strong feelings regarding how to reach out authentically to the professionals you want to connect with. It's a word to the wise.

Nursing: More Than Meets The Eye

Many of my online endeavors put me in contact with a growing number of nurses, and what strikes me most is that nurses are an incredibly diverse, passionate, talented and interesting group of people. I'm honored to be a nurse, and find the profession simply blossoming with richness and diversity.

Networking Is Us

Electronic networking seems to be the social venue of choice these days, and the Internet is now awash with social and professional networking sites. Of course, the ubiquitous MySpace and Facebook are currently the darlings of the web. Also of interest, especially for those of you in need of professional connections, LinkedIn is a site dedicated more towards career development.

Tribe is a community worth exploring, although my favorite social networking site for interesting and personalized connection is Zaadz, a site committed to changing the world one person at a time. I have begun two "pods" (discussion boards) on Zaadz, one for nurses and the latter for people living with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. Zaadz is worth a gander, but it's certainly not for everyone.

The newest site which I've discovered is NurseLinkup. Still in beta, NurseLinkup has some kinks to work out and development to explore, but should prove to be a valuable tool for nurses to connect both professionally and personally.

Happy networking, and please let me know of any other interesting sites you have found in your travels...