There are many areas of growth which nurses can use to prepare themselves for career advancement, while remaining in their role within their department. There are a variety of councils, teams, and committees that you can explore the possibility of joining. Many of these are made up of other staff who share a common interest solving the concerns, or challenges associated with a variety of health care related topics.

Nursing Senate - available in Fargo ND, Bismarck ND, and Sioux Falls SD, the Nursing Senate provides an overarching framework for the nurses to have the authority and autonomy to make nursing practice decisions while accountable for nursing practice delivery. Through transformational and adaptive leadership efforts, we strive to ensure participative decision-making, enhance and nurture a positive work place, provide effective communication, and foster practice innovation.

Care Council - available in Bemidji MN, the Care Council provides frontline nursing staff the ability to participate in communication, collaboration, discussion, as well as the ability to help develop, implement, and evaluate practice standards and guidelines in a healthy work environment, in accordance with regulatory requirements, evidence based practice, and professional organizations.

Another possibility for group membership could come with being a part of a regional team or council that focuses on an identified problem or concern. Doing this gives you an opportunity to work with a variety of staff from different disciplines in your region, all of whom share a passion for a given issue associated with health care. Examples include pain committee, resuscitation committee, skin team, IV team, performance improvement, etc.

If you’re looking for growth opportunities, attaining nursing certification is great opportunity to continue to develop as a professional. Becoming nationally certified is a personal demonstration of professionalism. It takes personal dedication and persistence to achieve and maintain a certification, affirming advanced knowledge, skill, and practice to meet the challenges of modern nursing.

Sanford is committed to assisting employee nurses with achieving their national certification by providing preparation courses, as well as assisting with costs associated for the initial certification and recertification. Sanford understands that nurses across our organization contribute to better patient outcomes through national board certification in their specialty. Every March, Sanford recognizes our nurses that have committed to advancing their knowledge and skill through certification.

Staff can reach out to their leadership or to the LEAD department for more information on certification. We have a full list of over 350 national certifications that employees can access on Inside Sanford. Join Sanford today and get certified!

At Sanford Health and Good Samaritan Society we are continually looking for nurses to work in key leadership roles. Nurse leaders shape the future at Sanford Health by fostering staff development, applying evidence based practice, identifying and implementing improvements and using clinical expertise to enhance patient, resident, and staff experience.

We have a growing number of regional medical centers that fly the Magnet Designation flag with pride. Leadership training is provided at all levels as well as mentoring, coaching and precepting opportunities.