If you’re a nurse, chances are you want to ensure that you’re being compensated fairly for the work that you do. While a lot of factors can impact your pay, one factor that you might not have considered is the timing of your announcements.
What Are Announcements, and Why Do They Matter?
In the world of nursing, announcements are essentially notifications that you send to your management team to inform them of your accomplishments, milestones, and key contributions.
These announcements act as a form of self-promotion, and can help you establish yourself as a vital member of the team. They can also impact your compensation.
For example, imagine that you work as a nurse in a hospital. You have a lot of responsibilities, from administering medicine to monitoring patients to coordinating with the rest of the medical team.
However, if you simply go about your job without ever telling anyone about the great work that you’re doing, your management team might not realize just how valuable you are.
On the other hand, if you send out an announcement notifying your management team that you’ve just completed a particularly challenging project, or that you’ve been recognized for providing exceptional care to a patient, your management team will take notice. This can lead to increased recognition, more job responsibilities, and even higher compensation.
How to Time Your Announcements for Maximum Impact
Now that you understand the importance of announcements, the next question is – when should you send them? Timing is everything when it comes to maximizing the impact of your announcements. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:.
Tip #1: Send Announcements When You Accomplish Major Milestones
One of the best times to send an announcement is when you’ve accomplished a major milestone.
For example, if you’re a nurse in a pediatric unit and you’ve just helped a young patient recover from a serious illness, that’s something to be proud of! Send an announcement to your management team, highlighting the steps you took to help the patient recover and the positive impact that it had. Not only will your management team be impressed, but they’ll also be more likely to consider you for promotions or other opportunities.
Tip #2: Send Announcements Just Prior to Performance Reviews
If you know that a performance review is coming up, consider sending out an announcement in the weeks leading up to it.
This can help to keep you front-of-mind with your management team, and can help to ensure that they’re fully aware of the contributions you’ve made over the past few months. When it comes time for your performance review, your management team will have a clearer understanding of just how much value you bring to the table.
Tip #3: Send Announcements After Receiving Positive Feedback or Recognition
If you’ve recently received positive feedback or recognition, don’t be afraid to send out an announcement.
For example, if a patient has written a thank-you note to you or your department, that’s something that’s worth sharing with your management team. They’ll appreciate knowing that you’re doing great work, and may be more inclined to offer you additional opportunities or compensation.
Tip #4: Send Announcements When You’ve Taken on New Responsibilities
Finally, consider sending out an announcement when you’ve taken on new responsibilities at work.
For example, if you’ve started supervising other nurses or are now in charge of training new hires, that’s something that your management team should be aware of. Not only will it help them see you as a more valuable member of the team, but it may also open up new opportunities for advancement.
The Bottom Line
Announcements may seem like a small thing, but they can have a big impact on your nursing career.
By taking the time to prepare thoughtful and well-timed announcements, you can help to ensure that your contributions to your workplace are being recognized and rewarded.