The Ambitious Nurse | Career Strategy for High-Performing Nurses Ready to Advance in Leadership

I've been having a lot of conversations lately with nurses who genuinely like their work, have earned the promotions, and still feel like something is missing. If that's you, here's the reframe that changed everything for me: you don't need a new job. You need unnecessary creation time. After reading Manage Your Day to Day, I finally found the words for a restlessness I'd been carrying for years, and in this episode I hand those words to you.

We dig into what unnecessary creation time actually is, why high achieving, graduate-prepared nurses feel stifled when every idea has to be tied to a goal, an outcome, and someone else's approval, and why the fix usually isn't quitting. I share how professional organizations and a side business became my creative outlet, how a colleague took her passion for ICU Liberation national when her employer couldn't support it, and why creating on your own terms makes you a sharper, more strategic, more promotable nurse. Something's missing, and this is the piece.

3 Takeaways

• You may not need a new job. You need a creative outlet. When work you actually enjoy still leaves you restless, the problem often isn't the job. It's that every idea gets a goal slapped on it. Unnecessary creation time is the space to explore without an outcome attached.
• Take it national when your employer won't support it. If you know a project matters and your organization doesn't see it yet, bring your work to a professional organization. You become a leader in it at the national level, and then your workplace adopts the very best practice you helped build.
• Creating on your terms makes you better at the job anyway. Board service taught strategic thinking. Coaching sharpens every conversation. The skills you build outside come back in, expand your resume, and set you up for promotion, all without squeezing the joy out of the work.

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Networking isn't one big move. It's a handful of small habits stacked over time. In this episode, the finale of the Small Steps, Big Moves series, I finish out the networking toolkit and show you how to keep your relationships warm without it feeling like a second job. Because the connections you built last quarter only pay off if you tend to them, and that takes a lot less effort than you think.

I share two habits that keep your network alive: sharing your work so people can advocate for you when you're not in the room, and keeping a simple networking notebook so no relationship goes cold. Then we get into the piece that ties it all together: why staying current in your specialty is quietly one of the smartest leadership moves you can make. I'll tell you why The Wall Street Journal is suddenly talking about nursing, what sponsorship really means and why you may need it more than mentorship, and why your growth is your responsibility even when your organization won't fund it. This is long game work. Let's play it well.

3 Takeaways

• People can't advocate for you if they don't know what you're doing. Sharing your work once a quarter turns a colleague or mentor into someone who can speak your name in rooms you're not in. That's the shift from mentorship to sponsorship.
• Staying current makes you the thinker in the room, not just the doer. When you connect trends to your organization's needs, you move from doing the work to strategizing it, and that's the next level of leadership. Read deeper than the headline so you bring something no one else has.
• Your growth is your responsibility. If your employer funds conferences and school, take it. If they don't, find your own way. While they think they have you, you're building the career capital that gives you the freedom to leave.

Got a Career or Work question? Send me a text right here.

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Tired of being overlooked for promotions? Book a Nurse Leadership Positioning Intensive—a 60-minute 1:1 session to pinpoint what's blocking your advancement and map out your plan to get there.

Here's something that surprises people: my last seven nursing jobs came from networking. Not from cold applications, not from perfectly timed job postings, but from relationships I built over time with people who knew my work. And here's the twist you might not expect: I'm an introvert. I would rather stay in my lane and do my work. So if networking has always felt awkward, transactional, or just not your thing, this episode is for you.

This is part three of the Small Steps, Big Moves series, and I'm pulling back the curtain on what networking actually is. Hint: it's way less intimidating than you think. We talk about why networking isn't the business card collecting, awkward LinkedIn message thing you're picturing, what actually counts as building relationships, and why career growth never happens in isolation. Then I give you two low effort ways to start this week. Because a book or a podcast can give you ideas, but it can't give you the colleague who thinks of you when an opportunity opens up. That part is up to you.

3 Takeaways

• Networking is rapport, not a transaction. It isn't collecting business cards or using people to get ahead. It's building genuine rapport, showing up consistently, and becoming someone others want to recommend.
• Relationships are the thing a podcast can't give you. Books and shows are the starting point, but they can't give you the sponsor who advocates for you when you're not in the room, or the colleague who thinks of you when a role opens up. Those are career gold, and they only come from real connection.
• Start small and start with what you have. You don't need a massive conference. Reconnect with one person you already know, and put one event on your calendar for the quarter. Two moves, not ten.

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Last episode I gave you one tiny action to take, so before we dive in, I have to ask: did you do it? Whether you did or didn't, no judgment. This episode picks up right there and hands you a clear roadmap you can start today. Because here's the truth I've learned the hard way, with two master's degrees to show for it: education alone does not create career advancement. A plan and a strategy do.

I walk you through a five step checklist to figure out what you actually want, what you're genuinely good at, and how to start moving toward it, even if you have no idea what "it" is yet. We cover naming your real values (not the ones you think you should have), taking honest inventory of your strengths, making your resume work harder, the difference between a mentor and a career coach and when you need each, and why joining a professional organization opened the door to my presidency. Grab a notebook or your notes app. We're doing this together.

3 Takeaways

• A degree is not a strategy. 36% of nurses plan to further their education, but advancement comes from a plan, not another credential. Alignment between your values and your work is what raises satisfaction and lowers burnout.
• Clarity comes from naming what's actually true about you. Your real values (not the ones handed to you) and your honest strengths (not the ones you're supposed to have) are the raw material for every good career decision that follows.
• You can't see your own blind spots. Books and podcasts take you far, but a mentor or coach sees what you can't. A coach is for a specific, targeted goal; a mentor is the longer relationship. The sweet spot is one to two years of consistent connection.

Got a Career or Work question? Send me a text right here.

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Tired of being overlooked for promotions? Book a Nurse Leadership Positioning Intensive—a 60-minute 1:1 session to pinpoint what's blocking your advancement and map out your plan to get there.

Here's something people don't believe when I tell them: I became president of my state nurses association, and it did not start with a big, dramatic decision. It started seven years ago with something almost embarrassingly small. I showed up to one convention meeting, then one regional event, then volunteered for one tiny committee right there in the space where I already worked. That's how real career growth happens. Not in the big cinematic moments, but in the small ones that feel like they barely count.

In this episode, I break down why small steps beat big leaps every single time, and why your brain resists the big changes anyway. I'll walk you through the ideas that reshaped my thinking (The Slight Edge and Atomic Habits), the three reasons tiny steps feel not worth it in the moment, and the truth that the magic isn't in any one moment. It's in the repetition. As nurses, repetition is what we already do best.

3 Takeaways

• Career growth compounds, it doesn't leap. Getting 1% better every day makes you roughly 37x better in a year. One certification you never build on isn't 1% better; the daily 10 to 15 minutes of reading and applying afterward is. Small, repeated, strategic. That's the engine.
• The steps that feel insignificant are the ones that pay off later. One conference conversation, one email to a mentor, one article about your specialty. None of them feel like they matter until the day they open a door you didn't know existed.
• If you're already taking steps and still swirling, the fix isn't more steps. It's strategy. Action takers who feel stuck don't need to hustle harder. They need the next right step, and that's clarity work you can do on purpose.

Got a Career or Work question? Send me a text right here.

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Tired of being overlooked for promotions? Book a Nurse Leadership Positioning Intensive—a 60-minute 1:1 session to pinpoint what's blocking your advancement and map out your plan to get there.

I'm back. My last episode dropped in November 2025, right as I was stepping fresh into my presidency — and then life got busy in ways I couldn't have predicted. You don't really know the time and capacity you have until you're juggling all of it at once and have to recalibrate. So in this comeback episode, I catch you up on where I've been, what I've been building behind the scenes (a one-on-one coaching offer that goes deep into leadership positioning), and why so many of my conversations with graduate-prepared nurses keep circling the same ache: you're doing the work, showing up every day, and it's still not translating into a promotion.

Then I get into the heart of it — three leadership lessons I've been sitting with since taking this seat. These aren't polished takeaways I've mastered; some I'm still evolving in. But each one shifted how I lead, how I have hard conversations, and how I think about positioning. If you're leading now — or you want to understand what leadership actually looks like when there's no manager title attached — these are for you. Because leadership is leadership wherever you go.

Chapter Markers

• 00:00 — Why I paused: stepping into the presidency and recalibrating my time
• 02:00 — What I've been building: a coaching shift toward leadership positioning
• 05:00 — Lesson 1: Everyone has an underlying value driving their decision
• 13:00 — Lesson 2: Inclusivity has limits, and that's okay
• 16:30 — Lesson 3: The president facilitates, the board decides
• 21:00 — My pet peeve — and a word for the nurse who's feeling stuck
• 24:00 — What's next, and why I'm already thinking ahead

3 Takeaways

• Dialogue beats agreement. When you stop trying to win someone over and start getting curious about the value underneath their decision, you leave with more respect — and more room to work together on the next thing. Being easily offended just gets you distracted from the work that actually needs you.
• Inclusion isn't always the answer, and that's not a contradiction. "A nurse is a nurse is a nurse" falls apart the moment you need the right skill set matched to the right patient. Knowing when to include and when to set a boundary is its own leadership skill.
• Influential leadership means weighing in last. As president, I facilitate the conversation and let the board decide — I don't steer it with my opinion. That takes the pressure off making every call myself, and puts the pressure on making sure they have what they need to decide well.

Got a Career or Work question? Send me a text right here.

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Trying to figure out your next career step?
Download my FREE Nursing Career Growth Roadmap

Tired of being overlooked for promotions? Book a Nurse Leadership Positioning Intensive—a 60-minute 1:1 session to pinpoint what's blocking your advancement and map out your plan to get there.

I recorded this one live on Election Day, and I couldn't wait to get it out. It's my unscripted call to every nurse who's ever claimed the title "patient advocate" — and then stayed silent at the ballot box. It started in the simulation lab: a pediatric scenario with a baby admitted for hypoglycemia and a mother diluting formula to make it stretch. A scenario I'd written months earlier and run many times before. But during the debrief, one of my nurses connected it out loud to what's happening right now with WIC and SNAP — and the line between Washington policy and the hospital bedside snapped into focus.

That connection is the whole episode: what happens in the voting booth shows up on your unit. I make the case that we as nurses hold insight on healthcare no one else has, which makes your vote uniquely powerful — and explains exactly why politicians fight so hard to control it. From redistricting battles to a fragmented CDC and measles resurgence, I walk you down the direct line from policy decisions to the patients walking through your doors. And I land on a challenge: your first assignment as an advocate isn't at the bedside. It's at the ballot box.

3 Takeaways

• Policy isn't abstract — it's clinical. The babies coming in hypoglycemic because formula got diluted are a downstream effect of decisions made in Washington and your state capital. You see the ripple first.
• Your vote scares the powerful — that's the proof it matters. Redistricting fights and gerrymandering only make sense if the people in power know your ballot has weight. Act accordingly.
• Voting is your first assignment as an advocate, not your last. Bedside advocacy without ballot-box advocacy is incomplete. Real advocacy extends to the voting booth, the town hall, and every space where health decisions get made.

Mentioned / Referenced

• WIC (Women, Infants, and Children program)
• SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
• Your state's Nurse Practice Act
• Local polling location lookup (search your state board of elections)

Got a Career or Work question? Send me a text right here.

Support the show

Trying to figure out your next career step?
Download my FREE Nursing Career Growth Roadmap

Tired of being overlooked for promotions? Book a Nurse Leadership Positioning Intensive—a 60-minute 1:1 session to pinpoint what's blocking your advancement and map out your plan to get there.

You love being a nurse—but lately, something feels off. Maybe your nursing job isn’t giving you the same sense of purpose it once did. In this episode, Bonnie explores why passion for nursing alone isn’t always enough to keep you fulfilled in your career—and what you can do to bring meaning, clarity, and direction back into your professional life.

She shares how to evaluate your current nursing role through the lens of your strengths and values, plus practical ways to take your next step with confidence—whether that’s a new nursing job, a leadership opportunity, or a renewed mindset in your current role.

Key Takeaways:

• The real reason loving nursing doesn’t guarantee long-term fulfillment
• How to assess if your nursing career still reflects your strengths and values
• What to do when your current role no longer fits your professional goals
• Small shifts that can help you rediscover joy and motivation at work
• Why self-awareness and reflection are the foundation of career growth

👉 Download the free Nursing Career Growth Roadmap (link below) to start clarifying your next steps and build a career that grows with you.

Got a Career or Work question? Send me a text right here.

Support the show

Trying to figure out your next career step?
Download my FREE Nursing Career Growth Roadmap

Tired of being overlooked for promotions? Book a Nurse Leadership Positioning Intensive—a 60-minute 1:1 session to pinpoint what's blocking your advancement and map out your plan to get there.

In this episode, Bonnie shares a simple 5-minute reflection exercise that helps you gain fresh perspective on your career path. Whether you’re an RN, APRN, or nurse leader, this quick practice guides you to notice the moments that bring the most fulfillment—and points you toward nursing job opportunities that truly fit.

Key Takeaways:

• Why clarity doesn’t require hours of career planning
• A 3-step journaling exercise to highlight what energizes you
• How to match your skills with new nursing career opportunities
• The importance of choosing roles you enjoy—not just those you do well

👉 Download the free Nursing Career Growth Roadmap in the show notes to take this exercise further!

Got a Career or Work question? Send me a text right here.

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Trying to figure out your next career step?
Download my FREE Nursing Career Growth Roadmap

Tired of being overlooked for promotions? Book a Nurse Leadership Positioning Intensive—a 60-minute 1:1 session to pinpoint what's blocking your advancement and map out your plan to get there.

In this episode, I introduce the Nurse Career Growth Roadmap, a practical guide to help you identify your current stage and take the right next step.

You’ll learn:

• The 5 stages every nurse experiences
• Why even highly educated nurses struggle with clarity
• Action steps to create momentum in your career (without waiting for permission)

Whether you’re an RN, APRN, or nurse leader, this episode will help you gain clarity, confidence, and direction in your nursing career journey.

Got a Career or Work question? Send me a text right here.

Support the show

Trying to figure out your next career step?
Download my FREE Nursing Career Growth Roadmap

Tired of being overlooked for promotions? Book a Nurse Leadership Positioning Intensive—a 60-minute 1:1 session to pinpoint what's blocking your advancement and map out your plan to get there.

If your entire professional identity is tied to one nursing job, you might be limiting your growth — and your joy. In this episode, I share why putting all your eggs in one job basket could be holding you back and how to expand your skills, network, and opportunities without burning out.

Whether you’re an RN, APRN, or nurse leader, you’ll learn how to diversify your career, grow your influence, and create new possibilities before you need them.

Key Takeaways:

• Why long-term loyalty can sometimes limit career growth
• 3 ways to diversify your skills and network
• How to prepare for career transitions before you’re forced into one

🎧 Listen now and start building the nursing career you really want!

Got a Career or Work question? Send me a text right here.

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Tired of being overlooked for promotions? Book a Nurse Leadership Positioning Intensive—a 60-minute 1:1 session to pinpoint what's blocking your advancement and map out your plan to get there.

In this style-meets-leadership episode, we’re talking about what your outfit says before you even introduce yourself.

Bonnie is joined by certified image consultant and color specialist, Heather Riggs, who shares expert tips on how RNs, APRNs, and nursing leaders can align their personal style with their professional goals. Whether you're stepping into a boardroom, a Zoom interview, or a networking event—your wardrobe is speaking for you. Let’s make sure it’s saying the right thing.

Key Takeaways:

• Why professional image matters in nursing leadership
• What to wear (and avoid) in interviews, presentations, and virtual settings
• How to build a capsule wardrobe without overwhelm
• Simple ways to dress with confidence—even in scrubs
• How your personal style can boost your credibility and visibility

👉 This episode is especially for nurses who want to lead with presence—and style.

Heather Riggs Info:

Join HER Style community on Facebook - https://herstylellc.com/community

Take the free Personal Style Quiz - https://herstylellc.com/quiz

Listen to HER Style Podcast - https://herstylellc.com/podcast

Got a Career or Work question? Send me a text right here.

Support the show

Trying to figure out your next career step?
Download my FREE Nursing Career Growth Roadmap

Tired of being overlooked for promotions? Book a Nurse Leadership Positioning Intensive—a 60-minute 1:1 session to pinpoint what's blocking your advancement and map out your plan to get there.

Feeling stuck in your nursing career—even with years of experience or an advanced degree? You’re not alone. In this episode, Bonnie breaks down the real reasons nurses feel uncertain about what’s next—and introduces a simple tool to help you get clear. Whether you're an RN, APRN, or nurse leader, discover how self-awareness and career reflection can reignite your purpose.

Key Takeaways:

• Common causes of career stagnation
• The power of clarity over job searching
• How to use the free Nurse Career Growth Roadmap

Got a Career or Work question? Send me a text right here.

Support the show

Trying to figure out your next career step?
Download my FREE Nursing Career Growth Roadmap

Tired of being overlooked for promotions? Book a Nurse Leadership Positioning Intensive—a 60-minute 1:1 session to pinpoint what's blocking your advancement and map out your plan to get there.

This podcast was #1 one of the top 10 podcast episodes of 2024. I am bringing it back as a replay for your enjoyment as I work on new episodes for 2025.

How do I find my nursing niche? How do I advance my career as a nurse? Have you asked these questions before?

There are so many career paths for nurses that we get stuck. It's a good problem and a bad problem to have. It's good because it gives us options. It's bad, because we have so many options that we stay stuck because we don’t know what to choose or are afraid to make a wrong choice.

Stick around in this episode. I address these questions and more.

Got a Career or Work question? Send me a text right here.

Support the show

Trying to figure out your next career step?
Download my FREE Nursing Career Growth Roadmap

Tired of being overlooked for promotions? Book a Nurse Leadership Positioning Intensive—a 60-minute 1:1 session to pinpoint what's blocking your advancement and map out your plan to get there.

This podcast was one of the top 10 podcast episodes of 2024. I am bringing it back as a replay for your enjoyment as I work on new episodes for 2025.

The blueprint for developing your nursing career is right here. Founded on the principles of Professional Ascension, the Ambitious Nurse Podcast is about helping nurses grow professionally. Professional Ascension provides career coaching and mentoring for nurses with experience.

The framework of Professional Ascension is to Discover your Nursing Career Path, Explore your Nursing Career Interests, Set Nursing Career Goals, and Take Action in Your Nursing Career. Throughout this show, we discuss the framework's pillars and examples of how they are applied to nursing career paths.

Got a Career or Work question? Send me a text right here.

Support the show

Trying to figure out your next career step?
Download my FREE Nursing Career Growth Roadmap

Tired of being overlooked for promotions? Book a Nurse Leadership Positioning Intensive—a 60-minute 1:1 session to pinpoint what's blocking your advancement and map out your plan to get there.

This podcast was one of the top 10 podcast episodes of 2024. I am bringing it back as a replay for your enjoyment as I work on new episodes for 2025.

There are red flags that indicate it's time to move on from your current job, but many people stay longer than they should. This episode is to help the nurse consider whether to stay at the bedside or leave.

Should they stay in nursing or leave nursing?

Should they stay in healthcare or leave?

By the end of the episode, you will have tips to help you decide whether to stay or leave the bedside.

Got a Career or Work question? Send me a text right here.

Support the show

Trying to figure out your next career step?
Download my FREE Nursing Career Growth Roadmap

Tired of being overlooked for promotions? Book a Nurse Leadership Positioning Intensive—a 60-minute 1:1 session to pinpoint what's blocking your advancement and map out your plan to get there.

This podcast was one of the top 10 podcast episodes of 2024. I am bringing it back as a replay for your enjoyment as I work on new episodes for 2025.

Can you imagine finding joy in your nursing career while maintaining financial stability, even during the strenuous summer months?

By establishing boundaries, you can achieve greater flexibility and autonomy, focusing on what truly matters professionally and personally.

From feeling overwhelmed in your role to finding a job that aligns with your aspirations, we explore how you can gain clarity. I also delve into managing ego, creating a succession plan, and recognizing when it's time to move on to new opportunities.

If you're struggling with boundaries, this episode is just for you.

Got a Career or Work question? Send me a text right here.

Support the show

Trying to figure out your next career step?
Download my FREE Nursing Career Growth Roadmap

Tired of being overlooked for promotions? Book a Nurse Leadership Positioning Intensive—a 60-minute 1:1 session to pinpoint what's blocking your advancement and map out your plan to get there.

This podcast was one of the top 10 podcast episodes of 2024. I am bringing it back as a replay for your enjoyment as I work on new episodes for 2025.

Are you tired of feeling stuck in your nursing career despite having advanced degrees and qualifications?

Join me, Bonnie Meadows, as I reveal essential strategies for overcoming career stagnation and moving into leadership roles. Discover why your resume might hold you back and learn how to align it with job descriptions to get past HR screening systems.

I’ll share practical tips to highlight your experience and bridge perceived gaps in leadership, ensuring your resume stands out.

Learn about the power of proactive career steps, navigating workplace politics, and knowing when to seek sponsorship or new opportunities. Whether dealing with micromanagers or advocating for policy changes, this episode is packed with actionable advice. Plus, I offer personalized career guidance—schedule a one-on-one call to discuss your path and get tailored advice.

Let’s work together to help you achieve the nursing career you desire and make a lasting impact in the profession. Don’t forget to share this episode with fellow nurses and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!

Got a Career or Work question? Send me a text right here.

Support the show

Trying to figure out your next career step?
Download my FREE Nursing Career Growth Roadmap

Tired of being overlooked for promotions? Book a Nurse Leadership Positioning Intensive—a 60-minute 1:1 session to pinpoint what's blocking your advancement and map out your plan to get there.

This podcast was one of the top 10 podcast episodes of 2024. I am bringing it back as a replay for your enjoyment as I work on new episodes for 2025.

Are you stuck in analysis paralysis, endlessly weighing the "what ifs" of your nursing career? In this episode, Bonnie Meadows, MSN, APRN, ACCNS-AG, shares her own experiences with overcoming perfectionism and fear to take decisive action.

Bonnie challenges the "checklist mentality" many nurses adopt, urging you to shift from procedure to strategy. She emphasizes the importance of embracing imperfection, asking the right questions, and gathering data to inform your decisions. It's time to stop overthinking and start taking strategic steps toward the career you deserve.

Got a Career or Work question? Send me a text right here.

Support the show

Trying to figure out your next career step?
Download my FREE Nursing Career Growth Roadmap

Tired of being overlooked for promotions? Book a Nurse Leadership Positioning Intensive—a 60-minute 1:1 session to pinpoint what's blocking your advancement and map out your plan to get there.

What a milestone!! This is my 50th episode. I decided to get a little personal and controversial even for me. I pray it blesses you and directs you on your next steps in advocating for your patients, families, and yourself.

This episode discusses the current political climate and its effects on nursing. You must advocate for yourself and your patients. I also stress the role of faith and prayer in navigating difficult times, encouraging a focus on spiritual grounding. I urge you to contact your political representatives by phone and email.

You must know your values and stand up for what you believe in professionally and personally. It's time for you to rise and make your voices heard.

Got a Career or Work question? Send me a text right here.

Support the show

Trying to figure out your next career step?
Download my FREE Nursing Career Growth Roadmap

Tired of being overlooked for promotions? Book a Nurse Leadership Positioning Intensive—a 60-minute 1:1 session to pinpoint what's blocking your advancement and map out your plan to get there.