NCLEX. CVs. Certification Exams. State Licensure. Career Advancement. CEUs.
You've worked so hard to earn your credentials — and you've worked even harder to earn your keep. So — even if you're not LOVING your current job, why fix what's not broken?
Did you know that — if given the choice to start over — one in five nurses wouldn't choose nursing as a career again¹? And those responses were given pre-pandemic.
(I don't know about you — but that sounds pretty broken to me.)
Hi, I'm Dr. Brittany Rhoades, Clinical Nurse Specialist and I've made it my mission to help nurses find total career fulfillment through practical and actionable career coaching.
Why? Because I don’t believe exhaustion, burnout and feeling unfulfilled with your career are badges of honor, but symptoms that can be remedied
I come alongside nurses like you to do just that — to show you that loving your job and getting paid what you’re worth is completely possible. And I don’t just stop there — I give you a customized plan of attack to turn your specific goals into your realized dreams.
In some cases — this means more money — but in others, it means more time with your family, achieving a masters or doctoral degree because it’s always been on your bucket list, or getting a graduate degree so you can teach nursing school and be closer to home.
In all cases — my services are intentionally created to put you at the center and create a customized career plan that aligns with both your personal and professional goals.
Finding my Path (aka My Clinical Background)
In 2002, I started on my path into healthcare as a Pre-Med major. Along the way, I realized that a career in nursing better aligned with my personal and professional goals. I completed a BS in Biology and entered a second degree BSN program in January of 2006. Completing my BSN in a year was a challenge to say the least. I graduated in December and immediately threw darts at a map to determine where I would apply to begin my nursing career.
I packed my bags and headed south to work on an Acute Care Trauma & Burn unit. My manager was amazing and my colleagues were rockstars — but I found myself emotionally exhausted and ready to leave nursing after 18 months. A friend and nurse told me that there are too many options in nursing to ever be miserable (Best Advice Ever). I searched high and low to learn more about my options and transitioned to Cardiothoracic Transplant and Ventricular Assist Devices (VADs). I was in love from Day 1 of ICU orientation! While working with Transplant and VAD patients, I wanted to learn more. I loved caring for patients, teaching colleagues and patients, and process improvement which led me to pursue a Masters of Science dual degree as a Clinical Nurse Specialist and Nurse Educator.
For 15 years I ate, slept, and dreamt VADs. I have spent nine years as a Clinical Nurse Specialist with a focus on heart failure, cardiac transplantation, and mechanical circulatory support (MCS). The longer I worked with this patient population, the more I wanted to understand their perspectives. This led to pursuing a PhD in Nursing. Through qualitative research I have had the opportunity to learn how patients perceive their disease process and live with the VAD.
In 2022, I realized it was time to move to the next challenge of my professional career. That is when I discovered a path to Cardiothoracic Surgery. Now I find myself more fulfilled, greater balance for my family, endless research opportunities, and a fantastic salary increase.
My professional career path has looked more like a jungle gym than a ladder. I am not sure I could have ever predicted in 2002 where I would be 20 years later. I’m living my best nursing life and you can too.
Remember there are too many options in nursing to be miserable!
¹https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/poll-1-in-5-nurses-wouldnt-make-same-career-choice-again/434802/