A SMART objective is one that is SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE,

ACHIEVABLE, RELEVANT AND TIME-BOUND.

Why use SMART objectives?

 To provide a structured approach to developing and designing a

work plan.
 To systematically monitor progress towards a target
 To set the stage for measuring performance and identifying
opportunities for improvement
 To succinctly communicate intended impact and current
progress to stakeholders
 To concretely describes how goals will be met

Devoting time and resources early on to intentionally writing SMART

objectives is an investment in the future of a plan, program, or service.
By starting out with SMART objectives, a program or plan can
systematically and meaningfully measure progress, show
achievements and identify opportunities for improvement.

How To Choose SMART Goals in Nursing :

The SMART acronym is a helpful way to develop solid and reasonable
nursing goals. According to this strategy, a good "SMART" goal must be:

 Specific
 Measurable
 Achievable
 Realistic
 Time-Bound
Specific

A specific goal is clear and precise, rather than vague. For example,
rather than saying that you want to improve your knowledge of mental
health, consider committing to attending at least two conferences
about depression and anxiety in the coming year.

Measurable

A measurable goal is easily measured, so that you have some way of

defining what “success” looks like for you. For example, you could set a
goal of receiving a five percent pay raise within the next three years.

Achievable

An achievable goal is challenging enough to be compelling, but isn’t

impossible. Additionally, you’ll also need the skills, knowledge, and
resources necessary to accomplish it. For example, as a nursing student,
you probably didn’t have any time to do any reading outside of your
schoolwork. Now that you’re a professional and have days off to spend
how you’d like, you could set a nursing goal of reading five industry- or
specialty-related articles a week as a way to continue your professional
development.

Realistic

A realistic goal is relevant to your current priorities and fits naturally

within your short- and long-term career plans. Say that it’s always been
your dream to work as a neuroscience nurse in San Francisco. But, with
your family on the East Coast and your children still in school, you’re
not sure how realistic that is. However, you can break it up into smaller,
bite-sized objectives that will help you make progress toward that final
result. For example, one of your smaller nursing goals could be to find
10 hospitals and facilities in the Bay Area where you’d want to work
and establish contacts at each.

Time-Bound

A time-bound goal has a set timeline within which to accomplish it.

Having a deadline will help you keep yourself on track and refocus if
you start to veer off course. Without a set timeline, it can become far
too easy to procrastinate. For example, say that your goal was simply to
take the NCLEX. In this situation, the lack of an established timeline
makes it harder for you to keep yourself on track and hold yourself
accountable for getting to the finish line. Instead, make things easier by
setting a finite amount of time to complete this goal, such as six
months.

Professional Nursing skills:

 Be able, within the nursing field, to provide technical and
professional healthcare appropriate to the health needs of
the persons attended, in accordance with current scientific
knowledge and with the quality and safety requirements
of applicable legislation and ethical standards.
 Plan and provide nursing care for individuals, families or
groups, focusing on health results and evaluating its
impact, using guides to clinical practice and care that set
out the processes involved in the diagnosis, treatment or
care of a health problem.
 Know and be able to apply the theoretical and
methodological fundamentals and principles of nursing.
 Understand the interactive behavior of the person
according to gender, group or community, within a social
and multicultural context.
 Design care systems for individuals, families or groups,
evaluating their impact and implementing appropriate
changes.
 Base nursing practice on scientific evidence and the means
available.
 Understand people without prejudice, assessing their
physical, psychological and social characteristics as
autonomous and independent individuals, ensuring their
opinions, beliefs and values are respected and
guaranteeing their right to privacy via professional
confidentiality.
 Encourage and respect the patient's right to be involved,
informed, independent and to give informed consent
when decisions are taken, in accordance with their
experience of the process of health and illness.
 Promote healthy lifestyles, encouraging continued
preventive and therapeutic behaviors.
 Protect the health and welfare of the individuals, families
or groups attended, guaranteeing their safety.
 Establish effective communication with patients, families,
social groups and colleagues and promote education about
health.
 Know how to apply the principle of social justice to
professional practice, understanding the ethical
implications of health in a changing world.
 Possess knowledge of the principles of healthcare and
social healthcare financing and the appropriate use of
available resources.
 Establish evaluation mechanisms, taking into consideration
scientific, technical and quality issues.
 Work with teams of professionals as a basic unit in which
professionals and other staff in healthcare organizations
 are structured along single- or multi-disciplinary and inter-
disciplinary lines.
 Possess knowledge of healthcare information systems.
 Provide nursing care based on integrated healthcare
principles, involving multi-professional cooperation,
process integration and continuity of care.
 Possess knowledge of the strategies for making patients
and their families comfortable and alleviating symptoms in
the administration of palliative care in situations of
advanced or terminal illness.

5 Professional Goals for Nurses

Nurses in the current work climate must be consistently looking
for ways to remain competitive and abreast of new procedures
and expectations in their field. Nurses work in a variety of
settings from hospitals, surgery centers, doctor’s offices,
schools, and even large companies, and they all share common
goals and objectives. In an effort to be competitive and deliver
exceptional care, here are five professional goals for nurses.

Provide Excellent Patient-Centered Care

The number one objective for medical personnel is providing
excellent care for patients. “Patient experience and satisfaction
is the No. 1 priority for healthcare executives— above clinical
quality, cost reduction, and many other burning issues”, (Health
Leaders Media Industry Survey 2013) From check-in, vital signs,
and administration of medications, to attending to mental and
emotional status, nurses are the front-line authority on patient
care. They heavily impact the patient experience and
satisfaction levels.

Increase Technology Skills

Technology changes rapidly. While the latest technological
developments enable medical professionals to deliver excellent
care to their patients, the ever-evolving technology requires
nurses to constantly learn new skills. On top of staying up to
date with new technology, nurses must also learn to
troubleshoot technology issues that could directly impact
patient care in the event of a malfunction. “Nurses and other
healthcare providers can be so focused on data from monitors
that they fail to detect potentially important subtle changes in
clinical status.” (Powell, et al: 2008) Increasing understanding of
technology and anatomical/physiological symptoms
simultaneously will provide better patient care.
Focus On Continuing Education.
Nurses must focus on continuing to increase knowledge of
pedagogy and evolution of medical techniques. Set a goal to
learn something new every quarter, and research ways to
better develop technology skills, medical techniques, and
recommended delivery of patient care. Life-long learners will
be rewarded with positive feedback and marked improvements
in delivery of care.

Develop Interpersonal Skills.

During an average hospital stay, a patient will see 17-25
different staff. This requires collaboration and communication
between all medical staff to deliver excellent care. The nurse
assigned to a patient will need to communicate effectively and
efficiently in person or via technology with others assessing
patient needs. From nursing assistants, lab technicians,
pharmacology, doctors, and even housekeeping and nutrition,
all staff contribute to the overall patient care, experience, and
satisfaction.

Become An Expert.
A nurse manages multiple tasks related to patient care
throughout his/her day. Administering intravenous fluids and
medication, entering patient data, distributing medicine,
assessing pain levels, checking patient incisions, dealing with
visitors, and juggling multiple orders from physicians are all part
of a given shift for a nurse. Focusing on becoming an “expert”
on a few of these tasks will enable the nurse to move forward
in the specialty area of his/her choice. By honing specific skills
to mastery level, a nurse makes herself more marketable and
desirable in a given specialty. This level of mastery will also
serve to accomplish providing excellent patient care to the
continuing education goal mentioned above.