1. ORCHESTRATING A RESEARCH CAREER Angela Barron McBride, PhD, RN, FAAN Distinguished Professor and University Dean Emerita Indiana University School of Nursing and AAN-ANF-IOM Scholar-in-Residence Institute of Medicine

3. Intellectual Roots Care, N.S. (1984). Career choice. Ethics, 94, 283-302. Dalton, G.W., Thompson, P.H., & Price, R.L. (1977). The four stages of professional careers: A new look at performance by professionals. Organizational Dynamics, 6(1), 19-42. Dutton, J.A. & Crowe, L. (1988). Setting priorities among scientific initiatives. American Scientist, 76, 599-603. Seligman, M.E. P. (1991). Learned optimism Seligman, M.E. P. (1991). Learned optimism. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

4. Overview of Presentation: What does it mean to have a career? What does it mean to have a career? What are the activities that will engage you throughout your research career? What are the activities that will engage you throughout your research career? What are the key transitions in a research career? What are the key transitions in a research career? What can be done to sustain career optimism? What can be done to sustain career optimism?

5. What does it mean to have a career, and not just a job? A career is …a long-term project through which self-realization and service to others may be achieved. A career is …a long-term project through which self-realization and service to others may be achieved. N. S. Care (1984) N. S. Care (1984)

6. Characteristics of a career: Work that one anticipates doing and staying with over a significant period of time Work that one anticipates doing and staying with over a significant period of time An overlap between personal values and professional goals An overlap between personal values and professional goals Doing a good job is not the endpointskills are exercised in service to larger goals Doing a good job is not the endpointskills are exercised in service to larger goals

7. Work that changes you over time Work that changes you over time Assumption of increasing levels of responsibility Assumption of increasing levels of responsibility A commitment to lifelong learning A commitment to lifelong learning A responsibility to nurture subsequent generations and shape the future A responsibility to nurture subsequent generations and shape the future

8. What will engage you throughout your research career? Knowledge development Knowledge development Knowledge dissemination Knowledge dissemination Knowledge utilization Knowledge utilization Resource development Resource development Information technology Information technology

9. KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPMENT The point of a research career is developing a program of research that will eventually provide some answers to important clinical questions. The point of a research career is developing a program of research that will eventually provide some answers to important clinical questions.

10. What are the implications? A program of research means every study conducted provides insights for the next level of inquiry A program of research means every study conducted provides insights for the next level of inquiry An over-time perspective requires the investigator to become methodologically more sophisticated with experience, and more nuanced in conceptualization of the issues An over-time perspective requires the investigator to become methodologically more sophisticated with experience, and more nuanced in conceptualization of the issues

11. A practice profession requires that research be clinically relevant--directly or indirectly--, not research just for its own sake A practice profession requires that research be clinically relevant--directly or indirectly--, not research just for its own sake

12. KNOWLEDGE DISSEMINATION Findings are expected to be disseminated to other professionals, policy makers, and the public as appropriate. Findings are expected to be disseminated to other professionals, policy makers, and the public as appropriate.

13. What are the implications? Findings in a practice profession usually have at least two professional audiences--other researchers and clinicians Findings in a practice profession usually have at least two professional audiences--other researchers and clinicians Findings are usually disseminated through presentations and publications, with the latter being particularly important Findings are usually disseminated through presentations and publications, with the latter being particularly important

14. Refereed presentations/publications are important to the discourse community of a field because that distinction denotes peer review Refereed presentations/publications are important to the discourse community of a field because that distinction denotes peer review It is important that nurse researchers disseminate their work to interdisciplinary audiences for maximum influence It is important that nurse researchers disseminate their work to interdisciplinary audiences for maximum influence

15. The more senior you become, the more you will be concerned about the research-policy link, and sharing your work with policy makers who can help implement changes indicated The more senior you become, the more you will be concerned about the research-policy link, and sharing your work with policy makers who can help implement changes indicated It is important to be able to communicate the meaning of your research to the public in jargon- free language It is important to be able to communicate the meaning of your research to the public in jargon- free language

16. KNOWLEDGE UTILIZATION Important findings need to be incorporated into clinical protocols so they can shape practice, and into the curriculum so subsequent generations are informed. Important findings need to be incorporated into clinical protocols so they can shape practice, and into the curriculum so subsequent generations are informed.

17. What are the implications? Teaching, research, and practice are truly intertwined Teaching, research, and practice are truly intertwined Nursing is concerned with both efficacy (what works under controlled conditions) and effectiveness (what works in real-life situations) Nursing is concerned with both efficacy (what works under controlled conditions) and effectiveness (what works in real-life situations)

18. RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT The researcher must develop resources--human and otherwise--to carry out a program of research. The researcher must develop resources--human and otherwise--to carry out a program of research.

19. What are the implications? All researchers, even those in research- intensive environments, have to seek resources for their work All researchers, even those in research- intensive environments, have to seek resources for their work Obtaining peer-reviewed grants is an important external acknowledgment of your work Obtaining peer-reviewed grants is an important external acknowledgment of your work

20. Part of research is building a research team Part of research is building a research team Part of research is knowing how to use those more experienced than you are as consultants and those less experienced than you are as research assistants Part of research is knowing how to use those more experienced than you are as consultants and those less experienced than you are as research assistants Networking is a form of resource development Networking is a form of resource development

21. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY In each career phase, mastery of information technology (IT) will be important to career success. In each career phase, mastery of information technology (IT) will be important to career success.

22. What are the implications? IT is important to communication/networking: word processing, document sharing, collaborative writing, e-mail, listserves, homepage development IT is important to communication/networking: word processing, document sharing, collaborative writing, e-mail, listserves, homepage development IT is important to teaching: powerpoint, web course management, using a spreadsheet for grades, integrating instructional software into your course, test administration and grading software IT is important to teaching: powerpoint, web course management, using a spreadsheet for grades, integrating instructional software into your course, test administration and grading software

23. IT is important to research management: organizing data bases, statistical software for data analysis, online searching, online journals, bibliographic citation database IT is important to research management: organizing data bases, statistical software for data analysis, online searching, online journals, bibliographic citation database

24. IT is important to career management: portfolio development, access to continuing education, job searches, CV construction, electronic calendars, contact lists, project planners, fiscal planning, links to professional organizations and information sites IT is important to career management: portfolio development, access to continuing education, job searches, CV construction, electronic calendars, contact lists, project planners, fiscal planning, links to professional organizations and information sites

25. There are additional ways of organizing the activities that will engage you throughout your career. The RWJ Executive Nurse Fellows Program focuses on five core leadership competencies:

26. Self-knowledge Self-knowledge Strategic vision Strategic vision Risk taking and creativity Risk taking and creativity Interpersonal and communication effectiveness Interpersonal and communication effectiveness Inspiring and leading change Inspiring and leading change

27. Self-Knowledgethe ability to understand self in the context of organizational challenges, interpersonal demands and individual motivation Build on strengths Use others to shore up limitations

28. Strategic Visionthe ability to connect broad social, economic, and political changes to the strategic direction of institutions and organizations Learn the art of the environmental scan Connect personal goals to institutional and/or community goals

29. Risk Taking and Creativitythe ability to transform self and organization by moving outside the traditional and patterned ways of success If you do whats been done before, you wont be able to address in the future the problems created in the past There is never just one way of doing things

30. Interpersonal and Communication Effectivenessthe ability to translate strategic vision into compelling and motivating messages Connecting with people is at the heart of all effectiveness The leader has to stay on message for others to hear the message

31. Inspiring and Leading Changethe ability to create, structure, and effectively implement organizational change in a continuous manner Knowing what to do is not the same as knowing how to get it done Incremental change doesnt mean the increments cannot get bigger over time

32. What are the key transitions in a research career? Preparation Preparation Independent Contributions Independent Contributions Programmatic Development Programmatic Development Development of Field Development of Field Gadfly Period Gadfly Period

33. Stage I. PREPARATION Central Activity: Learning Primary Relationship: Student, Research Assistant Major Theme: Assimilating values, knowledge base, and inquiry skills important to a research career

34. PREPARATION Obtain formal education (undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral research training) and appropriate additional credentials Obtain formal education (undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral research training) and appropriate additional credentials Seek socialization experiences, including joining appropriate professional organizations and working as a research assistant Seek socialization experiences, including joining appropriate professional organizations and working as a research assistant

35. Develop the habits of precision (e.g., time management, bookmarking internet sites [science of aging knowledge environment www.sageke.org], analyzing your strengths and limitations) Develop the habits of precision (e.g., time management, bookmarking internet sites [science of aging knowledge environment www.sageke.org], analyzing your strengths and limitations) Observe/analyze the successful, and seek their mentoring Observe/analyze the successful, and seek their mentoring

36. Find workable strategies for personal stress management, so you can manage the long run Find workable strategies for personal stress management, so you can manage the long run Seek validating outcomes, e.g., funding, presentations/publications, honors Seek validating outcomes, e.g., funding, presentations/publications, honors

37. Stage II. INDEPENDENT CONTRIBUTIONS Central Activity: Functioning as a principal investigator (PI) Primary Relationship: Colleague Major Theme: Dealing with the inevitable gap between ideals learned and the realities of work setting, i.e., dealing with failure and unrealistic expectations

38. INDEPENDENT CONTRIBUTIONS Demonstrate ability to obtain major funding as a PI Demonstrate ability to obtain major funding as a PI Build collegial network and research team Build collegial network and research team Obtain resources for program of study Obtain resources for program of study Take full advantage of strengths, opportunities, and aspirations of home setting Take full advantage of strengths, opportunities, and aspirations of home setting Learn to give and get criticism Learn to give and get criticism

39. Join discourse community of field as a first (or sole) author and as a peer reviewer Join discourse community of field as a first (or sole) author and as a peer reviewer Learn to articulate the meaning of your research Learn to articulate the meaning of your research Incorporate research into clinical protocols and educational practices as appropriate Incorporate research into clinical protocols and educational practices as appropriate Move from novice to expert Move from novice to expert

40. Stage III. PROGRAMMATIC DEVELOPMENT Central Activity: Facilitating home institution Primary Relationship: Mentor, Administrator Major Theme: Assuming responsibility for development of others and of setting

41. PROGRAMMATIC DEVELOPMENT Nurture colleagues in earlier career stages Nurture colleagues in earlier career stages Build infrastructure/resources, e.g., obtain institutional research training grant Build infrastructure/resources, e.g., obtain institutional research training grant Engage in continuous strategic planning regarding research development at home institution Engage in continuous strategic planning regarding research development at home institution

42. Shape establishment of centers of excellence that build on individuals strengths Shape establishment of centers of excellence that build on individuals strengths Develop a tolerance for ambiguity; develop political savvy Develop a tolerance for ambiguity; develop political savvy Expand purview of own research program, e.g., establishing multi-site collaborations Expand purview of own research program, e.g., establishing multi-site collaborations Build institutional image Build institutional image

43. Stage IV. DEVELOPMENT OF FIELD Central Activity: Shaping profession and health care Primary Relationship: Leader Major Theme: Exercising power of authority/creating a vision for the future

44. DEVELOPMENT OF FIELD Serve as advisor to regional/national/ international efforts and/or organizations Serve as advisor to regional/national/ international efforts and/or organizations Build fields infrastructure/resources Build fields infrastructure/resources Work with other fields to achieve common goals Work with other fields to achieve common goals

45. Articulate research agenda of field Articulate research agenda of field Link research to policy formation Link research to policy formation Prepare successor generations Prepare successor generations Establish reputation/legacy, e.g., new programs within a professional association Establish reputation/legacy, e.g., new programs within a professional association Build image of field Build image of field

46. Stage V. GADFLY PERIOD Central Activity: Continuing to shape profession and health care Primary Relationship: Advisor Major Theme: Exercising power of authority when no longer constrained by institutional obligations

47. GADFLY PERIOD Serve as a consultant to regional/national/ Serve as a consultant to regional/national/ international efforts and/or organizations Speak and write provocatively about issues of the day, and how issues of the day are embedded in history of field and of health care Speak and write provocatively about issues of the day, and how issues of the day are embedded in history of field and of health care

48. Function as a wise, affirming (wo)man, e.g., recommending colleagues for honors/special experiences Function as a wise, affirming (wo)man, e.g., recommending colleagues for honors/special experiences Take on special projects that require synthesizing skills and high-level integrative abilities Take on special projects that require synthesizing skills and high-level integrative abilities

49. What can be done to sustain career optimism? Cultivate hardiness Cultivate hardiness Monitor cognitive constructions Monitor cognitive constructions Build on strengths Build on strengths

50. Associate with optimistic people Associate with optimistic people Learn the art of reframing Learn the art of reframing See self as an executive property deserving to be well maintained See self as an executive property deserving to be well maintained

51. Cultivate hardiness: COMMIT to important professional goals COMMIT to important professional goals Act as if you can CONTROL your destiny in key respects Act as if you can CONTROL your destiny in key respects Recognize that CHANGE is not inherently negative Recognize that CHANGE is not inherently negative Stay connected to COMMUNITY Stay connected to COMMUNITY

52. Monitor cognitive constructions: Overgeneralizing failure Overgeneralizing failure Not owning success Not owning success Discounting positive Discounting positive Ignoring neutral Ignoring neutral

53. Ruminating on the negative Ruminating on the negative Obsessing about global problems (think globally but act locally) Obsessing about global problems (think globally but act locally) Holding on to irrational beliefs, e.g., you can do it all or be loved by all Holding on to irrational beliefs, e.g., you can do it all or be loved by all

54. Build on strengths: Education/socialization Education/socialization Special talents Special talents Life experiences Life experiences Network of colleagues Network of colleagues Strengths of home setting Strengths of home setting

55. Associate with optimistic people: Seek out successful/positive colleagues Seek out successful/positive colleagues Celebrate marker events Celebrate marker events Join professional organizations Join professional organizations Honor achievements of colleagues/field Honor achievements of colleagues/field

56. Learn the art of reframing: Im so grown up that I cannot tell the difference between failure and life experience Im so grown up that I cannot tell the difference between failure and life experience Remember that insoluble problems are just opportunities masquerading in disguise Remember that insoluble problems are just opportunities masquerading in disguise

57. The bright know what the ideal might look like, so it is not surprising that they regularly feel inadequate in the current situation The bright know what the ideal might look like, so it is not surprising that they regularly feel inadequate in the current situation A no can be helpful in the next round of negotiations A no can be helpful in the next round of negotiations

58. See self as executive property deserving to be well maintained: Attend to basicsnutrition, exercise, sleep, relaxation, stress management Attend to basicsnutrition, exercise, sleep, relaxation, stress management Cultivate body listening Cultivate body listening Obtain needed support services Obtain needed support services Plan for financial future Plan for financial future

59. CAREER Career... Résumé lines, But more than a long list. Whats core is the sum total of Meaning.Mentored, Then mentoring. The challenge is to give Away self as you build substance In place. Copyrighted 2001, ABM