ABSTRACT
Career planning and development are essential activities if nurses are to meet changing community health needs, standards of practice, and professional and organisational expectations. Career planning is a continuous and iterative process involving self-assessment and goal-setting, which enables the nurse to develop professionally and to grow with change instead of merely reacting to it. Self-marketing involves packaging people personal and professional attributes, qualities and experience to showcase people achievements. Healthcare is one of the most dynamic human disciplines. As such, the ever-changing contexts of care, science, policy, technology, treatments and pharmaceuticals impact on nursing practice and the delivery of care to patients. Nurses are strongly encouraged to be reflective in their practice. While a spinal cord injury patient was being transferred from his wheel-chair to the bed, he suddenly began to shiver, sweat and complain of a headache. Nursing is an ever-advancing discipline in an equally progressive and demanding clinical environment.
