Journal of Nursing Scholarship

Career Cartography to Envision Careers That Advance Health and Health Policy

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Today in academia and health care, creating a vision and crafting a career path that progresses toward that vision is essential. Career cartography is the comprehensive and iterative process of applying the science of cartography within the context of policy toward achieving a career with impact.

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to advance the knowledge and application of the original publication as described by Feetham and Doering in 2015. Career cartography supports scientific thinking, communicates science, and addresses the uncertainty of a career.

Methods

We conducted a critical analysis of differences between the original publication and our current practical experience of career cartography. Workshops conducted the past 10 years have advanced our understanding of the career cartography components and their utility to one's career. This analysis is informed by a review of the 25 publications citing the 2015 publication to evaluate how scholars report applying the process across health professions and organizations.

Results

All components of career cartography are expanded beyond the 2015 publication to include application of the process with exemplars.

Conclusion

Career cartography is an effective guide across disciplines and at all stages of a career for determining, directing, evaluating, and communicating one's career and its impact.

Clinical Relevance

The intentional and ongoing use of career cartography maximizes the impact one's chosen career can have on improvements to health and health policy.