Years ago, nurses mixed prescriptions for their patients. In the interest of applying a history lesson to the present, here is a career-advice prescription you might want to try:

15 GRAMS POSITIVE ATTITUDE. You can teach skills, but you can’t teach attitude. That’s why employers look for nurses with a positive outlook and a can-do attitude. Sure, problems exist in just about any of today’s healthcare organizations, but with a positive attitude you can be part of the solution and show off your abilities at the same time. Stop and think: When was the last time that you proposed a solution to a problem instead of simply complaining? When was the last time you gave positive feedback to your coworkers or your boss?

Part of this is knowing when to let go. In today’s job market, you have no reason to stay in a position that is making you unhappy. If you have tried to work through the system without success, then it’s time to move on.

30 MILLILITERS GET UP AND GO. Only you can take the first steps needed to kick a field goal for success. Instead of just reading the articles in this guide, make a commitment to take actions based on them. Even if you just visit a website to learn more about a specialty, you’ve taken a giant step. Use a highlighter to emphasize areas you want to follow-up on, then tear out those pages and post them somewhere you can’t avoid looking at them everyday (maybe the refrigerator).

15 JOULES ENERGY. You need energy to take those first steps. How can you get more energy as you work long hours, see dirty laundry piling up at home, comfort crying kids, smell the mold in your bathroom … well, you get the picture. Good eating and regular exercise top the list of energy sources, but you know that. What you may be missing is a sense of priorities and an ability to delegate — at home.

Try making a quick list of what’s most important to you in your life right now. How much time do you spend on the items on your list? If you’re like many of us, not enough. Rearrange your life so that you spend time on what’s important rather than the little details that can turn into a lion, roar, and bite your head off. For example, does it really matter if you make the bed each day? Do you have to dust the baseboards? We Americans are known for being obsessed with cleanliness. Try to back off on that obsession a bit.

Another way to gain that time (and energy) is to delegate. We do it at work, yet many nurses are reluctant to do it at home. Size up your kids, spouse, friends, relatives, and others. What could they take off your shoulders?

15 MILLIGRAMS NETWORKING. In many ways, networking has sunk into the bottomless pool of cliches. But throw it a life preserver because it’s the best way to determine your next career direction. Networking can lead you in new directions. If you think you’d like to jump from, for example, home care to critical care, talk with members of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. Talk with nurses in your organization who work in critical care. Offer to volunteer for special projects — everyone is always looking for extra help. This worked for me. When I worked in OR, I did a school project with the staff development group in the hospital where I worked because I wanted to move into that area. When a position opened, the person leaving called me and told me I should apply. I did and got the job, I’m sure partly because I was a known entity to the group.

Learn to build bridges, not burn them. Keep in touch with former coworkers, even if it’s an annual holiday card. Nursing really is a small world.

25 MICROGRAMS SENSE OF HUMOR. It takes a sense of humor to navigate the waters of career searching. You’ll likely encounter squalls along the way, but instead of a “perfect storm” you should head to port with a “perfect job.”

Combine the above ingredients and enjoy a 100% increase in job satisfaction! Don’t forget to share this prescription with your friends.