How Your Nursing Skills Can Transfer Into Celebrancy

Most of us transitioned into celebrancy after, or alongside, another career. Often, those careers can provide a backbone of experience that can be used to build on as a celebrant. 

At ICPC, we are often meeting people from healthcare backgrounds - normally nursing or caring - who have decided to make this transition into celebrancy. 

While any new beginning in life is daunting, nurses and carers are fortunate in that they can transition their skills into the celebrant role. While nursing and celebrancy may appear unrelated at first glance, both involve deeply personal interactions with individuals during significant moments of their lives. Here’s how nursing skills can be applied to a celebrancy career:

Empathy and Compassion

If you are currently working as a nurse, or have a background in nursing or caring, you are trained to provide empathetic care to patients and their families during times of illness or distress. Similarly, celebrants need to be empathetic and compassionate when working with customers and families to create meaningful ceremonies for weddings, funerals, and other life events. The ability to understand and connect with people on an emotional level is a crucial skill in both professions. 

Courage

We have talked about courage before on our blog, because it is such a fundamental part of being a celebrant. Whether it’s the courage to start a new career, the courage to train again, or the courage to face challenging situations within the role. A nurse has to also show courage on a daily basis, because of the difficult and complex situations he or she may face. Read more here about the role of courage in celebrancy. 

Working With Families

Nurses and carers, in particular those in end of life care, will be used to working with families in grief. Understanding this process, and showing compassion and empathy, is a crucial part of the role. Similarly, as a celebrant, you will work with families who might be experiencing worry, despair or a significant bereavement. Your skills within this dynamic will be invaluable, helping others to cope in times of great difficulty. 

Conflict Resolution

As a nurse, you are trained to remain calm and composed in emergency situations, making quick decisions to ensure the safety and well-being of patients. Celebrants may encounter unexpected challenges or emotional moments during ceremonies, such as dealing with difficult family dynamics or addressing last-minute changes. Drawing on your experience in nursing, you can apply these skills to navigate these situations with professionalism and grace.

Cultural Sensitivity

Nursing and caring often involves caring for patients from diverse cultural backgrounds, requiring an understanding of cultural norms, beliefs, and practices. Celebrants also work with clients from various cultural, religious, and spiritual backgrounds, necessitating cultural sensitivity and respect for diversity. As a nurse, you can easily transfer this skill to celebrancy, ensuring that ceremonies are inclusive and respectful of each individual’s traditions and customs. Read more about cultural fusion ceremonies here. 

Attention to Detail

As a nurse, you know the important role of detail. It’s crucial for accurately documenting patient information, administering medications, and providing safe care. Similarly, celebrants must pay close attention to detail when planning and officiating ceremonies, ensuring that every aspect is meticulously organised and executed according to the clients’ wishes. As a nurse, you will also be organised and timely, both skills of which can be transferred seamlessly into celebrancy. 

Self Care

Nursing can be a high-stress profession with long hours and shift patterns, requiring you to effectively manage your stress levels, and emotional and physical wellbeing. Celebrants also face pressure when orchestrating significant life events, such as weddings or funerals, which can be emotionally charged occasions. If you have developed stress management and emotional welfare strategies in your career, you can apply these strategies to stay calm and composed while fulfilling their celebrancy duties. Read more here about mental wellbeing tips for celebrants. 

We see many skilled nurses and carers coming to our ICPC celebrant training at High Trenhouse. We love watching them develop their skills and discover a new route in life that is filled with caring for others, showing compassion and making meaningful differences to others. If you are a nurse or carer and would like to train with us, please head over to our training page for more information.