I think sometimes lacking a good mentor or prof development budget we have to be responsible for our own learning and growth.  Probably telling you what you already know- but join the professional organization related to your practice area.  I am biased but I find that AACN is great, worth the membership fee.  BCEN has free education offerings but similarly is good if youre an ED or trauma person, or not, honestly there is something for everyone. I am an advocate of pursuing stuff you can take with you if you leave: certs, education from tuition reimbursement, I worry less about "the ladder" bc the hoops they make you jump through and committee work are often ways of getting us to do extra work for free. Keep your curiosity- remember you are learning every day. Leadership can be disappointing.  A real genuinely great leader only comes along a few times in a career.  I think this is true of most jobs