You’ve probably heard a lot of buzz in the news about the growing demand for healthcare professionals – especially for nurses. In fact, a shortage of nurses is expected over the next few years the United States. If your current job is just barely paying the bills and providing you no satisfaction, maybe it’s time you look into other career options?
Consider the versatile field of nursing and healthcare. Saving lives and improving the quality of life for others may just provide the fulfillment you’ve been looking for in a career. Plus, you’re already a caregiver in your family, so why not do it in your career?
If you think your queasy stomach makes you a poor candidate for a career in this field, think again! You don’t have to be drawing blood and cleaning out a drain tube to get in on this rewarding opportunity. There are tons of other non-clinical nursing jobs to meet your needs if you don’t think you fit the bill for a traditional nursing career.
Keep reading to learn about all of the options and benefits of non-clinical nursing jobs. See if any sound like they’d be the perfect fit for you!
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Non-clinical nursing jobs for ...
1. Individuals who don’t like blood
It’s okay to be a nurse and not like blood! As long as you have a passion for providing care to others, there are options for you. Because of the great demand in the healthcare industry, largely thanks to the aging baby boomer generation, there is a large need for more nurses. But not all nurses end up working in hospitals.
Some non-clinical nursing jobs include patient advocacy, where you’d represent a patient and assist them in navigating through insurance processes, billing and understanding diagnoses and treatment, as described by the Professional Patient Advocate Institute. Or you could spend your days in a classroom as a nurse educator, where you can pass your passion for helping others onto future generations of nurses.
Alternatively, put your nursing knowledge to use as a legal nurse consultant, where you’d provide insight on medical-related cases. Or, as a public health nurse, you could help entire communities through educating and promoting healthy lifestyles. Just because you don’t like getting your hands dirty doesn’t mean a career in healthcare isn’t for you!
2. Extremely organized individuals
An organized individual educated in nursing makes for an excellent medical writer. As a medical writer, you could research and write anything from medical journal abstracts to study findings to advertising copy. Some potential employers include government agencies, pharmaceutical companies and educational companies. Of course, all of the research and preparation needed in medical writing takes a lot of organizational abilities, which you probably already have from raising a family and balancing work. Besides familiarity with medical processes and organization, medical writers also need great attention to detail, according to Education Portal.
Organized individuals with a formal nursing education may find nursing informatics to be a good fit too. This non-clinical nursing job combines health science and computer science in an effort to coordinate and organize medical data. While nursing informatics professionals work in hospitals, they don’t deal with patients, blood or gory procedures. Instead, they work with data systems by training other nurses and testing the systems for efficiency and improvements, according to Explore Health Careers.
3. Those who are seeking flexibility
Maybe it’s the long, odd hours of traditional clinical nursing that concern you. Maybe you are fed up with working nights, weekends and holidays. Or, maybe you just prefer working individually at your own pace. Some non-clinical nursing jobs allow you to set your own hours and work independently.
Consider the career of telephonic case management, where you’d work with insurance agencies on medical-related cases from your own home, suggests Working Nurse. The flexibility of this nursing option may especially appeal to you if you’re balancing work with raising a family.
Or try your hand at writing for the digital sector. Angil Tarach-Ritchey was an RN before she created her successful nursing blog and website and began writing about healthcare. Creating your own website or blogging on nursing-related issues could provide you with the satisfaction of educating others while allowing you to maintain a flexible schedule. Check out these nursing blogs for some inspiration to get you started on a more flexible healthcare career and better work-life balance.
4. Shy individuals
Non-clinical nursing jobs may be the perfect compromise for introverted individuals. Hospital environments can be overwhelming and they require constant interaction between other nurses, doctors and patients. With multiple health professionals caring for patients in clinical settings, communication is vital to ensure things are done right.
Additionally, a clinical nurse’s job can sometimes become emotionally draining when dealing with difficult diagnoses or high-stress situations. A traditional nurse’s job is demanding, so opting for a non-clinical nursing job may make for a happier and more low-key option for you if you’re shy. Medical writing and nursing informatics are two good options for a more independent and less stressful working environment.
5. Those who are very motivated
Pursuing non-clinical nursing jobs may be a good idea for you if you’re ambitious. Channel your motivation and nursing background to become a pharmaceutical sales representative, suggests Tarach-Ritchey. Organization, patience and a tenacious work ethic are all considered desirable qualities for a pharmaceutical sales representative. The field offers a great opportunity for growth and salary potential, allowing you to earn more for your family. In fact, Forbes dubbed it one of the top-paying medical careers requiring only a bachelor’s degree.
Or, if you’re up for a challenge, a career in medical sales may be right up your alley. Your medical background will make you reputable and knowledgeable when selling medical devices and products. As a medical sales representative, you’d still get to help others by providing the essential products and devices that keep them in good health. And if you’re driven, medical sales representatives can earn a sizable paycheck as well.
Consider your options
You can’t ignore the variety of careers available to nurses. And you can’t deny the satisfaction of a career in healthcare—no matter what role you may play. Whether you’re providing the tools for a better quality of life, educating communities or advocating for patients, nurses of all varieties enjoy the ultimate satisfaction of knowing they’re making a difference in the lives of others.
For whatever non-clinical nursing careers interest you, an education in nursing can provide the perfect foundation to help open doors to the healthcare industry. Learn more about pursuing the meaningful career you’ve always wanted and check out these 10 facts you didn’t know about the Rasmussen College nursing program.
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