As a nursing student, you learn all the skills you will need to practice nursing. However, it is important to note that most of these skills are also transferable to other careers. There are many alternative career options for nurses who have decided nursing isn’t for them or want to leave the clinical environment. There are several non-clinical nursing jobs that you can pursue if you have an Associate or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and you are an RN with an Associate or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ASN). If you are looking for a nursing career that will fit your style and interests, these ideas might help you get started. This article lists common non-nursing jobs for nurses, along with their average salaries and expected responsibilities.
How else can you use a BSN?
While RN programs prepare nurses for careers in nursing, BSNs are the degrees that give nurses a career boost. A typical BSN program teaches students nursing skills in research, health, anatomy, physiology, and clinical practice. Nursing students will also learn communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, diagnosis, and decision-making. Most nurses enroll in a
BSN program online that offers the same skills as any traditional degree but during flexible hours so that they can maintain their jobs with their studies. These skills are ideal for working with patients in medical settings but can also be transferred to other industries. No matter what career they choose outside of nursing, nurses will find that their background in health will benefit them. In addition to bringing the hands-on experience to these careers, nurses are also better suited for these positions because of their unique hands-on experience.
Alternative jobs for nurses
Nurses who are no longer interested in working in clinical nursing may find these non-nursing careers attractive:
- A biller for medical services
Medical billers collect patient and insurance company payments. These professionals are responsible for sending a medical bill to the patient’s home or sending a bill to their insurance company using health codes. In addition to keeping detailed accounts payable and receivable records, a medical biller must update patient financial records. These nurses can submit payment codes accurately and efficiently based on their experience in medical services. Nationally, the average hourly wage for a medical biller is $15.95.
- Writer in the health field
The primary responsibility of a health writer is to develop health articles and publications based on in-depth medical knowledge. Health magazines and medical facilities may hire them to write articles and newsletters for patients. Medical providers use informative pamphlets written by health writers to educate patients about specific health conditions. A BSN program prepares nurses to create health-related content that is accurate, informative, and useful to patients with advanced medical skills and knowledge. The national average hourly wage for a healthcare writer is $24.09.
- Expert in nutrition
Nutritionists advise and consult patients on improving their health through dietary changes. Their goal is to help patients achieve certain health goals or to improve their general health. In a medical facility, nutritionists work with patients who already have medical conditions or in a health center to encourage healthy eating. Nutritionists may need additional training in nutrition, but nurses’ background in medical care can help them understand how nutrition impacts health. The average national salary of a nutritionist is $50,737 per year.
- Administrator of health services
As the name suggests, these nurses are in administrative positions in a healthcare facility. The primary responsibility of health service administrators is to manage health facilities. They manage staff, and budgets, improve patient care, and manage the day-to-day operations of a hospital or medical office. A health service administrator’s role is similar to that of an office manager. However, because they have a health background, it makes an excellent opportunity for nursing professionals to take on the role. Health service administrators may also use the knowledge of the medical industry to recommend improvements to a business’s policies and procedures. Health services administrators earn about $71,347 per year on average.
- Medical researcher
Medical researchers’ primary responsibility is to use their medical knowledge and experience with medication interactions to learn more about medicine. It is vital to
improving diagnostic and treatment procedures and our understanding of human health. A nurse may specialize in nursing research, which studies, tests, and improves nursing care. The average salary of medical researchers in the United States is $76,021 per year.
- Sales executive in the medical field
Medical sales executives are in charge of negotiating medical supply contracts with medical supply companies. Through their work, they provide medical providers such as doctors, physician assistants, and nurses with information about how to use different medical items. They are often asked questions about a product and given samples to increase sales by providing them with information about it. Due to their experience and education, these nurses are likely to provide training on specific medical products as well. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average national salary of a medical field sales executive is $81,611 a year.
- Nurse consultant
A nurse consultant’s primary duties include providing medical expertise to legal teams and to nurses involved in cases involving medical details. As part of their jobs, they may assist the legal team in evaluating medical charts and defining medical terms. In many cases, they may act as expert witnesses in medical malpractice cases. A nurse consultant may also be employed by a medical facility, nursing home, or hospital to provide consultation and recommendations on individual treatment plans to the patients. Nurse consultants with extensive experience might be tasked with evaluating the current qualifications of the nursing staff as part of a staff evaluation. The average annual salary of nurse consultants in the United States is $84,152.
- Clinical nurse educator
Clinical nurse educators work in academic settings, preparing students for careers in nursing by teaching and mentoring them. Nursing professors administer tests, facilitate lessons, supervise internships and residencies, and act as professional mentors to nursing students during their time in school. In addition to teaching in a clinical setting, clinical nurse educators can train and develop the nursing staff in a medical facility. According to the National Salary Survey, the average annual salary for these professionals is $ 87,375.
Conclusion
The life of a registered nurse (RN) is not always an easy one. The experience of working with patients can be rewarding, but it also comes with a number of challenges. Some nurses find themselves more suited for roles that are not related to patient care but still allow them to make a significant impact on society. If you feel the same way, you are not alone in your experience. A new survey conducted by the American Nurses Association revealed that 38% of nurses plan to pursue roles in healthcare other than those that are patient-facing in 2021. In the next two years, almost half of the people (49%) feel they are somewhat likely to leave the nursing profession.
