It’s no secret that education unlocks doors. You may find that the field of education is where you shine, even if you have a non-education-related career. By tapping into your strengths as an educator, you set yourself up to several jobs in the healthcare field.
The following are just a few lucrative careers one can move into with an advanced nursing degree in nursing education. The information below also includes some of the specific courses that will prepare you for what each job entails — based on the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Nursing Education online program at The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA).
Patient Health Educator
Patients need to make informed decisions about their care, especially regarding illnesses and hospitalizations. Diagnoses of conditions and potential treatments can significantly impact patients’ futures, and they deserve to understand the options. Patients also need to be able to communicate their concerns to someone who can, in turn, relay important details.
The patient health educator serves as a “translator” who can cut through potentially confusing or overwhelming technical terms. They help patients understand their conditions, any necessary procedures and requisite lifestyle changes to ensure best possible outcomes.
A well-educated patient is also more likely to comply with medical instructions and adhere to prescription protocols. With the help of a patient health educator, individuals are empowered to manage their own health and medical care and adequately deal with acute and chronic conditions.
The Teaching/Learning Theories, Strategies, and Evaluation course as part of UTA’s MSN in Nursing Education program imparts skills necessary to break down complex information and effectively communicate it to others. There are also specialty courses for comprehensive health assessments in pediatric, adult and geriatric populations, which expand students’ understanding of generational health concerns and ways to communicate for different age groups.
Nurse Consultants
If prestige interests you, you might consider becoming a nurse consultant. With extensive knowledge about the technical aspects of patient care, nurse consultants are experts in a wide variety of environments.
For example, insurance investigations, legal claims, research labs and company care recommendations often involve nurse consultants. Risk prevention, case evaluation and even patient care may require professionals in this role.
Nurse consultants must understand the principles of nursing and medical technology well enough to communicate relevant information to others. Organizational and research skills are critical. UTA’s Nursing Education Practicum course reinforces students’ nursing skills and polishes their teaching skills so graduates can serve as experts in whatever role they find themselves.
Career website Indeed reports the average base salary for a nurse consultant as $90,566. However, salary varies by location, education, experience and specific field of expertise.
Informatics Nurse
With so many advancements over the past few decades, information technology has a significant future in healthcare. Informatics nurses use their expertise to study existing medical information and design and develop systems to improve human health with existing evidence-based data.
This specialty profession examines numbers, evaluates research and uses the data to support patients, nurses and other healthcare providers. Good informatics nurses are highly organized and detail-oriented. Their goals are to reduce costs while improving efficiency and patient care. They provide support to others with informational technology, making this role a unique space for healthcare innovation.
Informatics nurses work in various environments — from hospitals to medical practices, consulting firms to universities. Coursework in UTA’s Nursing Informatics class orients students to techniques and software for application in this field.
ZipRecruiter lists the average annual salary for an informatics nurse as $102,230.
Medical/Healthcare Writer
For healthcare professionals who enjoy writing, there are opportunities to work as freelance medical writers. In this role, nurses write articles, books and blogs with the most up-to-date medical information in mind.
Working as a writer can expose professionals to unique information and environments. For instance, the entertainment industry employs experts who review manuscripts, film and television scripts to portray the medical field accurately, encompassing all kinds of techniques and treatments.
Freelance medical writers typically have more freedom in their schedules than many other careers in healthcare. Contract work may take place on set, in a corporate setting or from a person’s home office. As a result, medical writers apply nursing knowledge to a variety of industries.
Indeed reports the average hourly wage for a medical writer as $51.42. However, since the work is freelance or contract-based, the pay may vary.
Put Your Best Foot Forward
The above positions only scratch the surface of the various career paths nurses can take with an MSN in nursing education. Take the first step by starting your degree now, so you can ultimately put your skills to use in a role you love.
Learn more about The University of Texas at Arlington’s online MSN in Nursing Education program.
