When you think of nursing, you most likely picture operating rooms and emergency rooms, with nurses racing through the hospital to care for patients. While 61% of RNs work in hospital settings, there are many other employment options for nurses who have completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program or Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program.
Here are five interesting non-hospital jobs for nurses to consider. All salary information was sourced in December 2021.
Home Health Nurse
Home health nurses, sometimes called visiting nurses, work with patients in their homes. The patients are typically elderly but may be any age. Home health nurses often provide services following a patient‘s discharge from the hospital or other kinds of inpatient care. They help with medication management and wound care, patient education and monitoring of illness and they evaluate the patient‘s home for any physical challenges that may hinder healing and recovery.
Home health nurses account for about 11% of the workforce, earning an average annual salary of $68,885.
Medical Writer
With clinical knowledge and experience, nurses who enjoy research and journalism may want to consider employment as a medical writer. A variety of companies hire writers, both as salaried and freelance employees, but the primary employers of nurse medical writers are hospitals, academic institutions and pharmaceutical companies. Medical device manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies may need assistance developing research papers or regulatory reports for submission to certain governmental agencies. Textbook publishers, medical journals, trade publications, websites, or any number of other media organizations covering healthcare topics may hire medical nurse writers.
Medical writers earn an average annual salary of $80,383.
Nurse Educator
While hospitals may employ nurse educators, there are several non-hospital jobs for nurses interested in education. Colleges hire nurse educators as full-time and part-time instructors for healthcare-related courses, and there is a persistent shortage of faculty to fill open positions, according to a recent report by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). High schools that offer healthcare vocational programs also need nurse educators. Any organization that requires training and education of its staff or customers may hire nurse educators too; these include medical device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies and government agencies. Nurse educators are always in high demand.
The average annual salary for a nurse educator is $84,060.
Occupational Health Nurse
Occupational health nurses work in business or corporate settings. Companies, particularly those in manufacturing, may hire an occupational health nurse to oversee the health and safety of employees in the facility. Nurses in this position may develop safety standards and protocols, document worker‘s compensation incidents and administer treatment for minor injuries. They may also conduct employee education seminars on topics such as smoking cessation, nutrition, exercise and stress management.
Occupational health nurses earn an average annual salary of $73,876.
Legal Nurse Consultant
For those interested in law, becoming a legal nurse consultant can be a rewarding nursing job. Legal nurse consultants serve as analysts, collaborators, strategists, researchers, and educators and often work for insurance companies, serving as expert advisers on medical-legal claims or lawsuits. Complainants may file lawsuits for several reasons, including medical malpractice, worker‘s compensation or long-term disability claims. Legal nurse consultants use their clinical knowledge and medical background to investigate the validity of each claim. They may need to review months or years of medical records, disability filings or other related documentation and then summarize their findings. Consultants may also need to testify in court, as well as coordinate research efforts with multiple lawyers and litigation teams.
The average annual salary for a legal nurse consultant is $85,351. However, it is not uncommon for legal nurse consultants to make much more, especially if they work as independent contractors. Hourly salaries for legal nurse consultants can be as high as $150 an hour, making it a lucrative specialty.
Non-Hospital Careers
As nurses advance in their careers and acquire new skills, it is not uncommon for their interests and career goals to change. For nurses interested in exploring opportunities outside of the traditional hospital setting, there are a number of non-hospital jobs for nurses available. These positions are available not only in healthcare-related organizations but also within the fields of education, law, journalism and beyond.
Learn about UTA‘s online RN to BSN program.
