What Other Jobs Can Nurses Do besides Nursing?

Nursing remains a solid choice for job stability, good pay, and many job opportunities with a much faster growth rate than the average career field. For those looking to become a nurse, it's a calling to combine your daily work with making a real, positive difference in the lives of others through caretaking.

Not everyone is keen on the pace or expected duty of a typical RN, however. For those who want to become nurses but don't see themselves rushing around an emergency room, these great career paths offer alternatives that build from the same skill set.

Health Coach

If starting a business sounds thrilling, consider becoming a health coach. Most states allow nurses to offer coaching within their scope of expertise. Health coaches often work independently with their own client base, educating them on various health matters and helping them establish healthy habits and achieve health-related goals. Some health coaches work for insurance companies providing preventative health education to patients to reduce costs and improve health outcomes.

Insurance Navigator

For paperwork maestros, a health navigator is an excellent way to utilize a nursing education and be of great help to patients. These experts assist patients in navigating complex health insurance policies, translate the confusing terminology that arises from the intersection of health and business, and assist them in finding affordable policies that meet their unique health needs. A nurse navigator may be an independent consultant or work with an organization that connects individuals with appropriate insurance policies such as the teams assisting people with signing up for the ACA.

Academic Writer

For those who are passionate about education and healthcare and are skilled wordsmiths, an academic writer with a nursing education utilizes specialized academic writing to share detailed information on healthcare. Nurse writers often contribute to textbooks, essays in scholarly or medical journals, expert web content, and more.

Legal Consultant

Either former or currently practicing nurses may serve as a legal consultant. These individuals serve to assist physicians, clients, and attorneys on unraveling complex health issues as they relate to nursing. They may provide expert testimony during legal proceedings on the duties of nurses and the environment of health care settings including clinics and hospitals or assess the nature and cause of injuries.

Forensics

Similar to a legal consultant, a forensic nurse utilizes expertise in healthcare to make sure justice is served. These forensic nurses examine evidence and achieve conclusions to help resolve criminal cases or investigations where nursing is involved. You will likely need to complete additional certifications after finishing your nursing degree to get into a forensic nurse position, but the national nurse shortage will have companies eager to help you if you express an interest to them.

Public Health

For those concerned with the well-being of their community at large, a public health nurse is a good fit. These nurses focus on the needs of a community and help oversee health programs, brainstorm solutions to community health challenges, assist in policy setting on community health matters, and may be consulted on community health issues. They can work for a government, civic organization, charity organization, or even in a school or corporate environment.

Occupational/Corporate Wellness Expert

Within an organization, occupational nurses or wellness experts focus on preventative care. They can provide a healthy habit education, provide assessments of the working environment to reduce common work-related injuries, incorporate healthy activities into the daily or weekly schedule, and create health-related resources for employees in the organization. Companies love the return on investment that they get from reduced workers' compensation through better care, so medium to large companies across the country are constantly adding staff wellness experts.

Start on a Path to These Great Nursing-Related Careers Today

For those passionate about improving health outcomes and providing expert care in a unique setting, nursing remains an excellent career pathway. ECPI University offers an accredited Associate in Applied Science in Nursing degree that could give you all of the skills needed to take on one of these adventures. If you are ready to take the next steps towards a fulfilling new career, contact ECPI University today for more information.

It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

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Gainful Employment Information – Nursing - Associate’s

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