Nurses are among the most trusted professionals in the world, and yet nursing is considered one of the most underappreciated careers globally.
Nurses have critical roles and responsibilities, but the long shifts they work and the lack of pay and appreciation they deal with on a daily basis can have a significant impact on their lives.
Moreover, with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, nurses are facing unprecedented levels of stress.
The mounting deaths, lack of resources, long working hours, and the risk of contracting Covid-19 all take a toll on the mental and emotional health of our frontline workers.
Nurses around the world confronted a perfect storm when the pandemic broke out last year.
On top of that, fearing long-term health effects of the vaccines, some nurses are refusing to get vaccinated. They would rather quit their jobs than get vaccinated.
This combination of challenging issues have made many rethink their nursing career.
Luckily, there are a plethora of options for nurses seeking a career change, be it in a hospital or non-hospital setting.
So, an alternative career path is now more feasible than ever.
It’s normal and acceptable for nurses to seek alternative career paths; however, a few things should be considered before making the final call.
Things to Do Before Changing Careers as a Nurse
People choose to change careers for many reasons.
Maybe your career goals have changed, you found a new professional interest, or you want flexibility in your working hours, just to name a few.
It is important to evaluate your current situation, explore career options, and find the one that puts your strengths and skills to the best use.
So, the first thing is to be completely sure about making the change.
Once you have decided to seek jobs for nurses who don’t want to be nurses, do the following:
1. Assess Your Likes and Dislikes
Choosing a career path is a significant decision that can affect the rest of your life.
To consider a suitable alternative career path as a nurse, there are some questions you should ask yourself.
- What areas of your nursing career have you liked the most so far?
- What are the aspects you dislike the most?
- Which areas of the job do you excel in?
- How far or close to direct patient care would you like to be?
- Do you need to learn new things and increase your knowledge before changing careers?
How you answer these questions should help you determine your professional goals.
This will then help you decide on a suitable alternative career for nurses.
2. List Your Skills and Strengths
Now, it’s time to think about the skills, competencies, and strengths that best describe you as a nurse.
Naturally, a career in nursing requires specific skills and qualities.
Do a comprehensive inventory of all of your marketable skills. From this inventory of skills, you will be able to find out the relevant transferable skills needed for the alternative career you hope to pursue.
Some of the top transferable nursing skills and strengths might include:
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Strong verbal communication skills
- Teamworking abilities
- Problem-solving skills
- Attention to detail
- Flexibility and adaptability
- Ability to work under pressure
When posting a job description, recruiters often list a variety of desired skills as necessary or preferred.
So, looking at a few job posts of your targeted roles will give the list of all the skills you need.
3. Shortlist Jobs Based on Skills and Interests
Once you have your interests and skills figured out, it’s time to take the next step and start the job hunt.
The first thing to do is make a shortlist of the jobs that best fit your skills and interests.
- Research multiple alternative nursing careers that you can pursue.
- Keep an eye on the financial details and work schedule of the target jobs.
- Look at how much time, energy, and emotion the job will require.
- Be clear on the setting, location, salary, benefits, etc.
Having this shortlist of jobs or job types will help you to keep your new career search focused and streamlined.
4. Get Help From a Career Coach
If you are struggling with self-assessment and figuring out the kind of alternative nursing career paths suitable for you, talk to a professional career coach.
When it comes to career advice or career counseling, career coaches have heard it all.
Career coaches are professionals who can help you get clarity and direction by offering you the best advice and helping you find your next career.
A career coach takes the time to work through what exactly you’re looking for, why are you considering a career change, and what can you do to make the transition smooth and painless.
5. Create a Targeted Resume
Once you’ve decided what roles to go for based on your interests and strengths, the next step is to write a professional resume targeting your preferred roles and highlighting your transferable skills and work experience.
Here are a few guidelines to get started with your resume when looking for alternate nursing careers:
- Research your desired jobs.
- Identify your transferable skills.
- Get familiar with the industry jargon.
- Determine which resume format works best for you.
- Get help from a professional resume writer if needed.
Many skills are transferable, so a fresh, revamped resume should demonstrate that your skills and qualifications from your previous role are still relevant.
Alternative Careers for Nurses
Below, we explore some alternative career opportunities for nurses who do not want a patient care role.
These jobs are specifically curated as relevant to the widely accepted skills, education, and healthcare experience that nurses have achieved over the years.
(The list below is in the higher- to lower-reported salary order. The salary data has been taken from reputed sources including Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter, Comparably, Zippia, and Payscale.)
1. Nurse Writer / Medical Writer
Job Description: Nurse writers are nursing professionals who educate people on a wide range of healthcare topics. They can also write articles, books, and scripts about nursing. They have the option of freelancing for medical journals and other health-related publications.
Salary Range: $60,000 – $121,000
Degrees Required: An associate’s degree (ADN) or bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) is required, with experience as a registered nurse.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Non-hospital
2. Medical and Health Services Managers
Job Description: They are healthcare executives who work behind the scenes at hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare organizations. Their main responsibility is to coordinate the delivery and quality of healthcare services.
Salary Range: $55,000 – $100,000
Degrees Required: A bachelor’s degree in healthcare management or related field, such as public health or health information management is required.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Hospital or remote
3. Telemedicine Nurse
Job Description: A telemedicine nurse, also known as telehealth nurse, uses telecommunication methods such as video call, phone, email, and messaging to provide patient care. They connect with patients over the phone or Internet for providing healthcare services.
Salary Range: $48,000 – $105,000
Degrees Required: An associate’s degree (ADN/ASN) or bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) is required.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Hospital and non-hospital
4. Health Informaticist
Job Description: A health informaticist organizes and analyzes patients’ health records to improve healthcare outcomes. They make sure doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals have quick and easy access to medical records.
Salary Range: $45,000 – $156,000
Degrees Required: A bachelor’s degree in nursing, informatics, health information management, or related field is required.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Hospital or remote
5. Public Health Nurse
Job Description: A Public Health Nurse educates the general public through community-based intervention programs. The job is to promote community health and safety. They are trained as registered nurses.
Salary Range: $45,000 – $106,000
Degrees Required: An associate’s degree in nursing (ADN/ASN) or a hospital-based diploma program is usually sufficient for this role.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Non-hospital
6. Pharmaceutical Sales
Job Description: Pharmaceutical sales representatives educate doctors, physicians, and other medical specialists about the newest pharmaceutical products on the market. They can influence providers to prescribe the drugs to their patients.
Salary Range: $43,000 – $103,000
Degrees Required: A bachelor’s degree is often required. CNPR (Certified National Pharmaceutical Representative) certification may be required.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Hospital and non-hospital
7. Nurse Lobbyist
Job Description: Nurse lobbyists use their voice, power, and knowledge to influence legislators regarding healthcare-related bills at local, state, or federal levels. They should have strong interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Salary Range: $42,000 – $145,000
Degrees Required: No official academic degree is required, but they are required to register with the state and federal governments.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Non-hospital
8. EMR Implementation Specialist
Job Description: EMR implementation specialists use their knowledge of EMR and EHR software to manage and enhance everyday clinical operations and workflows. They use their technical expertise to configure, implement, and support the use of the EHR system within healthcare institutions.
Salary Range: $41,000 – $88,000
Degrees Required: A bachelor’s degree in information technology or healthcare related fields is required.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Hospital and non-hospital
9. Insurance Nurse
Job Description: Insurance nurses interact with patients to assess their medical records, treatment options, and medical claims to evaluate whether these fit in the insurance bill or not. They also review, manage, and process health insurance appeals and claims.
Salary Range: $38,000 – $76,000
Degrees Required: An associate’s degree (ADN) or bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) is required or preferred.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Hospital or non-hospital
10. Grant Writer
Job Description: The job of grant writers is to research, draft, and submit documentation that help organizations receive financial grants. They thoroughly research available grants in multiple areas and identify the ones that match the objective(s) of the organization.
Salary Range: $37,000 – $73,000
Degrees Required: Although an undergraduate degree is enough, a bachelor’s degree in English, communications, or marketing is a bonus if you want to advance in your career. A working knowledge of non-profit organizations, finances, and politics will help a lot.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Non-hospital
11. Healthcare Recruiter
Job Description: A healthcare recruiter is responsible for planning and coordinating the recruitment functions of an organization, including posting job ads, screening candidates, setting up interviews, negotiating hiring agreements and salaries, and so on.
Salary Range: $34,000 – $64,000
Degrees Required: A bachelor’s degree in human resources, healthcare administration, business administration, or a related field is required.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Hospital and non-hospital
12. Healthcare Representative
Job Description: A healthcare representative is like an agent who is authorized to manage several tasks – such as claims processing, resolving issues, and collecting payments – for a patient account in accordance with the terms and conditions stated in advance.
Salary Range: $34,000 – $55,000
Degrees Required: An associate’s degree in nursing, pharmacy, or related field is preferred.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Hospital and non-hospital
13. Nurse Health Coach / Health / Nutrition / Fitness Coach
Job Description: Nurse health coaches help patients achieve a healthy lifestyle or a specific health-related goal. They create diet plans and exercise plans to improve the overall health of patients
Salary Range: $33,000 – $67,000
Degrees Required: A bachelor’ degree (BSN) or an associate’s degree in nursing (ASN) is required.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Hospital and non-hospital
14. Quality & Safety Nurse
Job Description: A quality & safety nurse job requires assessing and evaluating treatment plans, and documenting patient care details according to professional nursing standards and regulations. They coordinate among multiple departments to manage risk and ensure quality patient care.
Salary Range: $31,000 – $141,000
Degrees Required: A bachelor’s degree or an associate’s degree in nursing or related fields is preferred.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Hospital and non-hospital
15. Medical Claims Analyst
Job Description: A medical claims analyst oversees medical insurance claims by verifying the details submitted, checking for inconsistencies or errors, and processing payments. They are responsible for applying standards of federal regulations to ensure correct billing and health insurance practices.
Salary Range: $31,000 – $60,000
Degrees Required: A bachelor’s degree in nursing is preferred. However, a high school diploma and GED is often enough to get the job.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Hospital and non-hospital
16. Addictions Counselor
Job Description: Addictions counselors provide emotional support for individuals who suffer from drug addiction, alcoholism, eating disorders, or other behavioral or mental problems.
Salary Range: $28,000 – $69,000
Degrees Required: A bachelor’s degree in psychology, counseling, behavioral sciences, or related field is preferred.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Hospital and non-hospital
17. Clinical Coder / Medical Records and Health Information Specialists
Job Description: A clinical coder, also known as clinical coding officer, organizes and classifies records of patients’ medical diagnoses and procedures into well-organized medical classification codes.
Salary Range: $28,000 – $66,000
Degrees Required: An associate’s or bachelor’s degree in related fields is required.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Hospital and remote
18. Medical Transcriptionists
Job Description: Medical Transcriptionists convert voice reports dictated by physicians, nurses, and other healthcare officials into written reports. They may also review medical documents using speech recognition software.
Salary Range: $27,000 – $45,000
Degrees Required: A post-secondary education or training in medical transcription is preferred. There are also associate’s degree programs available.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Hospital or remote
19. Holistic / Alternative Medicine
Job Description: Holistic and Alternative Medicine includes a broad range of medical therapies and treatments that do not fall into conventional medical practices. The job involves promoting holistic strategies that are not generally considered to be part of conventional medicine.
Salary Range: $24,500 – $305,000
Degrees Required: The type of education required to work in the field of alternative medicine varies greatly and mainly depends on the field you choose. You may also need a license to practice.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Non-hospital
20. Medical Journalist
Job Description: Medical journalists are nursing or healthcare professionals who publish health-related information and news in both general news and specialty medical publications. They also write articles for medical journals and research papers.
Salary Range: $20,000 – $185,000
Degrees Required: A bachelor’s degree in English or journalism with a background in scientific or medical discipline is required.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Non-hospital
21. Script Consultant / Medical Script Nurse
Job Description: Script consultants are hired by studio, television, or theater productions to provide script notes and feedback. They are mostly enlisted by screenwriters to provide feedback and detailed analysis on their script.
Salary Range: $17,500 – $155,000
Degrees Required: No specific degree or certification is required.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Non-hospital
22. Cannabis Nurse / Dispensary Nurse
Job Description: A cannabis nurse works to educate patients on a variety of cannabis information and misinformation. They also provide training to other medical practitioners on cannabis therapeutics’ potential and benefits.
Salary Range: Not found
Degrees Required: Any licensed or registered nurse (RN) can become a cannabis nurse.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Mostly non-hospital
23. NASCAR Medical Liaison Coordinator
Job Description: NASCAR nurses coordinate medical services with race drivers, crew members, and officials in case of an emergency. They connect local medical staff with the NASCAR drivers and support team for their medical needs.
Salary Range: Not found
Degrees Required: A bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree and related certifications are required.
Remote Availability: No
Setting: Non-hospital
24. Doping Control Officer
Job Description: Doping control officers are trained personnel responsible for collecting athletes’ urine/blood samples during competitive events or in training. They process samples according to USADA’s protocols and procedures, and manage documentation of the Doping Control Process.
Salary Range: Not found
Degrees Required: No official degree is required.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Non-hospital
Non-Bedside Nursing Job Ideas
Feel like you want to move away from the traditional nursing roles and do something that does not involve direct patient care? There are plenty of jobs that aren’t bedside but still give you plenty of satisfaction in using your nursing skills.
Below, you will find some of the alternative career options to nursing that do not involve bedside care.
25. Nurse Educator / Health Educator
Job Description: Nurse educators serve as faculty members in nursing schools and teaching hospitals, mentoring the next generation of nurses. They prepare students to become nurses through proper guidance and education. They may work in inpatient and outpatient healthcare settings, educating aspiring nurses.
Salary Range: $62,000 – $122,000
Degrees Required: A Master’s degree in nursing is required. Some universities or employers require a doctorate degree.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Hospital and non-hospital
26. Risk Management Nurse
Job Description: Risk management nurses identify effective ways to implement a risk management program in healthcare institutions. They coordinate with the healthcare team and administration to mitigate the potential risks to the health and safety of patients, and to the institution.
Salary Range: $61,000 – $172,000
Degrees Required: A bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) or healthcare management is enough. A master’s degree will help you advance your career.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Hospital and non-hospital
27. Speech-Language Pathologist
Job Description: Speech-language pathologists, sometimes called speech therapists, specialize in human communication and its disorders. They assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, and swallowing disorders in children and adults.
Salary Range: $61,000 – $115,000
Degrees Required: A master’s degree in speech pathology from a Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA)-accredited institution is required.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Hospital and non-hospital
28. Utilization Review Nurse
Job Description: Utilization Review (UR) nurses work behind the scenes to review the appropriateness of healthcare services and expenditures. The job is to minimize costs while monitoring the quality of patient care.
Salary Range: $55,000 – $96,000
Degrees Required: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is required.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Hospital and non-hospital
29. Nurse Case Manager
Job Description: A nurse case manager job is more of a social work role that requires implementing and evaluating care plans for patients. They coordinate their patients’ care, advocate for their welfare, and often act as a liaison between their patients, doctors, and healthcare providers.
Salary Range: $54,000 – $107,000
Degrees Required: A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is required. A master’s degree in nursing, health administration, or a related field is a bonus.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Hospital and non-hospital
30. Cruise Ship Nurse / Flight Nurse
Job Description: A cruise ship/flight nurse is responsible for providing emergency medical care and basic first-aid care for the passenger and crew members aboard the ship/flight. They have the opportunity to travel the world and enhance their skills.
Salary Range: $54,000 – $103,000
Degrees Required: A bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) and a current RN license is required.
Remote Availability: No
Setting: Non-hospital
31. Clinical Documentation Specialist
Job Description: Clinical Document Specialists (CDS) are registered nurses who assess, review, and document patient health information and records. They organize the records of each patient and input document queries into a system for physicians, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare personnel.
Salary Range: $51,000 – $119,000
Degrees Required: An associate’s degree (ADN) or bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) is enough to get the job. However, a CCDS or a CDI certification will make you desirable to recruiters.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Hospital or remote
32. Disease Prevention Nurse / Infection Control Nurse
Job Description: A disease prevention nurse, also called an infection control nurse, is a specially trained professional who understands how infectious agents spread and work, and implements best practices to prevent the spread of the agents. They are trained in the prevention and control of infectious diseases.
Salary Range: $50,000 – $103,000
Degrees Required: An Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is enough. A Certification in Infection Control (CIC) certificate may be required for advancing your career.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Hospital and non-hospital
33. Procurement Nurse / Organ Transplant Coordinator
Job Description: Procurement nurses are responsible for handling the entire process of organ transplant – from evaluating donor’s eligibility and coordinating with the donor’s family to procurement of organ(s), coordinating recovery post-surgery, and everything in between.
Salary Range: $49,000 – $94,000
Degrees Required: A bachelor’s degree (BSN) or an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) is enough. A Certified Procurement Transplant Coordinator (CPTC) certification is often required.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Hospital
34. Preservice Review Nurse
Job Description: Preservice review nurses are responsible for reviewing pre-authorization requests from providers and determining if those requests meet medical necessity. They summarize and document medical cases using appropriate protocols for the Medical Director to review.
Salary Range: $48,000 – $105,000
Degrees Required: An associate’s degree (ADN) or bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) is preferred. High school diploma or GED with an LPN licence can also work in some cases.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Hospital and non-hospital
35. Occupational Nurse / Occupational / Industrial Health Nurse
Job Description: Occupational nurses are a group of healthcare professionals that provide for and deliver health care and services at the workplace. They work closely with employers and employees to address their healthcare needs.
Salary Range: $48,000 – $105,000
Degrees Required: Although an associate’s degree (ADN) or bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) is enough, some employers require a master’s degree in public health or related fields.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Non-hospital
36. Medical Scientists / Nurse Researcher
Job Description: Nurse researchers are scientists who study and conduct research on various facets of health, illness, and healthcare. They may also participate in clinical research and trials and provide patient care during an experimental treatment. They also compile and assess research data for recordkeeping.
Salary Range: $46,000 – $134,000
Degrees Required: A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or doctorate degree from an accredited institution is required.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Hospital and non-hospital
37. Nurse Auditor
Job Description: Nurse auditors provide financial advice and analysis to hospitals and other healthcare facilities. They review and analyze medical records of patients to determine whether the paperwork is in order, correctly identifies the patient care, and adheres to the regulatory and legal standards.
Salary Range: $45,000 – $156,000
Degrees Required: A bachelor’s degree (BSN) or an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) is enough. Experience in auditing, medical billing and coding, and accounting is a bonus.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Hospital and non-hospital
38. Public Health Nurse
Job Description: Public health nurses handle everything from public health crises and natural disasters to mass immunizations and infection prevention. They are employed in a variety of settings, including hospitals, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations.
Salary Range: $45,000 – $106,000
Degrees Required: An associate’s degree (ADN) or bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) is required. A master’s degree or a doctorate degree can help you advance your career.
Remote Availability: No
Setting: Hospital and non-hospital
39. Clinical Social Worker
Job Description: Clinical social workers directly interact with patients to enhance and maintain their physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. They focus on the diagnosis and prevention of patients’ mental illnesses, emotional issues, and behavioral disturbances.
Salary Range: $43,000 – $87,000
Degrees Required: Although a bachelor’s degree is enough, the majority of employers require a master’s degree in social work (MSW).
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Hospital and non-hospital
40. Administrative Services Manager / Healthcare Administrators
Job Description: Administrative service managers are responsible for planning and coordinating activities in a healthcare facility or medical institution to ensure a smooth and efficient operational workflow. Duties include supervising administrative staff, managing records, overseeing maintenance of equipment, and coordinating health services.
Salary Range: $42,000 – $133,000
Degrees Required: A bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration, nursing or related field is required. A master’s degree in public health or administration is a bonus.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Hospital
41. Medical Laboratory Technologist
Job Description: Medical laboratory technologists collect and process samples of body fluids, tissues, blood, and cells from patients. They analyze the results and report their findings with physicians.
Salary Range: $39,000 – $83,000
Degrees Required: An associate’s or bachelor’s degree in medical technology or laboratory science is required. Some states require medical laboratory technologists to be licensed.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Hospital and non-hospital
42. Clinical Ethicist
Job Description: A clinical ethicist consults on all aspects of healthcare to educate physicians, surgeons, nurses, hospital staff, patients, and their families on ethical and legal issues. They may also work as part of an ethics committee for pharmaceutical companies, government offices, colleges, and universities.
Salary Range: $38,000 – $112,000
Degrees Required: A master’s degree or doctorate in health care ethics, bioethics, ethics, or related fields is required.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Hospital and non-hospital
43. School Nurse / Camp Nurse / Disney Nurse
Job Description: Camp nursing is one of the best alternative career options for registered nurses who enjoy working with children. The camp nurses oversee the health clinic and assist with children’s health-related needs in a camp and school environments.
Salary Range: $36,000 – $86,000
Degrees Required: An associate’s degree (ADN) or bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) is enough to get the job.
Remote Availability: No
Setting: Non-hospital
44. Forensic Nurse
Job Description: Forensic nurses provide specialized care to the victims of violent crimes and help gather medical evidence for public or legal proceedings. They also work with law enforcement officers, medical teams, and legal professionals to uncover and categorize evidence.
Salary Range: $35,000 – $104,000
Degrees Required: An associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) is sufficient for this role. However, a master’s degree in forensic nursing is an added advantage.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Hospital and non-hospital
45. Medical Biller
Job Description: A medical biller follows up on the patient health information data prepared by the medical coder and forwards it to the insurance companies for claims and reimbursement purposes. They also review patient bills for accuracy and completeness.
Salary Range: $29,000 – $52,000
Degrees Required: A high school diploma or a GED certificate is enough to apply. However, experience in medical coding and insurance billing is an added advantage.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Hospital or remote
46. Nursing Facility Administrator
Job Description: Nursing facility administrators are responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations and administrative affairs of nursing homes and related facilities. They are responsible for patient care, staff and personnel, medical supplies, billing, compliance training, etc.
Salary Range: $28,000 – $98,000
Degrees Required: A bachelor’s degree in nursing, health administration, or a related field is required.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Hospital and non-hospital
47. Healthcare Compliance Specialist / Quality Assurance Nurse Specialist
Job Description: A healthcare compliance specialist oversees an organization’s compliance program to make sure it is operating within the state and federal regulations. They also conduct compliance training and education programs for physicians, nurses, and other staff members about coding, billing, and regulatory issues.
Salary Range: $24,500 – $85,000
Degrees Required: A bachelor’s degree in nursing, healthcare administration or other related fields is required.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Hospital and non-hospital
48. Pharmaceutical Nurse
Job Description: Pharmaceutical nurses are often employed by big pharmaceutical companies for designing and implementing patient support programs. They can also serve as pharmaceutical representatives – responsible for selling and marketing new pharmaceutical products to physicians, pharmacies, and healthcare providers.
Salary Range: $24,000 – $139,500
Degrees Required: A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is enough to get the job.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Non-hospital
49. Nurse Life-Care Planner
Job Description: A life care planner can be seen as a case management nurse who is responsible for creating long-term care plans for patients who suffer serious injuries or face chronic illnesses. They also work directly with doctors of the patients to assess current and future medical needs.
Salary Range: $23,000 – $94,500
Degrees Required: An Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is required, with some years of experience in the medical field.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Hospital or remote
50. Telephone Triage Nurse
Job Description: Telephone triage nurses are specialized registered nurses that administer patient care over the phone or via video call. They assess patients’ medical symptoms, determine their needs, and direct them to the appropriate level of care.
Salary Range: $20,500 – $97,500
Degrees Required: An associate’s degree (ADN) or bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) is required.
Remote Availability: Yes
Setting: Hospital and non-hospital
Key Takeaways
Clearly, there are a whole lot of options when it comes to choosing an alternate, but similar, career path to nursing.
Your nursing knowledge and skills can be applied in a multitude of fulfilling ways.
You have the opportunity to work in a variety of settings and continue to develop your nursing skills.
Fortunately, there are a wide variety of roles that nurses can play outside the usual medical setting.
You can also choose to work from home if you’re looking for more flexibility in your working hours or the freedom to work from anywhere.
The key is to get out of your comfort zone and start looking into alternatives.
