[catwoman1]

I work in a cardiology physicians' office. Yes it is Monday through Friday, no weekends or holidays. Pay is less than you would get at a hospital and the benefits are awful unless you are in management. I supervise 6 LPN's, 2 RN's, a nuclear medicine tech, 2 echo techs and a cardiovascular tech. Problem is that when someone is off on vacation or sick, there is no one to fill in so you have to do it. The docs are a bunch of Prima donnas and you can never do enough to please them. The upside is that you aren't working shift, holidays, etc. You have to weight the pros and cons and decide if it is worth it.

[hcmanp]

Originally Posted by EnigmaticParadigm

I work as a Correctional RN at one of the State of California's prisons. I run one of the "yard" clinics (one of five) during the day shift (0600 to 1400). There are approximately 200 inmates per building and six buildings total...1200 inmates to one RN, rofl. Some days are tougher than others, but all in all it's a blast; never know what you're going to get.

The pay more than makes up for the craziness: $5100.00 take home for a normal 40 hour work week/ month + approx. $3000.00 take home in overtime/ month (about $11,000.00 per/ month before taxes).

Not too shabby for an out-of-hospital RN.

I believe that Correctional nursing is a GREAT opportunity for RNs and NPs alike. RNs need really solid clinical assessment skills, because they may be the only medical person on the site. NPs are expected to work autonomously, and they get the best of both worlds, acute care (trauma and emergencies like chest pain) and primary care (hypertension, diabetes, etc) all in one job. Give it a try!

[DutchgirlRN]

I have worked HH and loved it. I'm now in an outpatient imaging center and like it very much.

[tiggerforhim]

I work as a disease manager for an insurance company. We assess pts q 3 mos, do teaching, education on disease/drugs/issues, and it's all over the phone, no patient contact.

[BillEDRN]

Originally Posted by silmas RN

After a lifetime of hospital nursing, my knees gave out. I knew I couldn't stand or walk for long periods anymore. I became a nurse paralegal and am sorry I didn't do this sooner. I am employed full-time by a plaintiff's law firm, so I can still function as a patient advocate. The work is interesting, and the days just fly by. I do everything from interviewing clients to writing submissions to the Medical Review Panel to doing research and locating expert witnesses. I am treated as a professional. The attorneys I work for respect my opinions and are always giving me positive feedback about the work I do. (something sorely missing from hospital work). The more nursing experience you have, the better, but a lot of attorneys are really just looking for someone to interpret medical lingo for them.

My knees didn't give out, but I have a few scars and myalgias after 20 years in emergency medicine, including pre-hospital, flight nursing, and hyperbarics. I also did a few cases as an ER expert, so when I was offered a job in a law firm, I "eased into" it for 2 years on a per-diem basis, and then made the full-time jump the first of this year.
Like you, I love it and agree with the respect, professionalism (more so at times then I ever felt at the hospital) and positive feed-back comments. I also do many of the same things you describe, and while I usually work the defense side (usually doctors, hospitals, or nurses) we do some personal injury stuff as well. I still consider myself an advocate, mostly for my professional colleagues working in a clinical setting, but for some "patients" as well.
The flexibility has allowed me to pursue an advanced degree.
A subsequent poster asks about "those courses" to work in the legal arena. I assume they meant the "legal nurse consultant" designation. In my admittedly limited experience to date, I find most attorneys don't know, or care much about these various and different certifications. A broad based clinical experience, as well as a willingness to research and learn about the many things you haven't been exposed to in the clinical setting, and the ability to communicate (that is, write well, and not the jargon laced short hand most clinicians use daily in charting) well, are much more important. However, the ability to read and "interpret" poor copies of barely legible handwriting on the medical records, is an extremely valuable asset as well.

[superschoolnurse]

I am an elementary school nurse in SW Idaho. I am starting my 6th year as a school nurse and I love it. I love the autonomy, the kids, the responsibility and the hours. Annually our pay is not as high as hospital nursing but when you calculate it hourly it really isn't bad. Several of us work a few nights or weekends a month either for the challenge or the extra money. If you have school aged children it is awesome as there isn't any daycare expense and you can pick out your child's teacher!

[Cay]

There is a down side to every job we can possibly do. The important thing is finding the one that makes us the happiest.

[CCL"Babe"]

I work for an insurance company doing utilization review & discharge planning. I get to advocate for the patients in a different way. I get to speak to nurses all over the country which can be really fun. It has been a really great experience for me. The nurses I work with are really a team - no back biting or in fighting. There are several inservices a month.

You need either three years hospital experience preferably ED or a BSN.

[erichRN]

I recently started as an RN Administrator of a VA Clinic. Because I am a veteran myself, I have an incredible rapport with our patients. It is far more satisfying than any nursing I've done so far. I make twice as much as I did before (although not $11,000/mo). Don't be satisfied with a bad job that you don't like-- life is too short. My last job was OK, but I didn't get paid much and I wasn't using all my tools. Keep looking until you find your niche. You really will be glad you did.

[eyenurse1978]

I am a Nursing Director in an Ambulatory Surgery Center. We are free standing (Doctor owned and operated), single speciality, which is Ophthalmology. We operate 2-3 days/wk. I have part-time RN's and LPN's as well as Per diem RN and LPN staff. My per diem staff nurses are stay at home mom's who like to work a couple of days a week and at the hospitals when you work a couple of days a week, it HAS to be on a weekend...most ASC's are open M-F. So, if you like your weekends and holikdays off, ASC's may be a good place for you to look at. Perioperative nursing is interresting. I am a CNOR and I do train my staff here if they do not have any perioperative experience.