Career alternatives to traditional nursing?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi! I am a ASN registered nurse with 10+ years experience, mostly in OB. Have also functioned as a school nurse for 1 year.

My question is this: Anyone ever do anything different after being a bedside nurse? I'm just kind of antzy lately. It's unlike me. I've worked at the same place for 14 years, so I'm not the type to skip around to a lot of different jobs. I'm not sure what I'm looking for. I'd really like to find a "9-5, Monday-Friday" kind of job. Some of my thoughts have been pharmaceutical sales, telephone triage, training staff with new medical equipment, sales rep??

Surely I'm not the first to go through this!? I kind of feel like I'm having a midlife career crisis!:lol2:

I've even been considering furthering my education, but I'm just not sure...

Any thoughts?? Anyone have any experience with the types of jobs I mentioned above?

Thank you !!

Specializes in er/icu/neuro/trauma/pacu.

Mommy2-there are probably a kazillion jobs that would fit the bill! Have you looked into your county health dept, planned parenthood type places, ob docs offices-most of these pay a bit less, but benefits could be better.

How about management or education department right in your current hospital-might require a higher degree, but usually M-F jobs. Employee health, school nursing, some exclusive private care for a rich lady going to

europe---oh not that one, lol!

Seriously, look into jobs you are qualified for or can easily work into, if the M-F shift is what you need, look for oppurtunities all around your community. If a more advanced level of practice is what you are after, go for it...just remeber a lot of midlevels do take call, especially in OB field.

My DH is now a PA-c, he loves it, but in this small town, he is on call virtually 24/7, and makes hospital rounds after work and on weekends!

Good Luck--you will find the perfect spot for yourself, give it some thought and try on some new jobs.

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Specializes in GI, OR, Oncology.

The surgery center thing also sounds like an interesting option. How is the pay/benefits at a job like that?

The pay is pretty good, but in general you won't get paid as well as at the hospital. The benefits also can't compare to the hospital (comparing the hospital that I came from and where I am now), but we do have insurance, PTO and holiday pay. The main benefit I miss from the hospital is the tuition reimbursement since I'm thinking of working on getting my BSN. I find it's a very worthwhile trade off though. The great hours, nice atmosphere and much less stress is so worth it. I work in Northern California and make $38/hr. I think most hospital RN's in this area in in the $40's - so it's pretty close.

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Specializes in OB.

:flowersfo Thank you all so much for the great replies!

pkapple, You are right! Maybe I do just need to look a little harder around the community where I live. In the meantime, though, maybe a BSN would be helpful! See, I've been doing a weekend Baylor for about 6 years now and am growing tired of it. I'm starting to have to miss some of my kids' games, etc. But, my youngest is entering preschool in the fall and if I stick it out with my current position while she's in preschool, and maybe get my BSN online during that time, then maybe by the time she enters kindergarten, I'll be all set to hunt for that 9-5 job!:idea:

Thank you all for helping me assess my situation from a different perspective!

Oh, and ORSmurf, isn't it fascinating to find out what people earn in different areas of the country? I've been in my current job for going on 10 years now and make $21/hr! Cost of living sure does count, though! We just built a 2000 sq ft house on a walkout basement on 5 acres for

Thanks again everyone!

ei

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Specializes in GI, OR, Oncology.
:flowersfo

Oh, and ORSmurf, isn't it fascinating to find out what people earn in different areas of the country? I've been in my current job for going on 10 years now and make $21/hr! Cost of living sure does count, though! We just built a 2000 sq ft house on a walkout basement on 5 acres for

Thanks again everyone!

ei

You sure got that right! My husband and I both work full time, but we still feel like we may not buy a house here. We both grew up in No.CA, so it's hard to move (away from family) to another area, but that's what may end up happening some day. House prices here for first time buyers is tough... not impossible, but tough.

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I'm a Monday through Thursday, full time community health nurse. I work 4 ten hour days, no evenings, weekends or holidays (unless I want to). There are other roles like this out there. Mine required a BSN minimum and an odd lot of prior experience but the qualifications will vary. Good luck to you.

Hi Quickbeam,

Do you deafinetly need a BSN for Community nursing or is it required only in some places...

Here in Ireland its not something that is required!.

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Specializes in critical care.

Similar dilemma. I chose to take a position with a cardiovascular service line. No patient contact but I do project management and business plans for things like a heart failure program, an a-fib center and carotid stenting. I do the planning, the ROI, the hiring, etc. When the project is up and established I depart for new projects or maintain a peripheral connection in a consultant type role. I work M-F and corificeusally leave work at the office unlike my previous life as a critical care nursing director.

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research your alternative first before career change maybe school nurse ,forensenic nurse ocupational /industrial nursing, community health nurse, nurse instructor , your world is endless ask your self these questions pros/cons sheet what i like about ob nursing what do I not like, then break it down to techincal,social,monetary , educational can do on a computer analyze .

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Specializes in Occ health, Med/surg, ER.

I did bedside nursing for a year (as LVN) before I landed my Occhealth job. Im soo lucky to have the job I do. Sometimes I get antzy too, and I crave the challenges of bedside nursing. All I have to do is think about the stress, and I snap out of it fast! LOL.

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Specializes in Government.
Hi Quickbeam,

Do you deafinetly need a BSN for Community nursing or is it required only in some places...

In my state in the US, you need a BSN for most public health and community health work. I'm not surprised it is different in Ireland....it varies all over the US!

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Specializes in ob/gyn.

NP's do fairly well if you get in a good ofc....may be difficult to go back to school if you have been out awhile.........really the only way to go for most is to teach or be an administrator....

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I work both bedside inpatient and surgery center. Surgery center is a wonderful atmosphere without even considering the M-F work days. Sometimes the hours do go into the early evening but not often. There are early positions 6a who leave around 2:30 and late people who come in at 9 and leave at 5:30p or til the last patient goes home.

The pay is less but the stress is way less than inpatient nursing.

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