NON-Patient Care Employment for new R.N.s

Q. · Dec 22, 2004

I beg to differ on the two examples I gave.
Research study monitors do not need to have had direct patient care. Not all of them are nurses; one lady I know has a BA in Music; another gentleman has a BA in psychology; a third was previously a lab tech who worked with AIDS viruses. None of these three have ever done anything in the way of patient care. The companies however tend to like nurses as opposed to other degrees because they have the medical terminology across a wide range of areas, they can spot AEs, they know their drugs so they know if a drug was being taken for an event that was not the event being studied. I think about half of the monitors I've worked with are nurses.
Pharmaceutical salespeople (and other medical salespeople, such as EKG equipment) are also not all nurses although they do all have some degree, preferably a four-year science oriented degree...but even that is not set in stone. The important thing is being able to SELL. But again, nurses do seem to be on the preferred list of job candidates.
Job postings always target the "perfect" candidate. That doesn't mean someone who doesn't fit perfectly won't be hired (or won't do a good job).

I agree. There's a difference between research monitors and research coordinators. About half of the coordinators I've worked with are nurses.

And you're absolutely right; postings do target their ideal candidate, knowing full well they will most likely get something/someone else.

been there · Dec 22, 2004

I'm considering becoming an R.N. but I'm only interested in NON-patient care work. Can a new R.N. get this type of work and in what capacity are they needed? Also is it necessary to perform patient care prior to getting those positions?

Thank you

Any non-patient care employment for a nurse requires prior patient care experience. I have never hired, nor worked with, an RN (in over 20 years) in any field who came straight out of school looking for such a position. These are usually managerial positions and those who are supervising "patient-experienced" personnel are setting themselves up for problems. The old saying "If you ain't done it then don't tell me how to do it" holds very true in any position. You may want to think of another field other than nursing if you don't want to wipe a dirty butt, put in a catheter, or just sit and hold a sick person's hand. I'm a non-patient care BSN but I still do patient care when I get the chance. Hands on nursing gives you a good feeling of being needed and of caring for another person that you cannot find in any other field. Take time to research what RNs actually do. You will have many long lonely hours, eat lots of bologna sandwiches, loose a LOT of sleep, and face serious instructors who do all they can do to make you accept criticisim like you have NEVER been faced with before you graduate as an RN. We are a special group of people because we care for people who need our caring and skills. Why would you want to be an RN and not do patient care? It's what we do!!!

SusanJean · Dec 23, 2004

Pharm. co do not require direct pt contact. Nope.

Another industry is the insurance industry...they hire nurses.

SJ

PS... not that I would work for either... but I've learned to never say never...

Jayla · Dec 23, 2004

Just after graduation (recently) I was offered a research position at a world-renowned institution...no patient care exp required! Also, you could work in case management through a public health department and though you would have interaction with patients, there would be no "hands on" nursing care. YOu would need to know the social services available in your area well and learn medicare and medicaid inside-out. You also need a BSN for these options.

You may want to ask yourself why you're not intersted in patient care (have you experienced it yet? You might find you like it). If you are truly not interested in patient interaction, perhaps another field, such as working as a pharmacist or microbiologist might fit your personal needs more. Of course, they too interact with patients, just not to the same degree.

Euskadi1946 · Dec 24, 2004

Pharm. co do not require direct pt contact. Nope.
Another industry is the insurance industry...they hire nurses.
SJ
PS... not that I would work for either... but I've learned to never say never...

Insurance companies require at least 3 -5 years experience of direct patient care in an acute care or LTC facility. All nursing case management positions and utilization management nursing positions require at least 3-5 years of direct patient care nursing in either of those facitlities also. I should know I worked for one of the biggest insurance companies in the country. There is no getting around direct patient care, whether you do it in nursing school or afterwards. As far as the pharmaceutical companies, research, whatever, they also want nurses with direct patient care experience.

caba35 · Jan 10, 2005

THANKS A LOT! This is the type of information that I'm looking for:-)

If you are science/math minded, a pharmacy degree is awesome and earns more money.

alintanurse · Jan 10, 2005

I think it"s in your best interest not to box yourself in by onlly looking for nursing positions that "don't require direct patient care",even if you could find them right out of nursing school.It's wise to become a well rounded nurse and "pay your dues". You don't know if you are going to stay in any nursing position for long and then where does that leave you? You will need to have many options for the long haul. I have a nurse friend who only worked NICU for many years,then unfortunately she lost that job---and for whatever reason, she could not make the transition to working with adults( the only adult care she had ever done was in nursing school) now she's looking for a new career. By the way I am currently working as a workers comp case manager with no direct pt. care, but I have over fifteen years of experience in a variety of settings. :nurse:

Q. · Jan 12, 2005

Insurance companies require at least 3 -5 years experience of direct patient care in an acute care or LTC facility.

Not always true. The major life insurance company in my city hires nurses without direct patient care experience. They are interested in your medical knowledge and ability to read charts. Direct patient care actually doesn't help you much in the underwriting field.

joli · Jan 23, 2005

I'm considering becoming an R.N. but I'm only interested in NON-patient care work. Can a new R.N. get this type of work and in what capacity are they needed? Also is it necessary to perform patient care prior to getting those positions?

Thank you

To California-O.T. :

Thank you for your post. Before you posted this, you just had to know in advance that you'd be criticized for not wanting to do patient care as a new grad. I plan to graduate this May. I do plan to start in med/surg or some form of patient-care however. Although I don't think I want to be a floor nurse/direct bedside care nursing forever. So, good to know that we have many options.

I hope you find the options that you're looking for. Good-luck to you!!

joli

Fellow California Resident

BETSRN · Jan 24, 2005

I was not talking about other medical personnel I was talking about nurses needing some bedside experience before being hired almost anyplace. Most of the job ads I have read with pharmaceutical companies, acute and long term care facilities, the United States Government, public health, managed care, hmos, you name it, want nurses with at least one year of clinical experience in the hospital. Even travel nurse agencies and regular nursing agencies WANT at least 1 year of recent clinical experience before even considering hiring a nurse. You cannot escape bedside nursing even in nursing school if you want to be a nurse. Nurses who no longer do bedside nursing have paid their dues and have gone to other types of nursing.

The LAST person who should consider a travel position is someone with no previous clinical experience. That would be the kiss of death not only for the nurse but for her employer!!

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · Jan 26, 2005

... we have many options...

Yup. Think there are options that haven't been considered.

Cali-OT -- Use your creativity to scope out other opportunities.

OTOH, as mentioned by some, with a few years of direct care under your belt, the possibilities blossom ever so much.

Good luck! Do let us know what additional ideas you come up with.

Thanks for introducing this interesting topic.

zahryia, LPN · Feb 17, 2005

Yup. Think there are options that haven't been considered.
Cali-OT -- Use your creativity to scope out other opportunities.
OTOH, as mentioned by some, with a few years of direct care under your belt, the possibilities blossom ever so much.
Good luck! Do let us know what additional ideas you come up with.
Thanks for introducing this interesting topic.

Some jobs in the field of Nursing informatics do not require patient care. Other consultant positions may not require patient care. (i.e. non-profits with afterschool obesity programs)

Good luck!