Become a Nurse But Don't Work As One

luvsltcrn · Mar 28, 2016

Bachelor of Science Degrees in Health Services Administration
Maybe that can help you

This was going to be my suggestion as well.

RNperdiem, RN · Mar 29, 2016

Something to consider- would you be willing to give direct patient care a chance if you are unable to land an office/admin type of job? Direct patient care is the bread and butter of nursing and those jobs are more available. Many, many nurses are looking to find a non- patient care job, so the competition is fierce.

bugya90, ASN, BSN, LVN, RN · Mar 29, 2016

You could work for insurance companies or do telehealth, however these position require so many years experience. To be bluntly honest you will probably have to do at least 2 years in direct patient care before going into more of an office type setting. The jobs are out there if you are willing to put in your time to get experience first.

springchick1, ADN, RN · Mar 29, 2016

You can always work PRN as a nurse and work in the administrative side. That is what I plan to do.

Planning to do it and actually doing it are two different things. Most administrators work 40+ a week. When are you going to work PRN as a nurse? And like others have said, you will have a hard time earning the respect of the nurses if you have never worked as one yourself or have very little experience.

neuron · Mar 29, 2016

why bother with nursing school if you actually just want to go into administration??

I worked the floor, not as a nurse, and I find it daunting the nurse/med aide/cna to patient ratio. Maybe a hospital would be different, but either way I have a good bedside manner and would take care of a resident/patient in either position.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 29, 2016

I only worked in acute care for a year and a few months, and then transitioned into the pharma industry where I'm in an office with no face to face patient contact at all (I do still talk to patients and providers by phone all day however).

Here's my controversial input...

In my personal experience in several states, the majority of nurses who have been able to land jobs in the pharma industry (either as pharma reps or pharma research RNs) tend to be conventionally attractive, at a normal or near-normal body weight, and possess exceptional soft skills.

Many nurses lack the appearance, body habitus and interpersonal skills to break into the pharma field, regardless of how qualified they might be.

The pharma world seeks sales reps who can not only speak about the benefits of the products they are promoting, but who also have a certain appeal to the client they are facing. To clarify, I am speaking of physical attractiveness.

Are Sales Reps in Pharma Hired Solely for Their Sex Appeal?

Most of us prefer good-looking people to less attractive ones. Pharma seems to believe that doctors do, too. A recent New York Times article examined the industry's recruitment of cheerleaders, most of whom are attractive young women ("Gimme an Rx! Cheerleaders Pep Up Drug Sales," November 28, 2005). In the article, Dr. Thomas Carli of the University of Michigan observes, "There's a saying that you'll never meet an ugly drug rep."

Legal: Hey, Good Lookin': Sex Discrimination in Hiring Reps | Pharmaceutical Executive

Cali_foRNia · Mar 29, 2016

It is definitely possible to go into administration, but it won't be an easy feat. If you don't know exactly what you want to do in administration, then you should figure that out first in order plan out your pathway.

I would also suggest you get your master's degree if you do decide to go into nursing because that will really help build up your credentials if you don't have the floor experience. There are many administrative courses available that can help beef up your knowledge.

You should definitely research administrative areas of nursing beforehand to see what is available out there.

There will definitely be people that will tell you that you will have a hard time earning the respect of other nurses because of your lack of experience. I personally experienced this because I have only been a nurse for two years but earned my master's degree right after nursing school. People thought that it was ridiculous of me to get my MSN because I should have concentrated more on getting experience first.

The way that I see it, there are going to be haters no matter where you go. Just follow your goals and be confident.

adventure_rn, MSN, NP · Mar 29, 2016

I actually once worked with an administrator who had her MHA (Masters in Healthcare Admin) from a top 10 university. She told me that even though the site of blood makes her nauseous, if she could do it all again she'd suck it up and get her nursing degree first. Why? There are simply far more healthcare admin jobs out there which require a nursing degree than those that don't, especially when looking at hospital admin jobs. Even though she had experience at high-level healthcare consulting firms, she felt that many doors were closed to her because she didn't have a clinical degree. I was very surprised to hear that, and it was one of the deciding factors for me to go into nursing.

Hoosier_RN, MSN · Mar 29, 2016

Here's my controversial input...
In my personal experience in several states, the majority of nurses who have been able to land jobs in the pharma industry (either as pharma reps or pharma research RNs) tend to be conventionally attractive, at a normal or near-normal body weight, and possess exceptional soft skills.
Many nurses lack the appearance, body habitus and interpersonal skills to break into the pharma field, regardless of how qualified they might be.
Are Sales Reps in Pharma Hired Solely for Their Sex Appeal?
Legal: Hey, Good Lookin': Sex Discrimination in Hiring Reps | Pharmaceutical Executive

You are spot on! No controversy here...

Stargate Atlantis · Mar 29, 2016

Something to consider- would you be willing to give direct patient care a chance if you are unable to land an office/admin type of job? Direct patient care is the bread and butter of nursing and those jobs are more available. Many, many nurses are looking to find a non- patient care job, so the competition is fierce.

That's a good point. Hadn't thought of that. :nailbiting:

flying_ace2 · Mar 29, 2016

Here's my controversial input...
In my personal experience in several states, the majority of nurses who have been able to land jobs in the pharma industry (either as pharma reps or pharma research RNs) tend to be conventionally attractive, at a normal or near-normal body weight, and possess exceptional soft skills.
Many nurses lack the appearance, body habitus and interpersonal skills to break into the pharma field, regardless of how qualified they might be.
Are Sales Reps in Pharma Hired Solely for Their Sex Appeal?
Legal: Hey, Good Lookin': Sex Discrimination in Hiring Reps | Pharmaceutical Executive

Well if you're saying I'm pretty I definitely thank you! *blushes* **also joking!**

Joking aside, I'm not a pharma rep (thank God, I have been around those people and would never, ever want that job) and I'm not a clinical research nurse. I have no idea if my looks had anything to do with me being hired here - I would like to think not, because it makes my inner feminist angry. I like to think I was hired based on my abilities, my past job performance and responsibilities (even before nursing), my great references and my excellent interview skills. Oh, and also because I had a friend from nursing school who was already working here and put in the good word! :up:

I definitely understand your point however, and am thinking specifically of those pharma reps mentioned earlier. I've never met a rep who could be called "unattractive" in the way that our society at large seems to define the word - they all fit a certain body mold with specific looks and personality traits that "make them more attractive". I can't speak to the clinical research nurse side of things - I've never been in the company labs with patients, and had no interaction with them in the OR at the hospital.

I think it is a sad, unfortunate fact of life in the society we find ourselves in, just like it's a sad, unfortunate fact of life that men make more money than women do (typically), simply because they have.........extra equipment. Does it mean I agree with it? No. Does it mean that I still see it everyday and become frustrated and discouraged by it? Yes.

Farawyn · Mar 29, 2016

It is definitely possible to go into administration, but it won't be an easy feat. If you don't know exactly what you want to do in administration, then you should figure that out first in order plan out your pathway.
I would also suggest you get your master's degree if you do decide to go into nursing because that will really help build up your credentials if you don't have the floor experience. There are many administrative courses available that can help beef up your knowledge.
You should definitely research administrative areas of nursing beforehand to see what is available out there.
There will definitely be people that will tell you that you will have a hard time earning the respect of other nurses because of your lack of experience. I personally experienced this because I have only been a nurse for two years but earned my master's degree right after nursing school. People thought that it was ridiculous of me to get my MSN because I should have concentrated more on getting experience first.
The way that I see it, there are going to be haters no matter where you go. Just follow your goals and be confident.

Not hating. But a Master's with no experience is laughable in this field. Truth.