Ways to use my BSN other than bedside nursing???

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello-

I'm a senior nursing student soon to graduate. I have determined through all my clinical experience that I do not enjoy bedside nursing. I have also determined that I would not enjoy pharmacuetical sales, nurse practitioner, public health nurse, teaching, or nursing management.

So my question is: What can I do with my Bachelors degree in nursing other than the above? I know there has to be something else it can be used for...but I cant think of anything. Please let me know any suggestions you might have!!

Thanks!

Daniel

Specializes in trauma ICU,TNCC, NRP, PALS, ACLS.

What is a nurse liasion?

I think its great that you are so close to graduating and have such a wonderful achievement. Why not expore Nurse Liasion?
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Hi Bigd1023,

I was in the same boat as you are when I was finishing nursing school. I hated bedside and dreaded my clinicals. My favorite class was pathophys, absolutely loved it. I actually tried bedside as my first job, just to see if I was tricking myself. I truely abhored it, I lasted 5 months and am now a research nurse at a renowned cancer center. i do clinical trial work and I find it fascinating. I love the idea that I'm always learning something new, before it's FDA approved. The $$ isn't that great, but you can really do well if you move into whats called monitoring clinical trials or CRA (clinical research associate). This involves traveling to the sites that are the research and working with the pharmacists, physicians, research nurses how to do the trial. You work very closely with these people. You can also work from home. It can be quite a bit of travel though. If you are interested in more, I can point you toward some resources or talk to you about it more. And they LOVE nurses working as monitors. Companies will offer you the big bucks to have a nurse working with them.

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Everyone I talk to asks me that but I can't pin it down exactly. I don't like the 3 day work weeks, I dont like the long shifts, and I dont like being "stuck" inside a hospital all day. I like adventure, traveling (not a bedside travel nurse), meeting new people (Public relations), trying new things, etc.

Does that help?? :)

Public Health?

Military Nursing?

Commission Corps Public Health Service?

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

Case management?

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I am just curious, why did you go into nursing? Congratulations on your degree, that is an accomplishment.

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Specializes in psychiatric, research, icu, float, pacu.

Look into Human Resources (Nurse Recruiter), Occupational nursing, Operating Room, Recovery Room, Insurance Companies, or you can start your own nursing forum :)

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Specializes in Nursing Ed, Ob/GYN, AD, LTC, Rehab.

You could teach LPN classes. Our LPN teachers were BSN grads and they were great. Im with you, dont like bedside nursing or hospitals period. I knew this before i started though and knew i would go into teaching or working in a clinic or something else, youre not alone.

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Specializes in L&D, OR, postpartum, pedi, OBGYN clinic.

You could be a legal consultant, work at a school, my friend is a flight nurse and literally was flown around the world every week and he got paid about 80 bucks an hour, you could join the military, you would go in as an officer, you could do cruises, HR, sports medicine, plastics, there are companies that will loan you to third world countries and I have heard that they allow nurses to do a lot more than here, um...there are so many things...:)

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Have you considered OR nursing?

Many people find the environment very stimulating. It is a different kind of "bedside"

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I'm with Foxyhill - what's a nurse liason?

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I had a phenomenal career with The United States Public Health Service(melanoma research at National Institues of Health- National Naval Medical Center and 4 Indian Reservations in our western US) - Critical Care bdeside all the way - but there is so much more. The Community Health Nurse went on the reservation immunizing - making home visits - teaching, etc. If you are "Commisioned Corp" it is like being in the Military in regards to pay - beninfits and housing.

There are numerous Federl Agenices desperate for Nurses - for many different types of positions.

Go to www.usajobs.opm.gov - it is the Office of Personnel Management for the Federal Government - for every Federal agency imaginable. Daily there are over 200,000 listings for any position you can think of around the WORLD!!!!!

Check it out - The USPHS was a dream job for me and created many many wonderful memories and good friends I am still in touch with to this day.

There are MANY different fields besides Nursing you can take that BSN to at that website.

Other than that: Case Management for an Insurance Company is a great way to go.

Good Luck - Keep us posted with your decision.

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Hi Bigd1023,

I was in the same boat as you are when I was finishing nursing school. I hated bedside and dreaded my clinicals. My favorite class was pathophys, absolutely loved it. I actually tried bedside as my first job, just to see if I was tricking myself. I truely abhored it, I lasted 5 months and am now a research nurse at a renowned cancer center. i do clinical trial work and I find it fascinating. I love the idea that I'm always learning something new, before it's FDA approved. The $$ isn't that great, but you can really do well if you move into whats called monitoring clinical trials or CRA (clinical research associate). This involves traveling to the sites that are the research and working with the pharmacists, physicians, research nurses how to do the trial. You work very closely with these people. You can also work from home. It can be quite a bit of travel though. If you are interested in more, I can point you toward some resources or talk to you about it more. And they LOVE nurses working as monitors. Companies will offer you the big bucks to have a nurse working with them.

I've been considering this but am concerned at my lack of clinical skills (and lack of interest in practicing clinical skills). I only lasted a few months at the bedside myself whereas I enjoyed being a research assistant as a student. Is the catch to look for monitoring or CRA positions versus "research nurse" positions? I did manage an interview for one research project and data monitoring (think that's what is was) sounded interesting. Unfortunately, they never got back to me despite my efforts to follow up. Is there any way to make myself more attractive for these types of positions?

To the OP - I hear ya! I was almost embarrassed to admit how much most nursing jobs didn't appeal to me. I'm a hard worker and have many skills! I did very well in school. And as we went through our clinicals, certainly, I would find something that fit, right?! But I didn't, not really. I admire the folks who thrive in those positions! So I've been viewing my BSN as a general health sciences degree and trying to avoid looking for positions with the formal title of "nurse." It's not nearly as straight forward as looking for a med-surg nursing position and can be frustrating. But to me it's worth it. I know it's frustrating to some to hear about graduated nurses who realize that nursing doesn't suit them. We certainly didn't set out thinking "I don't think I'll like this." We're all just human, doing our best and learning as we go.

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