How To Get Started

[WildcatFanRN, BSN, RN]

I've been out of active nursing for a couple years and I'm working on getting things together to get reinstated so I can start working again. I no longer want to do bedside. I was a member of and Chair of the hospital I worked at's Research Council before I left. I discovered I love research and had been exploring how to get into it. Life unfortunately happened in the form of my husband getting terminally ill. Now, It's time for me to get back into things and I want to continue my exploration of Research Nursing. Any advice for a seriously out of the loop nurse?

[Hannahbanana, BSN, MSN]

Consider looking into legal nurse consulting. Your past experience gives you the background in healthcare many attorneys need when they get a case with medical implications: Protocols, policies, organizational structure, documentation, training, licensure, physician responsibility, regs, and more— you either know it already or would pick it up in a heartbeat especially if your critical thinking and research skills are something you want to put to use.  It’s not all med malpractice in the back office, either, lots of ways to do what you want. Check out www.aalnc.org and wander around in the website, check out the educational offerings and the journal.