After 1 year as a MA, 3 years as an RN and going on 3 years as an NP, I am considering the next move in my career. I know many may criticize the idea that i keep changing careers, but i am 31 with no strings, i figure this is the best time in my life to move around. I've done some deep soul searching and i think that i would like to move out of direct patient care. Or at least spend less time in direct care and more time doing my part to help improve the healthcare system (which is a complete and utter mess, i know.) I am thinking of moving into preventative health education, developing community health programs, health consulting, health policy.
I have a few reservations:
1. I am a specialty NP, I'm thinking hat any move from here may result in a significant pay cut, but can't prove this theory.
2. I am not sure where to start. who to talk to, who to reach out to, websites to help guide me.
3.I really don't want to go back to school on my own dime, I believe as a former bedside nurse and a as provider i have a place in other healthcare arenas without needing extra degrees, but again I can't prove this.
Any words of encouragement, advice, ideas, thoughts would be helpful. Thanks!
Funny this topic should pop-up considering I'm strongly looking to get out of clinical work. This month marks 18 years as a nurse, with 5 as an NP.
I enjoy making things (processes) easier and teaching others. Like others have said, I don't want to go back to school for another degree (I have 4: LPN, ADN, BSN, MSN), but I'm willing to go back for a certificate.
The closest position I can find that will allow me to affect clinical processes and lead people is to get in the project management field. I've already revamped my resume to reflect project management skills and I've enrolled in the local community college to start classes for a certificate.
Many of the healthcare project management jobs I'm seeing are in the hospitals and with health insurance companies.
The pay range varies depending on experience, but I've seen them go as high or higher than what an NP would earn. I'm not too concerned about salary since I've already dropped my hours from 40-32 hrs as an NP with a pay cut and I have side income that helps with any pay decrease. Eventually, my income will go up with experience.
Here's more information about project management since everyone seems to confuse it with general nursing administration.
I would agree that Epidemiology might be a nice segue into another direction, and Public Health nursing/policy through a local county health department or state level health division. If you haven't already, you might also think about taking a class in Policy or Advocacy or Epidemiology. these would help AND might get you networking, it seems like faculty always have connections with some sort of interesting job avenue!
Also, you might consider university level teaching. If you want to affect change, affect it at the student nurse level. I taught for years with my MSN and loved it.
Nacki, MSN, NP
344 Posts
Funny this topic should pop-up considering I'm strongly looking to get out of clinical work. This month marks 18 years as a nurse, with 5 as an NP.
I enjoy making things (processes) easier and teaching others. Like others have said, I don't want to go back to school for another degree (I have 4: LPN, ADN, BSN, MSN), but I'm willing to go back for a certificate.
The closest position I can find that will allow me to affect clinical processes and lead people is to get in the project management field. I've already revamped my resume to reflect project management skills and I've enrolled in the local community college to start classes for a certificate.
Many of the healthcare project management jobs I'm seeing are in the hospitals and with health insurance companies.
The pay range varies depending on experience, but I've seen them go as high or higher than what an NP would earn. I'm not too concerned about salary since I've already dropped my hours from 40-32 hrs as an NP with a pay cut and I have side income that helps with any pay decrease. Eventually, my income will go up with experience.
Here's more information about project management since everyone seems to confuse it with general nursing administration.
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/ecpe/a-primer-on-project-management-for-health-care/
https://www.healthcatalyst.com/insights/healthcare-project-management-techniques-pragmatic-approach-outcomes-improvement
https://onlineprograms.ollusa.edu/mba/resources/what-does-it-take-healthcare-project-manager
https://www.projectmanager.com/blog/career-spotlight-healthcare-project-manager