Can you suggest any jobs for someone with an RN/BSN who does not want to practice in-patient clinical nursing? I'm much more an analytic, paperwork, research, organizing kind of a person.
I asked this before, but didn't get many specific suggestions, so I'm asking again. I realize how crucial that year or two of floor experience can be, but, seriously, it's not for me. And since lots of non-clinical nursing jobs make use of the nurse's previous clinical expertise, that rules out a many of the non-clinical jobs that most folks suggest.
For example, I like the idea of being a nurse educator - whether diabetes, dialysis, whatever. I'm good at teaching and encouraging. But these positions usually require years of in-patient clinical experience even if the job primarily deals with maintenance issues. The same goes for outpatient clinics; they almost always require years of in-patient experience.
I am also very interested in research, but again, nurses are usually hired to run the clinical component of the study.
Shool nursing and public health nursing seem to fit my interests and strengths well, but both of those areas are facing extreme budget crises and are not opening new positions.
I don't care if the job is specifically in nursing; I have applied for administrative work at insurance companies, hospitals, etc. However, I am finding that employers are reluctant to hire someone to an entry-level admin job who theoretically could just run out and pick up a nursing job paying almost twice as much per hour. I know that I could easily get into a new grad hospital program and make good money, but I know (trust me, I know) I wouldn't last that necessary year or two.
I've applied to dozens, I mean dozens, of non-clinical, health-related jobs these last few months and have only gotten 3 inverviews and no job offers. I guess it makes sense that competition for jobs outside of clinical practice increases substantially since it's an all around tight job market these days. I haven't given up yet, but I can certainly use some fresh perspective and am open to new ideas.
May I ask what it is about clinical nursing that turns you off? Not every job is nursing school part II, none of mine have been. Perhaps you could find a specialty more suited to you than what you saw in clinicals.
I realize how pointless it looks to finish nursing school and not be a nurse. That must really mystify those who have made great sacrifices to earn their licenses and those who always knew exactly what they wanted to do.
Granted, a majority of nursing care is a clinical setting. Theoretically, though, isn't nursing about whole patient health maintenance and promotion? If I need that acute experience, then whatever job that experience is required for will be related to clincal practice in an acute setting. Maybe nursing IS ultimately all about clinical care and the nursing theorists have it all wrong.
I've been regularly following up with a hospital HR person and learning lots about non-nursing positions that require the kind of familiarity with medical issues that nursing school imparts. Like I said, I'm just fishing for other, non-traditional paths to explore.
Since I've run across theis on a Google search I don't know if the discussion is still ensuing but I am also an RN, with no post-licensure clinical experience, attempting to find a non-clinical position. WHen I graduated from Nursing School (mid-ninties) there was a glut of nurses in So. Cal. No entry level jobs were available so I did flu shot clinics and took a part time substitute teaching job. Now I live in Maryland, with a CA license, no clinical experience and eyes that have changed since I am over 40 that make it difficult for me to draw up meds. I can understand why the clinical area is not the place for some nurses, but nurses we are never the less.
I do not know if you want to try this, and it would cost about $2,000 to get the degree, but what about a legal nurse consultant? They are always needed from lawyers to big healthcare corporations to insurance companies.
If that is not what you would want, how about teaching? Many vocational schools have nursing assistant/ med tech programs for which good nurses with a BSN are always needed to teach.
I would even think that you would need clinical experience to be a Legal Nurse Consultant. If you're going to be looking through medical records, etc. looking for wrong doing, etc. how are you going to know what is wrong or right if you have never been in the clinical setting to see for yourself????
I do case management (work comp) and love it but as others have said..got to have that background...maybe occupational nursing? It is clinical but much of it is about work comp then you could transition to a case manager..lots of coordination of care, phone calls, research ,reports etc etc ..I love it. I loved clinical nursing as well and did it for about 12 yrs.. but this is a better fit for me at this time in my life!! Good luck
I agree with the majority of the people here. Most of those non-clinical jobs are based o clinical experience, not textbook jargon. How can you teach at a college level when you've never done it?
I would have no respect for a nursing instructor who knew so little more than me about a clinical setting. Think about it: a senior nursing student will have had just about the same number of clinical hours that the instructor does? How can she or he learn anything?
As far as working for an insurance company, or even a legal consultant, both require more than just theory. You'd be basically trating numbers, not people. That's not what being a nurse is about.
Like the others, if you really can't stand the clinical setting. get further education in some other healthcare related field.
I am curious why you did go into nursing if you can't stand the clinical setting, though. It sure can't be for the respect, money, and glamorous attire.
why did you enter a "helping" profession if you don't want to deal with the clientele? either way, what came to mind for me when i read your post was work for insurance doing claim authorization. Oh well, good luck.
what about sales? pharmaceuticals, products, etc???
Here's a job that one could do without having clinical experience. I venture to say that the only jobs that would be available to someone w/o experience would be a job that will hire a nurse but would also hire a non nurse to fill the position. The only prob with the pharm sales job is that most want someone with a marketing background too.
HMO's are a good way to go--they are here to stay, and they do hire nurses.
have you considered community health and community mental health? There is clientele, but not the bedside, blood and guts, pee and poop kind of nursing.
Especially in the mental health arena, you find yourself doing a lot more talking, educating, encouraging....
Also, have you considered maybe returning to school to get an MSW? Your nursing credential, plus that, would open lots and lots of doors--most of them administrative.
Good luck! And don't give up. You'll find your niche.
I have to agree with the other responses in regards to getting some clinical experience under your belt. Once you do, there are many options open to nurses. I am a case manager and a Life Care Planner, and do no hands-on care. But I did work in a hospital setting for 5 years before I became a case manager. I would suggest you find some clinical area that you can tolerate for a few years, then you can begin exploring other options. Even if you go back for your MSN, many programs want to see some clinical background.
TeenyBabyRN
127 Posts
May I ask what it is about clinical nursing that turns you off? Not every job is nursing school part II, none of mine have been. Perhaps you could find a specialty more suited to you than what you saw in clinicals.