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.
What about teaching nursing at the university level?
How in the world could someone with no clinical background have any credibility as an instructor? I would have no respect for anyone who presumed to teach nursing without any experience.
I think you really need to look at another field. If you aren't willing to suck it up and get 1-2 years of clinical, there really isn't much out there for you. You just won't have the credibility.
Well, you could always shoot for Nursing Informatics. It's a relatively new field and very challenging. Some facilities require a Master's in it, but there aren't that many Master's programs in Nursing Informatics and many places are training up their own. Good Luck.
My hubby quit nursing school when he got to the clinicals. He decided he really didn't like doing care for people he didn't know. It was the best realization he ever had. He went on to become a chaplain!
What to do with an RN who doesn't want to do care? You can get a teaching certificate and teach in a school. Perhaps with the American Red Cross and do CPR or First Aid. A good option is to work as a pharmaceutical sales person. Even nursing informatics requires experience. Educators in any nursing area require clinical, because that makes up 50% of their teaching ability...to answer questions posed to them.
fab4fan
1,173 Posts
How in the world could someone with no clinical background have any credibility as an instructor? I would have no respect for anyone who presumed to teach nursing without any experience.
I think you really need to look at another field. If you aren't willing to suck it up and get 1-2 years of clinical, there really isn't much out there for you. You just won't have the credibility.