I would like to learn more about nursing jobs outside of the hospital. Are any of you folks out there and can you tell me (us) about it, e.g., what you like and don't like about your jobs, how long you've been in that position and how you got it (what credentials/experience were required), what a typical day is like, etc.?
I am especially curious about nurses working in biotech (e.g., FDA submission preparation), clinical trials, research, writing, law, etc.
I am a MDS nurse in a LTC facility. I do assessments to get payment. I have worked at my facility for five years. I started out as STNA, went on to LPN, then got my RN. I worked nights, evenings, et day shift. Worked as a floor nurse, then RN supervisor, and now I have the MDS position.
I work in hospice going into people's homes to care for them. I love the autonomy. I did work in med/surg for 8 months prior to landing this job. In most cases you do need two years of experience before entering, but they hired me with 8 months' worth. The 8 months I spent in the hospital were the foundation for what I am able to do now. So I would say that you should spend some time in a hospital setting to learn basic skills and time management. Most people recommend a year of hospital work before branching out. I really did not like the hospital and felt that I was ready to try something new. I'm not sorry I left 'early' as I love hospice.
Specializes in Addictions, Corrections, QA/Education.
I work as a Correctional RN at one of the State of California's prisons. I run one of the "yard" clinics (one of five) during the day shift (0600 to 1400). There are approximately 200 inmates per building and six buildings total...1200 inmates to one RN, rofl. Some days are tougher than others, but all in all it's a blast; never know what you're going to get.
The pay more than makes up for the craziness: $5100.00 take home for a normal 40 hour work week/ month + approx. $3000.00 take home in overtime/ month (about $11,000.00 per/ month before taxes).
Not too shabby for an out-of-hospital RN.
WOW! I am a Correctional RN too but do not make 11,000 a month. Its good pay but not like that... I need to come work with you!!
Specializes in PICU, NICU, SICU, CCU, ER, RN Paralegal.
After a lifetime of hospital nursing, my knees gave out. I knew I couldn't stand or walk for long periods anymore. I became a nurse paralegal and am sorry I didn't do this sooner. I am employed full-time by a plaintiff's law firm, so I can still function as a patient advocate. The work is interesting, and the days just fly by. I do everything from interviewing clients to writing submissions to the Medical Review Panel to doing research and locating expert witnesses. I am treated as a professional. The attorneys I work for respect my opinions and are always giving me positive feedback about the work I do. (something sorely missing from hospital work). The more nursing experience you have, the better, but a lot of attorneys are really just looking for someone to interpret medical lingo for them.
After a lifetime of hospital nursing, my knees gave out. I knew I couldn't stand or walk for long periods anymore. I became a nurse paralegal and am sorry I didn't do this sooner. I am employed full-time by a plaintiff's law firm, so I can still function as a patient advocate. The work is interesting, and the days just fly by. I do everything from interviewing clients to writing submissions to the Medical Review Panel to doing research and locating expert witnesses. I am treated as a professional. The attorneys I work for respect my opinions and are always giving me positive feedback about the work I do. (something sorely missing from hospital work). The more nursing experience you have, the better, but a lot of attorneys are really just looking for someone to interpret medical lingo for them.
Have you heard of any LPN legal consultants. I just ran into this website that offers the course to LPN's
Specializes in PICU, NICU, SICU, CCU, ER, RN Paralegal.
It depends on where you live. I would contact the program for LPN's and ask where their grads are finding work. The program I enrolled in doesn't accept LPNs because they couldn't find jobs here in New Orleans, and that was several years before Katrina.
Specializes in icu, er, transplant, case management, ps.
I worked as a major case manager for almost ten years before I got injuried. My clients (that is what we called them) were out on Workers Compensation, along with a few on liability. I had to assess the client initially, obtaining information about him, his family, what type of work he did, requirements, his knowledge of his injury, a physical assessment on his job. I also met with his employer and doctor or doctors. As they progressed, I did vocational assessment and counselling, as well as prepared them for job searches, did job searches for them, met them at their doctor appointments, arranged PT, OT, ST. I was a Jill of all trades.
I loved my job. It meant I had at least one or two new clients a week, traveled all over the State of Florida. And traveled to other states to arrange transportation for those injuried workers back to Florida. The one thing I didn't like was the long hours and writing reports. But the money was great.
I run a "nurse run" HIV outpatient clinic. We manage all patients based on protocols (I wrote) and contract with an ID doc for 15 hours a week. I started the clinic as a volunteer clinic in 1989 and we were federally funded in 1993 and became the full time administrator. I see patients when the other Public Health Nurses aren't available, do a lot of paperwork, write curricula (I teach other health care professionals about HIV), go to a lot of meetings, and teach. I HATE hospitals, never could stand to work in them (kuddos to you that do). Nursing isn't all about inpatient, there is so much more out there. Debra
I work outpatient pacu. my background is ER. I have acls, pals and cpr. Its pretty much low stress but not as much money as the hospital. I have a flexible manager and it has been a great job for me. I also dictate discharge summeries for doctors and that is a pretty awesome job too. Flexible, good pay and independent work enviroment. I still do 2 shifts a month in the ER just to keep my position and skills up- god forbid I would ever need to go back fulltime I would be able to.
You dictate MD discharge summaries? Is that legal? I have never heard of that before, just curious.
Specializes in icu, er, transplant, case management, ps.
The last nurse I knew, who had dictated physician summaries, suffered a six month suspension of her license. No state BON ever allows a nurse to write or dictate any physician summaries or prescriptions.
I work in a radiation oncology out patient clinic it is connected with the hospital but is outpatient based -we treat about 250 patients a day mon- fri with radiation, I assess, triage patients everyday, some need iv's for hydration, assist MD's with various procedures, conscious sedation -i was medical tech initially and was offered a job when I finished school. -90% of these patients have cancer but there are other uses for radiation than just for cancer treatment, the hospital I work at is all about research, clinical trials, not just in oncology but campus wide. Its a large hospital, maybe if you looked into a large hospital you may find something you'd like -good luck
fultzymom
645 Posts
I am a MDS nurse in a LTC facility. I do assessments to get payment. I have worked at my facility for five years. I started out as STNA, went on to LPN, then got my RN. I worked nights, evenings, et day shift. Worked as a floor nurse, then RN supervisor, and now I have the MDS position.