Nurses who DON'T work in a hospital, what do you do?

[RNfaster]

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.

THANK YOU!! :)

[zenman]

I work in a health unit, along with a physician, at an American International School in Dhaka, Bangladesh, taking care of kids and faculty. In my off time I have a Zen Shiatsu and shamanism practice.

[luvschoolnursing, LPN]

I am a school nurse. In Pennsylvania, you need a BSN plus a school nurse certificate which requires some extra classes. Our salary is based on the teacher's pay scale. I love what I do. It can be stressful at times but is sooo much less stressful and more pleasant than the 18 years of med surg I did before this.

[Miss Chybil RN, BSN, RN]

I just want to bookmark this thread and thank Sonoran for such a wonderful question and all the other posters for such wonderful answers! This has been one of the most enlightening topics I've read on this board.

[carol72]

[

I worked as an LVN in outpatient ophthalmology for many years.

I worked on a few clinical research studies which I found very rewarding. Now that I am back in school (should be done 12-07) for an RN program I have all intentions of working in clinical research.

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

I am a school nurse. In Pennsylvania, you need a BSN plus a school nurse certificate which requires some extra classes. Our salary is based on the teacher's pay scale. I love what I do. It can be stressful at times but is sooo much less stressful and more pleasant than the 18 years of med surg I did before this.

Wow. In Texas, my good friend's mother is a school nurse and she's an LPN.

BTW- I's a traveling outpt hemodialysis nurse.

[mamalle]

Is it permissible for a registered nurse to pull together information from the medical record in order to dictate a discharge summary that will later be reviewed and validated by the attending physician?

Yes, this is permissible for the registered nurse to do as she/he is performing a secretarial function for the physician.

[HDMotorcop]

Hey there!

I currently work as an LPN in a very high volume Docs office. We do emergency care, occupational health care and also primary care. The daily patient/client load runs in the 50s and has been as high as the low 70s. Yep we really hop on some days! No all are doc visits, some are nursing only visits (lab draws, theraputic injections from standing orders, commercial drug/alcohol screens etc). I've been doing this for the past year now. I gotta say I love it! High volume, short duration, fast paced! I've been an LPN for 22+ years, though I must say I haven't worked in the field that long. I spent the last 20 in L/E. Prior to that I worked in the hospital setting in psyc, some Med/Surg, and ER. Yes, ER as an LPN......that was as a direct result of an EMS background.

I must say though, my current position suits me rather well. I plan on starting an RN program shortly and in that capacity would like to jump back into ER work for a while, but still would ultimately seek a position in a facility such as the one I'm in right now. Guess I'm always gonna be a "type-A" junkie! LOL!!!!!

[AMY30]

I have two jobs.

First, I have been a charge nurse in a small LTC home on a native reservation. I do 5 med passes on the day shift for 50 residents. I deal with Down Syndrome, Parkinsons, Huntingtons, Alzheimers, limited mobility due to age, Organic Brain Syndrome, CHF, Stroke, Diabetes, etc as all of our residents reside on one floor and are not segregated. I have 5 PSW's working with me and a nurse manager at the desk. I am also responsible for 3 housekeepers and 3 dietary staff as well as any volunteers scheduled that day. I arrive at 6 am to do med count, get verbal report and catch up on new orders etc. I punch in at 7 am and begin med run #1. At 9:30 am i hang 4 PEG feeds and do med run #2. At 11:30 i do med run #3. At 1400 i do med run#4. At 1500 i do all my wound care (typically 5- 6 diabetic ulcers). At 1600 i hang 4 PEG feeds again. At 1645 i do med run#5. At 1800 i clean med room and do charting. I typically leave the facility at 1930.

Second, I work in the Nursing Health Services Research Unit at McMaster University, Hamilton ON Canada. I arrive at 8 am and scan email, table of contents for research journals and news headlines for anything related to our research. I reply to emails, schedule interviews, sit in on meetings, transcribe audio interviews, etc. I also conduct interviews, work with statistical data. From day to day the work changes but most of it is done at a desk in front of a computer.

I like both my jobs, and i like the variety of having both of them.

Cheers, Amy

[sticknurse]

I work independently in the home setting. I make myself available to medicaid clients and the client is the boss. I love what I do. My experience with hospitals and long term were less than satisfactory. I loved the people, hated all the administration problems. Now I work the hours I choose, and own my own business. It has been a real challenge at times but worth it to me. I've been independent for 6 months. My husband is self employed and he inspired me to take the leap. I am now a happy nurse. Good luck to you.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

Clincal Research Nurse at a University. ADN. Never worked as a nurse in a hospital, but prior to this I was an office nurse (primarily Ob/Gyn) for 10 years. RN for 14 years now.

I did work in hospitals as a unit secretary for 15 years before I became a nurse.

[SoloWytch]

I'm an LPN and work as a med nurse in a jail, and I love it. I'm agency right now, but have about 50.5 hours to go before they can hire me on permanently.

Before this I worked in LTC for just under a year and hated it. I'm much happier now and have the weight loss to prove it!

I'm going to go back to school for my BSN, and will probably stay at the jail when I'm done.

[Suninmyheart]

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 just sent you a PM. I very much want to go into this specialty. This topic is great and is very inspiring. I hope people keep contributing.