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'm an LPN and have been employed as a Pediatric Home Health Nurse for the past 8 years. I am now considering a career in Medical Coding and Health Information Technology.
I, too, am in home health care/hospice and after 3 decades in hospital, it is heavenly to be able to schedule my own hours! I can second the idea that you really need a few years of med-surg experience to be able to do this kind of nursing. One can become certified in case mgmt. as well. If you ever work for an insurance co. as a case mgr. you'll be much more marketable to that co. if you do have your certificate in case mgmnt. The pay scale at that level is much higher than in hospital or even in routine home health care. I have also heard of nurses who work on sets of movies being made to deal w/ the accidents and they make incredible salaries, for nurses. They have a fair bit of ER experience and are union members, as are all the people working in filmmaking. There are a few websites dealing w/ space nursing/medicine. NASA has needs for care in aerospace medicine and it's a new subspecialty at this point. In some ways it's a spinoff from medevac nursing---just higher-tech. A good friend of mine worked for Holland American Cruise Lines at sea and had LOTS of ER and some L&D under her belt. Hope these ideas inspire you! Good question to throw into the mix!
I am a Nursing Director in an Ambulatory Surgery Center. We are free standing (Doctor owned and operated), single speciality, which is Ophthalmology. We operate 2-3 days/wk. I have part-time RN's and LPN's as well as Per diem RN and LPN staff. My per diem staff nurses are stay at home mom's who like to work a couple of days a week and at the hospitals when you work a couple of days a week, it HAS to be on a weekend...most ASC's are open M-F. So, if you like your weekends and holikdays off, ASC's may be a good place for you to look at. Perioperative nursing is interresting. I am a CNOR and I do train my staff here if they do not have any perioperative experience.
Just wanted to mention...at the hospital I work, my per diem position only requires one weekend a month...I work 2 pm shifts a week, and it's flexible.
I work for the state in a facility for the mentally and physically challenged. I love it. I've been there 27 yrs and 9 mos.
I don't plan to retire until I'm 62. {54 now}
My typical day is spent passing 2 rnds of medications with the HS round being the heaviest. We have a few treatments to do, but no decubs, or anything bad. It's a great job, it's not hard and the people are well cared for. We pass inspection with flying colors everytime, and our facility is one of the highest rated in the USA.
It's a very good place to work, alot different than what you would think a state facility would be. I've heard bad things about other state facilities but this one has none of that.
It's well run and that's due to the administration being very strict.
I've never posted here before but like this site a lot. It's been interesting to read what others have done with their careers.
I've been a nurse 28 years. The first 18 or so years were in hospital and home care. For the last 10 years though I've worked as a nurse consultant working with developmentally and intellectually disabled individuals. We provide no hands-on care; rather we train and assist the direct care staff in meeting the state and federal regulations. At this time, I supervise 6 nurses in my geographic area. Our agency contracts with companies who run group homes and day programs for the DD/ID individuals. The company I work for is owned by two nurses certified in the field and we employ nurses only. Each home has a prescribed # of hours of consultation time based on the number of individuals and their complexity.
The job is incredibly flexible. I leave for work when my child gets on the school bus and I'm home when the bus makes its return trip. No holidays, no weekends, no call. There is an RN on-call 5 pm to 8 am. The only down side is that salaries are not as good as hospital nursing. The trade off is well worth it if you can afford it.
I love my work. No 2 individuals are the same and I'm learning something new constantly. It's a great field.
I'm an LPN working in the office of a Home Health Agency. I'm the scheduler, HomMed manager, supply manager, and assist the office case managers. Some weekends I work from home taking call, and the on-call bucks are not shabby. I love this job and hope to never ever have to set foot in a hospital again. This job has its ups and downs as well as any other. It can be very hectic when the referrals start rolling in and I'm trying to find enough staff to work. :uhoh21: But it's never boring and the days go by very fast.
I tried to PM you, but wasn't able to. --I have a background in high-technology marketing, technical writing, journalism, and now I am about to start nursing school. Clinical research intrigues me. Do you have any tips for entering the field?
Sonoran
I currently work in Clinical Research as a certified clinical research coordinator ( CCRC). I've been a nurse for 30 years and previously worked in a hospital setting for many, many years. My speciality was labor and delivery and I maintain a certification in that field as well.. I absolutely love what I do. Of course I have a great boss that allows me to have autonotomy with my schedule. I see a variety of different patients/subjects on a daily basis depending on the clinical trial that I am working on.. it varies from diabetes, testosterone, hypertension, and heart failure. I no longer work weekends or holidays and the pay is comparable to what I made in the hospital. I feel like I found some sort of secret society.. there is actually an appreciation for what I do and I feel like I"m helping people. I knew I wanted out of the hospital setting ( I was tired of being run ragget) and began doing some "research" about working in a research environment.. I stumbled into something good via networking. Each day I have a mix of actual clinical skills, EKG's, labs, teaching, drug accountability along with a giant papertrail but it's all good. I do a bit of travel at times when I am beginning a new trial to learn about the protocol... I feel like I'm treated well and respected in my position.
Do you have any more info on case management certification with insurance companies? I have heard two folks mention this recently.
One said a friend who had since moved away was a physical therapist who worked as a case manager from home part time. The physical therapist also did physical therapy, too, and loved the balance.
Another friend mentioned a sister-in-law who was an ER nurse but who now has children at home to care for. She now works from home as a case manager. --Her husband, also a nurse, has migrated from the ER into nursing administration. --I plan to talk to my friend's sister-in-law to learn more about her work - I will share what I learn.
Thank you, also, for all the various types of nursing jobs you mentioned (e.g., cruise ship nurse, movie set nurse, etc.)
Sonoran
I, too, am in home health care/hospice and after 3 decades in hospital, it is heavenly to be able to schedule my own hours! I can second the idea that you really need a few years of med-surg experience to be able to do this kind of nursing. One can become certified in case mgmt. as well. If you ever work for an insurance co. as a case mgr. you'll be much more marketable to that co. if you do have your certificate in case mgmnt. The pay scale at that level is much higher than in hospital or even in routine home health care. I have also heard of nurses who work on sets of movies being made to deal w/ the accidents and they make incredible salaries, for nurses. They have a fair bit of ER experience and are union members, as are all the people working in filmmaking. There are a few websites dealing w/ space nursing/medicine. NASA has needs for care in aerospace medicine and it's a new subspecialty at this point. In some ways it's a spinoff from medevac nursing---just higher-tech. A good friend of mine worked for Holland American Cruise Lines at sea and had LOTS of ER and some L&D under her belt. Hope these ideas inspire you! Good question to throw into the mix!
Me too Cay. I just graduated and waiting to take the NCLEX. I've started to apply for jobs. Local ones first. I wanted to get in the hospital down the street that I precepted at, but I heard they hired a couple classmates. I also applied at a couple nursing homes and a jail. The jail is the only place that called me back so far. I'm not sure what an LPN would do at a jail, but I better see about it. I think I would like something like urgent care or doctors office, but hard to find openings.
I'm not sure if I would like the nursing home or not. Any advice on what to try for first? My gf says to take the first one that is offered, but I would like to make sure I could tolerate it at least for awile. I do have a part-time factory job to fall back on, but I'm ready to get out of there...
I am fairly recently retired but I have worked (in Australia) in industry, mining, construction, food processing, and timber. I have also worked as what we call a Remote Area Nurse... single practitioner in an isolated area with minimal support. In all these jobs support has been minimal and supervision administrative not clinical.
I have also worked in cancer research as well as aged care and drug rehab. No I'm not the oldest nurse on earth but I have had 30 years as R.N to collect these adventures
What ever you decide to do get a couple of years of experience as a general nurse under your belt then start networking.
:idea:I know that here in Australia both the Nurses Federation (ANF) and the College of Nursing (RCNA) have special interest groups which hold conferences, lectures etc. If I was starting out now they would be my first port of call... they didnt exist when I started, I was involved in the establishment of a couple. They provide networks and information ... as well as the low down on who is changing jobs or leaving.
:nono:The drama of moving outside the traditional areas as a sole practitioner here in Tasmania is the need for clinical review to retain a current practicing certificate. The average company accountant hasn't a clue about best practice for a RN.
I enjoyed working in communities and away from hospitals most of the time but the professional isolation is sometimes tough and to move into a practical area you need high level skills if the nearest backup is a chopper ride away.
Anyway thats a few thoughts from my experience...to which I add, give it a go, its great fun to live on the edge a little.
WhiteStockings
21 Posts
I'm an LPN and have been employed as a Pediatric Home Health Nurse for the past 8 years. I am now considering a career in Medical Coding and Health Information Technology.
~WhiteStockings~