Hurt my Back, Now What?

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

Dear Nurse Beth,

I ama RGN for over 2 years. I am currently doing agency for the last year and a half. I really am looking to branch out of the hospital setting. I hurt my back a few years ago and was advised that the hospital setting isn't the best for me. I am trying to research careers at the moment but there is no nursing career advisor to speak to. I have heard some nurses have branched out to medical rep.

Any advice for me would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

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Dear Had Back Injury,

Sorry about your back injury. Back injuries put so many nurses out of commission due to the lifting and pulling.

Without knowing your geographical area, there are many jobs away from the bedside, actually too many to enumerate! Eligibility for many non-clinical roles includes a BSN, at least in the States.

Outside of the hospital, there is public health nursing, and hospice care. There's school nursing, and jobs in vendor supplies, as you mentioned. Try registering with a Job Search engine (such as Indeed) and contact large medical suppliers, such as Medtronic and BD, for a start.

Inside the hospital, there are non-clinical positions including case management, informatics, and infection prevention. While you're at work, reach out to some of the non-clinical nurses you see and ask them about their roles to find out what interests you.

Have you thought about working from home? Read 8 Work From Home Jobs.

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth

Author, "Your Last Nursing Class: How to Land Your First Nursing Job"...and your next!

[RGN123]

Thank you for your comment. I am 24 years from Ireland. It is quite difficult to find courses here. Agency is quite difficult as you have to go to certain wards that you have no experience in. I have heard of nurses working for insurance companies but am not sure what this involves. Also I have been researching nursing tutors and health instructor/coaching.

[beckysue920]

I am not a med rep, but with a back injury I would be concerned about what you may have to carry as far as pill samples, bulky cases and the like. Also getting your supplies out of your vehicle may be a concern. I wish you luck!