Other jobs for RN besides direct patient care?

Nurses Career Support

Published

Specializes in Acute Care - Adult, Med Surg, Neuro.

Hello all, I am a long time lurker and am joining because I am at wit's end. I have the magical year of experience in acute care after graduation, but I am not happy where I am at. I don't think acute care is a good fit for me. I am stressed, overwhelmed, and it is continuing to influence my health and home life. I am current a medical surgical nurse on a wing that cares for various adult patient populations. This was what I wanted to do out of nursing school and frankly I am finding that I don't like it. I can't see myself doing any other specialty. I have no interest in pediatrics or women's health, and I am not a good enough nurse/too anxiety prone to work in intensive care or ER.

I reached a low point this past week. I finish my work on time and have good reviews from my manager, but the lack of teamwork, hostile environment, heavy workload, demanding and often rude/belligerent/violent patients and families as well as the lack of time to spend with patients who need emotional support and kindness, the fear that I will make a mistake that could harm a patient, and lack of time to take breaks is contributing to major burnout. I work at one of the best facilities in the area with the highest pay and best benefits and I know it isn't any better elsewhere.

I guess my point is - I want OUT. This is not what I signed up for. I was a nursing assistant for many years and loved it. But I hate this. I want to get away from patient care - no hospitals, no nursing homes/TCU's, no home care, and definitely no psych facilities or correctional facilities. What are some out of the box jobs that an RN with a 4 year degree can do? I am looking along the lines of public health, education, research, etc. I cannot afford to advance my degree at this moment.

Thanks for your understanding and advice, even if it is to suck it up. Please be honest.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What if you just tried working at a different facility? Not every hospital has all the back stabbing, and you might feel less stress in a more supportive environment.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

At my hospital there are also RNs who have no patient contact, as their job is to educate other nurses at our facility.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well with public health you will still have patient contact, you will have to deal with family non sense, and days with no breaks. Even in outpatient settings you will be busy, it's just a different type of busy. You will have more time with your patients though. There is also teaching.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Insurance companies and insurance management companies will often hire RN's. I think pharmaceutical companies will also hire RN's for research and maybe sales? I feel ya. I was burnt out after a year and I was ready to get out too when I got an office nursing job.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Care - Adult, Med Surg, Neuro.

Thanks all. I'm not sure if I could do teaching without at least a master's degree. I am interested in what you have to say NurseGhostHunter. What kind of office job did you get? I will certainly be putting my feelers out for anything in the area re: insurance companies or pharmaceutical companies. I have also seen nurses who are hired by medical equipment companies to trial or teach about new equipment. Anyone have an information on that?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think you only need be 'working toward the Masters' to teach. However, your experience would be very valuable in many nurse case mgr or consultant jobs in the insurance and/or pharmacy industry. Many of those are telephonic work and often you are able to work from home! hang in there!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Also research legal nurse consulting I don't know a lot about but it is a office/stay at home nursing job

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I currently work in case management in a hospital setting. You get to think like a nurse but don't touch people. Nothing I do will kill anyone. It can be stressful sometimes trying to come up with solutions, but I still like it WAY better than the best day working as a med/surg nurse. My job is a mix of discharge planning and utilization review. You can also do case management for insurance companies, too. I have noticed a lot of positions want more bedside experience than what you have but my current hospital has hired someone that had 1 year of experience recently. Doesn't hurt to check.

Good luck! I feel you because I didn't enjoy bedside either.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Enough already! (rant beginning)

I am very exasperated when everyone recommends "teaching" as a viable alternative for anyone who doesn't like clinical nursing and or doesn't enjoy patient care. Think this one through . . .

Do you really think that pre-licensure students deserve to be guided by instructors who don't really like the professional at all? Their attitudes will be transmitted to those unfortunate students. Nursing instructors are role models who have a great deal of influence. If they hate direct care, their students are very likely to acquire the same point of view. It becomes a self-perpetuating and very negative outcome.

For those of us who are non-academic educators, this entire line of thinking is a non-starter. We MUST have expertise & a high regard for clinical practice just to qualify for and maintain our jobs. We are responsible for ensuring the successful integration of new nurses into our facilities as well as facilitating the ongoing development of incumbent staff. This is not possible without a high level of (clinical) credibility from staff, managers, and physicians in our organizations. Clinical education is not a refuge for nurses who hate their jobs. . .

OK, rant over.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Everyone has a position to play and nobody has to play the same position. If you you would like an office job do that, if you would like to try and work for an Pro Athlete League do that RN is endless possibilities.....Also if you want to educate do that regardless if you like it or not plenty in this industry that are not passionate about it educator or not. God's blessings!!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Social work,

Own business related to nursing (BLS, CPR, continuing ed class, CNA classes, IV classes, skills classes)

Cardiac surgery machines

Medical Salesperson

Nursing Tutor

Health Education Classes

Inhouse Nurse Educator

Administration side of Nursing

Nurse Head Hunter

Legal Nurse

Specialty in nursing that get's you off the floor.

Per Diem Nurse

Float Nurse

Part time nurse

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment