Outdoor fields and nursing?

[Port88, ADN]

Hey Nurses,

I want to put my feelers out there to see if anyone knows of some type of oddball nursing that allows a nurse to work outside.
Before I went into nursing I was contemplating wildlife biology. I love the outdoors, and would be super happy getting dirty in my hiking pants or overalls all day. Alas, nursing seemed like the right path for me for various reasons, so here I am.

I enjoy my job, but it's also really hard to be inside for so many hours a day. I love the freedom of having four days a week off BECAUSE of those longs hours, but it did get me wondering if there is any sort of nursing field that allows a nurse to be... out in the field.

I know that travel nursing exists -- this is still inside a hospital and is essentially the same job I have now. I know that camp nursing exists, and maybe some day it would be fun for a season (I've worked in various camps and as an Outdoor Educator), but currently I'm the main income of my house and we can't exactly afford that. I know that flight nursing exists, but that's a long road to get to for me (who only has one year of experience), and I know that certain things like cruise ship nursing exists, but my husband and I aren't really interested in that.

I'd love to get my WFR or Wilderness Medicine certification, and work for a national park as a medical personnel -- I live close to Rocky Mountain National Park and think it would be such a dream to work there, but as far as I can find that job doesn't exist.

Does anyone work in this sort of capacity? Are there even any jobs out there like what I am sort of looking for? Would love thoughts!

Thanks for all your hard work in this field, my fellow nurses.

-Sarah

[XB9S, BSN, MSN, EdD, RN, APN]

Hi there, I spent around 20 years volunteering in a rescue organisation in the UK and love wilderness medicine.

Happy if you want to drop me a PM and chat

[NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/570697400

This is just an example. You’d have to search for positions specific to your area..

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

2 hours ago, XB9S said:

Hi there, I spent around 20 years volunteering in a rescue organisation in the UK and love wilderness medicine.

Happy if you want to drop me a PM and chat

Thank you for posting! ?

@Port88, you will find that @XB9S is an expert in wilderness/field medicine.

[Sour Lemon]

There are outreach positions that deal primarily with mental health. Those nurses are "in the field", although it's not quite as picturesque as what you may be hoping for. I'm also short on details since I've never done it myself.

[jobellestarr]

There are jobs in the national parks for nurses but usually provided by private vendors so you’d have to do some research. I.e. Grand Canyon services are provided by North Country Healthcare out of Flagstaff.