Wants to quit ED but keep the good pay

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

If you are a seasoned ED nurse receiving high pay, moving to a different job might require you to start over again salary-wise. Evaluating the total compensation package, including benefits and long-term prospects, and just the hourly wage is important. 

Consider what you like and don't like about your current job when thinking of another job. Are traditional work hours appealing to you? Are you unhappy with your boss or fed up with workplace politics, and would a job without those issues be worth it even if the salary is lower?

Some nursing roles can offer similar pay, but it depends on the location and your qualifications. Here are a few to consider:

• Travel nursing. Travel nursing might be a good bet if you want flexibility and control. Travel nurses can earn a significant premium—sometimes even more than bedside ER nurses, depending on the specialty and location. The downside is the lack of job security and competition for good contracts.
• Case management. Case management can be rewarding financially if you're interested in a more office-based role. This typically involves coordinating patient care, insurance authorization, and helping with discharge planning. It doesn't come with the same physical strain as ER nursing, and the pay can be on par with bedside roles.
• Nurse Educator. Another option is to teach nursing students or staff. While the pay may not always be as high as for some bedside roles, senior-level educators or those in charge of continuing education programs can earn competitive wages. Plus, it often involves less stress and more structured hours.
• Nurse Practitioner (NP). Becoming an NP can boost your pay if you're up for returning to school. NPs can work in primary care, urgent care, or specialized fields, and many have a similar income potential to ER nurses. The difference is that the role is more autonomous and less physically demanding.
• Clinical research nursing. Nurses working in clinical trials or research can often earn a good salary, especially if you work in specialized fields like oncology or pharmaceuticals. The work can be less intense than ER nursing but still requires a high level of expertise.
• Health Insurance or Utilization Review nursing. Another option is working with insurance companies to evaluate the necessity of treatments or procedures. This work typically requires critical thinking and clinical knowledge but doesn't have the chaos of the ER.

Start looking at job boards to see what's available. Ask nurses in different roles at your facility about their jobs, reflect on where you'd like to see yourself, what it would take to get there, and then make it happen!

Very best wishes,

Nurse Beth