what can I do with a nursing degree besides nursing?

What Can You Do With a Nursing Degree (Besides Nursing)?

Does a nursing degree mean you will always be stuck checking vital signs and giving shots? Maybe you wonder whether you can handle the stress of taking care of patients for the next 20 or 30 years. What happens if you decide you want to do something else? Fortunately, a bachelor's in nursing may prepare you for many different fields.

Here are some options nurses may have:

Medical Writer

Do you enjoy writing? Do you have excellent grammar and the ability to convey information clearly? If so,medical writing may be a good career. Medical writers are employed to write articles on the web, as well as white papers, textbooks, advertisements for medical equipment,and blogs for medical practices. Some medical writers are employed by companies, but you could also work as a consultant, or do freelance writing so that you have a flexible schedule.

Nursing Informatics

New federal guidelines are moving patient information from paper to computers. That has opened up a new field for nurses who want non-clinical jobs: nursing informatics. Nurses who enjoy technology might enjoy working to help manage patient data in a hospital or clinic. Other jobs in nursing informatics involve the development of software or analyzing data to develop better, more efficient practices for patient care. While some nursing informatics professionals hold advanced degrees, others receive on the job training.

Health Education

Nurses who enjoy teaching people how to better take care of themselves and their families might enjoy a role in health education. Health educators might work in schools, in communities, in elder care, or for a non-profit organizations either in the U.S. or overseas. Some of the lessons that health education nurses might teach include the importance of nutrition and physical exercise, prevention of contagious diseases, and the self-management of diabetes or other long-term illnesses.

Patient Advocate

As the healthcare system has become more complex, patient advocates have become a specialty. Patient advocates are employed by hospitals, non-profit agencies, and healthcare companies. The government also employs advocates for Veterans. A patient advocate provides support for patients and their families by:

  • Answering questions about procedures
  • Explaining patient rights
  • Assisting the navigation through the healthcare system
  • Communicating options and coordinating social services
  • Helping insure patients get the best quality of care

Don't Wait to Learn More About ECPI University's Degree Programs!

Medical Administration

Administrators handle the day-to-day operations of a hospital, clinic, or other health facility. Because they have worked as a liaison between patients and other medical professionals, nurses often have skills and insight that may allow them to be successful in medical administration. Duties of an administrator may include:

  • Developing procedures for patient services, quality assurance, and public relations
  • Planning budgets and setting rates for health services
  • Working with insurance claims
  • Hiring assistant administrators, nurses, and doctors
  • Participating in fundraising and community health programs

Pharmaceutical or Medical Equipment Sales

If you enjoy traveling and talking with people, you might enjoy a position in pharmaceutical or medical equipment sales. Busy physicians do not have time to keep up with all of the latest research and products, so they rely on the information that the sales representatives provide. Generally, medical sales involves calling clients and traveling to their office or clinic to make presentations and give out free samples.

Health Care Recruiting

Hospitals and healthcare companies sometimes hire health care recruiters to help them search for qualified candidates for temporary doctor and nurse positions. Once candidates are identified, the health care recruiter takes care of prequalifying them and helping them through the hiring process. Nurses who like to work with people and who have the ability to form a rapport with other medical personnel may be particularly suited for healthcare recruiting.

You Could Go from RN to BSN in One Year!

Do these off-the-beaten-path nursing positions interest you? If so, you might want to contact ECPI University to find out about their Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN). At ECPI University, the online BSN may allow you to complete the full-time program in as little as one year, or choose the part-time option if you need time for family and work. Contact us today to learn why so many students choose ECPI University—it could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

Learn more about ECPI's College of Nursing TODAY!

DISCLAIMER – ECPI University makes no claim, warranty or guarantee as to actual employability or earning potential to current, past or future students or graduates of any educational program we offer. The ECPI University website is published for informational purposes only. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained on the ECPI.edu domain; however, no warranty of accuracy is made. No contractual rights, either expressed or implied, are created by its content.

For more information about ECPI University or any of our programs click here: http://www.ecpi.edu/ or http://ow.ly/Ca1ya.