When most people think of nurses and nursing their minds very likely go to those people who work within hospital walls or private medical offices, and while they would not be wrong in creating those presumptions, there are plenty of other positions that can be found beyond hospital walls.
For those individuals who are either thinking of pursuing a career in nursing – or perhaps as experienced as a DNP nurse – but are curious about other avenues within that field, here is a brief list of some other options by which to explore nursing careers beyond the hospital walls.
Alternative Nursing Career Jobs Outside of Hospital Walls
Cruise Ship Nursing
While the thought of cruising around the world on a big ship to exotic locations may sound tempting for the fun and novelty of the field, this is not a position to take lightly. Yes, there will be opportunities to go ashore at different stops, mingle with new and interesting people, but working on a cruise ship is not for the faint of heart.
Cruise ship nurses are required to work long hours without days off and typically have little time off for relaxing and sightseeing. Though most medical cases will likely be minor like sea sickness, sunburn, or food poisoning, serious issues are known to occur. Additionally, positions on cruise ships are going to be quite different from the regular training between less staff, less equipment, and unique medical issues.
However, if being stuck in a fluorescent lit hospital building day after day sounds too confining then this may be a great option— at least for a time.
In-home Senior Care Providers
Most elderly persons will need assistance of some form or another later in life, and while they may have family around, typically those family members are either busy or untrained in how to properly care for geriatric patients. In that case professionals with the right kind of training are what’s needed.
Since so much of the population is quickly becoming considered “elderly”, there is going to be a great need to fill positions like this. One of the best things about being an in-home senior care provider is that there can be much more freedom and opportunity to form lasting relationships with those being cared for.
There are plenty of organizations in need to fill staffing positions and with the sometimes 24-hour need of certain patients, there is a lot of flexibility and variety by which someone may be able to create a schedule.
For those professionals with a bit more courage, opening their own in-home care business may be a good opportunity in the coming years.
Remote OB Nursing
There will always be a need for women’s health in relation to pregnancies, but technology has recently seen the innovation of hybrid services that allow for remote nursing positions. One of those is as an OB nurse.
Many private businesses can offer telehealth pregnancy services and while not all pregnancy checkups can or should be done virtually, a good amount of work can be completed virtually saving time and money, helping more women. Additionally, there can be options for pre and post-natal birthing education catered to people’s individual schedules.
Nursing Recruiter
This may be a good option for anyone who finds that they may just want a break from working in hospitals, has the nursing knowledge and skills, but just wants to try something with an overlapping industry. Nurse recruiters can work for hospitals, staffing agencies, various branches of the military or with private head-hunting firms.
With the aid of technology, there is a good chance that some of these positions will have a remote option, even working on nurse retention strategies since the need for nurses is quite high.
Health Coach
There are entire industries that have been built around helping people to maintain healthy lifestyles. When considering the fact that most hospitals are created to cater to those who are sick rather than doing what they can to prevent illness and disease, it could be a welcome change for those with medical knowledge to support the other side of health.
Health coaches help individuals set and attain personal goals often in conjunction with private practices, insurance companies or medical spas. There is also the added benefit of being able to start one’s own practice.
Photo Credit
Photo by TopSphere Media on Unsplash
Guest Author Bio
Sarah Daren
With a Bachelor’s in Health Science along with an MBA, Sarah Daren has a wealth of knowledge within both the health and business sectors. Her expertise in scaling and identifying ways tech can improve the lives of others has led Sarah to be a consultant for a number of startup businesses, most prominently in the wellness industry, wearable technology and health education. She implements her health knowledge into every aspect of her life with a focus on making America a healthier and safer place for future generations to come.
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