When the general public thinks of nurses, they usually imagine the nurses that work at the bedside in hospitals. Even throughout nursing school, my exposure as a nursing student was incredibly limited to only inpatient hospital settings. However, one of the things that makes nursing such an attractive career option is the endless opportunities and diverse career paths. Nurses have many chances for career advancement, further education, and opportunities to change specialties or areas of focus. Outside of the hospital, there are non-traditional nursing positions in outpatient settings, insurance companies, and even at Disneyland! Here are a handful of interesting non-traditional nursing career options beyond the bedside for Registered Nurses.
Aesthetic Nurse
Aesthetic nurses, also known as cosmetic nurses, typically work at Dermatology practices and medical spas. They inject botox and filler, perform laser treatments, cool sculpting, and more. The work schedule is usually from Mondays-Fridays, with lots of part-time and full-time positions. Certification isn’t required but the Plastic Surgical Nursing Certification Board (PSNCB) does offer a Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist certification exam. Nurse aesthetics is a very popular field because there is more consistency and flexibility in your schedule.
Disney Nurse
Yes, this is a REAL job, and you can work as a Disneyland Resort Nurse at the “happiest place on Earth.” Disney nurses are responsible for responding to medical emergencies for guests and staff at the park and resorts. The job requirement is usually 3-5+ years of experience, preferably in the ER or pediatric settings. As you can probably imagine, this is an incredibly competitive job and doesn’t come by very often.
School Nurse
School nurses work in the educational setting at public or private elementary, middle, and high schools. There are nurses who work with specific students, and nurses hired by the school district to oversee multiple schools. Responsibilities include assisting students with feeding disabilities (i.e. G-Tube feedings), tracheostomy care, catheterization, vision and hearing screening, administering medications, and more. Depending on the state, a school nurse certification from the National Board for Certification of School Nurses (NBCSN) may be required. One of the biggest perks of being a school nurse is that you normally have summers off, and your work hours are also between 7-4 PM from Mondays to Fridays.
Remote Nurse
Increasing opportunities are available for Nurses to work remotely at startup companies, telemedicine practices, and insurance companies. Responsibilities can vary greatly depending on what kind of position you accept, but it often involves making phone calls and emailing patients, dealing with medical records requests, processing referrals, and more. Licensing requirements for remote nurse roles depend on the state, company, role, and duties. This career path offers a lot of flexibility and work-life balance that embraces the digital technology culture.
Pharmaceutical Sales Nurse
Pharmaceutical companies often like to hire nurses because RNs have the educational background and interpersonal skills to succeed in these roles. Working as a sales representative typically involves you selling a product (medication, medical device, etc.) to physicians and hospitals. While it can be challenging to find an entry point into this career, this is a highly desirable job because it offers a more consistent schedule (M-F). This job also allows you to use more creative skills, all while allowing you to still have a large impact on patient lives. To help you break into this field, the National Association of Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives (NAPSRx) offers a CNPR Pharmaceutical Sales Training Program. This is not mandatory, but may help you stand out from other job candidates.
Biometric Screening Nurse
Many companies, gyms, and wellness programs often promote their community’s general health and wellbeing. A biometric screening nurse will take blood pressures, administer vaccines, and draw blood for tests. Job duties include promoting healthy living, providing education, and keeping the community’s screening exams up to date. This job is often very flexible with options to work as a contractor or full-time integrated into an organization.
All of these nursing career options require that you pass your nursing boards. Check out BoardVitals NCLEX® online test preparation for the best question banks and rationales on the market!
Be sure to check out my NCLEX® test day preparation tips and my advice to help you land your first RN job after graduation.
