As a nurse, you may have spent years providing essential bedside care to patients. However, the nursing field offers a multitude of opportunities beyond the traditional hospital setting. If you’re looking to make a career change and explore new avenues for utilizing your nursing skills, there are several non-clinical nursing jobs that can provide you with a fresh and exciting challenge. In this article, we will delve into some of the best non-clinical nursing jobs available, their requirements, and the potential salary you can expect.
What is a non-clinical Nursing Position?
A non-clinical nursing position refers to a job or role within the nursing field that does not involve direct patient care or taking part in clinical procedures. Non-clinical nursing positions focus on utilizing nursing knowledge and skills in various non-patient care settings to contribute to the overall functioning of healthcare organizations and the advancement of healthcare delivery. These positions often involve administrative, educational, research, managerial, or consultative responsibilities.
What are the Pros of a non-clinical Nursing Position?
There are advantages that make non-clinical roles appealing to nurses seeking new challenges and opportunities within the nursing profession. Some of them include:
- Expanded employment Possibilities: Positions in non-clinical nursing offer a variety of employment options outside of typical bedside nursing. An array of careers is open to nurses, including those in management, instruction, research, policy, consulting, and informatics. As a result, there is room for professional development and a possibility to have a bigger impact on healthcare delivery.
- Work-Life Balance: When compared to occupations that directly involve patient care, non-clinical nursing positions frequently provide more flexible work hours and better work-life balance. Non-clinical nursing roles may give nurses more choice over their schedules, allowing them to prioritize personal and family responsibilities while still using their nursing expertise.
- Utilization of Nursing Expertise: Non-clinical nursing employment give nurses the opportunity to utilize their clinical knowledge in areas other than patient care. They can help to make healthcare systems, policies, instruction, research, and business operations better. By applying their own viewpoint and expertise, nurses can significantly improve patient outcomes and the standard of care.
- Higher Compensation: Higher pay can be a significant advantage of non-clinical nursing roles, providing professionals with increased financial stability and recognition for their expertise and contributions in areas such as administration, education, research, or consulting.
Cons of a non-clinical Nursing Position
While non-clinical nursing positions offer several benefits, it’s important to consider some potential drawbacks as well. Here are a few cons to consider:
- Limited Clinical Skills Application: In non-clinical roles, nurses may have fewer opportunities to utilize and further develop their clinical skills. This can be a concern for those who value ongoing engagement in direct patient care and want to maintain their clinical competency.
- Reduced Direct Patient Interaction: Non-clinical nursing positions typically involve less direct interaction with patients compared to clinical roles. If you enjoy the personal connection and hands-on care provided in direct patient care settings, transitioning to a non-clinical role may result in less fulfillment in terms of patient interaction.
- Potential Skill Gap: Depending on the specific non-clinical role, nurses may need to acquire additional skills or knowledge outside of their clinical expertise. Transitioning to a non-clinical position may require a learning curve and the need to develop new competencies, such as data analysis, project management, or policy development.
- Lower Compensation: Non-clinical nursing positions may offer lower compensation compared to certain clinical roles, especially those with specialized certifications or advanced practice degrees. Nurses transitioning to non-clinical roles should carefully consider the potential impact on their salary and benefits package.
1. Aesthetic/Cosmetic Nurse:
National Average Salary: $89,970, with some earning as much as $138,500
If you have an interest in the realms of beauty and cosmetics, becoming an aesthetic or cosmetic nurse could be the perfect fit for you. This non-clinical nursing job may include services such as injections of dermal fillers and Botox neurotoxin, photofacials, dermatabrasion, micro-needling, tattoo removal, and non-surgical body contouring.
Where Does an Aesthetic Nurse Work
Aesthetic nurses work in private offices or day med spas, providing a range of services that go beyond traditional patient care.
Qualification:
- Earn a BSN
- Pass the NCLEX examination
- Have at least 2 years of working experience with a board-certified physician in plastic/aesthetic/cosmetic surgery, dermatology, or facial plastic surgery.
2. Legal Nurse Consultant:
National Average Salary: According to Glassdoor, the median salary for a legal nurse consultant is $109,134 per year.
For nurses with a keen interest in the legal field, a career as a legal nurse consultant can be both fulfilling and intellectually stimulating. Legal nurse consultants work alongside lawyers, attorneys, and licensed professionals to provide medical expertise in cases requiring first-hand medical experience. Their responsibilities include gathering medical records, examining complex data, preparing reports and summaries, and performing other medical-legal tasks.
Where Does a Legal Nurse Consultant Work:
Legal Nurse Consultants work in law firms, healthcare organizations, private consulting firms, and insurance companies. Some Legal Nurse Consultants work for hospitals or large healthcare organizations.
Qualification:
- A BSN in nursing
- An active license to practice as a registered nurse.
- At least 5 years of clinical nursing experience.
Certification: American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants
3. Forensic Nurse:
National Average Salary: $92,730 according to Indeed Salaries, and this can vary based on location, education level, and level of experience.
If you have a passion for both healthcare and criminal justice, a career as a forensic nurse might be the ideal choice for you. This non-clinical nursing job provide medical expertise in cases involving abuse, crime, and death, working closely with law enforcement, lawyers, judges, hospitals, and medical facilities. Their main responsibility is to provide medical care to patients who have experienced abuse, domestic violence, human trafficking, and other crimes.
Where Does a Forensic Nurse Work:
Forensic nurses work in hospitals, medical facilities, law firms, and law enforcement agencies.
Qualification/Certification: A BSN is required along with other coursework to become a forensic nurse. Other relevant certifications can be found here.
4. Flight Nurse:
National Average Salary: $81,093.
A registered nurse with additional training in providing nursing care to patients while being transported on any type of aircraft is known as a flight nurse. In this non-bedside nursing position, nurses supervise patients throughout aircraft transportation, provide life-saving care as necessary while flying, and get the patient ready to be handed over to specialists when they arrive.
Where Does a Flight Nurse Work:
- Hospitals
- Fire departments
- Private medical transport companies
- Federal government
They can work both in civilian and military settings.
Qualifications: Typically, an employer determines the minimum experience requirements for flight nurses, but most require:
- A BSN
- At least five years of experience in a trauma or intensive care unit or an emergency department.
5. Nurse Informatics:
National Average Salary: Payscale.com reports the average salary for an Informatics Nurse is $83,593 in 2023
With the increasing reliance on technology in healthcare, nurse informatics has emerged as a critical field that combines nursing expertise with information systems. Nurse informatics professionals collect data from patient care, medical records, hospital feedback, and clinical systems, and convert it into meaningful information for technology and nursing practice. This non-clinical nursing role is vital for optimizing patient care and outcomes.
Where Does a Nurse Informatics Work:
- Federal healthcare agencies
- Computer systems design companies
- Healthcare employment agencies
- Scientific consulting services
Qualifications: Although a job in nursing informatics is a non-clinical nursing job,
- A minimum Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree is needed to fill this position.
- An optional advanced nursing degree is recommended.
- Nurses interested in this position may seek to become credentialed as a board-certified Informatics Nurse by testing through the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
6. Infection Control Nurse:
National Average Salary: Zip recruiter reports a salary of $87,739
Infection control nurses play a crucial role in preventing the spread of bacteria and viruses in healthcare settings. They implement best practices and preventative measures to minimize infections, diseases, and cross-contamination. In addition to training staff and healthcare professionals, infection control nurses analyze and research data to educate others effectively.
These nurses must have exceptional analytical, management, and interpersonal skills to identify potential risks, analyze data, and educate healthcare professionals. They also possess the knowledge and expertise necessary to treat individuals with infectious diseases.
Where Does an Infection Control Nurse Work
They work with various experts, including scientists, public health experts, government agencies, and so on.
Qualification:
For consideration as an Infection Control Nurse, employers usually require a minimum of a few years of experience in a clinical setting role and a BSN. However, some employers may require an MSN.
You may also be required to complete a certain amount of infection control training and pass a Certification Infection Control (CIC) exam from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).
Conclusion: Expanding Your Horizons as a Nurse
While bedside care is an essential component of nursing, it is not the only path available to nurses seeking career growth and new challenges. The nursing field offers a wide array of non-bedside jobs that allow nurses to utilize their skills, expertise, and passion in different settings. Whether it’s in the realms of aesthetics, law, forensics, wellness coaching, informatics, infection control, research, nurses have the opportunity to make a significant impact on healthcare in diverse ways.
By exploring these non-bedside nursing jobs, nurses can find new avenues to apply their knowledge, contribute to the healthcare industry, and achieve personal and professional fulfillment. The possibilities are vast, and with the right qualifications and dedication, nurses can embark on rewarding careers that go beyond the traditional bedside environment.
So, if you’re a nurse looking for a change or wanting to expand your horizons, consider the non-bedside nursing jobs mentioned in this article. Embrace the opportunity to make a difference in diverse fields while continuing to utilize your nursing skills and expertise. With the right mindset and determination, you can embark on a fulfilling and successful career outside of the traditional bedside setting.
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