How can a nurse get away from bedside? It seems difficult to do. Like actually land a job away from bedside.
I am currently completing my board certification as a nurse and holistic coach- I’m tired of this sick model of healthcare. It is a 7 month program and then I will take the boards and go into private practice!
Well, it depends on what you're looking for. Most nurses who are looking for something away from the bedside are looking for something comparable financially to what they are currently making. That is part of the issue. There are many opportunities that exist for nurses outside the bedside, although it will and does typically result in a pretty decent pay cut (outpatient, remote/telehealth, case management, etc). If you're looking for something that pays comparable to the bedside, you'll most likely have to compromise on either pay or comfort (regarding how far "away from the bedside, and patient care, you'd like to be). As a former/current bedside nurse, I can tell you that there are opportunities out there that aren't your typical "bedside" nursing, but you might be providing direct patient care in different ways.
I currently work as a travel corrections nurse and make about the same as I made in acute care, do part-time school nursing as PRN (it's half of what I typically make, but soooooo fulfilling), and pick up shifts PRN as a tele and med/surg nurse. I also have been in healthcare for 10 years (7 as a CNA and 3 as an RN, and have found ways to leverage my experience and skills to my advantage).
I worked as a telemetry nurse for a year and honestly found that moving "downward" (no slight to non-bedside nurses here, just meaning downward away from the bedside) was not difficult. Outside of specialties (OR, case management, telehealth that required 543 years of experience lol), it wasn't difficult to locate opportunities outside of the bedside realm. But it was def a reality check that it wasn't going to be near comparable to what I was used to in the hospital.
My advice is to use your experiences to your advantage, and be prepared to face surprises when looking out of the box. Keep your resume updated and your status as available (LinkedIn, GlassDoor, etc...trust me, I got offered my current school nurse position this way through LinkedIn), and be realistic as to what you want and are willing to accept.
I’ve worked in outpatient oncology for the past 13 years. It’s been amazing, I still get to see patients and have great work life balance because I have weekends and holidays off! Its worth it if you’re done with bedside nursing but still want patient contact.
Most non-bedside roles require a specific amount of bedside experience in order to be considered for them. If you have been at the bedside for a while, at least 2 years, then you should have no problem getting a non-bedside role. Your education level matters too. If you have a master's, there are a lot of options for non-bedside roles such as teaching, administration, informatics, etc.
School Nurse--If you get certified (CSN) your pay will be higher than an RN in a school.
If its just as an RN, you can try outpatient dialysis clinics. You won't need years of experience either since its such a specialty, a lot of places are more than willing to train you.
For me, it took over 10 years and a MSN. Otherwise, you have to know somebody.
Try looking for Nurse Case Management roles. These can be ways to get away from bedside nursing with the current IP experience you have! Good luck!
Depends on what you want to or if you want to relocate. Check a job board and search. The other is to get to know a physician expand your network
Educate yourself in your field of interest. Makes you a more marketable .
You may need to get some tutors' training or be In tech .The both can land you a classroom teaching job whether physical or virtual.
You should try to get certified in a different field of healthcare that will be rewarding to you such as working in :
Physician offices and clinics
Research laboratories
Pharmaceutical companies
Military bases
Schools and universities
Insurance companies
Law firms
Private companies and nonprofits?
Are you asking like away from patient care altogether? Or like just not in the hospital?
