4 Non-Hospital Jobs that Nurses Should Explore
Career News August 6, 2013There are many non hospital nursing jobs; have you ever considered pursuing one? When you have decided to become a nurse, you will probably visualize yourself working in the fast-paced world of a hospital setting. Maybe you have planned on helping trauma patients in an emergency room, or perhaps you saw yourself working in a neonatal ward, giving sick newborns their very best shot at a happy, healthy life. While all of these career choices represent important and worthy jobs, there are also many nursing jobs available that are not associated with a hospital. If you are a professional nurse, here are four non hospital nursing jobs that are worth considering.
Clinical research nurse
Clinical research nurses usually work for pharmaceutical companies testing the efficacy of newly developed drugs. The drugs usually reached the stage where human testing is required, and trained nurses are needed to administer the drugs in clinical trials, record patient reactions, take and analyze the necessary blood and tissue samples, and organize the collected data.
A clinical research nurse needs to be both compassionate, since she is working with human beings, and also detail oriented. The data collected during clinical trials must be accurate and precise. It tells pharmaceutical companies whether their new drugs are both safe and effective. As a clinical research nurse, you can be proud to be part of a team that brings life-saving treatments to people in need.
School nurse
School nurses are needed at public and private schools all across the country. Their jobs are not only important, but varied and interesting. A school nurse is the first responder in case of an accident or emergency at a school. He or she will assess a sick or injured student and decide whether the case requires a simple Band-aid or a call to 911.
While school nurses make a little less than the national average for nurses, which are around $64,000 a year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, they can earn much less tangible rewards. Above and beyond simply being a provider of first aid, a school nurse is also an educator. Depending on the age of his or her students, he or she can teach life lessons as simple as proper hygiene and as complex and life-changing as the judicious use of birth control. Moreover, the school nurse, for some students, is literally a lifeline. He or She can recommend family counseling, alert authorities to possible child abuse and even find housing for homeless students.
Health hotline nurse
Health hotlines are literally springing up all over. In this age of information overload, it is a way for people to get accurate, reliable healthcare information. Hospitals, drug companies and health insurance providers nationwide have established health hotlines to provide people with doctors and hospital referrals, information about drug interactions, help coordinating ongoing healthcare and help deciding whether a doctor’s visit is necessary. Even the National Poison Control hotline is manned by professional nurses.
Working as a health hotline nurse is never boring. You could be talking to a concerned new mother about a colicky baby one minute, and recommending a trip to the emergency room for an elderly patient the next. Every day you will be giving people the invaluable health care information that they need and cannot find anywhere else.
Occupational health nurse
An occupational health nurse works in a business environment. Businesses need nurses to monitor the health and safety of their workers. As an occupational health nurse, you may be responsible for administering breathing and hearing tests that monitor whether employees are being harmed in the workplace. You may also be tasked with administering drug testing to ensure that no workers are coming to work while compromised. You will also need to have an understanding of most of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration‘s (OSHA) guidelines. These will give you a clear understanding of what health risks the employees under your care may be facing, and how these risks may be minimized.
A world of choices
You became a nurse, so you can help other people. Don’t think that the only way you can do that is in a hospital setting. There are many other non hospital nursing jobs than the ones listed here, each with its own perks and special requirements. Do some research and find the one that is just right for you.
