Careers for RNs with a BSN Beyond Hospital Settings

With a Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing (BSN) and four years of Registered Nurse (RN) experience, your career options beyond traditional hospital and clinic positions are plentiful. This extensive experience allows you to pursue roles that offer a change of pace from the hectic nature of acute care environments.

Teaching Roles

Community College Instructor: Consider teaching at a community college, where you can share your knowledge with aspiring healthcare professionals. I had the pleasure of teaching Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) supervision, Certified Medication Aide (CMA), and Restorative Aide classes. Additionally, I provided home care services for medically fragile patients, worked with pediatric patients, and managed nursing home patients. Teaching not only blesses others with your expertise but also offers a sense of fulfillment and stability.

Non-Hospital Healthcare Roles

Litigation and Compliance: Specializing in legal professions aimed at suits against hospitals, doctors, and other medical personnel can be a rewarding path. Whether working in a law firm, a small or quick-care clinic, or even in pharmaceutical sales, the variety is vast. For instance, you can make significant financial gains through sales in pharmaceuticals or work in a legal role focused on compliance and medical malpractice cases.

Nursing Research Utilization Review: Nursing research and utilization review involve a range of insurance company jobs. You can specialize in clinical validation, teaching coding to medical providers, or case management. Working in utilization review and insurance reimbursement can provide a more relaxed pace compared to the emergency nature of some hospital settings. These roles often include reading and verifying procedures to ensure correct coding and compliance.

Specialized Nursing Roles

Nibble at a Variety of Specializations: RNs with a BSN and four years of experience can reshape their careers into niche areas. Some potential specialized roles include:

n-Nurse Educator: Shift back into academia to train the next generation of nurses. n-Performance Improvement Officer: Focus on enhancing clinical processes and patient outcomes. n-Assisted Living and Wellness Nursing: Support the growing demographic of aging populations in residential care facilities. n-School Nurse: Work within school environments to address and prevent health issues among students. n-Homecare Nurse: Provide health and wellness services to individuals within the comfort of their homes. n-Hospice Nurse: Offer compassionate care to terminally ill patients and their families. n-Nursing Consultant for Medical Malpractice Attorneys: Advocate for clients in legal disputes against healthcare providers. n-Nurse Representative in Medical Technology: Promote and educate on the latest technological advancements in healthcare.

These roles not only provide a different environment but also leverage your nursing expertise in various capacities.

Exploring Further Education and Career Advancement

Obtaining an MSN: A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) can prepare you for advanced practice nursing roles, leadership positions, or research. Not only do these roles offer opportunities for professional growth, but they often command higher salaries and benefits.

Quality Management and Informatics: Specializing in quality management or informatics can integrate your nursing background with technology and data analysis, providing a unique and fulfilling career path.

Consider Alternative Career Paths

Perhaps you may have had a less-than-ideal experience as an RN. If continuing in the nursing field does not align with your goals, exploring entirely different career paths can be liberating. Some industries that align well with healthcare expertise include social work, public health, and education.

Consider these alternative paths to find a new sense of purpose and fulfillment.

Regardless of the direction you choose, I wish you all the best in your journey. Embrace the career that aligns with your strengths and passions!

Best regards,
Jamie Frew - CEO