5 Non-Hospital Nursing Jobs

  • Hospice Nurse
  • Flight Nurse
  • Nurse Midwife
  • Nursing Home Nurse
  • Occupational Health Nurse

According to the Nurse Journal, the experience that a nurse gets as a clinical practitioner can open doors to many career opportunities outside of the hospital setting. Here are five of the most lucrative non-hospital nursing jobs.

1. Hospice Nurse

Hospice care provides medical services for patients facing a life-limiting injury or illness such as heart failure or cancer. They are usually in their last stages and no longer receive curative medicine, but may require assistance in remaining comfortable. A hospice nurse offers medical services including pain management to the patient.

Hospice care also involves providing spiritual and emotional support to the patients and their grieving loved ones. Most terminally-ill patients prefer to spend their last days at home. That means that a hospice nurse should be prepared to work in homes of clients. Apart from a big, strong heart, one needs a hospice or palliative certification, pain management training, and, a Registered Nurse (RN) degree to be a hospice nurse.

2. Flight Nurse

Flight nurses may be attached to hospitals, but they spend most of their working time in the air. The job involves providing emergency care to critically-ill or -wounded people in helicopters or rescue planes. A flight nurse may also be assigned to accompany patients on flights to specialty health centers, or body organs to where they are needed.

A flight nurse should be able to withstand jet lag and all the complications that come with flying. They should also be comfortable working in high altitudes. Most employers prefer RNs with a certain amount of emergency care experience. Transport certifications and advanced life-support training are added advantages.

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3. Nurse Midwife

A nurse midwife not only sets the course for a healthy birth but ensures it is successful. They do so by providing prenatal care to pregnant women and assistance during childbirth. They are also expected to provide followups and postnatal care. Most nurse midwives see patients at specialized birthing centers and then deliver the babies at either the birthing centers or the patients’ home.

The prerequisites include an RN degree, a certified midwifery license, and significant gynecologic experience. Due to the sensitive nature of childbirth, some employers may require a master’s degree on top of the usual nursing licensure requirements.

4. Nursing Home Nurse

A nursing home nurse serves the elderly and disabled in nursing homes or similar facilities. The job description includes administering medication to the patients, monitoring them, and assisting them with daily tasks such as eating and bathing. Most patients usually require more care than they can have at home, but less than what the hospital provides.

A nursing home nurse requires an RN degree or a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) certification. Other institutions may require additional experience or certifications. Depending on qualification, the professional may offer care to Alzheimer’s, chronically ill, geriatric patients.

5. Occupational Health Nurse

Occupational health nurses assist in the health and wellness of employees in large businesses or companies. They work on-site at the businesses to mitigate and try to avert the possibility of workplace illnesses or injuries. Occupational health nurses are also expected to treat any manageable conditions that may arise.

It is also the responsibility of the occupational health nurse to oversee wellness programs, to provide safety training, and to handle workers’ compensation issues. On top of an RN degree, most businesses may ask for additional Certified Occupational Health Nurse Specialist certifications.

The nursing field is a vast one, and there are many ways that nurses can use their skills and accreditation. Despite there being many jobs for nurses outside the hospital setting, it is important to first get experience as a hospital nurse before venturing in other directions.